Torah Portion
WITH AN AMERICAN ORT
CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY,
YOU CAN EARN UP TO
12% INTEREST ON YOUR
MONEY AND SAVE ON TAXES.
T
build productive lives for
themselves and their families.
hat's a guaranteed fixed
income for the rest of
your life. In addition,
you'll be entitled to a
significant income tax
deduction in the year you
fund the annuity and part of
the income you receive will be
tax-free.
Most important of all, you'll
be helping more than 300,000
ORT students in 60 countries
worldwide receive the quality
education that allows them to
E14.,44i ?-04. 1,4e,
To
DELAY MAY MEAN
TO FORGET.
A young Russian ORT student studies the Torah.
For more information on how you can support American ORT
or for a free personalized explanation of the benefits of a gift
annuity, contact Arthur Markowitz, Esq., Director of Planned
Giving, at (800) 364-9678, ext. 806, or Suzanne Curtis, Detroit
Chapter Director, at (248) 681-7587.
S.%
It's A Jewish Food Jamboree!
Need a flavorful feast of Jewish foods? From the
Deli's handmade potato latkes & fresh chopped
liver, Bakehouse Mandelbread C traditional
Jewish Rye to Mail Order's Hannukah Heavyweight box
& Catering 's custom-service holiday events C more, we've got you
covered! All Deli 6 Catering foods available for pick-up or delivery.
rrorusssssrs
inattOar
• °
7 34 - 663" DEU
888-636-8162
WWW,. ,Zf1.41 .114- . Corn.
734'663-340o
ADMIRAL OPTICAL — known for its prices & service
$99 FRAME
& Progressive no-line
bifocal. SCR &
Use Your
Flex Funds
Now!
*offer expires
December 31, 2001
WESTWIND LAKE VILLAGE SHOPS • 240160-2300
Haggerty Rd. & Pontiac Trail • W. Bloomfield
The Light Of Torah
Illuminates The World
leadership.
The prophet Zechariah, whose rous-
ing words we read on this Shabbat of
Chanukah, exhorted the Israelites not to
flag in their great project of national
restoration. God is in your very midst,
he assured the exiles.
Zechariah affirmed the legitimate
power of the priesthood (Joshua) and
monarchy (Zerubavel); symbolized by
ere the wisest men of
olive trees beside the great golden
ancient Egypt complete
menorah. But he also had a message
imbeciles? After all, you
for all Israelites: If only the people
didn't have to be Freud to
would
welcome God's spirit in their
get the gist of the seven fat cows being
midst,
then God's glory would illumi-
devoured by the seven mangy
nate all of creation.
ones or the similar dream with
We, too, live in a time of
the stalks of grain. These were
extraordinary challenge and
conspicuous symbols of feast
opportunity As in the days of
and famine, and the dreams
Joseph
and of Zechariah, some
were ominous even to Pharaoh.
things
are
self-evident.
The evidence from Exodus
It
is
clear
that forces of
suggests that Pharaoh's advisers
hatred
and
terror
have mount-
were actually quite astute.
ed
extraordinary
threats
to the
What can explain their silence?
two
democracies
that
we
hold
Why was it left to the Hebrew
RABBI
dearest — America and Israel.
dungeon dweller Joseph to
DANIEL
It is obvious that, if ignored,
decipher Pharaoh's dreams?
NEVINS
these destructive forces can
The Torah states that the
Special to the
only
grow stronger and further
Egyptian wise men could not
Jewish News
imperil
the peace and security
interpret them for Pharaoh.
of
states,
which, by nature, cel-
Rashi states that they were
ebrate
freedom
and
diversity in their
indeed able to interpret the dreams, only
midst.
not for Pharaoh —he was unconvinced
The hard part is not in identifying
by their words.
the
challenge, but in orchestrating a
I suspect that it wasn't the dreams
response.
We American Jews should
that stumped the Egyptian wise men,
look
at
our
sacred scriptures and draw
but rather how to respond to their chal-
courage,
inspiration
and determination
lenge. Good times are here, and dark
from
the
role
models
we find there.
days of want and sorrow will shortly
What
we
find
is
a
universal
message.
commence. Clear enough. Now what to
The
darkness
that
envelopes
not
only us
do about it? The wise men had nothing
but
the
entire
world
will
ultimately
be
to offer.
banished
by
the
light
of
Torah,
which
In contrast, Joseph not only interpret-
we celebrate this season. Our task as
ed the dreams, but boldly offered advice
Jews is pirsum haneis — to proclaim the
on how to respond. This so impressed
miracle not only of Chanukah, but also
Pharaoh that he raised Joseph from the
life
itself.
pit and placed him upon a royal throne.
May
we realize the light that we
Nearly 1,000 years later, the Israelites
cherish is notfor ourselves alone, but
had a similar opportunity to vault from
will ultimately illuminate the entire
despair to triumph when Cyrus the
world. ❑
Great conquered Babylonia and issued
his famous edict allowing them to return
home. Despite this support, it took
them many years to rebuild the Temple.
Once again the trick was not
If the president asked your advice
merely to identify the challenges of
on how to strengthen America in
the moment, but to exercise effective
the next seven years, what would
you say?
Daniel Nevins is a spiritual leader at
Shabbat Mikketz:
Genesis 41:1-44:17;
Numbers 28:9-15,
7:42-47;
Zachariah 2:14-4:7.
W
Adat Shalom Synagogue.
Join us New Year's Eve at the Ritz Carlton!