FRIDAY, JUNE 21
' til
10" 111"

Torah Portion

Moonlight
a ess

DAKOTA BREAD

GREETINGS FROM...

HERSH'S

MARGUERITE

REAR ENDS

RICHARD'S SHOES

ROCKY MOUNTAIN up
CHOCOLATE

0

0

RUBY'S BALM

RUNNING FIT

Off
Retail.

SOLOMON & SON

STAGE & CO

SUNDANCE SHOES

SWIMWEAR

TRESSA'S

YOU'RE FIRED

7 PM-11 PM

Dance under the tent
to the music of

e021J

U.

ENTERTAINMENT

thelmulualwalk

Orchaid Lake Rd. • South of Maple • West Bloomfield

Natural support and
shaping in a unique rigid
molded lace 32-38 B, C,D,E

specializes in
personal
attention
and fit for
all sizes

In The Bloomfield Commons
West Maple at Lahser

6/21
2002

64

(248) 644-4576

10-6 Mon-Sat

common theme. The real offense of
Moses was not that he struck the rock
instead of speaking to it.- His trans-
gression was in his motivation, atti-
tude and inner response. He was
impatient and exasperated, evidencing
at that moment deficiency in his faith
his week's Torah portion
in God and love of his people.
contains a difficult passage
However, the question remains.
that has puzzled inter-
Should Moses be denied the attain-
preters of the Bible
ment of his life's goal for this offense?
throughout the centuries.
But in asking the question a second
The Hebrew people, journeying
time, we have implicitly answered it.
through the desert, complain of thirst.
In other men, anger and impatience
They cry out, "Why did you make us
could be forgiven, but not Moses.
leave Egypt to bring us to this
Common faults can be
wretched place, where there is
forgiven in common men,
not even water to drink?"
but Moses was a most
God tells Moses to gather
uncommon man. He was a
the people around a great
Divine messenger, speaking in
rock. He commands Moses to
the name of the Almighty.
speak to it and bring forth
This truth speaks not only
water from it. When the peo-
to Moses, but also to us. He
ple assemble, Moses berates
who enjoys a privilege has a
them, saying, "Listen, you
commensurate responsibility,
rebels, shall we then bring
and the greater the privilege,
RABBI IRWIN
forth water for you from this
the
greater the obligation. It
GRONER
rock?" Whereupon Moses rais-
matters
not whether the privi-
Special to the
es his hand and strikes the
lege is leadership,-wealth, edu-
Jewish News
rock twice. Out comes copious
cation or talent. The Talmud
water. Moses then hears the
says that with the righteous,
Divine decree of a punishment that is
God is more exacting and demanding.
immediate and decisive. "Since you
The truth has application to our own
didn't believe in Me enough to affirm
time. We tend to view with dismay and
My sanctity in the sight of the children
alarm the lawlessness of the underprivi-
of Israel, you, Moses and Aaron, will
leged. And yet, we can understand that
not be privileged to lead this multitude
broken homes, poverty and a corrupt
into the land that I have given them."
environment stimulate this lawlessness.
Why so grievous a punishment for so
But what about those on the upper
minor an offense? The great vision that
level of the educational, social and eco-
Moses had dreamed about, the entrance
nomic ranges of our country? Many
into the land of Canaan, was to be
who enjoy life's privileges and security
denied him. For what reason? What was
demonstrate carelessness, irresponsibility
the severity of his transgression?
and wastefulness. Worse yet, we see peo-
Commentators — ancient, medieval
ple occupying positions of trust and
and modern — struggle with this ques-
responsibility in business, finance, gov-
tion. Rashi, the classical commentator,
ernment, and even the institution of
declared that the sin of Moses was that
religion, violate that trust and commit
he struck the rock instead of speaking to
acts that dishonor their positions. Is not
it; and that, therefore, the will of the
their transgression greater because of the
Almighty was not fulfilled. Another
exalted station they occupy?
commentator, the Akedat Yitzchock,
It is not difficult to criticize others. It
concedes his inability to explain.
is much more difficult to criticize our-
Maimonides declares that the sin of selves. Being a Jew is a great privilege.
Moses was his anger. "The great
Our religious and moral heritage confers
leader," said Maimonides, "should not
upon each of us the vision and faith of
have given way to anger."
all the preceding centuries. We, as Jews,
Ibn Ezra takes a different view. He
ought to set standards of integrity and
sees the fault of Moses and Aaron as fear
moral excellence for our society.
of the people. Before Moses spoke to
Moses enjoyed the extraordinary
God, he and Aaron fled before the anger
privilege of being God's spokesman.
of the people. Because they lacked faith,
When he gave way to impatience and
they were fearful; and this was their sin.
faithlessness, he violated the standards of
All Of the commentators address a
his high office and was disbarred from
the land of promise. Let all who enjoy
Irwin Groner is senior rabbi of
privilege be cognizant of this truth, and
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
recognize the obligation it imposes.

Shabbat Chukat-Balak:
Numbers 19:1- 25:9;
Micah 5:6-6:8

T

CHICO'S

STEVEN FRANKLIN
OPTICS

As Moses And Aaron Learned,
Power Carries Higher Obligations