The Birmingham Temple VT
. .

To Life!

TORAH PORTION

Israeli-Palestinian
Peace Activist

.

-

.

Diane Balser, PhD.

will speak at
the Birmingham Temple Forum

Monday, November 7 th
At 8:00 pm

The theme for upcoming Forums with
Rabbi Sherwin Wine is "Sixty Years Later"
New Germany: Recovering from the Recovery
November 14 th at 8:00 pm

New Japan: Transformation and Power
November 21st at 8:00 pm

New Russia: Life after Communism
November 28th at 8:00 pm

Call for details

248-477-1410

www.birminghamtemple.org

The Birmingham Temple

28611 W. 12 Mile Rd.
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
( west of Inkster Road)

1038730

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Farmington Hills

Waters Of Eden

Shabbat Bereshit:
Genesis 1:1-6:8;
Isaiah 42:5-43:10.

here is a seam-
ly came from water ("And
less bond link-
the spirit of God hovered
ing the fall festi-
over the face of the waters"
vals to the story of the
— Genesis 1:2). And in its
creation of the world
description of the Garden
and our exile from the
of Eden, the Torah tells us
Garden of Eden;
that "a river came out from
indeed, the major
Eden to water the garden
Rabbi Shlomo
message of the sacred,
and from there it split into
Riskin
joyous days of the sev-
four
tributaries:'
Special to the
enth month is the
The
name of a second
Jewish News
Jewish mission to re-
river is the Gihon (from a
create the world of
root which means to skip
alienation and return it to its for- — it skips out from between the
mer initial glory of Eden.
rocks — or to make a rushing
The zenith of this holiday sea-
sound), which surrounds the
son is Sukkot, when we celebrate
land of Ethiopia (Genesis 2:10-
the entry of the newly freed,
13). If the dream of recreating
wandering Israelites into their
the world means to return to an
homeland of Israel and we
uncorrupted era of Eden harmo-
declare our fealty to the God of
ny, before the eating of the for-
the universe who shall soon rain
bidden fruit, then the offering of
down on us His life-giving and
a water libation from the Gihon
redemption — bringing waters
would certainly express this
of rebirth and compassion.
vision.
Indeed, the rain from heaven
Torah, compared to life-giving
for which we praise the Almighty rain waters, must be publicly
on Shemini Atzeret is a most
read at least every three days
dramatic symbol of Divine grace because humanity cannot exist
and compassion, the life-giving
without water for that time.
waters which will enable not only
The re-creation of the world
vegetation to flourish but also all by water and fire can only take
of humanity to be reborn once
place by means of our Torah,
all of the nations of the world
compared to water and symbol-
accept that we transform our
ized by fire. Is it any wonder that
swords into plowshares and
Shemini Atzeret, the highest
watch the lamb lie down with the point of redemption, is celebrat-
lion.
ed by Simchat Torah, our joyous
But the symbolism goes yet
dancing around the Torah
deeper. Sukkot also symbolizes
scrolls? May we merit the time
the rebirth of the world in its
when "the Knowledge of God
emphasis on water — both in
will fill the world as the water
terms of the willow plant
covers the seas." (Isaiah 11). ❑
(arava), which generally grows
neat rivers and which is-separat- Shlomo Riskin is head of Israel's
Ohr Torah Stone Institute and chief
ed from the other three species
rabbi of Efrat, West Bank.
and singled out as an instrument
of prayer especially because of
the special water libation unique
Conversations
to Sukkot. Many Temple sacri-
Discuss other biblical
fices were accompanied by wine
instances
where water ties in
libations; only on Sukkot are
with
a
beginning.
Compare
there separate water libations.
the
thirst
for
water
and
The Bible opens with the story
thirst
for
teachings
of
Torah.
of creation — which primordial-

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34

October 27 2005

tni

