To Life!
RAH PORTION
A Time For
Self-Assessment
Shabbat Reeh:
Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17;
Isaiah 54:11-55:5.
T
Have The
Detroit Jewish News
Delivered To Your Door
Every Thursday
For About A Dollar A Week
call 248.351,5174,
visit www.JNonlinesus
(click the subscribe link)
or fill out and mail the form below
0 1 year @$60 0 2 years @$114 0 3 Years @140
❑ bill me ❑ payment enclosed
charge my ❑ Visa ❑ MasterCard ❑ American Express
exp date
card #
signature(required)
name
phone#
street address
state
city
zip
email address
E I would like to be contacted about special offers and/or sending a gift subscription
mail to: Detroit Jewish News • PO Box 2267 • Southfield MI 48037-2267
Please allow 2-3 weeks to begin delivery. In-state subscriptions only.
Out of state price $79 for 1 year, $139 for 2 years.
44
August 9 • 2007
DETROIT
JEWISH NEWS
JN
between what matters a lot and what
his week's Torah reading
matters little.
includes this statement
addressed to Moses to the
Even though many have been
endowed with the gifts of intelligence,
Hebrew people: "Take heed to thyself
creativity and talent, enabling them to
that thou offer not thy burnt offerings
in every place that thou seeest;
make a distinct contribu-
tion to life and to exercise
but rather in the place which
the Lord shall choose ... there
a distinctive influence for
thou shalt do all that I com-
good, somehow they fail
to achieve their potential.
mand thee."
They have too many
The verse has two levels of
irons in the fire; they
meanings. In biblical times,
spread themselves too
scattered, private shrines were
thin. They are perpetu-
prohibited because they would
ally emerging from one
be linked with pagan worship.
Rabbi Irwin
undertaking to another,
People were commanded to
Groner
supporting this cause
designate a central sanctuary
Special to the
and that one, while their
for their offerings, a place that
Jewish News
appointment book is a
would be hallowed by God.
testimony to their industry and tire-
Every wayside has its altars, every
altar its priests and adherents. It is folly lessness.
This season is the appropriate time
to worship at every altar, for all altars
are not equally deserving of our loyalty to ask what we really want from life.
On this Sabbath, we recite the blessing
and reverence. We should reserve our
for the new month of Elul, the month
best for the Highest. To what shall we
that precedes Rosh Hashanah. This
give our best, what should elicit from
is the time that the Jewish tradition
us our most precious sacrifice?
designates for Cheshb on
HaNefesh, spiritual evalu-
ation or self-assessment,
as we consider the paths
we have traversed and
the direction in which
our lives should move.
As we approach the New Year, we
Some people have never answered
reflect upon the sage advice of our
this challenge. Their fault is that they
Tradition: "Give your best for the sake
have divided it between so many dif-
of the best. Don't worship at the wrong
ferent shrines that their gift seems to
altars. Commit your time and effort
be of such little value upon any. Life is
for what is truly valuable."
largely a matter of priorities. In order
to find satisfaction, we have to deter-
mine what is truly and supremely valu- Irwin Groner is rabbi emeritus of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek of Oakland
able and then set about to achieve it.
County.
We recognize duties that challenge
us, responsibilities that confront us,
Conversations
pleasures that entice us; and they all
What do you really want from
compete for priority right. We need to
life? What are your lifetime
formulate a scale of values. Which is
goals? How would you like to
the central altar, the primary shrine?
spend the next three years? If
To what shall we devote the fulhiess of
you knew now that you would be
our energy and capacity? If life is to
struck by lightning six months
have direction, we need to discrimi-
from today, how would you live
nate between the better and the best,
until then?
between the major and the minor,
This season is the appropriate
time to ask what we really
want from life.