S. te ert)
9
TORAH PORTION
3426 E. es t Maple Rd., at Haggerty Rd.
(248) 926-9555
r
1
Whole-Heartedly
Shabbat Shoftim:
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9;
Isaiah 51:12-52:12.
stand Moses' words to the Israelites
any scholars suggest the
before his death. He says, "When you
problem of assimilation
enter the land that the Lord your God
is a modern phenom-
is giving you, you shall not learn to
enon beginning with the French
imitate the abhorrent practices of
Revolution's promise of "liberty,
those nations. Let no one be
fraternity, and equality."
found among you who con-
For the Jew, freedom was a
signs his son or daughter to
mixed blessing.
the fire, or who is an augur,
Jews in Russia, for
a soothsayer, a diviner, a
example, asked whether
sorcerer ... But, you, you are
they should support the
to be (tamim; whole-hearted
Czar or Napoleon; one
with God" (Deuteronomy
rabbi responded, "The Czar
18:9-13).
may take your body, but
Moses urges the genera-
Napoleon will take your
Rabb i Lee
tion that is about to enter
soul," Without the external
Buck man
the Promised Land not to
threat of anti-Semitism or
Special to the
succumb to the temptations
the artificial barriers of the
Jewish News
of idolatry. Like Noah, who
ghetto, Jews had the free-
defied the immoral norms
dom to embrace Judaism or
of the society around him and, like
abandon it.
Abraham, who answered to a uniquely
This dilemma, however, is, in many
Divine command, the Israelites are
ways, not so modern.
urged to retain their uniqueness as a
Moses' valedictory speech found
people.
in this week's Torah portion dem-
To survive as a distinct nation, they
onstrates this amply. Moses tells the
must be counter-cultural. For if the
people of Israel as they are about to
enter the land of Canaan: "You shall be Israelites only do what their neighbors
do, say what their neighbors say and
tamim, whole-hearted, with the Lord
believe what their neighbors believe,
your God" (Deuteronomy 18:9-13).
they will not remain Jewish for long.
But what exactly does it mean to be
They must be "tamim," undivided in
"tamim?"
their loyalty to God and to God's ethi-
The word first appears in the Torah
cal demands.
as a description of Noah's moral
The same is true today. The greatest
virtue. It is parallel to the adjective tsa-
challenge we face as modern Jews is
dik. Noah is described as a "righteous
man; he was "tamim," blameless, in his to be "tamim": to uphold standards of
morality even when others do not, to
generation" (Genesis 6:9). In a world
follow the path of God even when it
filled with corruption, Noah was an
individual of unimpeachable integrity. is unpopular, and to use our freedom
The second time "tamim" appears in to contribute a unique Jewish voice to
society. I 1
the Torah is with Abraham. As a pre-
lude to the commandment to circum-
Rabbi Lee Buckman is head of school
cise himself, Abraham is told by God,
at the Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish
"I am El Shaddai. Walk in My ways
Academy of Metropolitan Detroit.
and be etamimf" (Genesis 17:1).
The 19th century Italian commen-
tator, Samuel David Luzzato, under-
stands the word to connote obedience
Conversations
and loyalty. Abraham is commanded
Without turning our back on the
to follow exclusively the path of the
modern world, how do we remain
One God and be wholly committed to
counter-cultural? How do we
God. He is to be "tamim."
stack the deck so that our chil-
With echoes of the uncommon
dren choose to use their freedom
morality of Noah and unflinching loy-
to embrace Judaism?
alty of Abraham, we can now under-
Ribeye Steak, Beef Tenderloin, Lamb;
Chops, Beef Short Ribs and any other 1
1
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dinner special includes
i $V99soup or salad & drink
1 .
exp 942/07
“.......=.1
L ....... .........
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DELI SPECIAL
"'"'“ • 11
DINE-IN or CARRY-OUT
I
20%
OFF
exp 9/02/07
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BREAKFAST
SPECIAL
1 lb. Corned Beef, Deli Rye,
1 pint Coleslaw, 1 pint
Potato Salad
$2.99 FREE COFFEE
I
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$ 1 599 exp 9/02/07
1
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a
Lox Plate for two
including Fruit Plate
$11 99
exp 9/02/07
1
Mon-Fri 8am-1 lam exp 9/02/07
1
1
BUY QUART
OF SOUP
2ND FREE!!
I
1
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UI
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exp 9/02/07
R.
your TOTAL
food bill
ANY TIME -
Dine in only
Not good with
any other offer
expires 8131107
envS co Li Garden
Authentic Korean & Japanese Cuisine
Phone (248) 827-1600
vvww.newseoulgarden.corn
oRen
Catering Available
-
27566 Northwestern Hwy.
• Cocktails • Beer & Wine •
, 4t
01-1-p te
9 „Lac,.
• Healthy Diet Dishes •
10°/0 OFF
DINNER ONLY
I Dine-in or carry-out. Not good on
holidays or with any other offer.
Expires 10/5/07
DELIVERY AVAILABLE FOR OFFICES min $20
For complete menu:
www.empirechinesefood.com
29875 Northwestern Highway
At Inkster • Applegate Square
(248) 353-7890
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR LUNCH AND DINNER
1291310
Wit11
ClittACA
0511:61
presents
G EOSTRUCTU RES
and other systems
FRANKLIN JONAS
Opening reception
Thursday, August 23 at 6:30 pm
Exhibition runs through October 7
:31111111
Ike CENTER
6600 W. Maple Road in W. Bloomfield
248.432.5579 www.jccdet.org
1292160
August 16 • 2007
37