Spirituality TORAH PORTION David H. Colburn, J.D. & Robert S. Colburn are pleased to announce the formation of • • • • • Sometimes, It Isn't Good To Be 'Green' colbumeolburn INSURANCE & RISK SERVICES Shabbat Vayeshev: Genesis 37:1- 40:20; Amos 2:6-3:8. L ately, all we seem to be hear- All this color; all misused; all misplaced ing is that we should "go and misunderstood. green." Now, some might say All of these colors combined leave that means that we should root for the us with a sense of blackness. Black, Spartans. Being a Wolverine, I find that for many cultures, signifies mourning. unconscionable. When we lose someone we love, we Today, in a time when the effects of wear a black ribbon to show that we are global warming are becoming more a principal mourner. Jacob, we could apparent every day, "going green" means say, was engulfed in blackness once he that we should be mindful of the envi- heard of the death of his son. The broth- ronment and choose to be better stew- ers were surely shrouded in blackness ards of the planet. after having heaved Joseph into One of my favorite a pit and succumbing to their midrashim is from envy. Midrash Ecclesiastes Jealousy is dangerous. It can Rabbah. It is as much a lead us to do horrible things word of advice as it is a that we would otherwise not warning. We learn that even fathom. It is a driving when God created the force, but not a positive force. first human beings, He We should never allow our- showed them the beauty selves to be overcome with and bounty of the Garden jealousy and give it the power of Eden and warned them Rabbi to choose our behavior. We to treat the garden with Jennifer T. need to look inward, not out- great care. God told them Kaluzny ward. If anything, we should that the world was created Special to the try to be the kind of loving, for them; and if they take Jewish News kind and successful people that advantage and destroy the we would envy. That takes hard world, there will not be another created work, but it is always better to work in its place. The "go green" reminders hard and achieve then to be lackluster, and exhortations we are hearing now lazy and green with envy. are reminiscent of this valuable infor- Joseph's brothers are tragic examples mation given to us thousands of years of what can happen when jealousy takes ago by God. We have not heeded the over rational thought. We must always warning. keep our feelings of envy in check, real- Green can also be a way of describ- ize what we are jealous of and work to ing someone who is jealous. Sometimes be or acquire whatever it is that we want we have the blues; other times we are — and replace the feelings of envy with red hot with anger, and other situa- feelings of accomplishment. Just like we tions in life make us green with envy. have this one world, we have just one Shakespeare included this expression in life to live. Let's all work to fill it with Othello. Iago warns Othello of jealousy beautiful color and light and strive to and refers to it as the "green-eyed mon- eliminate the blackness. ster" that mocks that which it feeds off. In this case, green is not the color you Jennifer Kaluzny is a rabbi at Temple want to be. Israel in West Bloomfield. This week's portion is all about color. Joseph receives a beautiful coat of many colors from his father, Jacob. His broth- Conversations ers, in turn, become green with envy. Have you ever allowed jealousy They are jealous of the affection and to overcome you? What could favoritism that their father is showing Joseph's brothers have done Joseph, and they decide to do away with instead of throwing hirri into the him. The beautiful coat is then stained pit? How can we discuss the feel- with red goat's blood and returned to ings with have with others before their father as proof that his beloved they become a problem? Joseph has been killed by wild beasts. We are proud to continue our family's legacy of excellence which has spanned two generations of leadership in the insurance industry. Please note our new contact information as of 11/30/07: 121 W. Long Lake Road, Second Floor - Suite 220 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304 P 248-594-6444 F 248-594-6445 colburncolburn.com 1329460 • OnStar with Turn-by-Turn Navigation ▪ V8 - Leather 39-MONTH LEASE $399 */m°. 39-MONTH LEASE $499 */MO. *°tiStar with Tin;nhrT,Urn *Plus tax, title and license. Must qualify for Must qualify for GMS. Pictures may not re A, Now In Stock! LIBERTY ACME PURSUIT. Mon. & Thurs. til 9; 'flues., Wed., Fri. til 6 OPEN SAT 10 am - 4 pm 4ree. . : " 6 TWO Onion! Lakt RC, Ws* INvouSielt 248451 .1 7 November 29 * 2007 C9