The Professional Health Services Division
of
TORAH PORTION
State of Israel Bonds
cordially invites you to attend the
Maimonides Tribute Dinner
honoring
Be Counted
Shabbat Bamidbar: Numbers 1:1-4:20;
Hosea 2:1-22.
0
ne of the first things we are
we are beloved by God, He counts us
taught when learning any
every hour.
language is how to count.
Throughout history, God has con-
Perhaps this is because once we are
tinued to count us and count on us in
able to count, we can immediately
times of national upheaval as well as
begin to structure and comprehend
in times of incredible achievement.
the world around us.
God's love is unwavering, uncon-
Judaism is a religion that attributes
ditional and eternal. God counted
great sanctity and meaning to count-
our ancestors — and God counts us
ing — whether it is keeping track of
— again and again, in good times
family milestones such as birthdays
and in bad, regardless of place and
and anniversaries or numbering each
circumstance.
one of our blessings in life.
In the same way, we
The Book of Bamidbar
must be able to continue
(Numbers) begins this week
to count on each other to
with God commanding
get us through the difficult
Moses to take a census of
times. May the 60th birth-
the whole Israelite com-
day of the modern State of
munity. God requires the
Israel and the 41st anniver-
census in part because our
sary of the reunification of
ancestors were anticipating
Jerusalem be models for us
some difficult battles as
that anything is possible if
they made their way across
we maintain our faith and
Rabbi Joseph
the desert and they needed
our resolve.
to know how many troops
H. Krakoff
And as we enter the final
Special to the
they had for combat.
days in the counting of the
Jewish News
There is no question that
Omer leading up to the
much of Jewish history to
holiday of Shavuot, which
date can be characterized by our suc-
begins Sunday night, June 8, may we
cess in fighting off and rebounding
always affirm with love and gratitude
from devastating losses and persecu-
the beauty of our great tradition,
tions well beyond measure. In fact,
giving thanks for the gift of Torah,
many of our Jewish holidays remind
the Land of Israel and, most impor-
us of various battles won, even against tantly, for the daily miracles that the
the odds.
Almighty bestows upon us!
Just a few weeks ago, we celebrated
Am Yisrael Chai! Count on it!
Yom HaAtzmaut, the 60th birthday of
the modern State of Israel, and this
Joseph Krakoff is a rabbi at Congregation
coming Monday, June 2, we will mark
Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County.
another modern day miracle on the
Jewish calendar, Yom Yerushalayim,
the 41st anniversary of the reunifica-
tion of Jerusalem, the Eternal City,
during the Six-Day War.
This glorious victory fulfilled
Conversations
the famous words of the late Prime
Who are the people in your life
Minister of Israel David Ben-Gurion,
you can count on most? Ask
who proclaimed, "The Jewish state
your parents/grandparents if
cannot live without Jerusalem, as a
they remember what is was
body cannot live without a heart:'
like when Jerusalem was liber-
While all other ancient nations
ated and reunified on June 7,
have died out, we, the Jewish people,
1967. How was it portrayed in
continue to live and thrive because,
the news? How soon after did
as our portion this week reminds us,
they visit Israel? What are some
God is constantly counting us! The
other modern-day miracles you
medieval Torah and talmudic com-
have read about or experienced?
mentator Rashi explains that because
❑
Jack E. Belen, D.O. • Carl B. Lauter, M.D.
Recipients of the State of Israel Maimonides Award
Special Guest Speaker
Gil Tamary
Distinguished Israeli Television Correspondent
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Adat Shalom Synagogue
29901 Middlebelt Road
Farmington Hills
Tribute Chairmen
Dr. William M. Leuchter
Dr. Arthur S. Lieberman
Dr. Harris W. Mainster
Cocktails and Strolling Dinner
6:00 p.m.
Program 7:00 p.m.
Dessert Buffet To Follow
Couvert: $110 per person
R.S.V.P. by June 11
Development Corporation for Israel
ISRAEL BONDS
Member NASD, SIPC
29777 Telegraph Road Suite 2415
Southfield, MI 48034
248-352-6555 or toll free 888-352-6556
1397680
May 29 Q 2008
B3