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TORAH PORTION

EIGHT
EIGHTY

over

A Powerful Example

Shabbat Vayera: Genesis 18:1-22:24; //
Kings 4:1-37.

1

n this week's parashah, God
do what is right (tzedakah).
praises Avraham, the forefather
Again, Avraham draws from his
of the Jewish people, for what
own sense of law, to demand of God
he will do. God is convinced that
to spare the innocent. Avraham knows
Avraham will successfully educate and that it is not right to kill those who
empower his children to do what is
have committed no wrong.
right and just, (tzedakah) and (mish-
So what has the Torah taught us
pat) (Genesis 18:19).
by putting two sections together: one
Interestingly, however, God makes
which states that Avraham has the
these statements, not to Avraham
ability to model morality, and the
directly, but to his messengers. The
other which defines that sense of right
question is: What does it mean "to do
and wrong, the concept of justice from
justice" or "to do righteous-
Avraham himself?
ness?" God does not tell us
In essence, it seems that
explicitly in His comments
God has shown Avraham
about Avraham.
"the way of God" by simply
As the sages teach us,
letting that righteousness
the Torah often asks us,
come from him, listening
the readers and students,
to him, engaging him and
to define seemingly unex-
encouraging his convic-
plainable terms or concepts
tions. What a powerful les-
within the holy text itself.
son in moral education!
We find one such exam-
What better way could
Rabbi Ben
ple in the case of God's
there be to truly demon-
Korenstein
praise for Avraham for how
strate a message than to
Special to the
he will lead others to do
allow us to exercise our free
Jewish News
what is right, which, as we
will in understanding it?
know, is left undefined.
Along with the endless
Immediately following these com-
pieces of wisdom one can derive from
ments, the Torah shares with us how
this series of events, we can also feel
Avraham sought to save the righteous
secure knowing that we truly are
members of the sinful city of Sodom.
made in the image of our righteous
Avraham challenges God: How
and just God if our natural instincts
can You smite the righteous with the
guide us in adding to the rightness
wicked? In his words, "Shall the Judge
and justness of our society and the
of the earth not do justice?" (18:25).
universe.
What follows is even more remark-
May we merit continuing to receive
able: Avraham bargains with God. If I
the promise of God's covenant to
can find 50 innocent people, will You
Avraham and reciprocate by carrying
save the city? What if I find 45 ... 30
on the positive examples our forefa-
...10? Avraham is relentless in his
thers have instituted. ❑
pursuit to vindicate the innocent and
the good, even if they are the minority. Ben Korenstein is a teacher in the
When the Torah records Avraham's
Bible Department of the Frankel Jewish
initial plea, "Shall the Judge of the
Academy in West Bloomfield and he serves
earth not do justice?" it uses the word
as the youth director of Young Israel of
mishpat, the same word we had above! Southfield.
When God says that Avraham will
do what is right and just, He uses the
word mishpat. The moral imperative
comes from within Avraham, as does
Conversations
the definition for justice. God does not
Where does our sense of justice
dictate His morality.
come from? Is it more effective
Likewise, when asking if God will
to preach morality or to inspire
spare the "innocent" members of
morality by example? Should a
Sodom, Avraham uses the word tza-
sinful or misbehaving group "be
dik, from the same root as tzedakah,
saved," or excused from punish-
the word God employed in addition to
ment for the sake of the inno-
mishpat, to tell us that Avraham will
cent few?

Li

Jewish
Apartments
&services

The Tikkun Olam Award recognizes eight senior adults
and their lifetime commitment to the Jewish Community.

Do you know a deserving older adult who...

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Is at least 80 years old?
Has been a life long volunteer in the community?
Is active and volunteering today?
Is dedicated to maintaining strong Jewish values?
Is an inspiring leader or mentor in the community?

How TO NOMINATE:

Write or email JAS describing the worthiness of the nominee.

Please include (as applicable)

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Name and age of nominee
Duration of volunteer service (years, decades)
Involvement in Jewish organizations and causes
Leadership positions held
Current accomplishments
Letters and newspaper articles supporting nominee's
accomplishments

Also explain how the nominee's long-standing activities exemplify a

commitment to the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world).

MAIL/EMAIL TO:

Eight Over Eighty
Jewish Apartments & Services
David and Miriam Mondry Building
15000 W. Ten Mile Road
Oak Park, MI 48237
Email: PWurdock@Jasmi.org
or call: 248-592-1101

ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 15, 20°9.

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November 13 • 2008

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