Spirituality

TORAH PORTION

Keynoter

Homeland Security chief to address
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah dinner.

U

.S. Secretary of Homeland
Dinner is a half-century Detroit tradition
Security Janet Napolitano
and one of the largest dinners of its kind
will be keynote speaker at the
in the country, hosting nearly 2,500 of
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah's 2009 annual din- Michigan's business and political lead-
ner on Sunday, Nov.15. The dinner will
ers, including Gov. Jennifer Granholm,
honor Arthur A. Weiss, a partner at Jaffe, Senators Carl Levin and Debbie
Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, with the presti-
Stabenow, many in Michigan's U.S. con-
gious Golden Torah Award.
gressional delegation, other elected lead-
In one of his first acts after winning
ers of every political stripe and business
election, President Barack Obama chose
professionals from every sector.
then-Governor of Arizona
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah is
Janet Napolitano to be
the largest Jewish school
secretary of Homeland
system in Michigan and
Security. She is leading our
has provided quality Torah-
nation's collective efforts
based and secular educa-
to secure our country from
tional programs for almost
terrorism to natural disas-
100 years. Under its guid-
ters to the H1N1 flu virus.
ance, nearly 800 students
In her previous role
in pre-K through grade 12
as Arizona governor,
are receiving an excellent
Napolitano was already
foundation to become the
recognized as a national
future leaders of our com-
leader on homeland secu-
Janet Napo litano munity. In addition, Partners
rity, border security and
in Torah, its highly acclaimed
immigration. She was the first woman to and successful adult education program,
chair the National Governors Association joins together hundreds of people of all
and was named one of the top five gov-
backgrounds to further their knowledge of
ernors in the country by Time magazine. their Jewish heritage.
Napolitano was the first female attorney
This year's dinner will be held at the
general of Arizona and served as U.S.
Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center.
Attorney for the District of Arizona.
Reservations are $200 per ticket. You can
Napolitano was born in New York
make a reservation by: visiting www.
City and grew up in Pittsburgh and
DetroitYeshiva.org/dinner; calling the
Albuquerque. She graduated from Santa
Dinner Hotline, (248) 663-8394; or faxing
Clara University, where she was the uni-
your request to (248) 557-6838.
versity's first female valedictorian. She
received a Juris Doctor degree from the
For more information or tickets, please visit
University of Virginia School of Law.
www.DetroitYeshiva.org/Dinner or call 248-
The Yeshiva Beth Yehudah Annual
557-6750.

❑

Ask The Doctors
The Adat Shalom Sisterhood in
Farmington Hills will present Ask the Adat
Shalom Doctors at a program at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the synagogue.
The panel of physicians are Dr. Neil
Brickman, gynecologist; Dr. Lenny Cetner
and Dr. Michael Dorman, dermatolo-
gists; Dr. Joel Kahn, cardiologist; Dr. Jay
Levinson, gastroenterologist; Dr. Steven
Stein, plastic surgeon; and Dr. Jeffrey
Weingarten, urologist.
The doctors will respond to ques-
tions on a variety of medical topics.
Refreshments will be served following the
program. There is no charge. Lisa Betman
of West Bloomfield is chairing the event.
The community is welcome. To attend,

28

November 5 • 2009

respond by calling the synagogue office,
(248) 851-5100.

Consecrants Honored
Temple Beth El's 2009 consecrants were
honored at Simchat Torah Services Oct. 9
in Bloomfield Township.
Honored this year were Eric Becker,
Ryan B. Becker, Stephanie Belkin, Tyler Co,
Isabella Drysdale, Ryley Harker, Sydney
Harker, Lucy Hoffman, Lyle Hoffman, Cole
Jacobson, Luke Jacobson, Ryan Krause,
Gabriel Rosen, Raquel Rosenfeld, Hannah
Rosinski, Matthew Shanbom, Andrew
Sherman, Noah Sklar, Emma Springel,
Jacob Springel, Bradley Stamen, William
Stroube, Rachel Thav, Evan J. Webb and
Madison Yolles.

Isaac And Ishmael:
Bound In Destiny?

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

Efrat, Israel

I'd like to suggest that the weaving of
these near fatal moments in the lives
nd an angel of the Lord called of both Isaac and Ishmael is not meant
out to Hagar ... Arise, lift up
to illustrate a measure-for-measure
your lad for I shall make him
punishment, rather the Torah wants to
a great nation" (Genesis 21:17,18)
emphasize that Ishmael is also a son of
One of the most perplexing stories of
Abraham, and the similarities between
the Bible and the highlight of
his life and Isaac's — both
this week's portion of Vayera
brothers are saved from near
is the Akedah — the "bind-
death and both will become
ing" of Isaac. But when just
founders of great nations. But
before the Akedah, Abraham
most important, the lives of
is commanded by God to
these brothers will always be
banish his firstborn son
intertwined and interrelated.
Ishmael from his household,
It shouldn't surprise us that
we could easily describe
since Ishmael is Abraham's
that story as the "binding"
first-born, Isaac will always
— near death of Ishmael!
be concerned that his elder
Rabbi S hlomo
The Bible introduces
brother could become the heir
Risk in
the story of the binding of
to the Abrahamic patrimony!
Special to the
Isaac with the words, "And
Hence, the younger Isaac
Jewish News
it happened after these
is both attracted to the more
things that the Lord tested
dominant, first-born Ishmael
Abraham ..." What are these things?
but also jealous of the brother destined
It may very well be that the Torah is
to father a great nation.
referring to Abraham's harsh treatment
Beyond jealousy there is guilt. After
of Ishmael. In effect, God is saying that
all, Isaac could not forget that it was
if Abraham could send mother and son because of him that Ishmael and his
into the desert with only bread and a
mother were banished when the teen-
jug of water — supplies so inadequate
age Ishmael found to be "sporting" or
that Hagar would end up watching
"mocking" around him. Indeed, Isaac
her son come close to death — then
may have even considered the possibility
God will now command Abraham to
that his father really wanted him out of
bring Isaac to Mount Moriah where he,
the way and that the Akedah was a way
too, will be forced to 'watch' his other
to clear the path for Ishmael to inherit
beloved son narrowly escape death.
his mantle. Certainly, after the trauma of
Further parallels between Ishmael in the Akedah, Isaac doesn't return with his
the desert and Isaac on Mount Moriah
father to Be'er Sheva, and father and son
may give credence to a `measure-for-
are never seen together again until the
measure' interpretation. In both events, end of Abraham's life!
it is God who commands the 'near'
The chapter concludes with the
sacrifice, and on both occasions we
twelve "princes of nations" who were
read ... "And Abraham rose up early
born to Ishmael, paralleling Isaac's
in the morning!' In addition, Hagar
twelve grandsons and tribes born to his
... goes and wanders in the desert of
son Jacob. (25:12) Ishmael and Isaac
Be'er Sheba" just as Abraham walks to
are involved in a perpetual approach-
an uncertain destination, to "...one of
avoidance dance wherein they see each
the mountains which He [God] will tell other as rivals but come to recognize
him!' (Genesis 21:14; 22:2,3).
that ultimately they must learn to live
In both stories, the moment of deliv- together in the same part of the world
erance occurs when an "angel of God"
where each will become a great nation.
appears and saves the young men,
Abraham is indeed the father of a
both of whom are referred to as "na'ar
multitude of nations. ri
(youth)" rather than "son" (Genesis 21:17;
22:11,12); and in both instances, the sons Shlomo Riskin is chancellor Ohr Torah
do not return to live with their father.
Stone and chief rabbi of Efrat,

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