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A Light Unto Nations
Parshat Naso: Numbers 4:21-7:89;
Judges 13:2-25.
"A man or woman who commits one
of the sins of faithlessness in God ... that
person shall bear guilt."
T
Are you considering a move to a senior living community? Are you
overwhelmed by the different locations, features and amenities? Are
you tired of the questions and just want some honest answers? Then
consider a community that has the following:
• Six different dinner entrees every night
• A chef who is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America
• Daily, weekly and monthly housekeeping
• Flat linen and laundry services
• Complimentary transportation services
• Organized events, activities and outings seven days a week
• A heated swimming pool
• Aquatics classes led by a certified Arthritis Foundation instructor
• GPS-based emergency call and pendant systems
• Sprinkler systems throughout
• A management team with an average tenure of seven years
• 24-hour Concierge
• On-site physical, occupational and speech therapy and Home Health
• On-site medical center affiliated with St. John-Providence Hospital and
staffed by the hospital's Medical Director of Aging Services
Nov there's only ONE community to consider:
The Heritage Southfield. For more information or to schedule
your personal visit, call (248) 727-2000.
*jo
THE HERITAGE
- - - -
SOUTHFIELD
BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING
30
wvvw.brookdaleliving.com
2 - 2011
Fully Eisenberger is a rabbi at the
University of Michigan. He runs programs
at the Jewish Resource Center, among
them Shabbat meals, one-on-one learning
and the Maimonides Leadership Program.
• What part of Judaism or Torah are you lowering your standards for,
instead of reaching higher? What are some practical ways to help
combat that?
• What are some simple, easy ways to start making a Kiddush Hashem
in your everyday life?
• What is so bad about making a Chillul Hashem? How can we avoid it?
25800 Eleven Mile Road, Southfield, Michigan 48034
Exceptional Experiences Every Day is a Service Mark of Srookdate Senior LivingiD Inc., Nashville, TN, USA. Ofieg. U.S. Patent and TM Office. 18710-ROP0141511-GB
he most common manifes-
tation of the above pasuk
(biblical verse) is stealing,
as there is almost nothing that more
clearly shows a lack of faith in God
than a person taking
what is not rightfully
theirs.
The Sforno, a 16th-
century Torah scholar,
expounds on this topic.
He says that while it is a
sin to steal from anyone,
it is an even greater sin
to steal from a ger, a
righteous convert to the
Jewish people.
Why is that? Shouldn't
stealing be an equal opportunity sin?
He goes on to say that upon steal-
ing from a ger one not only sins by
stealing, but also by making a Chillul
Hashem — a desecration of God's
holy name.
We can take the conversion exam-
ple further and say that it means any-
one who is unfamiliar with or new to
Judaism. A Jew who steals from any-
one is looked at not as an individual
who stole, but as a Jew who stole.
Whether we like it or not, there exists
among all Jews a collective respon-
sibility to act in a moral and proper
manner, not just for our sake but also
for the sake of the rest of the world.
Jews have a responsibility to be
"a light unto the nations" by provid-
ing an example of what it means to
be a God-fearing person. Being a
God-fearing person means not steal-
ing. The world knows when a Jewish
person does something wrong or
illegal. When someone who identifies
themselves as Jewish is accused or
found to have lied, been deceitful or
stolen, there is a breach of trust and
faith in the Jewish people, no matter
the circumstances.
We can take this concept a step
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Independent Living • Personalized Assisted Living
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C.1
(Numbers 5:6)
further by saying that not only must
we avoid making a Chillul Hashem
at all costs, but we must actively be
seeking to make a Kiddush Hashem —
sanctifying God's name. Therein lies
the beauty of being part of the Jewish
people. If one makes a Chillul Hashem,
people will know. At the same time,
however, if one makes a Kiddush
Hashem, people will also know.
We need to take that
responsibility and step it up
a notch, and not just avoid
doing the wrong thing but
actively seek to do the right
thing, even when it is hard
or we're "not in the mood:'
Being Jewish means actively
seeking to do the right thing
and always trying to grow in
our Judaism.
There is a story told about
Rabbi Yaakov Kamenets
one of the 20th-century Torah giants
in America. A new Jewish day school
was opening up, and he was asked if
the builders could put the mezuzot
for the younger students lower than
the standard height. He said no, and
gave a beautiful explanation. He said
that we must not lower our standards
for anything. Instead of lowering a
mezuzah so a child can kiss it, we
must put the child on a stool or chair
so he or she can reach it.
So simple, yet so profound. That is
a lesson for all of us in today's world
of convenience, fast food and high-
speed everything. We must never
bring Judaism down to our level,
rather we need to raise ourselves up
to Judaism. Stand on a chair, climb a
ladder, jump — however you need to
do it, you can do it.
Do not settle for less. Don't settle
for a smaller, watered-down version
of the real thing. Climb that chair and
reach for Judaism. It's waiting. ri
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