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FINE CHINESE DINING
Are We Builders Or
Destroyers Of Israel?
'A wonderful adventure in fine dining — Donny Raskin
Parshat Shelach: Numbers 13:1-15:41;
Joshua 2:1-24.
ur
Torah
portion
reminds us how quickly optimism
can turn to despair. The Jews
had escaped Egypt and left the
Egyptians far behind. They had
constructed a beautiful
Tabernacle in which to
carry God's presence with
them. They were poised to
enter the Promised Land.
All they needed from their
leaders was the confidence
that all will be well. Their
leaders, though, let them
down badly.
Moses tells the tribal
leaders to go ahead into
the land of Canaan on a
reconnoitering mission. He
wants basic information
on the inhabitants' infrastructure.
Instead, the leaders bring a report
that includes their fears and hesita-
tions. This report dooms the people
to another generation of wandering
in the wilderness. The people no
longer have the confidence to fight
for their own land.
It is important to notice that the
leaders did not lie. They were not
corrupted by outside influence.
Their sin was their inability to tran-
scend their fears, to achieve what
Hemingway called "grace under
pressure.
There is nothing wrong with
being afraid. There is everything
wrong with allowing fear to prevent
us from doing what is right. The
leaders, through their own fear,
transformed their people's hope into
gloom.
The State of Israel today is facing
tremendous threats to its long-term
existence, even though now it is
strong
and indepen-
dent. We constantly hear
reports of so many in our com-
munity and outside it that question
Israel's right to exist as a Jewish
nation. We hear endless criticism
of Israel's tactics in her attempt to
defend herself.
I do not agree with
every detail of Israel's
policies, nor do a num-
ber of Israelis. Israelis,
uniquely in the Middle
East, can follow a demo-
cratic process for the
policies they do want.
We are certainly entitled
to our own opinion, but
we must make sure that
they are expressed in
love, and understood as
loving. Criticisms that
cause Jews to doubt
Israel's right to exist are as damag-
ing as a terrorist bomb.
The Torah gives us the names of
those who contributed to the build-
ing of the Tabernacle, as well as the
names of the leaders who brought
the negative reports of the land.
History remembers the names of
both the builders and the destroy-
ers. History will remember our
names. Will we be remembered as
the builders or as the destroyers? We
cannot afford another generation in
the wilderness. PI
Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner
Catering and carryout available
Gift certificates
27925 Orchard Lake Rd., North of 12 Mile. Farmington Hills
248-489-2280
www.honghuafinedining.com
Don't forget us on Father's Day!
("--' --
IMIS
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Mel
HALF OFF
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$5.00 off
any purchase of $20.00 or more
(not to include alcoholic beverages)
with coupon. Expires 07/31/11 Dine in only
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Leon's Family Dining
Moe's on Ten
29710 Wixom Road • Wixom
39455 West 10 Mile, Novi
248.478.9742
248.926.5880
www.leonsofwixom.com
www.moeson10.com
open for breakfast - lunch - dinner
Rt.'r Jut ant
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15% of
Buy 0 lunch or dinner entree
and get the second 1/2 off
total food bill
Of equal or lesser value
Not good with any other coupons
Not good on holidays. One coupon per couple.
Exp 7/15/11
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Not good with any other coupon
One coupon per table.
Exp 7/15/11
Farmington Hills • Corner of Grand River & Haggerty Road
Auburn Hills • 1 I 2 miles south of the Palace of Auburn Hills
Aaron Bergman is a rabbi at Adat Shalom
Synagogue in Farmington Hills.
Conversations
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from America?
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June 16 2011
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