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Ahavath Achim responds
to needs of the homeless
At the invitation of the Rev.
Tom Conley of Northside Drive
Baptist Church, a group of Northside
congregations met to discuss the
critical need for shelters for Atlanta’s
homeless population. Rabbi Arnold
Goodman and Rabbi Marvin
Richardson attended the first meeting
held the week before New Year’s
Eve. On Jan. 2, a second meeting
was held which included clergy and
volunteer leaders from each congre
gation. Key leaders of the city’s
Homeless Task Force were also
present. Within 30 days many
obstacles were overcome and the
doors to the “Willis Mill Shelter”
are expected to open soon. The
building being used is owned by a
Jewish man who sold the building
but set occupancy at a date that
would allow the facility to be used
as a shelter through the winter.
Fifty homeless men will find
food, warmth and comfort at night.
On weekends the shelter will be
used for street people in a program
supervised by the city of Atlanta
and funded by the Northside congre
gations. This “faith” effort as it is
described by Conley, calls upon
volunteers from the Ahavath Achim
Synagogue, St. Luke Lutheran
Church, Northside Drive Baptist
Church, St. Anne’s Episcopal,
Antioch Baptist Church North,
Northside United Methodist and
Trinity Presbyterian.
Volunteers are needed, particularly
a large number of men to spend the
night at the shelter. To volunteer,
call the Ahavath Achim Synagogue
coordinators of the project: Lois
Frank, 255-7112; Sherry Frank,
255-1878; or Sandi Leff, 951-1968.
I he Ahavath Achim Synagogue
has for two years assisted Shearith
Israel Congregation with its shelter
for homeless women, providing
meals, volunteer staffers and financial
support. The board of the Ahavath
Achim Synagogue also voted to
send $1,000 to Shearith Israel for
its shelter.
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The basis of Jewish law
Adapted from the works of Rabbi Menachem M.
Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rcbbe, by Rabbi
Yossi New. Chabad of Georgia
The commandments that comprise
the body of Jewish law are given in
this week’s Sidra—“Mishpatim”
(judgments).
* * *
Jewish law and custom may be
divided into three categories: 1)
" Judgments”—civil laws, which are
basic to society, such as the prohi
bition of killing, stealing, etc.
Mankind would have realized the
value of these laws, even if the
Torah had not stated them. 2)
"Testimonies”—relating to the Jewish
Sabbath, Festivals, etc. Had the
Torah not commanded us to observe
these precepts we would never have
thought of them ourselves. However,
once they are stated and explained
in the Torah, we can understand
the reasons for their observance. 3)
“Decrees” — statutes such as
“Kashrut” the dietary laws, for
which there are no reasons; they
must be observed only because we
were so commanded.
This week’s Sidra, emphasizing
that the “Judgments” were given
on Mount Sinai together with the
“Statutes,” teaches us that even the
easily understood precepts should
be observed with the same attitude
of submissiveness and acceptance
as the “supra-rational” command
ments. For indeed, our finite human
understanding can only scratch the
surface of the true import of G-d’s
laws.
How vital is this teaching in our
day and age, when the approach to
religion of so many is: “I enjoy
observing those customs or laws
which are comprehensible and I
will even observe those baffling
statutes which I do not comprehend.”
This grudging acknowledgment of
the value of the supra-rational
religious precepts soon gives way
to a much more common attitude:
“What I understand, 1 observe;
what is beyond my comprehension,
I discard.” Yet a moment’s thought
will make us realize that in actuality,
the precepts that epitomize religion
Rabbi Schneerson
are precisely those that are beyond
comprehension. For, after all, our
religion and its precepts were given
by an infinite G-d; so for finite man
to use his limited intellect as a
yardstick by which to measure the
wisdom or relevance of a Divine
command is ludicrous.
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PAGE 17 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE February 7, 1986