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Toroh thouohts Two tests Adapted from the works of Rabbi Menachcm M Sihnccrson. the Lubavitcher Rebbe. by Rabbi Yossi New. Chabad of Georgia Throughout the centuries, the faith of the Jew has often been tried. And though the specific tests and trials vary with the era and the locality, they can be generally clas sified into two categories: trials related to “poverty” or oppression, and trials related to “wealth” or pleasure. Of the two, the trial of “wealth” is the more difficult to overcome. The prophet Isaiah, talking of the future redemption of our peo ple by Moshiach (the Messiah) says: “...then shall they gather who were lost in the land of Assyria and they who were banished in the land of Egypt...” Assyria and Egypt symbolize respectively the tests of "wealth” and “poverty.” In Egyptian exile the Jews were harshly oppressed both physically and spiritually. They were kept in the most abject servitude, made to perform hard, arduous labor, and were truly impoverished—lacking their basic spiritual (as well as physical) needs. By contrast, Assyria symbolizes the test and temptation of “wealth,” of "having it good.” In Assyrian exile there was no servitude and an abundance of material riches. Moreover, there were no decrees limiting their spiritual way of life and no obstacles were placed in the path of their religious activities. Senacherib, the Assyrian monarch who drove the Jews into exile, only wanted Jewish people to leave the Holy Land “upon which the eyes of G-d your G-d gaze from the begin ning of the year until the year’s end” and come to live in Assyria. In the Holy Land the Jews were ever aware of G-dliness—(for ex ample, they could witness the 10 miracles in the Beis Hamikdosh in Jerusalem). Senacherib, however, wanted the Jews to leave this be hind. He wanted them to live in Ashur (Assyria), a land of wealth, happiness and pleasure. In this way he could induce them to forget G-d and His laws. Despite the affluence of the As syrian exile, the prophet uses the severe and drastic description “lost” when he refers to the Jews in As syria. On the other hand, when describing the Jews in Egypt, he em ploys the milder adjective “ban ished.” Evidently the Egyptian exile (poverty and oppression) was a less severe trial than the Assyrian (wealth). Today we can also see millions of Jews living under oppression and deprivation, in contemporary “Egypts.” Yet they are alive to their Jewish identity and have not for gotten G-d. 1 he harsh decrees and the deprivation of their basic reli gious rights have only temporarily “displaced" and “banished” them, but inwardly they long for an “Ex odus from Egypt,” so that they may live a full Jewish life of Torah and mitzvot. On the other hand, we also see Rabbi Schneerson the communities of today’s “Assy ria” in the free world. We see communities living in an affluent society with complete freedom, at liberty to worship and to observe mitzvot with the same enthusiasm and intensity as was common in the Eastern European communi ties of 50 and 100 years ago. Yet the “Assyrian” Jews have thus far failed to make the most of this golden opportunity. They have been af fected by their comfort and secur ity to such an extent that they are becoming “lost.” As in Isaiah’s day, the test of wealth is still the more difficult to overcome. Tel Aviv II. students bar Kahane, followers by Hugh Orgel TEL AVIV (JTA)—An attempt by Rabbi Meir Kahane and several other members of his extremist Kach Party to enter the Tel Aviv University campus last Thursday w'as blocked by students who also scuffled with Arab fellow students when some of the latter shouted pro-PLO slogans. Student Union chairman David Berman, who led the anti-Kahane demonstration, told reporters af terwards, “We showed Kahane that Tel Aviv University is a bastion of democracy and that he can’t come in.” But the only arrests made in the melee were of three Arab students. One of them, Mohammed Shakif, deputy chairman of the Student Union, was detained for allegedly insulting a policeman. As police led them away, the Arabs were spat upon by members of the Kahane group who departed unmolested. The Kach group arrived at the main entrance to the campus in a van and two cars. Several dozen students were assembled at a nearby dormitory with loudspeakers and placards denouncing Kach’s racist policies. The students blocked the entrance, shouting, “We won t let the fascists through.” The Kach group shouted, “It’s a Jewish home land” and “PLO go home.” The small police force on hand did not intervene until the shouting turned into a shoving match and some PLO slogans were heard. Kahane claimed he went to the campus as a Knesset member to check the nature of the relation ship between Jewish and Arab students. VISUAL CONCEPTS ATLANTA Commerical/Residential Interior Design RANDOLPH ANGEL MICHAELG. HICKMAN (404) 587-6288 HERBERT KUPER & ASSOC. Creative Photography —m. Instant m— SANDY SPRINGS 255-6275 • Passports • Weddings • Bar Mitzvahs • Portraits • Commercial Business Glossies • Sports Teams • Schools • Restorations • Portfolios • 6029 SANDY SPRINGS CIR NW OPPOSITE OGLETREE’S Linda Gold Stationery Service Outstanding Service & Selection -TV-- 18% Discount 252-8006 ' invitations • stationery • announcements napkins • placecards • favors • embossers calligraphy • Hebrew lettering • art work ■^the Classic Collection SPRING & SUMMER CLEARANCE 30% to 60% OFF 220 Sandy Springs Circle Springs Festival Atlanta, Go. 30328 (404) 256-4847 Mon.-Sat. 10-6 Kehillat Chaim Congregation invites you to spend an evening with RABBI SCOTT SAULS0N Pretoria, South Africa sharing views on “A Status Report On The Jewish Community In South Africa” Wednesday July 16th at 8:00 p.m. A.J.C.C., Zaban Branch R.S.V.P. Kehillat Chaim Congregation 252-4441 Our program is offered free to the entire community. PAGE 11 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE July 4, 1986