THE DETROIT JEWISH "n" Social Group Serves Needs of Retarded Newlyweds
52—Friday, December 5, 1%9
Itanuka and the A utlientie Tradition
By BEN GALLOB
•
By BEN RATAN
(Copyright 1969. JTA. loc.)
Feast of Lights commemorates
A social group for newly-married
(Copyright 1969. JTA. lac.)
the rededication of the Temple
The impact of American freedom
in Jerusalem after it was de- Jewish retardates is now function-
on Jewish customs is reflected in
filed by the heathens when Jews ing at the Stephen Wise Free Syna-
two elements of the observance of
were being harassed by the gogue in New York City, with a
Hanuka which almost certainly
Syrians during the years of 168 membership of five such couples.
would be disowned by the authori-
to 165 before the common era.
Most of the newlyweds met initi-
ties who created through the cen-
It also commemorates the strug-
gle
of the Maccabees to over- ally as members of a five-year-old
turies the outlook generally de-
,cribed as authentic Jewish tradi-
throw the tyranny of Antiochus program at the synagogue for
: ,
F ..piphanes,
•
t ton.
a victory of arms single ad
adult retardees.
which some authorities consider
The first of these elements is
Both programs are based on a
as
having
made
possible
the
the transformation of the eight-day
emergence of the ethical mono- relatively new educational philoso-
Itanuka which almost certainly
theism of all western religions. PhY' which holds that retarded
Jewish parents into a kind of des-
is youngsters should not be isolated
Aerate strategy to offset the over- ' associated with the holiday
in institutions and that, if properly
the miracle of the rededication
whelming — and thoroughly coin-
of the defiled Temple when only trained, such young people will
inercialized—atmosphere of Christ- , one
jar of oil was found un- show the same basic desires and
inas.
profaned and was therefore used. drives as normal youth, although
Christians disturbed by that sec-
This oil burned for eight days, they are slower to learn control
ularization and commercialization
giving rise to the custom of and achievement. Both the Young
plead each year that Christ be put
back into Christmas, but for lighting a fresh candle for each Adventurers and the Young Mar-
rieds are sponsored and funded by
of the eight days.
American Jewish parents the Yule
the synagogue's social service de-
The other element dates farther partment. °
holiday is rightly seen as a danger
to Jewish integrity. Their response back than the American experi- - The Young Adventurers was
has been to hoist Hanuka into a ence—the stress on the military
counter-celebration, complete with aspect of the Maccabean struggle. started in 1965 as an experiment at
gifts for each of the eight days, This element has been strengthen- the suggestion of the mother of a
the remark- mildly-retarded girl. The mother
although mercifully minus the ed in modern times by
"Hantika bush" 'which once widely able military prowess of the Jews found that, as her daughter ap-
proached adulthood, there were no
disfigured the American Jewish of re-born Israel. But the fact is
social or cultural outlets available
m,
, that the Jewish sages opposed any
home.
girl except those serving al:
The tradition holds that the' glorification of the military aspects to the
retarded persons, regardless of
of the Maccabean resistance, as
they opposed any tendency in Jew- their levels of retardation. Mrs.
ish life to give special status to Alpher said the poblem was hand-
HAPPY HANI . KA
military achievement. The Books ed to the social sevice department,
GEORGE W. GRAY
INSURANCE
of the Maccabees are part of Jew- which she described as a pioneer
ish apocryphal literature and were in starting programs to fill unmet
never included in the Jewish Scrip- community needs.
a a
•
tures when they were canonized. ,
Synagogue readings for the holi-
young Marrieds group leader Sid-
18326 Woodward, Detroit
day are taken from Numbers in ney Morris noted that, since the
883-1900
the Old Testament and not from term "retarded" is a catch-all word
the Books of the Maccabees.
for all slow learners. "it should
It is difficult to fault Jewish come as no surprise that many re-
parents
who
have—in
a
kind
of
tarded
young adults not only can
A Joyous Ha n uka
Jewish self-defense—made the holi- marry but do." As members of the
To Ail Mn Friends
day a Jewish version of Yule. But Young Adventurers, they are guid-
it remains important that Jews ed. in a normal, accepting situation,
understand that the Jewish tradi- toward self-identification through
lion has never glorified military ego-building and training In social
violence. skills. The Young Adventurer is
18326 W__-JAard, Detroit
helped to adjust and conform to
883 - 1900
the social order, to discover the
1
HANUKA GREETINGS
opposite sex, to learn courtship
1
and dating procedures, getting a
Hanuka Greetings
1
job
and, in time, marrying. As
1
a married person, the young Jew
"Fine Food Joe Fine People"
1
Bring the Family
becomes interested in making an
Photography
attractive home, entertaining
REASONABLE PRICES
Weddings-Bar Mitzvas-Movies
friends and other normal aspects
1
Portraits
VI 3-2013
268 Oakwood Blvd.
of married life, and in most of
17590 WYOMING
these experiences, they continue to
UN 1-70 I 8
need expert help. Therefore, said
Morris, the Y o u n g Marrieds
HAPPY HANUKA
group was a natural outgrowth of
Happy Hanuka
the singles group at the synagogue.
The spouses have varying levels
of ability and function. All of the
husbands have mastered the abil-
ity to get and hold a job—usually
Electrical Contractors
9141 Monica
WE 3-4444
in semi-skilled labor — but many
1 5650 W. 10 Mile Rd., Suite 210
• are still emotionally and sexually
353-7202
i Classified Ads Get Quick Results immature, according to the group
leader. Many of the wives remain
confused, in their new roles as
homemakers• about handling
Happy Holiday
money, making household deci-
sions and, most of all, creating an
enriching social life. The Young
Marrieds follow many of the social
patterns of the singles group, such
as
attending Passover services and
300 Riopelle St.
WO 5-4870
making excursions. They are or-
ganized like any club, with election
of officers, collection of dues, and
voting by all members on matters
Happy Hanuka To All Our Friends and Patrons
before the group. Morris reported
that he seeks to encourage the
young marrieds to find entertain-
Specializing in American Foods
ment and social growth in their
Famous for All Chinese Native Foods,
own homes.
Real Cantonese Family Dinners
CARRY-OUT SERVICE
Morris described his role as part
McNichols
TO 8-7550
social worker and part therapist,
offering practical and sympathetic
advice to the newly marrieds who,
he reported, had the problems of
all newlyweds plus some unique
Holiday Greetings
ones, as well. He cited a conversa- ,
To All Our Friends and Patrons
lion with two members, one male
one- woman, who told him
HENRY BURSTON
INSURANCE
Leo giltijizt
LASTAR
ELECTRIC CO.
their parents had "forced" them surate with the abilities of its
to be sterilized before giving them members.
He described the Jewish ele-
permission to marry. lie declared
that this was in fact "a practical ments of the group's programs as
procedure"
and
that
including
celebrations of the holy
humane
and
most middle class educated par- (lays, including a model seder be-
ents of a retardate insist on steril- fore Passover with members recit-
ization before permitting marriage ing the Hagada and attending
because they fear their child may High Holy Day services at the syn-
be too ill or unstable to be a par- agogue.
ent "but the emotional readiness
Great literature is simply Ian-
to accept this" by the retardate
guage charged with meaning to
- is a long time in coming."
the utmost possible degree.
— Ezra Pound
In describing the formation and
growth of the Young Adventurers.
Season's Greetings
Scherer, its adviser, Henry said
one of the inital rules was that
the members themselves were to
determine acceptance or rejection
of prospective members to have
7437 East Jefferson, Detroit
the option of rejecting applicants
LO 8-9466
unable to meet the group's stand-
Carry Outs — Choice Liquors
ards. He explained that "this leftist
Beer and Wine
position is absolutely necessary
since the members are extremely
fearful of being lumped together
Happy Greetings
with low-grade retardates whose
inability to function in the modern
world is extremely threatening to
them" as only mildly-retarded.
FOR MEN
Pekin Pavilion
Restaurant
STEVE PETIX
He said the limitations of mem-
bers, who range in age from the
early 20s to the early 30s, were
hard to pin-point. One mem-
ber has trouble in tabulating a
bowling score but can do mathe-
matical problems in his head. An-
other has a vocabulary which a
college student might envy but has
some evident limitations in thought
conception. The unifying factor is
that all members wanted compan-
ionship. Other groups had rejected
them or seemed too formidable to
tackle.
I
LARDNER ELEVATOR CO.
KOW KOW INN
TOPINKA'S COUNTRY HOUSE
W. 7 Mile & Telegraph
KE 1-9000
TOPINKA'S
Across from the Fisher Theater
'
and
Greetings
Pastor Company
"Michigan's Most
Complete
Cleans." Free Estimates
TR 5-2614
19971 James Couzens
342-4300
Custom
Detroit — Birmingham
Happy Hanuka to
Our
Friends and Patrons
Ray's Bridal Salon
Gowns for All Occasions
10909 Grand River WE 3 - 4636
1530 Woodward
WO 5-0922
4,
In general, he reported, such
persons have been over-protected
by parents and frustrated by low
expectations in the classroom. Ft)/
these reasons, plans for the group
included an effort to grant "a great
deal of self-determination to raise
the sights of the group commen-
MAJOR'S CAFE
NATIONAL COAL
& OIL CO.
Demand the Finest
Tailoring
Who
HOLIDAY GREETINGS
SKY DIRT
SOIL
For Every Need
15450 Schaefer, N. of Fenkell
VE 7-9380
Holiday Greetings
ROMA CAFE
Detroit's Oldest Restaurant — Air-Conditioned
Open Weekdays till 10:30 p.m., Sot. 2 p.m., Closed Sundays
3401 Riopelle, Corner Erskin
TE 1 - 5940
a
a
a
a
a
a
40000000000004001:1449 004 0 ft SUP 910 CU" I) 0 QiU)
Q_S ■
Happy Hanuka
MICHIGAN INDUSTRIAL LAUNDRY, INC.
Louis Dalitz
0
0
0
0
WE 3-1850 a
9350 Roselawn
.70 0 0 0 0 OOOOO 10111000410(1100 OOOOO Of 000110000000000011
Best Wishes for a Happy Hanuka
To All Our Friends and Patrons
GEORGE MIESEL & SON
WHOLESALE GROCERS
Serving Restaurants, Hospitals and Institutions
6000 BUCHANAN
TA 5-7990
O
Happy Ha7111 ka
MANHATTAN CONTAINER CO.
Corrugated Cartons
23823 Dequindre, Hazel Park
Halltihyr
566-8640
Greetings
MARGOLIS FURNITURE
9130 Jos. Campau
TR 1-1500
Hamtramck, Mich.