26 Friday, September 12, 1975

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

`Ragtime'

Caricatures

for your party

By

SAM FIELD

Call

399-1320

Ckeice Dates

Doctorow's Novel of Past and Present

Ragtime:
The music of the turn of
the century . . . a different
pace, a different world.
The dictionary describes
Ragtime as a style of music
with a syncopated rhythm,
and that also describes the
best-selling novel "Ragtime"
by E. L. Doctorow (Random
House).
Doctorow's novel is set in
turn-of-the-century Amer-

She ► Is Back!!!

AT LINCOLN

has returned.
Call her for your
next appointment.

968-1166

"You Deserve The Best
From The Best"

SPITZER'S

The author weaves a
fascinating tale, linking
the characters through the
members of a fictitious
family, and painting a
syncopated picture in the
beat of Ragtime music of
the times and attitudes of
America.

Many of "Ragtime's"
characters are Jewish, in-
cluding Houdini and Gold-
man, and Doctorow in-
cludes many looks at Jewish
immigrants, Jewish think-
ing, and American anti-
Semitism.
Doctorow paints individ-
ual portraits of the charac-
ters; and only an historian
will be able to separate the
fact from fiction. Somehow
the fast-paced accounts of
Houdini's struggle within
himself, Goldman's socialist
views, the imperial Morgan
and the anti-Semite auto-
maker Ford alj blend with
the fictional characters and
come together in the end.
An excellent example of
the author's writing in rag-
time style is a long dis-
course by Morgan to the
country tinker Ford. The

SHARON DEMITRU

25900 GREENFIELD

ica, and incorporates a
highly fictionalized account
of a number of prominent
Americans: Admiral Perry,
his expedition to the North
Pole; J. Pierpont Morgan;
Henry Ford; anarchist
Emma Goldman; and the
escape artist Houdini.

of Harvard Row

Is Your Headquarters For All Your Holiday Needs

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Spitzer & Family
Wish All Their Friends & Customers
A Very Happy & Healthy New Year

Order Your
ISRAELI ESROGIM and LULOVIM

6 Doz. Israeli Dripless Candles

SUPER SPECIAL s i"

We have High Holiday Machzorim

for all synagogues

Encyclopedia of Jewish Humor

retail $12.50

SPECIAL $6 25

We have a full Selection of

KEDEM & CARMEL
WINE AND CHAMPAGNE

DISCOUNT PRICES

SPITZER'S

Hebrew Book & Gift Center Harvard Row — 11 Mile & Lahser

Southfield, Mich. 356-6080 Open All Day Sunday

reader is lulled by the half-
page discourse, and then
brought up short by Ford's
response:

"Has it occurred to you
that your assembly line is
not merely a stroke of in-
dustrial genius but a pro-
jection of organic truth?
After all, the interchange-
ability of parts is a rule of
nature.

"Individuals participate
in their species and in their
genus. All mammals re-
produce in the same way
and share the same designs
of self-nourishment, with
digestive and circulatory
systems that are recogniza-
bly the same, and they en-
joy the same senses.
"Obviously this is not to
say all mammals have inter-
changeable parts, as your
automobiles. But shared
design is what allows taxon-
omists to classify mammals
as mammals.
"And within a species —
man, for example — the
rules of nature operate so
that our individual differ-
ences occur on the basis of
our similarity. So that indi-
viduation may be compared
to a pyramid in that it is
only achieved by the place-
ment of the top stone.

"Ford pondered this.
`Excepting the Jews,' he
muttered. Morgan didn't

Rabbi Schindler
Named to WZO

NEW YORK — Rabbi
Alexander M. Schindler,
president of the Union of
American Hebrew Congre-
gations has been designated
to serve as a member of the
World Zionist Organization
Executive and will assume a
new seat on the American
Section, representing the
World Union for Progres-
sive Judaism.
Rabbi Schindler joins the
WZO Executive as a second
member representing the
international Reform move-
ment. Rabbi Richard Hirsh
serves on the Executive of
the WZO in Jerusalem.

Poiect Mak

think he had heard cor-
rectly. 'I beg your pardon,'
he said.

at the elegant

The Jews," The Jews,"
'The Jews,' Ford said. 'They
ain't like anyone else I
know.' "
"Ragtime" is at the turn
of the century, but the set-
ting is just as easily the
America of today. Docto-
row's book is fine, light
reading, but also turns out
to be a telling commentary
on American society.
— A. H.

cAftiam

Gourmet Restaurant

• Weddings
• Showers
• Etc.

Private Rooms
accomodating from
25 to 150
Entire facilities to
360

MAGICIAN

Ask for Brenda

642-3700

Available For All Occasions

23 years experience

MAGICAL MEL

30100 Telegraph
Between 12 & 13 Mile

547-2464

Music by

Sam Barnett

Big or small, we custom the
music to your needs.

968-2563

WINDOW BRITE

Presents

"THE CONTEMPORARY LOOK"

Levelors, verticals, Roman Shades

and Custom Shades

20%-30%
OFF

Call Ilene now for home appt.

968 - 0701

Couples to Join
`Koach' Mission

Twenty-four Detroit area
couples will participate in
the United Jewish Appeal's
"Koach: A Mission of
Strength," which leaves for
Israel Nov. 6.
Michael W. Maddin,
Young Leadership Cabinet
regional chairman, has been
appointed Detroit delega-
tion chairman for the mis-
sion by Jewish Welfare Fed-
eration President Mandell
L. Berman.
Other UJA missions this
fall include two Detroit
Service Group Missions
scheduled for Oct. 19 and
Nov. 9 and a Women's Mis-
sion on Oct. 16 which will
visit Joint Distribution
Committee programs in
Poland and Romania before
going to Israel.
For information about
the Koach Mission, call Mi-
chael Berke at the Jewish
Welfare Federation office,
965-3939.

are available

for your joyous

iL9 csctif

rt

Has It All
Why Go Elsewhere?

Start the New
Season in One of
Our Early Fall Suits

Mark Hober presents
a 3 piece muted pink
wool suit accentuated
by a soft pastel
Jacquard blouse

specially priced

$120

reg. $150

sizes 6-14

One Outfit From
Our Outstanding
Fall Collection

Open Sunday Noon to 4

Bank Americard
Mastercharge

FASHIONS BIGGEST LITTLE STORE

As-'cie8sr46 -4A413-

S2

Coolidge at 9 Mile

Oak Park 544-3500

444?--,,,

•

