42 October 17, 1975
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
`Cleft Roots:'Novel's Look at Intermarriage Problems
Intermarriage today has
become one of the major
crises of American Jewish
life, with many believing the
high percentage of "mixed"
marriages threatening the
continued existence of Je-
wry.
A fictional approach to
the issue of intermarriage
and the problems faced by
the partners and family in a
mixed marriage are exam-
ined in Philip J. Simon's
very readable and enjoyable
"Cleft Roots," published by
Priam Press.
Simon's main character,
Murray Prescott Stern, is
the product of a mixed mar-
Passenger Disrupts
Ben Gurion Airport
riage and mixed cultures.
The son of a Jewish father
and Protestant mother at
the turn of the century,
Murray comes under the
tutelage of his Jewish
grandfather and Jewish
heritage before spending
several years with his Puri-
tan Protestant grandfather
in New England after his
Jewish "confirmation" cere-
mony.
Simon's presents a fast-
paced account of Murray's
childhood and upbringing,
his conflicts with his
Grandfather Prescott, and
his college years in Illinois
where he is reunited with
his Irish-Catholic child-
hood friend Jimmy and
Jimmy's charming sister
Noreen.
His marriage to Noreen,
the conflicts within her
family and ultimately in
their marriage, and Mur-
ray's 25-year affair of the
heart with the glamorous,
Jewish Laura who let him
down so many times; all of
these events at the end of
the book mark a dramatic
change from the many
trials, but slower pace, of
Murray's childhood.
Cheaper System for Braille
Copying Found for the Blind
Nowhere does Simon im-
ply that this is a typical in-
termarriage, nor that Mur-
ray Prescott Stern's dual
background is typical. He
offsets the terrible view of
his Protestant grandfather
with a kindly village priest
and Noreen's parent's typi-
cal reaction to the birth of
grandchildren who are the
product of a mixed mar-
riage.
The upbringing of those
children divide and then
reunite Murray and Noreen.
Originally written 25
years ago, Simon's "Cleft
Roots" was chosen for
publication in the
"Frieder Literary Award"
contest. The judges later
revoked their decision,
and Priam Press is publi-
cizing a contest on read-
ers' view of that decision
in an obvious effort to help
sell the book.
It is hoped that the con-
test does not detract from
an interesting novel, with a
thought-provoking plot, that
has plenty of merit without
artificial props.
A.H
sere
Invited
YOUR WfDDING -- --
BAR MITZVA
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of
• i nvitations
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Phyllis Billes
559-4343
TEL AVIV (JTA) — A
passenger on an incoming
flight threw Ben Gurion
Airport into an uproar last
week when he disappeared
during the routine security
check.
The terminal gates were
closed and all vehicles leav-
ing the airport were
searched, but nothing was
found, including the miss-
ing passenger.
Authorities believe the
man intended no harm and
wandered off innocently,
believing the security check
to be over.
TRU-KOSHER ftr uki
FOODS NEWS! "
I I MILE RO \l) & L:\HSER
IN SOUTHFIELD
Lowest Prices in Town
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IN THE
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OCT. 18, 19
Call
Ezekiel Jacob holds examples of xerogravure
braille.
TRU-KOSHER
FOODS
CORPORATION
* *
NEW YORK — Ezekiel
Jacob of Brooklyn has ap-
parently invented an inex-
pensive process for printing
braille for the blind by using
photocopying equipment.
Jacob has invented a spe-
cial toner for copying ma-
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chines to print the white-on-
white braille. He has re-
fused to divulge the process
until a patent he has applied
for is granted.
Jacob has been trying
unsuccessfully since 1971
to interest photocopying
companies in the process.
He says they have been
trying to invent their own
toner, but have not over-
come technical problems.
The Jewish Guild for the
Blind in New York is inter-
ested in the process because
of the high cost of conven-
tional braille printing. A
high school textbook can
cost $100 to duplicate.
Russian Literature
Printed in English
NEW YORK — A collec-
tion of Russian under-
ground literature prepared
by some of the leading fig-
ures in the Soviet Jewish
Intelligentsia has been as-
sembled in an English pub-
lication.
Entitled "Am Yisroel
Chai-Israel Lives," the
leaflet is distributed free by
the Israel International In-
formation Council.
For a copy, send a
stamped, self-addressed en-
velope to Rabbi Rubin Do-
bin, Council Chairman, P.O.
Box 11, Lawrence, N.Y.
11559.
THE ORT USED BOOK SALE
A /so
Don't Forget Your Sweetheart
on Sweetest Day
OCTOBER 18th
PRIZES
PRIZES
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JULES ABRAMS OF WIID'S (10.90 AM) ANGLO-
JEWISH PROGRAM WILL BE APPEARING IN HAR-
VARD ROW'S MALL ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER
16th FROM 11:30 A.M. to 2 P.M., GIVING AWAY
PRIZES.
Harvard Row Merchants
_Aladdin Drugs
Athens Souvlaki, Rest.
Burton's Gal
Charlotte's Knit Shop
DiRosa Hair Fashions
Jules Doneson Travel
Empress Gardens, Rest.
Farmer Jack's
Haber Cleaners
H. R. Barber Shop
H. R. Kosher Meats
Heritage House Books
Moris Huppert Clothier
Jerome's Shoes
Jewel Bakers'
Maker Furs
National Bank of Southfield
George Ohrenstein Jeweler
Original Esquire Rest. & Deli
Parisian Fashions
Reflections of Love Florist
Shoe Time
Spitzer's Hebrew Book
Warren Optometric Center