38 Friday, January 21, 1977 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Graven Images Forbidden By RABBI SAMUEL FOX (Copyright 1977, JTA, Inc.) Jews are forbidden to make graven images. This is expressly forbidden in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:04). Some contend that this is forbidden because it was a form of idol worship which is forbidden to a Jew. Oth- tere Ni Invited ers claim that the form of a graven image is finite in character and this runs con- trary to the infinite charac- ter of the Almighty. By making a graven im- age, man casts the Al- mighty into the limitation of space thus destroying the notion of His infinity. 20% Off •invitations -centerpieces •stationery Phyllis BiIles 559-4343 Youth Involved in Maccabiah NEW YORK — Ameri- can Jewish youth will participate in an or- ganized way in the World Jewish Olympics, the Maccabiah Games, this summer. As part of the Israel Summer Sports Program, youth connected with Jewish community cen- ters will march in the opening parade, partici- pate in auxiliary sports events, and observe the Maccabiah Games. In addition to 16 days involved with the Mac- cabiah, the youngsters will spend four weeks touring Israel. Each Jewish community center contingent par- Michigan Jewish Singles Council ticipating in the program will include a minimum of 35 young people. Youth from more than one center will be able to combine to form a contingent. The _program is being sponsored by the Ameri- can Zionist Youth Foun- dation in cooperation with the National Jewish Walfare Board and the World Maccabiah Union. Also to be initiated by AZYF this summer will be a new program in Is- rael for young people with special musical talents. The music program is open to soloists and groups of musicians, all of whom will get to perform, attend performances and rehearsals of Israeli musicians, and tour the country. For information, write the American Zionist Youth Foundation, 515 Park Ave., New York 10022. an organization for singles 18-35 affiliated with the Jewish Community Center invites you to its o'I WINTER DANCE featuring 8 P.M. SUNDAY, JAN. 30 ADMISSION $3 PLACE: k DAYRI DE CASH BAR call Jay Silverman, 851-7300, ext. 219 Fredrick "47 jewelers 869 West Long Lake Road .. 646.0973 Men's Clubs BNAI MOSHE Men's Club and Talit and Tefilin Club will hold a joint breakfast 9:30 a.m. Sun- day in the synagogue. Guest speaker will be John H. Shepherd, presi- dent of the Jewish Corn- * munity Council. He will talk on the workings of the Jewish Community Council and his recent trip to Israel. For reservations, call the synagogue, 548 19000. * * Detroit Alpha Omega to Honor World President Jack Lawson Dr. Jack Lawson, newly installed international president of the Alpha Omega Dental Frater- nity, will be honored by the Detroit Alumni Chap- ter 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Raleigh House. Dr. Lawson was graduated from the Uni- versity of Detroit Dental School in 1944. He was elected president of the Detroit Alumni Chapter in 1952 when he launched a major fund raising drive for Sinai Hospital and campaign to estab- lish the Israel Dental School, part of the Heb- rew University in Jerusalem. As district regent in the 1950s, Dr. Lawson was in- strumental in founding the Toledo Alumni Chap- ter. He wrote and edited the official fraternity manual for district lead- ers. Dr. Lawson was active in the establishment of the DR. JACK LAWSON Alpha Omega Players whose performances raise funds for the Detroit chap- ter, Brandeis University, the Israel Dental School and the Alpha Omega Foundation. The program will fea- ture an original musical show by the Players. Dr. Gerald Michael will be master of ceremonies. Jewish Wedding Traditions ing the wedding cere- BY RABBI SAMUEL FOX mony. (Copyright 1977, JTA, Inc.) It is customary for the - It is claimed by some 574 N. Woodward 1/2 Mile N. of Maple Now in Birmingham Grand Opening January 26th From 12-4 P.M. (Cocktails will be served) Charles Jourdan Pierre Cardin Geoffery Beene, Calvin Kline Amalfi Carlos Falchi and other designer handbags bride and groom to fast on their wedding day. There is a Jewish tradi- tion that claims that the wedding day is like a Day_ of Atonement (Yom Kip- pur) for bride and groom. All their previously com- mitted sins are said to be forgiven on this day. Therefore, just as the classic Day of Atonement in the fall is observed with a fast and with a rite of confession, so do bride and groom fast on their wedding day and offer the rite of confession in their prayer - before the wed- ding. It is claimed that this comparison is made so that the bride and groom do not enter their roles as marriage partners with any guilt feelings from previous wrong-doings which might create a ten- sion in the marriage and bar the appropriate ad- justment of the two partners to their new roles as man and wife. Man, thus, is always given the chance to clear the slate during any major episode in his life that birngs about an im- portant change. The New Year, a change in time, is such a moment ordained so that a person will not carry his guilt feelings along indefinitely. Mar- riage, a change in roles, is another such experience, so that previous guilt feelings do not hinder the marital adjustment. Religious grooms don a • white gown (kittel) dur- that this is done to emu- late the dress one wears on Yom Kippur. Thus both bride and groom dressed in white would be shedding their guilt and donning the white dress of purity before the mar- riage. Others claim that this white gown has a sober- ing effect because the dead are clothed in white shrouds. It leads one to understand that at the height of one's joy one is reminded of the sober thought of death which is the inevitable end of all humans. This leads one to appreciate his life and the moments of its joys that much more. Lover of Souls Thou hast mercy on all, for thou canst do all things, and thou overlookest the sins of men because they should amend For thou lovest all things that are, and abhorrest nothing which thou hast made; for never wouldst thou have made any thing if thou didst hate it. And how could any thing have endured, it it had not been thy will? Or been preserved, if not called by thee? But thou sparest all: for they are thine, 0 Lord, thou lover of souls; for thine incorruptible spirit is in all things. —King Solomon