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THE DETROIT Intl NEWS
18 Friday, September 11, 1981
Dilemnia Over Roiphe 'Bdok to Clear Conscience or SparklDebate
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whether she identifies as a that brought out all the red science prizes and observe young soul that has already
lieve her. I think.
with pleasure how many are experienced so many disap-
It is difficult to determine Jew or as an as-
Jewish. I feel a little shabby pointments was not disap-
exactly where she stands, similationist, in her new
t increasing my own self- pointed in this. I have at no
It is not necessary to
book "Generation Without
Memory: A Jewish Journey agree with her, but one has esteem by the hard work of other day, at no other time,
in Christian America." to admit that it takes a lot of others. I laugh at myself. I been that jealous of another
From the title I would courage to expose one's make ironic remarks and human being. It appeared to
guess she was a Jew, but thoughts so openly. Despite remind myself of my in- me that he had sanctity and
from the book, well, each our freedom to think and capacity in algebra. I check I had none."
commit- the names anyway ..."
k freely,
l I, as a co
"Today I feel a renewed
one who reads it will have to spea
ted Jew, am embarassed by
or new connection to
decide for him- or hergelf.
"It may be the effect of Jewishness, an amazed
what she has set forth for
Published by Linden universal consumption:-
working on this book for connection that superse-
Press, the Roiphe volume
many months now, it may des all my ambivalences
"I cannot (even as I
was written as a response
bq the result of constant
and doubts."
to the criticism she re- wish it) become a tradi-
reading of Jewish history,
Does she have regrets,
ceived from an article she tional Jew. This would be
but I am feeling a new and
wrote for the New York a nonauthentic position.
peculiar irrational hostility does she feel guilty for hav-
Times in 1978, stating Such a conversion would to my Ch ri . st i an neighbors. I i n g exposed her stand on
such a wide scale? Or, can
therein that she had a be imposing a layer of have images of blood ritual
she really not give up her
Christmas tree in her strange forms on an alien
tions , little mas- Jewishness
accusations
as-
for
rit. I would then really
spirit.
home.
sacres, burnings, expul-
sions
from
large
countries
similationism?
It is hard to
be
a
parvenue,
Born to Jewish parents,
a
fathom. For every pro-
Mrs. Roiphe explains that nouveau, a ridiculous
and small fiefdoms, rapes, assimilationism argument
her family was not very ob- person, like the Jewish stonings,
tonngs,
au tos-da-fe , and of she writes, there is a pro-
i
servant and that it was her opportunist who con-
course the Holocaust ...
Jewish, at least it seems
German nurse who intro- verts to Christianity. I
"The more I read of
pro-Jewish, statement to
duced the Christmas tree would violate myself in
Jewish history the less
.
offset it.
making such a return."
into her family's home.
friendly to the outside
One not only finds confu-
At least she is honest. . world I feel, the more
Her mother justified hay-
sion
in
the
content
in
the
But
if
her
commitment
ing the tree by saying that
there becomes an inner
-
book, but the fact that it is
"we were American and to assimilationism is so
and outer world, a written like a diary minus
'Christmas,' she would say, strong, why does she idea-
Jewish and non-Jewish
the dates. Presented as ran-
'is an American holiday.' I tify with Jewishness so
At Executive Custom Shirtmakers, Inc. we use the
world. But if I start to
finest fabrics and expert craftsmanship to design
grew up finding nothing odd strongly, as these passages hate this Episcopalian dom thoughts, the book
makes for a difficult reading
each shirt especially for you. Because otter all,
about a holiday that was a indicate?
neighbor for crimes she
you're worth the investment
experience.
". ... I still say I am Jewish
Christmas without a Christ,
never committed, I will
I am embarrassed—em-
Executive Custom Shirtmakers, Inc
whose spiritual significance ...,
turn myself into the very
barrassed as if I sneaked
"Despite myself I look at
207 S Woodward Ave Birmingham MI 48011 6420440
was elusive, or perhaps it
kind of monster I am
into my sister's room and
was my birthday (Dec. 25) the names of the winners of most afraid of.
was caught reading her di-
"If I stop looking at her as
a ry.
a particular woman with
She says she received
Prime Minister Menachem Begin
name and face and anxieties such a strong reaction to
just like mine, then I trans- her article because of
has appealed to every Jew
form myself into the beast. what she I called the
in the free world to
On the other hand, how to Jewish taboo of "airing
avoid the Clear recognition the dirty laundry" to the
study Hebrew
that her class, her religion, non-Jewish world. Per-
have left unmet certain ores haps she is right. Aren't
cial responsibilities? Does the Jews maligned
• Begin the process at the
she as an individual hold enough? Isn't it time we
any responsibility for that?" had a little positive pub-
Hebrew Language Program
By HEIDI PRESS
Anne Roiphe says she is
an assimilationist and I be-
.:'
"Investment dressing...
because your best investment is you:
.
Sponsored by the Midrasha-College of Jewish Studies
About her brother's Bar lic relations?
If she has set out to clear
Mitzva she said:
"Even if! was a practicing her conscience in writing
atheist, a budding Socialist "Generation Without Mem-
whose god at that time was ory" I hope she has achieved
Ernest Hemingway, I could her goal. I think, however,
see that my brother was not she has opened up a Pando-
mumbling or imitating; his ra's box.
21550 West Twelve Mile Road
Southfield, Michigan
and the Jewish Community Center
6600 W. Maple Rd. — W. Bloomfield
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•
Ceasefire Violations Anger
Christians in S. Lebanon
TEL AVIV (JTA) — separation of forces agree-
Sources close to South ment in the area.
There is no confirma-
Lebanese Phalangist corn-
tion of the reports, under
mander Major Saad Haddad
which
the Americans are
say that he will consider the
trying to persuade the
ceasefire agreed upon in
July as dead if the Palesti- PLO, indirectly, to with-
draw artillery from the
nians and their left-wing al-
ruins of the Crusader
lies continue to fire at his
castle at Beaufort from
men.
Israeli Chief of Staff where they shell Chris-
tian areas and can shoot
Rafael Eitan said Tuesday
into Israel.
the terrorists had breached
The Americans would
the ceasefire 15 times since
it was announced. He noted also like to see UN obser-
that the breaches had been vers return to the castle,
firing within south Leba- which they abandoned two
non:which the Palestinians years ago in the face of
did not regard as part of the heavy shooting.
ceasefire, claiming the
agreement was only on shel- '82 Re-Opening
ling over the Israel border.
LONDON — The Inter-
"We do not agree with this
reading, but we can only national Council of Jews
exercise restraint as there is from Czechoslovakia re-
nobody to complain to," he ports that the ancient Pin-
said. Israel claims the kas Synagogue in Prague
\ceasefire was aranged may be re-opened to the
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through the Americans public in 1982.
with the Lebanese govern- The building was closed
ment, and not with the PLO. in 1968 because of damage
Reports circulating in to its foundation caused by
Major Haddad's area of dampness from the Vltava
southern Lebanon say the 'River. The synagogue was
, .built.in 1352.. _
c. 1.J. ,S., is trying to arrange a