••••••• wi••••7-•-•- - • THE DETROIT Intl NEWS 18 Friday, September 11, 1981 Dilemnia Over Roiphe 'Bdok to Clear Conscience or SparklDebate • • • - 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 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Advanced Hebrew 12:00- 2:00 p.m. Beginner's Hebrew 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Advanced Beginner's Hebrew 12:45-2:45 p.m. 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon Intermeoiate Hebrew 12:45-2:45 p.m. Beginner's Hebrew II 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon Intermediate Hebrew 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Reading the Siddur 8:30-9:30 p.m. Advanced Inter- mediate Hebrew 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon' Hebrew Reading 8:00-9:00 p.m. Beginner's Hebrew 7:30-9:30 p.m. Beginner's Hebrew II (JCC Main) Advanced Beginner's Hebrew I 7:30-9:30 p.m. Advanced Beginner's Hebrew II (JCC Main) Advanced Inter- mediate Hebrew I (JCC Main) Contemporary Hebrew Literature 8:00-9:00 p.m. Advanced Inter- mediate Hebrew I (JCC Main) Fall Semester Begins September 13. $35.00 per credit hour (special rates for senior citizens). For further information, please call 352 7117. - Advanced Beginner's Hebrew I 8:00-10:00 p.m. Advanced Inter- mediate Hebrew 10:00 a.m.- 12 noon Advanced Inter- mediate Hebrew II 10:00 a.m.- . 12 noon Contemporary Hebrew Literature 12:45-1:45 p.m. Beginner's Hebrew 7:30-9:30 p.m. Advanced Beginner's Hebrew 7:30-9:30 p.m. Intermediate Hebrew I 7:30-9:30 p.m. Advanced Inter- ' mediate I (JCC Main) • 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 • 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