16
Friday, March 22, 1985
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
We Will Beat
Your Best Price
GLASS & MIRROR
BI•FOLD SUPER SPECIAL
Existing Doors
Jews By Choice
Continued from previous page
4 ft. openings
5 ft. openings
6 ft.
CLOSE-UP
• $123.99 Installed
$128.99 Installed
$145.99 Installed
openings
NEW MIRRORED BI-FOLD DOORS—FINEST QUALITY Slim Fold°
4 ft. openings
5 ft. openings
6 ft. openings
$190.00 Installed
$200.00 Installed
$250.00 Installed
Lowest Prices On All Types of Mirrored Walls, Furniture, Bars, Cubes, Etc. Heavy Glass Table Tops, Shelving, Beveled
O.G. Edges.
Shower and Tub Enclosures, Replacement Windows.
MIRRORED WALL SPECIAL —
12'x8'
High
Call today for free estimates: 552-0088
$425.00
Atlas Glass & Mirror
PERFECTION IS OUR REFLECTION
Where quality work, discount prices and you
the customer make us #1
552-0088
How to get the sofa you want...
in the style you want .
ifil ► weiwnreinvoriatn
in the fabric you want • .
\,ew•v•.1
.4eno.
at the price you wan ...in about 30 days
You don't believe us.
You're used to the typical way of buying living
room furniture. You shop several stores and hope
they have something you like. You've had to
compromise ... on style ... on fabric ... on price.
And you've had to wait ... and wait ... and wait
... Not here. 30 day delivery on special orders.
Over 800 fabrics.
Sample our sample books. Match your favorite
color or pattern or weave to your favorite style. You
be the decorator. And regardless of whether you
pick a classic cut velvet, a bright cotton print, or a
handsome textured weave, we warranty the fabric
for two years and the frame for a life-time.
Custom furniture at non-custom prices.
At Newton Furniture, you select the style and fabric
you want. You can put contemporary prints on
traditional styles. Or have a rugged corduroy on a
country sleeper. And you don't pay extra.
How we do it.
It's really simple. We have an exclusive agreement
with one of America's most modern furniture
makers. They make what you order. We get your
new custom furniture within 35 days. So you can
enjoy it faster and for less money than you ever
thought possible.
You can get a custom made sofa
sale priced from $499 to $1,100.
400 Styles.
Look through our showroom. You'll find sofas,
sleepers, chairs and recliners in every style you
could imagine. Traditional, contemporary, country,
even oriental. Our styles feature kiln-dryed
hardwood frames with double doweling . . . and
they're built to take it.
• 800 fabrics to choose from
• 400 styles of sofas, sleepers, and chairs -
• 30 day,delivery on all special
orders
Livonia
Sterling Heights
15950 Middlebelt
Betw 5 & 6 Mile Rds
525-0030
38200 Van Dyke
Betw 16 & 17 Mile Rds.
264-3400
Novi
At Twelve Oaks On
Service Drive Across
From Hudson's Entrance
349-4600
Mon thru Sat 10 a m. to 9 p m . Sundays Noon to 5 p.m.
Convenient Terms Available • Master Card & Visa Accepted
psychological and philosophi-
cal end of Judaism."
Bill's conversion study was
more like a college course. He
explains, "I met with the rabbi
from my college's Hillel for one
academic year. We always hit
on the intellectual level. I read
current Jewish topics and his-
tory, and learned practices
and Hebrew. At the end, I
wrote a paper."
The Reform movement of-
fers a 12-week course, "Intro-
duction to Judaism," as part of
its College of Jewish Studies.
Meeting for two hours every
Wednesday evening at Beth
El, the course covers Jewish
history, customs, ceremonies
and Hebrew reading of basic
prayers. Taught by Detroit
area Reform rabbis, the course
is open to anyone who wants to
learn about Judaism, includ-
ing candidates for conversion
and their spouses.
Rabbi Roman emphasizes
the open nature of the course.
"We'd like the community to
realize Judaism is open to
their inquiry. We're not an
elitist, closed group." The
course has also attracted
many non-Jews, married to
Jews, who are not presently
interested in conversion, but
would like more knowledge of
Judaism.
For those seeking Reform
conversion, a congregational
rabbi supplements the course
with group meetings, one-to-
one counseling and additional
readings.
Once a candidate has
finished his training, he is
ready for the conversion cere-
mony. Traditionally, the
ceremony includes a ritual
cleansing at the mikveh for
women and a circumcision
(the taking of a drop of blood
for those already circumcized)
for men. The convert is blessed
and given a Hebrew name that
ends with "Bat Avram Av-
einu" or "Bas Avram Aveinu"
(son or daughter of Abraham
our Father) to signify he is
now a descendant of Abraham.
Often the certificate of conver-
sion is presented in a short,
moving ceremony before the
opened ark.
Susan vividly recalls her
conversion ceremony. "I went
to the mikveh at the Jewish
Center on Meyers with my
mother-in-law. I took off all
my clothes and scrubbed my-
self very well. With a towel
wrapped around me, I went
into the pool and dunked all
the way down in the water.
Three rabbis stood behind a
screen and asked me three
questions. I dunked again
after each answer."
Sara remembers well her
experience. "One of the three
rabbis said to me, 'At this mo-
ment you are not a Jew and
can go out and still be a good
person. When you become a
Jew, you are a Jew forever and
forever.' "
Orthodox Judaism explains
that halachically (according to
Jewish law), a convert is under
no obligation to his non-
Jewish parents. For example,
if a parent dies, the convert
should not sit shiva. Rabbi
Gordon explains, "Technically
speaking, the convert becomes
a new person, with a new
name. While we realize he
can't cut off emotional ties, we
recognize the difficulties in
maintaining close contact."
Sara describes her relation-
ship to her non-Jewish family.
In a future issue we will
discuss acceptance of
converts by the Jewish
community.
"I can understand why the
rabbis say to have little con-
tact with your Gentile family.
My family doesn't understand
us —especially our complete
observance of Shabbat. Since
we are strictly kosher, we
don't share in my family's
holidays or family gatherings.
They don't share in ours. My
children know my parents
aren't Jewish and are vaguely
aware that they celebrate
other holidays. The Orthodox
community has become my
family."
Conservative and Reform
Judaism offer the convert
many responsible .choices. De-
cisions are often based on what
feels right.
Susan has always tried to be
understanding and sensitive
to her mother's feelings. Out of
respect for her mother's reli-
gion, she and her husband
make a point of spending the
Christmas holiday with Su-
san's family. They make it
clear to their children that this
is Grandma's holiday.
For many "Jews by Choice"
there is another nagging prob-
lem. What do you do if you
don't look "Jewish?"
Every few months, Sara
comes face to face with this
issue in the form of a well-
intentioned Jewish grand-
mother. After overhearing
Sara call her children by their
Jewish names, and appraising
her Orthodox dress and man-
ner, someone will stop Sara
just long enough to say,
"Honey, you have such a beau-
tiful Shiksa face!" ❑