Seeking Roots? Go To Shul! By MIRIAM WEINER The photograph of my mother was over 50 years old and it showed me a time of her life that I had not known and could not really imagine. It was such a surprise to find it in a synagogue library in Tulsa, Okla., and it was the basis for a fascinating afternoon's journey through time. A few years ago, my mother and I went back to her hometown of Tulsa where she grew up. During that week, we stopped by the synagogue where her family had belonged for many years and were thrilled to find that they had published a Golden Jubilee Book commemorating the 50th anniversary year of B'nai Emunah in Tulsa. Synagogues and temples throughout the country have published illustrated histories ranging from small pamphlets to large books. The formats vary greatly. Some include extensive statistics while others offer an insight into the problems of the times and how their members coped. Finding your roots is a fun, fulfilling family project. And a great place to start is in your synagogue's library. The congregations of Detroit have been descibed at length in many published histories including, but not limited to, the following: GAMES Jerusalem Bus Stop — Take a tour of Jerusalem as you travel around the board; all ages, available at Borenstein's and Spitzer's. Target 613 — Learn the traditions of Jewish holidays and the mitzvot; ages 6 and up; available at Borenstein's and Spitzer's. Torah Slides and Ladders — A Chutes and Ladders- type game to learn Jewish traditions and practices; ages 4-12; available at Borenstein's. Tradition — A game of Jewish facts, trivia and humor; ages 13 to adult; available at Borenstein's. The Lights of Life — An electronic matching game which tests children's knowledge in basic areas of Jewish life; ages 6-9; available at Borenstein's and Spitzer's. Shaarey Zedek Cong. Shaarey Zedek, 1861-1981, 198 pages, 1982. Temple Beth Jacob Dedication Volume, 23 pages, 1955. AUDIO CASSETTES Shalom Yeladim (Hello Children) — Judy Caplan Ginsburgh and Jerry Heinberg, available at Spitzer's. Mercedes, "Speed of Sound" — Songs for the whole family, available at Spitzer's. Temple Beth El Cong. Beth El. A History . . . 1850-1900, 89 pages, 1900; A History . . . 1900-1910, 2 vols., 1910; An Outline History of Congregation Beth El from 1850 to 1940, 80 pages, 1940; The Beth El Story, 238 pages, 1955; 110 Years of Temple Beth El, 24 paces, 1960. "U.Shanah Tovah" — Stories and songs for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, available at Borenstein's and Spitzer's. "MBD (Mordechai Ben David) and Friends" — Songs for the whole family available at Borenstein's. Temple Israel Silver Anniversary Album, 40 pages, 1966. B'nai Moshe Cong. B'nai Moshe, 15 pages, 1982; Dedication Volume Four, 102 Nlb Spitzer's is located at 21770 W. 11 Mile, Southfield. Borenstein's is located at 25242 Greenfield, Oak Park. pages, 1960. (New publication is planned for 75th anniversary in 1987.) Young Israel of Oak-Woods Silver Anniversary, 48 pages, 1980. B'nai David 75th Anniversary of Cong. B'nai David, 75 pages, 1966. Temple Emanu-El Temple Emanu-El: 25 Year Anniversary, 140 pages. Adat Shalom Story of the Synagogue, 101 pages, 1952. Beth Abraham-Hillel-Moses Dedication Journal, 35 pages, 1958. Birmingham Temple Forthcoming publication in late 1987 commemorating 25th anniversary. Michigan's most extensive collection of Michigan Jewish History is located in the Leo M. Franklin Archives at Temple Beth El. The archives' holdings are preserved and readily accessible through the efforts of the archivists, Aid and Miriam Kushner. Holdings include: historical and some pictorial records of early Detroit and Michigan Jewry; records of Detroit, American and European Reform Jewish history; historical and pictorial information regarding all synagogues in Detroit and most of Michigan; records of the Lafayette Street Cemetery (Detroit's oldest Jewish cemetery); a collection in miniature of Detroit and world synagogues made by Kushner; burial records of Beth Olam Cemetery (Detroit's second oldest Jewish cemetery); birth, marriage and death records and other records of Temple Beth El membership dating from 1850 to the present. Through photograph and phrase, these anniversary albums reprsent a labor of love as they trace the history of their synagogue from its earliest beginnings to the present. Miriam Weiner is an authority on Jewish genealogy and a syndicated columnist. L-4 FRIDAY, SEPT. 18; 1987 Customs Continued from Page L-2 round hallot rather than oval or rectangular ones. Round hallot are reminiscent of crowns — either the crown with which God rewards the people of Israel who are righteous or the crown of God's kingship which is a major theme of this holiday, "Malchuyot." There are other traditions which have evolved concerning hallot. Often the hallah is made in the shape of a ladder or birds are placed on it. Birds express the hope as does the imagery of the ladder that our prayers will move swiftly towards haven. Other food customs which express hope for a sweet year are carrot tzimmes and eating the head of a fish. One reason that carrot tzimmes is eaten is that the Yiddish word carrot is "meiren" which also means to multiply, expressing hope for a productive year. Another explanation offered for the selection of carrots is when sliced, they become coin shaped and symbols of prosperity. Eating the head of a fish expresses the hope that we as a people will be offered leadership and greatness. On the second evening meal of Rosh Hashanah, it is customary to eat a new fruit such as pomegranate or kiwi so that the She-he-heyanu blessing can be recited. On Rosh Hashanah afternoon of the first day, it is customary to go to a river or lake (a flowing body of water), and symbolically cast our sins away by throwing bread crumbs into the water. A brief traditional service accompanies this act. Some scholars have cited Micah 7:19, "You will cast `Tashlikh' your sins into the depths of the sea" as the source of this custom. During the Middle Ages, Tashlich was vehemently opposed by many rabbinic scholars. They feared that the symbolism would be taken literally and people would accept this simple act as a method for ridding themselves of sin rather than the arduous process of change, "Teshuvah." Renee Wohl is Director of the Midrasha College of Jewish Studies.