CONTENTS OPINION CLOSE-UP To The Top VICTORIA BELYEU DIAZ The business world has seen an upsurge, and more acceptance, for women execs. PEOPLE Hollywood Renaissance? 48 MICHAEL ELKIN The stars of Tinseltown are rediscovering their Judaism. Re lig ious News Se rvice LIFESTYLES Chanukah is a celebration of our Judaism. Illustration by S. Karczmar. A Way To Keep Chanukah From Seeming Like Christmas GARY A. TOBIN he "Holiday Season" used to make me feel like Scrooge, bah and humbug-like. Chanukah was star- ting to make me all grumpy because it became more difficult to tell Chanukah and Christmas apart. That was part- of the pro- blem, but not most of it, before my family discovered the best way to celebrate Chanukah. I dreaded the shopping. It was not the lines, the Muzak, the phony Santa Clauses and the incompetent salespeople that were most annoying. Take away the Santa Clauses, and it is much the same the rest of the year anyway. The problem was hav- ing to buy something for everybody, whether or not they needed something or wanted something. I had to find gifts that were fun, creative or meaningful. What a task! While I experienced the joy of man- datory consumerism, I was constantly bom- barded by the sound of "Wayne Newton Sings Christmas" permeating the mall. Wayne, joined by the Chipmunks, was all mingled with the greedy cries of children who already had more toys, gadgets and equipment than they could possibly know what to do with. The checkout lines are always populated by families shopping together. The tension builds. As one come- dian asks, why do parents bring their children to stores to beat them? T Gary A. Tobin is director of the Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University. I was in the malls so much because Chanukah now requires many presents. New shelving has to be erected in the base- ment for the accumulated haul from past years for the kids. The basement is the on- ly place for it, because no one touches the stuff after a few days. It's not just the kids who need presents. As the Dodo told Alice in her trip to Wonderland, everyone shall have prizes. So back to the mall. Presents are often hidden in the base- ment, with their forgotten mates of years past unless, of course, they are something big. And big they might be. in the never- ending quest to demonstrate love and car- ing through retail receipts, some people find bigger and more expensive presents necessary. Fancy cameras, jewelry, an ex- pensive case of wine, vacations and cars are no longer too extravagant for some. The success of the holiday is measured by how much is spent. Celebrating Chanukah in this way is antithetical to basic Jewish values. Aside from its thinly disguised imitation of the worst aspects of commercialized Christmas, it is such a terrible waste. Now, of course, it would be Scrooge-like to suggest that we do not buy presents for children or spouses, or parents or friends. The holiday offers a wonderful time for exchange and a good time for families to be together and share gifts. Lighting candles together and celebating the holiday are fun. Watching children make latkes at a JCC pre-school, or light candles at a temple or synagogue is a wonderful part of the holiday. Continued on Page 10 CARLA JEAN SCHWARTZ A capsule look at a new KIND of person: Amy Devove. SPORTS Maccabi Run-Around 52 55 MIKE ROSENBAUM The Detroit club's fundraiser is a big success ... eventually. ENTERTAINMENT Sing And Celebrate 65 DEBBIE WALLIS LANDAU Elaine Serling, Jewish music and children go hand in hand. EDUCATION Bricks And Mortar 79 KAREN A. KATZ Buildings are not the focus for Detroit supporters of Israeli universities. SINGLE LIFE Socially Speaking 102 Temple Israel's Singles Extension knows how to throw a party. COLUMNISTS 2 Philip Slomovitz 60 Helen Davis 68 Danny Raskin 90 92 95 96 98 124 Engagements B'nai Mitzvah Youth Births Women Obituaries DEPARTMENTS 26 32 36 40 58 86 Business Inside Washington Synagogues Life In Israel Seniors Cooking CANDLELIGHTING December 18, 1987 4:44 p.m. THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 7