Archaeological work is be- ing carried out jointly by the Hebrew University's depart- ment of archaeology and the Israeli government's Depart- ment of Antiquities, with the National Parks Authority, the Beit She'an Municipal Coun- cil, the Ministry of Tourism and the Jewish National Fund taking part in the overall renewal and develop- ment project. According to the experts, the Beit She'an theater is far superior in beauty and ar- chaeological interest to the ANTIQUE S110V AND SALE Caesarea better-known Roman theater, which was marred by its hasty recon- struction with a layer of white marble, giving it a too modern and less authentic look. At the Beit She'an theater, the original stonework is be- ing maintained, with any cracks in the tiered seats carefully filled with stone chips. Sound experts say the acoustics from the stage of the Beit She'an theater are "near perfect." Jewish Telegraphic Agency NOV 11-111:0 AUGUST Over 45 antique dealers from across theirwares Michigan. and and will all exhibit est 11-day show. he throughout the Midw offer their services at t Thousands of items will be, available, including oak books. Services and walnut furniture, quilts, slot machines (now thru e Pair air, , r eferenc Sunday July glass 30) and an.tique include grinding and repairs, lamp re raising. `Swinging' In Israel Is Not Very Common NECHEMIA MEYERS L Special to The Jewish News S ince sex interests Israelis as it does everyone else, the local press has published numerous reports on police psychologist Mordechai Neuman's recent M.A. thesis on "swinging." In his thesis, the first academic study of the subject in Israel, Neuman makes no attempt to determine just how many married couples exchange sexual partners with one another. However, he does point out that the phenomenon was never very common here, and has become even less so since the AIDS epidemic began. Like so many other Israeli fads and fashions, this one was imported from the United States. But in Israel, unlike the U.S., there have never been any special clubs or publications for "swingers." If they advertise at all, it is through discrete little ads in either Hadashot, a popular evening newspaper, or La Isha, the country's most wide- ly circulated women's magazine. Neuman reports that husbands generally initiate the sexual exchange ar- rangements but, according to the interviewees, wives grow to enjoy them. The get- togethers typically take place on Friday nights at private homes (after children have been sent off to stay with their grandparents) or in hotels. All 25 couples interviewed by Neuman claimed that "no harm was done" by this departure from accepted norms, a view that is not shared by a prominent psychologist to whom I spoke. She said that "swinging" was bound to cause stress, and cited several cases of couples who had required prolonged psychological counseling after deciding to stop the practice. It was usually the woman, according to this psychologist, who sought help first because she "couldn't take it anymore." Often she also wanted an additional child but was loathe to become pregnant when she couldn't be sure who would be the father. The psychologist was struck by the fact that the couples she treated were "so seeming- ly square." Her observation accords with the findings of Mordechai Neuman, whose interviewees all came from a very specific sector of Israeli society: the well-educated, Ashkenazi upper middle class. Most were also educators, who, Neuman speculates, are apt to seek outside stimulation because their profession offers scant opportunity for advancement and few challenges. The educators I know, in any case, tnd to agree with his gloomy evaluation of their oc- cupation, but don't regard "swinging" as a satisfactory way of dealing with its frustrations. Needless to say, the rab- binical authorities take a still dimmer view of the practice. According to a reprsentative of the Haifa Rabbinical Court, which handled divorce proceedings following the breakup of a "swingers" group in that city some years ago, "the rabbis look at `swinging' as just another case of unfaithfulness. The women involved must divorce their husbands and are for- bidden to marry any of the men with whom they have had sexual relations. If, in ad- dition, a participating woman has also fallen in love with one of them, the resultant tragedy is even greater." furniture refinishing, silver matching, and app FREE during all gall Hours. Adin1SS1011. 1S 1r1VVellAre 1Siala -relegrp1-1 and 'Twelve Mile Roads, Southfield, 353-4111 Featuring Crowley's, Montgomery Vsiard, Krnart and Sun. 10 other 9:00, Noon stores - 5:00 and restaurants Hours:Mon.-Sat. Anybody can sell jewelry. • . but NOBODY provides SERVICE and DISCOUNTS like Weintraub. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. Southkield 1.-A\A/V. 10 - 5.3 0 Sunset Strip" 29536 Northwestern 1-40UfS M - F 10 - 5 Sat Get the most for ycur decorating Dollars Lots LIoLL t fionze need a MOTE Inotellional tottc0 Mix new with existing possessions Walicoverings Window treatments Furniture & accessories Judith Trumbull Desians C47-J859 NOW . . . at your service\ SONNY BRASS - • • • • • • • All that the name implies . Draperies Bedspreads Blankets (cleaned or laundered) Window Shades Lampshades Pillows Venetian Blinds (cleaned. relaped & re-corded) FREE estimates ' pick-up ■ delivery Any other items you may hove — if it con be cleaned, well clean it and clean it properly OPERATING THE NEW Phone for "all that the name implies" AND IMPROVED SERVICE ❑ THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 37