then there's Udi the parrot,
who became a national
celebrity during the Gulf War
for uncomplainingly wearing
a gas mask.
Mr. Novotovsky is intent on
maintaining what he con-
siders native Israeli in-
telligence with some Soviet
elan. Mr. Navotovsky's
Hebrew may be scant but he
knows enough to train
animals in the language.
Nonetheless, he's insistent
that his charges be bi-lingual.
Like a pedantic language in-
structor, he says, "I want the
Israeli children to be able to
ask an elephant to lift her leg
or shake her head in Hebrew,
and the new immigrant
children to be able to ask her
in Russian."
All Soviet Jewish im-
migrants are being helped by
the UJA/Federation Regular
and Operation Exodus Cam-
paigns. These same cam-
paigns are helping to fund the
absorption of over 14,000
Ethiopian Jews.
Children and animals are
clearly Mr. Navotovsky's soft
spot. The father of a daughter,
20, and a son, 4, he's consum-
ed by plans for a children's
theater at the park. Children
and animals will perform
together on the stage. He
says, "Children are better off
at the Safari than at the
beach or anywhere else. Here
they can learn about animals
and nature. "And animals,"
he concludes with a touch of
sadness, "live without wars."
According to Mr. Navotov-
sky, animals are more con-
cerned with propagating. Ex-
tolling the virtues of Israel,
he nods toward all the animal
progeny and says, "The
reproductive rate is high here
and when animals have
babies it's a sign that it's a
good place to live." Mr. Navot-
vosky also doesn't mind ad-
ding that, economically,
Israel has been a good place
for him to live. Reviewing a
list of acquisitions that in-
clude a car, television,
microwave and washing
machine, he says, "I've
bought more here in one year
than in 20 years in the Soviet
Union."
But gadgets and the ac-
coutrements of the West pale
beside Mr. Navotovsky's in-
stincts for husbandry. As he
approaches the animals or
calls to them, he's met with a
cacophony of animal wel-
comes. "I'm like their
mother," he says. After ex-
changing some animal small-
talk and generous attention,
Mr. Navotovsky saunters con-
fidently away. As he leaves,
Udi the parrot peers sadly at
him through the bars, and
then begins to cry.
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
MARK, MARCY, NIKKI & MITCHELL WAGNER
SYLVIA & JACK TAYLOR
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
MARLENE, LARRY, NATHAN & MARJORIE WHITE
MAYNARD & GLORIA STONE
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
MR. & MRS. HARRY TUCHKLAPER
CAROLE & SAM SOBEL
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
DOROTHY & BERNIE TROCK & FAMILY
Tamarac, FL
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
We wish our family and'friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
We wish our family and friends a
very healthy, happy and prosperous
New Year
CHARLES & BARBARA TOBIAS
HY & CHARLOTTE SHEBOWICH & FAMILY
MURRAY & HARRIET SHUBIN
A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family.
ELLEN & LOU FELDMAN
MICHAEL, JEREMY & ABBY
A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family.
A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family.
A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family.
Coral Springs, FL
AVRUM & CLARA FEINSTEIN
Delray Beach, FL
A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family.
A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family.
A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family.
A Very Happy and Healthy
New Year to All Our Friends
and Family.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
107