OUR SHIP
JUST CAME
IN...

Fans find it hard to
explain exactly what the
appeal is — a mixture of
ever-changing music, com-
munity and friendship, a
desire to hold onto ideals
of the past.
"The Dead for me has
always been an escape
from the real world. But
it's not all play; it's partial-
ly a way of life — a recap-
turing of something this
present society doesn't
offer," Mr. Steinberg said.
"It's the group dynamics of
20,000 Heads, going in the
same direction of love and
the spirit of the music
being generated."
Some may call it a
throwback to the 1960s,
confused youth trying to
find themselves, experi-
menting in the freedoms of
20 plus years in the past.
Yet Rebecca Adam of the
University of North
Carolina at Greensboro
wrote her doctorate on the
subculture of Deadheads.
And Lubavitch Jews
attend en masse, especial-
ly in San Francisco,
encouraging other Jews to
lay tefillin.
For Ronnie and Batya
Schreiber of Oak Park, liv-
ing as Orthodox Jews and
as Deadheads is consis-
tent.
Sporting a long jumper
with Birkenstock sandals
and a scarf covering her
head, Mrs. Schreiber can
as easily be identified as
an attractively aging hip-
pie or as a modestly-
dressed observant Jew. A
long red beard, kippah and
Jews For Judaism T-shirt
is standard show garb for
Mr. Schreiber.
;Since
1972,
the
Schreibers have been
grooving and spinning at
shows, but only locally.
This past June, they
packed their three chil-

dren into the minivan —
yes, they once owned a VW
— and let them join in the
experience.
"There's a spiritual
nature to the music. It
might not be the most
kosher environment, but I
feel safe bringing my
kids," Mrs. Schreiber said.
Her husband added,
"Sure, I have reservations
about some things my kids
may see at a concert. But I
have reservations about
some things they see on
`Nickelodeon,' too.
"It's about a sense of
community. And it always
comes down to the music.
The music is unique and
incredibly eclectic, from
bluegrass to blues to world
beat to improvisational to
old American rock 'n' roll
standards. You're not like-
ly to see another band do
so much, so proficiently."
In their Oak Park home,
the Schreibers proudly line
CDs and vinyl albums of
cantorial masterpieces
next to the Rolling Stones.
"There are friends who
look askance and are
heartily disappointed that
I like rock 'n' roll. But
we're still welcome in each
other's homes," Mr.
Schreiber said. "I guess
we're a bit unorthodox in
our Orthodoxy. But I cer-
tainly wouldn't wear a tie-
dye to shul, either."
Debby and Michael
Burnstein also brought
their son to the most
recent Detroit Dead shows
at the Palace. Two-and-a
half-year-old Danny
enjoyed twirling to "Iko
Iko" and screaming
"Jerry." (Garcia — lead
guitarist for the band.)
The best show for both
Burnsteins, Danny's atten-
dance was merely the fol-

GRATEFUL DEAD page 48

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