THE TORAH EXCHANGE An intriguing series of luncheon mini-conferences Tax Guide Is Criticized Rome (JTA) — A caricature of a Jew that appears in an Italian government guidebook to filling out in- come tax forms has been criticized by the local media and Jewish community for being anti-Semitic. The drawing is just one of many cartoons filling the book, including exaggerated pictures of taxpayers about to commit suicide, having payments squeezed out of them by a large press, and other drawings meant to be amusing. The picture that has raised controversy appears in a sec- tion of the guide explaining how taxpayers should treat contributions to Jewish organizations. It shows a Jew in a skullcap and beard, with glasses perched on his long nose, hunched over a table containing a stack of money, coins and a menorah. The Jew is drooling greedily as he licks his thumb to count another stack of money in his hand. In the section on contribu- tions to Christian churches, the book features an irrever- ent cartoon of four jolly monks in knee-length habits. The cartoon illustrating "contributions to the Jewish community," however, "is a shocking image, even if the context is undoubtedly satirical," wrote the Turin daily La Stampa. "Is it that old ghosts, an- cient anti-Semitic stereo- types, reappear perhaps un- consciously even in the realm of irony, jokes, humor?" La Stampa asked. "Was it a gaffe? An innoc- uous oversight? Or the signal of an anti-Semitism that is both more dangerous and more unconsciously in- debted to the most obsolete stereotypes embroidered around the figure of the Jew?" the paper queried. La Stampa quoted Angelo Pezzana, who runs a Turin bookstore and has been ac- tive in pro-Israel politics, as warning that it is counter- productive to "cry wol' in seeing anti-Semitism everywhere. But even he was alarmed. "There is no doubt that in this cartoon there is a psychological background that hurts, an unconscious mechanism that induces someone to depict Jews in exactly the same way in which they were always depicted." ❑ Sponsored by: Machon L'Torah The Jewish Learning Network of Michigan Monday, Aug. 9 12:30 PM JEWISH ETHICS TEXT: TALMUD, PIRKE1AVOT (no Hebrew background required) Tuesday, Aug. 24 12:15 PM JUDAISM; BEYOND THE REASONABLE DOUBT Tuesday, Aug. 31 12:15 PM PROVIDENCE & SUFFERING WHY BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE Wed., Sept. 8 12:15 PM Jewish News 27676 Franklin, Southfield Host: Arthur Horowitz $7.00 per person Sundance Enterprise, Inc. 31700 Middlebelt Rd., Rm. 145 Farmington Hills Host: Gary Shiffman Cigna Financial Services 26555 Evergreen, Southfield Travelers Building: 16th floor Host: Stuart Selis Beaumont Medical Bldg. 6900 Orchard Lake Rd. West Bloomfield Host: Dr. Mark Schare PROPHECY: MYTH & REALITY All conferences allow a half hour for lunch, followed by a 40 minute discussion or lecture led by Rabbi Avraham Jacobovitz. Guest Lecturers: Rabbi Shmuel Irons, Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg. RSVP: by phone 967 0888. Except where noted No Charge. - - Sale - Sale -Sale -Sale - Sale -Sale- C D N 9 Volt Hearing Aid (pack of 6) Remote Car Batteries CUSTOM WALL MIRROR SPECIALISTS 45C each 45C each 75C each 95C each 75C each $1.55 each $3.00 $1.10 ( "The Store To Watch" 4301 Orchard Lake Road 539-1181 I (Corner of Lone Pine) Inside Crosswinds Mall Hours: Mon. - Wed. 10-6. Thurs. & Fri. 10-9, Sat. 10-6 — cgaie — Sale TUB & SHOWER ENCLOSURES MIRRORED BIFOLD OR SLIDING DOORS ( Best Price in Town Dion's World of Watches SAVE FROM 20% TO 50%* MARV SAYS Eveready Energizer Batteries AA MA - Sale — Sale — gale — Sde I — INSULATED GLASS REPLACEDJ • TABLE TOPS • STORM DOORS & WINDOWS • PATIO DOOR WALLS REPLACED • STORMS & SCREENS REPAIRED VISIT OUR SHOWROOM 'Suggested List Price MOBIL AUTO GUMS SERVICE ( ZaZtrs7.4;c7 2;2 TIRES & ACCESSORIES GLASS & AUTO TRIM MN CUSTOM WALL MIRRORS ESTABLISHED 1920 OVER 69 YEARS OF SERVICE SOUTHFIELD: 24777 Telegraph 353-2500 Other locations: Wayne and Lincoln Park