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2258 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
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Mon. & Wed. 9.7, Tue., Thur., Fri. & Sat. 9-5
Have You Heard?
by Felix Cruz
Hearing Aid Specialist
BEYOND CLAIMS
Last spring, the Food and Drug Adminis-
tration announced its warning to six major
hearing instrument manufacturers and dis-
tributors to stop advertising misleading claims
about their products. The FDA's concern was
that the public might be misled into having
unrealistic expectations about the perfor-
mance of these hearing products on the ba-
sis of these claims. At issue were claims that
implied that hearing instruments will restore
a users hearing to normal; that one brand of
instrument is significantly better than anoth-
er; and, that background noise can be elim-
inated. The FDA's attention to potentially
misleading claims is to be applauded. Con-
sumers and the hearing instrument industry
as a whole are best served by a detailed dis-
cussion of hearing issues.
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have on staff knowledgeable hearing instru-
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Have a happy Valentine's Day!
P.S. Rather than stake their beliefs on blan-
ket claims, the hearing impaired are encour-
aged to assess their particular set of hearing
needs and address them appropriately.
Paid for and brought to you as a public service by Felix Cruz
What's Wrong With Sending
Flowers To A Jewish Funeral?
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSOCIATE EDITOR
44: Why isn't it proper to send flowers to a
Jewish funeral?
A
. The custom of sending flowers to funerals
• originated with the Christians.
According to Christian tradition, Jesus rose from
the grave three days after his death. Wanting to
emulate their messiah, Jesus' followers were buried
three days after their date of death. This created
quite a problem back when there was no embalming
and the body tissues began to deteriorate. So Chris-
tians covered the dead body with flowers to mask the
smell.
Jewish bodies normally are buried within 24 hours
of death, so in any case there has never been a
need at Jewish funerals to deal with an offensive
odor.
Instead of sending flowers, Jews customarily
make a tribute to a charity in memory of the
deceased.
44: Why were Jews big in organized crime in
the early part of the century, but not now?
• Criminal behavior is a
• feature of many immi-
grant groups, who often are
frustrated at their inability to--
immediately find success in
American society. (Of course,
only a small percentage are ac-
tually involved in crime. The
vast majority of immigrants are
honest and hard-working.)
In addition to names like Al
Capone and Lucky Luciano, the
1920s-1940s were dominated by
Jewish figures including Meyer
Lanky and Benjamin "Bugsy"
Siegel. But there also were plen-
ty of gangsters from all other
immigrant communities, just as
today organized crime has at-
tracted individuals from all
walks of life.
As Jews and other early im-
migrants attained education
and acculturation, they found
success in the professions,
trades and legitimate busi-
nesses. These days, it is unusual
to find Jews in organized crime.
44: • What is pidyon-ha-ben?
Apidyon ha-ben is a religious ceremony
• for the first-born child who is a male. It
follows the biblical directive (Exodus 13:11) that
the first-born of every man and animal belongs
to God.
It parallels the biblical story of Hannah, who
vowed to dedicate her child to God if she could
conceive. Her son Samuel was brought to the Tem-
ple as soon as he was weaned.
Today'spidyon ha-ben, held 31 days after birth,
consists of a child's parents giving a small sum of
money to a Cohen (who, in most cases, then gives
the funds to a charity) and the recitation of cer-
tain prayers. The Cohen in turn "releases" the
first-born from responsibilities in the Temple ser-
vice. Finally, everyone sits down to a festive meal.
Is vegetarianism compatible with
Judaism?
• Compatible, yes. Especially desirable,
A. • no.
Vegetarians often note that the Torah offers
strict guidelines on how to eat meat if one "craves
it," and a number of leading Jewish scholars, in-
cluding Abraham Isaac Kook, first chief rabbi of
Israel, and former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Shlo-
mo Goren of Israel were vegetarians.
Yet Judaism at times obligates one to eat
meat, such as in the case of
animal sacrifices at the
Temple, and on holidays
and Shabbat it is prefer-
able.
Certainly those who
don't eat meat are not vi-
olating Halachah (Jew-
ish law).
Send questions to "Tell Me Why" c to The Jewish News, 27676 Franklin Rd., Southfield, MI 48034