The Day That Big Al
Took Charge Of Encino
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSOCIATE EDITOR
RITA JEROME
is pleased to announce
that Unique Kosher Carryout
is now accepting orders
for the high holidays
We carry
a full line of kosher foods
for all your holiday needs!
Be Sure To Try Our
HOMEMADE KREPLACH
COMPLETE DINNERS OR A LA CARTE
PLEASE PLACE YOUR
HOLIDAY ORDERS BY
MON., AUG. 29
967-1161
FREE ROSH HASHANAH
RAISIN CHALLAH
with complete dinners
Under the supervision of the council of
Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit
25270 GREENFIELD, OAK PARK
Q: Is "X-mas" a secular abbrevia-
tion for Christmas?
A: In the past
ed an audience with Hitler,
where the Arab leader pledged
his support for the
Nazis' anti-Jewish
few years, some
campaign.
Jews who have
In 1941, Bosnian
wished to avoid the
Muslims — under
word "Christ" have
the influence of Haj
written "Xmas" in-
Amin — helped the
stead of Christmas
Nazis set fire to the
in the belief that
Sephardi synagogue
"Xmas" is a secular
of Sarajevo and col-
abbreviation. In
laborated in other
fact, the letter X
anti-Jewish acts.
has an association
Haj Amin also
with Christianity
helped recruit Bosn-
just as strong as
ian Muslims into an
the word "Christ"
SS unit that later
itself.
committed atrocities
The letter we
against Bosnian
identify as X in
Jews, Gypsies and
English also exists
Serbs.
in the Greek al- Shopping for Christmas or Xmas or does it matter?
There were Nazi sup-
phabet, where it is
the letter khi, pronounced like identification with Nazism. Nu- porters in every Arab country.
the German ch, as in achtung merous Arab nationalists open- They translated Hitler's Mein
ly collaborated with the Nazis, Kampfinto Arabic, and Arab del-
and Bach.
In Greek, khi is the first letter shuttling between the Middle egations attended Nazi Party ral-
of the word khristos, or Christ (a East and Germany. The most no- lies in Nuremberg. In turn, Nazi
translation of the Hebrew word torious of these was Haj Amin el- leaders like Baldur von Schirach,
mashiach, "the anointed one.")
Since ancient times, the khi has
been used as an abbreviation for
Christ or Christian. Also, because
the letter looks like a tilted cross,
it has been used throughout his-
tory and in many cultures as a
symbol of Jesus and the Christ-
ian religion.
Although Xmas is indeed an
abbreviation, it is anything but
secular.
War II, there was among Arabs
a widespread sympathy for and
Q:Have any Jewish thespians be-
come politicians?
A: The Jazz Singer himself is
the former mayor of Encino. He
was elected in 1937.
Born Asa Yoelson in 1886, Jol-
son was the son of a cantor. He
worked in circuses and vaude-
ville acts before finding success
in such stage musicals as Sinbad
and Bombo In 1927, he starred
in the first talking film, The Jazz
They Feel
3jTM
G re g
West Bloomfield
SHOES
Serving the Community for 38 years
Orchard Mall
851-5566
Singer.
Jolson died in 1950.
Other actors-turned-politician
include Sonny "Drums keep
poundin' rhythm to the brain, la
da dee, la de-dah de dah" Bono
(mayor of Palm Springs, Ca.);
1930s cowboy star Rex Bell (lieu-
tenant governor of Nevada);
"Love Boat" star Fred Grandy
(U.S. congressman from Iowa);
and Ben Jones, "Cooter" (that's
right, "Cooter") from the inim-
itable "Dukes of Hazard" (U.S.
congressman from Georgia).
From The Celebrity Almanac
by Ed Lucaire.
Q: What was the Arab role in the
Holocaust?
A: Prior to and during World
Syria's Hafez Assad: Extending open arms to former Nazi leaders.
Husseini (1893-1974), leader of
the Palestinian Arabs.
Early in 1933, Haj Amin ap-
proached Germany's Nazi lead-
ership to express his approval of
its anti-Jewish policies. Pledging
to encourage similar measures
against Jews in Arab countries,
he became the Nazis' chief pro-
pagandist to Arabs and Muslims.
In 1936, he provoked bloody anti-
Jewish riots in Palestine.
By 1938, the Nazis were giv-
ing financial aid and weapons to
Arabs in Palestine and Syria.
Eventually, Hqj Amin was grant-
head of the Hitler Youth, and
Josef Goebbels toured the Mid-
dle East.
In 1941, the Nazis organized
Arab volunteers in Germany into
the Frei Arabien, Free Arabs,
training detachment. It later be-
came an SS unit.
After the war, Nazi criminals
found safe havens in Arab coun-
tries like Egypt and Syria.
Send questions to "Tell Me Why"
c/o The Jewish News, 27676
Franklin Rd., Southfield, MI
48034