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Tanks For The Memories
Of 'Dear Ruth's' Norman Krasna
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Q: Why is a ring used in the Jew-
ish wedding ceremony?
A: By now, as a matter of tra-
dition and in conformity with the
surrounding populations where
Jews live.
In Halachah, Jewish law,
marriage is a contract be- ."' ■
tween the bride and
groom. To demon-
strate the cou-
ple's mutual
assent to the con-
tract, the groom
transfers property
to the bride. Halachah
specifies that the property must
be worth at least one perutah, the
lowest denomination of coin in
ancient Israel (by today's stan-
dards, about 10 cents). The prop-
erty may consist of any object
that can be observed by the wit-
nesses to the wedding and whose
value of at least one perutah is
not in dispute. The most com-
monly used property is a ring,
whose use dates back to the an-
cient world.
The giving of a ring to mark
a betrothal (an engagement ring)
was an old Roman custom. In the
second century C.E. the gold ring
was introduced, with its use sanc-
tioned by the Catholic Church.
The use of a betrothal ring
evolved to a wedding ring. As
most Jews moved into the west-
ern world, they adopted the cus-
tom of using a wedding ring.
In a Jewish ceremony, the
groom places the ring on the
bride's right-hand index finger,
to be clearly observable to the
witnesses. After the ceremony,
the bride may move the ring to
the traditional "ring finger" (an-
other ancient Roman custom).
Q: Do Jews believe in the power of
amulets?
A: It has everything to do with
folk religion and nothing to do
with Halachah (Jewish law does
not sanction such supernatural
notions), but since ancient times
Jews have carried amulets —
usually bearing religious symbols
and letters — in an effort to ward
off evil.
Amulets found great popular-
ity during the talmudic period.
Their use became even more
widespread with the develop-
ment of the Kaballah, the Jew-
ish mystical writings that speak
of the power of certain combina-
tions of Hebrew letters and words
(especially God's name) and
prayers. In pre-Holocaust east-
ern Europe, the amulet (karne'a
in Hebrew) frequently could be
found among Chasidim.
In addition to words and let-
ters, the amulets may contain de-
signs, including triangles and
other geometrical figures, or a
menorah, animals and birds.
Jewish amulets often are writ-
ten on parchment or metal, like
the ubiquitous hamsah, a
hand-shaped design said to
keep away the evil eye and of-
ten worn on a necklace.
Talismans of the past
include a 17th-century
amulet to safeguard a
newborn, a 17th-century
Persian piece to protect a
woman from barrenness and
miscarriage, and a Yemenite
amulet asking that the owner's
soul be open to the Torah.
One of the most curious good-
luck charms (in a sense) today is
a chair said to make barren
women pregnant. A recent issue
conceive after sitting on the chair.
For some inexplicable reason,
a number of Jews have come to
believe that a mezuzah is some
kind of charm. In fact, its place-
ment on the doorposts of a Jew-
ish home is mandated in the
Torah and has nothing to do with
good luck.
A popular talisman today is a
red ribbon that has been wound
around Kever Rachel, the tomb
of the matriarch Rachel.
The ribbon is said to protect its
carrier against illness and
misfortune. (To obtain a
Kever Rachel talisman, call Re-
fuah/Yeshuah, 1-800-545-7729.
The card is free, but donations
are requested.)
Q: Who is Norman Krasna, and why
does the world owe him a special
"tanks"?
A playwright says tanks a lot.
of the Wall Street Journal re-
ported on a chair in Israel, im-
bued with power after an
esteemed rabbi sat there. Ac-
cording to the story, women who
for years have tried unsuccess-
fully to become pregnant soon
A Kever Rachel amulet.
A: Playwright Krasna was the
author ofDear Ruth, a 1944 play
and later film starring William
Holden.
Dear Ruth tells the story of a
soldier who returns home after
the war, meeting and (naturally)
falling in love with a young
woman with whom he has corre-
sponded.
The woman's family has a fa-
vorite game: tricking others into
saying "tanks," to which they will
quickly respond, "You're wel-
come!"
One of the woman's suitors
just doesn't get it. He thinks he
has joined in the family joke
when he answers, "You're wel-
come" to a "thanks."
Krasna's other works include
Princess O'Rourke, a 1943 screen-
play for which he won an Acade-
my Award. ❑
Send questions to "Tell Me Why"
o The Jewish News, 27676
Franklin Rd., Southfield, MI
48034