But for Orthodox Jews like Mr. Borenstein,
keeping kosher "is not even a question." And
for Conservatives like Ms. Levine, "it's just
a way of life. It's expensive being Jewish, but
it's a commitment."
lissa Berg, a Conservative Jew, want-
ed to wrap herself in the spiritual seclu-
sion and comfort of a tallit. She
purchased an off-white wool one with
grey stripes and a Hebrewrrayer.pairrtedorr
it. All told, Ms. Berg will have spent more
than $300, paid for in five installments.
"I shouldn't have spent that much money,
but it's something that will last forever," she
says.
Ms. Berg also spends a small fortune on a
lulav and etrog for Sukkot. Those are year-
ly purchases, "but it's not like you can go to
Target and get a better deal," she says.
How about the snob factor? The keeping
up with the Jonesteins shtick? The materi-
alistic mantra that goes something like: The
more money I spend, the better I am, the
more successful people think I am, the bet-
ter a Jew I am.
Such thinking: Does it exist? Sure. But
Ms. Berg believes that status mongers will
be status mongers — Jewish or not. If there
were one thing she could change about the
cost of Jewish living, it would be the method
of payment.
"I wish there were a (single) fee you could
pay into the system," she says.
She suggests a one-stop registration
that would enable people to belong to a
temple or synagogue, the JCC and so on. As
the educational director at Temple Kol Ami,
Ms. Berg also knows that it's not easy for
Jews to ask for financial help when they
need it.
"It's embarrassing for people," she says. "I
know that in this community people will sit
with you to work something out, and yet not
all consumers are comfortable with that
help." El

E

Some cost-conscious consumers opt for sta-
tion-wagon versus Cadillac brands of Ju-
daica. There are colorful, but simple,
ketubahs for $50. Or there are customized
ketubahs — wedding contracts —inscribed
by calligraphers for up to $500. Silver-plat-
ed and pewter kiddush cups run between $10
and $30, while intricate cups of sterling sil-
ver can cost $200.
"Just about everything you want to buy
will have a price range. I don't see people
turning an item down because it's too ex-
pensive," says Chaskel Borenstein of Boren-
stein's Books, a family-owned Judaica store
in Oak Park. "If they need it they'll take it,
no matter how much it costs, but they might
moderate the amount they buy."
Special shmura matzah for Passover gen-
erally costs $15 a box, and Mr. Borenstein
says people who find the cost too steep will
"take less and eat less."
In the Orthodox community, he adds, peo-
ple have responded to the rising cost of Jew-
ish books by starting private libraries at their
homes and synagogues.
"I've seen a little less of the book buying,"
he says. "But there's still a big thirst for a lot
of books — kids books especially."
For many Jews, the savings come in mak-
ing choices and cutting back on amenities

that don't directly supplement their
family's Jewish growth. Several people
say they cut back on purely recreational va-
cations, new cars and household furnishings.
Huntington Woods resident Sue Stettner and
her husband, Dan, decided against hosting
big bar and bat mitzvah parties for their two
children.
"Instead, we took the kids individually
to Israel," she says. "That was a priority. We
could never have done both, even if I had
wanted to."
True, there are expenses to being Luther-
an and Catholic, but Christianity doesn't cost
as much as Judaism. Pastor Ray Scherbarth
of Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Birm-
ingham says summer Bible school classes
are free. At most, books and other materials
amount to $20.
Church members are encouraged to tithe
10 percent of their incomes, but there are no
membership dues. The cost of most Christ-
ian day school educations is significantly less.
Classes are funded through private dona-
tions, the pastor says.
Gentile families might spend between $10
and $150 for a Christmas tree, though
real-looking artificial trees can cost up to
$200. Trimmings and decorations, of course,
add to that expense, but they are often col-
lected over years and passed down from gen-
eration to generation — much like baptismal
gowns.
Baptism costs nothing. (A brit is about
$250 just for the mohel.) Parties tossed after
a baptism are generally low-key and held at
the family's home.
Father Robert Wurm of St. James Catholic
Church in Ferndale says there are few costs
associated with being part of the Christian
faith. A crucifix in each room isn't necessary.
A picture of Jesus isn't mandatory either, he
says.
"Through the time of renewal (the past
30 years after Vatican II), the emphasis
has been more on the spiritual meaning
today and the question of how to express
it, rather than the cultural side which em-
phasizes the food and dress of the past," he
says.
Devotees of other religions don't face the
quandary over kashruth, and some Jews
would prefer to remain oblivious to the price
gap between kosher and non-kosher items.

costs of someitems
The following is alist of
and services common tojelVish house

Six Dozen Shabbat Candles — $4.29
Shabbat Candlesticks — $10 to $200
Menorahs — $10 to $200
Kosher Wine -- starts at $3.00
Kiddush Cups — $10 to $200
Spice Boxes — $80 to $200
Yarmulkes — $5 and up
Tefillin — $225 to $850
Mezuzah Scrolls -- $30 to $60
Mezuzah Covers — $4 to $100
Challah Covers- $10 to $75
Wigs (Sheyt1s)— $300 to $1,000
Mikvah — $100, base fee; $12/month
Seder Plate — $15 to $400
Lulav/Etrog Set -- $50 to $200
Joe Cornell Dance School -- $160 for 16 lessons
for sixth-grade students.
Hillel Day School Annual Tuition — Between
$6,100 and $6,700, grades one through eight.
Scholarships based on need.
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah (Boys School) Annual Tu-

ition — $4,150 for grades one through six. Slid-
ing pay scales available.
Darchei Torah (Hebrew School) Annual Tuition
— $4,000 for grades one through six. Sliding pay
scales available.

