VOLVO 850
The Story Of The Pebble
At long last, some insight on Tell Me Why's most frequently asked question.
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She has ridden 303 coasters in
Q:I recently learned of an orga-
Q: Why do many Jews who visit
gravesites place a pebble on the nization called ACE, American 118 parks, 31 states and 11 coun-
tries, she said proudly. Her fa-
headstone before leaving the ceme- Coaster Enthusiasts, comprising vorite remains the Cyclone which
men, women and children through- is, in coaster lingo, "a woodie." (As
tery?
A: This question has been out the world who love roller coast- any ACE member in good stand-
asked by numerous readers from ers. What a wacky and zany group ing will testify, wooden roller
throughout Michigan and Flori-
of folks they must be! I was won- coasters are much better than
da. After extensive research, Tell
their steel counterparts.)
Me Why has come up with some dering if Tell Me Why could reach
Dr. Scheinin, who said she has
a new high (har, har, har — get it? no problem riding on roller coast-
ideas.
The practice cannot be traced A new high! Like roller coasters!) ers immediately following a meal
to a specific source in Halachah and find out if there are any Jewish (he-man and he-woman ACE
(Jewish law), Chumash (the Pen-
members have "cast-iron stom-
members of ACE?
tateuch) or the Talmud. Scholars
Tell Me Why has gracious- achs," she explained), is married
A:
are not even sure when and
ly deemed to answer your ques- — shockingly — to a non-coast-
where the practice began, and no
tion, despite the fact that you er enthusiast. Their first date,
one is certain why and how this
have made what was possibly the planned by Lisa, was at an
custom came into existence.
dumbest joke in the world. amusement park.
However, its origins
Another ACE member is Mar-
may be speculated
fg tin Moltz of Chicago, whose cu-
upon by the following
, rious passion also began at a
theories:
young age.
* It is a historical
"When I was a kid, I was lit-
remnant of cairn (a
erally addicted to roller coasters,"
pile of stones) building.
he said. "It carried on into my
Since ancient times,
adult life."
cairns have been used
Mr. Moltz, an attorney in
in various parts of the
Chicago, said that a great coast-
world as burial sites,
er necessarily includes "a good
especially where the
steep drop" near the start and
soil is difficult to evac-
plenty of "air time," long rides
uate, or to prevent
downhill that leave riders "flying
wild animals from dis-
off the seat."
turbing the remains.
"For most that would probably
The rocky soil of the
be
a negative," he concedes. "But
Land of Israel provides Some pebbles are left on gravestones to show that
for us, it's exhilarating."
the deceased has not been forgotten.
a perfect environment
Mr. Moltz, whose late grand-
for burial cairns. (In the Mediter-
"Reach a new high." Yeah, we got father, Samuel Jacob Polonsky,
ranean region, the body was first
was the former chief rabbi of
placed in a grave and rocks piled it.
Founded in 1978, ACE is a Canada, also prefers wooden
on top of it.) In some cultures,
Chicago-based organization with roller coasters. They're like World
those attending a burial will each
War II biplanes,
4,500 members
place a stone upon the grave,
he said. "The ride
worldwide. It has its
thus building up the cairn.
is rougher, but
own conventions,
Although the Tanach (Bible)
every one is a lit-
mentions burial many times, it publication (the
tle bit different."
RollerCoaster
famed
does not describe the specific
Of course,
and many wacky and
mode of interment. The Talmud
those steel coast-
zany Jewish mem-
depicts the post-biblical mode of
ers have their
bers, including the ed-
Jewish burial as taking place in
benefits, too. "It
RollerCoaster!
,
itor
of
caves, rock-hewn tombs, sar-
feels like you're
Lisa Scheinin.
cophagi and catacombs, and re-
never going to
A native of New
interment in ossuaries. Although
make it through
York, Dr. Scheinin Marty Moltz gets his thrills.
archaeologists have not discov-
the ride," Mr.
now
works
as
deputy
ered cairn tombs in Israel, bur-
Moltz said.
medical examiner for the Is An-
ial cairns are not uncommon in
"That's half the fun."
geles County Coroner's office.
the surrounding region.
Like Dr. Scheinin, Mr. Moltz
An ACE member since 1984,
* It is a symbol of remem-
Dr. Scheinin said she "grew up counts among his favorites the
brance. Many people have the
loving roller coasters" and found Cyclone in New York, and he en-
fear that they will be forgotten
plenty to ride on in "coaster-rich" joys the Timberwolf in Kansas
after the death. The stone left on
New York City, where her fa- City, the Beast in Cincinnati, the
the monument serves as public
vorite was the Coney Island Cy- Comet in Lake George, N.Y., and
notice that the deceased is still
clone. Her father was a coaster the Texas Giant in Arlington.
remembered and his grave re-
And like Dr. Scheinin, he has
enthusiast, too, and often went
ceives visitors.
a
spouse
who can't understand
with her for the ride.
* It is a sign that the grave is
Dr. Scheinin early on found the whole roller-coaster fascina-
not neglected. In some countries,
herself drawn to what makes tion. "She doesn't like them at
abandoned gravesites, or those
most people either nauseous or all," he said.
not maintained, are sold. The re-
terrified: "the speed and the illu-
mains are dug and re-interred in
sion of danger, not to mention Send questions to "Tell Me Why"
a common grave and the tomb-
that stomach-coming-out-of-your- c/o The Jewish News, 27676
stone is either discarded or re-
mouth feeling on the steep Franklin Rd., Southfield, MI
used.
48034 or send fax to 354-6069.
drops."
!)