HOLOCAUST
'95
3000 GT
been cheapened. Don't use it. A
better way to refer to the de-
struction of European Jewry is
by the Hebrew word, Shoah.
* Perhaps program partici-
pants can gain insight into the
contemporary genocidal mind by
reading the Palestine Liberation
Organization charter, the Hamas
Manifesto, the speeches of Louis
DEALLP
4x4, LOADED
NEW '95
GALANT S
Loaded, air, auto, pwr.
wind./locks, more.
30 MO.
LEASE
Farrakhan or a selection from
some lesser-known white su-
premacist or Holocaust denier.
These might help us recall why
it is decidedly not good to get over
our "Holocaust mentality" or to al-
low the memory of what happened
to our people 50 years ago to de-
teriorate into "pop history." ❑
Jewish Men
And Jewish Memory
MICHAEL MEDVED SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
99 +PER
T
'95 MIRAGE LS
Loaded, air, C.D.,
alloys & more.
31/2 YR. LEASE
PURCHASE AT
4.9%* APR
FINANCING
*All prices plus tax, title and dest. 30 or 42 month closed end leases to qualified buyers. Sec. dep. of $300 plus $1250 down on Galant. $1500
down on Eclipse and Mirage. All other vehicles require $2500 down. 10,000 mile per year limitation. 150 per mile for excess miles. Option
to purchase at lease end for price to be determined at lease inception. To get total payments multiply by 30 or 42 months as indicated.
4.9% APR financing 42 months for qualified buyers on selected models only.
29310 TELEGRAPH ROAD, JUST NORTH OF 12 MILE • SOUTHFIELD
810.353-0910
YOUR FULL
page 8
SERVICE COPY CENTER)
natL
FREE
COLOR COPY
Of Any Passover Seder Photo
With this ad • Limit 1 per customer • Expires April ( 28, 1995
Matzo Farfel Matzo Farfel Matzo Farfel Matzo Farfel Matzo Farfel Matzo Farfel
r Tree) as West Bloomfield
A X (810) 851-7176
he Hebrew language pro- among most Jewish males, de-
vides invaluable insight in spite vast improvements in eco-
helping us understand nomic security and status. Yearly
what it means to be a Jew- income is the most commonly
ish male.
used measure of a man, rather
The Hebrew word for "male" than his spiritual depth, Jewish
is zachar, which derives directly commitment, or strength of char-
from the word for memory, za- acter.
chor.
Major Jewish organizations
In traditional Jewish terms, encourage this false standard of
memory is the very essence of manhood by publicly honoring
manhood; not just the recollec- only the wealthiest males in any
tion that allows you to learn from community. The standard of
your own experiences and mis- prestige or socio/sexual desir-
takes, but the memory that con- ability is far more one-dimen-
nects you with all preceding sional for Jewish men than it is
generations and that ultimately for Jewish women. A woman
reaches back to Sinai
may be considered worthy and
The epitome of manliness, in desirable because of her
Jewish terms, isn't a ferocious sparkling personality, physical
warrior or a graceful athlete or beauty, selfless communal ser-
an accomplished lover. It is the vice, skills as wife and mother or
Torah scholar who works to because of her career success.
guard the traditions of our peo-
A Jewish male has only one
ple.
commonly accepted means for es-
What it means to be a man, in tablishing his status in the Jew-
the most fundamental Jewish ish community. How many times
sense, is the ability and deter- would a middle-aged man who
mination to build families and earns $25,000 a year regardless
communities that will connect of his character or religious com-
our past to our future, our par- mitments be honored by Jewish
ents to our children. That's why organizations — or deemed a
one of the foremost acts of inter- prized "catch" among potential
generational connection — say- mates?
ing Kaddish to honor the
This devastating redefinition
departed — is, according to Jew- of Jewish manhood in narrow
ish tradition, a male responsibil- materialistic terms has con-
ity.
tributed more than any other fac-
Of course, this male role as tor, including the rise of feminism
guardian of memory has been or changes in gender roles, to
largely ignored in 20th-century Jewish men abandoning their
America. For a variety of reasons, traditional role as guardians of
including the free-wheeling, Jewish memory.
open-ended materialism that's
In many communities around
always been part of American life the country today, women are
and the insecurity and poverty more energetically involved with
of immigrant generations, most the business of Jewish continu-
Jewish-American men focused ity than are their male counter-
on getting ahead rather than parts. In most families that I've
keeping the faith. They treated encountered, mothers are more
mammon as a higher priority likely to encourage (or to insist
than memory. It's hard to fault upon) their children's bar or bat
struggling newcomers to these mitzvah training (or on other re-
shores (like both my grandfa- ligious involvement) than are
thers) who viewed feeding their their husbands.
families as even more urgent that Michael Medved is the New York
nourishing Jewish observance Post's chief film critic and co-
and continuity.
host of PBS' "Sneak Previews."
Today, however, the destruc- This article is reprinted with
tive obsession with all-consum- permission from. Sh 'm a.
ing careerism still holds sway '
❑