Point, Ouf Thaf Diamonds Can Providee Him WA An Obvious Advanfageo Hot Biblical News Does your stove have a Jewish connection? ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSOCIATE EDITOR The Diamond Tennis Bracelet. So versatile, you can wear it on the court or on the town. We will be happy to show him our wide variety. yfl' i ailtertee r FineJewelers Est. 1919 11/i/11d/ire .S'///re 1 991 9 30400 Telegraph Rd. Suite 134, Bingham Farms • 642-5575 271 W Maple • 32 DOW17101V17 Birmingham ' 258.0212 MON.-SAT. 10 - 6 • THURS. 10 - 9 0:1 heard that the first U.S. cen Q: With Yom Kippur just around Q: Last night my friends and I ter for child study was founded by the corner, I'd like to learn a little were talking about our favorite ma- a Jew. Is that true? more about AI Het Can Tell Me Why jor appliances. OK, it's a little A: Yes. Felix Adler (1851-1933 help me out? weird, but isn't it wonderful when was a native of Germany and the A: Can Tell Me Why help me we can all celebrate our differ- son of Rabbi Samuel Adler, a out? Is the chief rabbi of Israel ences and be ourselves? leader in the Reform movement Jewish? and a founder of the Hebrew Or- Anyway, most of my friends Al Het ("For the Sin") are the phan Asylum. first words of this confessional agree that the dishwasher is prob- Felix Adler studied at Colum- prayer said on Yom Kippur. It in- ably the most valuable major ap- bia University, then preached briefly at Tem- ple Emanuel in New York. In 1874 he became professor of He- brew and Ori- ental literature at Cornell, and in 1876 founded the Society for Ethical Culture. Throughout his life, Adler was interested in social causes, including med- ical care for the poor, labor is- sues and child welfare. In ad- dition to found- ing this country's first group for child study, he wrote numerous books including "The Day of Atonement" by Jacob Kramer. Everyone says it, but no one knows who wrote this famous Moral Instruc- prayer. tion of Children. 11: I'm always interested in learn- cludes a recitation, in alphabeti- pliance ever invented, though we're ing about Jewish communities cal order, of 44 sins, with each pretty fond of refrigerators, too. throughout the world, especially in line beginning, "For the sin we My question: is there any bibli- places I would never have sus- have sinned before Thee." At the end of these 44, one reads an- cal connection to brand names of pected they exist. Take China, for other nine lines of sins and their major appliances? example. Could Tell Me Why tell punishments. A: I can't tell you how many Al Het is divided into four times Tell Me Why has received me a little about how the Western world first learned there were Jews parts, each ending, "And for all this question! And now, at long last, here's the answer! in China? So far as we know, there's A: You might be surprised to nothing Jewish about "Maytag" learn that the Western world or "Master Chef." But you might knew about Jews in China more be surprised to hear that at least than 350 years ago. one leading company does in- Ai T'ien, born in about 1545, deed have a name mentioned in was a Jewish native of Kaifeng. the Bible. He went to Peking in search of Amana is the name of a employment in 1605, where he mountain cited in Song of Songs met an Italian Jesuit missionary (4:8). Located in southern Syria, named Matteo Ricci. it was a source of alabaster and Ai spoke at length with Ricci, marble. to whom he gave a detailed de- Additionally, Amana is the scription both of his family and name of a river flowing from the the Jewish community of these, 0 God of forgiveness, for- Kaifeng. Ricci forwarded this in- give us, pardon us." It is tradi- mountain of the same name. To- formation to the head of the tional to hit one's breast at the day, it is known as Nahr Barada. Rome Jesuit order in a letter dat- mention of each sin and to read ed July 26, 1605. It is the first the prayer with the head bowed. Send questions to "Tell Me Why" known report about the Jews of One unusual feature of this c /o The Jewish News, 27676 China to reach the. Western famous prayer: no one knows Franklin Rd., Southfield, Ml world. who wrote it. 48034 or send fax to 354-6069.