FamilyFun

COMPILED BY ELIZABETH APPLE

Teaing Off

f you're drinking the same old tea, night after night, consider try-
ing something different by looking to past customs and to Israel.
Their paintings cost millions now, but Jewish artists Amadeo
Modigliani and Chaim Soutine were penniless most of their lives.
Because sugar was expensive, they used slices
of fruit (especially apples) to sweet-
en their tea.
In Israel, one of the most popular
drinks is hot tea with mint and sug-
ar. And if you have relatives
from East Europe, chances are
they used to add jam to sweet-.
en their tea.
You also may want to take a
look at the interesting teas from
Israel for sale at local markets,
including Yaldoo's and Lake-
wood Kosher Foods.

The Road
Less Traveled

Parsha Project

Tidbits from
Jewish history.

he American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee was
established in 1914 to provide assistance to Jewish
communities in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle
.
East.
Projects include helping resettle new immigrants in Is-
rael, developing Jewish communities in the former Soviet
Union, and aiding Jews facing disaster (such as those in
Bosnia, or individuals affected by last year's bombing of the •
Jewish Community Center in Argentina).
Among its most recent projects, the JDC organized a con-
ference for Jewish community leaders in Hungary, helped
coordinate social services to the elderly and needy in Bul-
garia, funded the Union of Jewish Religious Communities
and the Jewish Cultural and Social Society of Poland (which
oversee, respectively, synagogues and Jewish camps
throughout the country), and ran clinics and secured kosher
lunches for Jews in Romania.
Based in New York, the JDC is funded by the United Jew-
ish Appeal and campaigns by Jewish federations.

T

he coming week's Torah
portion, Genesis 12:1-
17:27, is Lech Lecha.
In this parsha, the pa-
triarch Avram is called by God
to leave his home in
Mesopotamia and settle in
Canaan. Avram, his wife Sarai,
nephew Lot, and others Avram
had converted to monotheism
move to Canaan. Later, because
of famine, Avram and Sarai go
to Egypt, where Avram passes
Sarai off as his sister. Pharaoh
takes an interest in Sarai, but
is punished by God.
Avram and Sarai return to
Canaan. Avram and Lot's shep-
herds fight over grazing land
and water. Avram and Lot
agree to separate. In the war of
the four kings against the five
kings, Lot is taken captive.
Avram raises an army from
among his extended family and
servants to rescue Lot.
God again appears to
Avram. He tells Avram that
his descendants will be en-
slaved in a foreign land, but

T

God will bring them out and re-
store to them the land on
which Avram dwells. God
makes a covenant with Avram,
formally pledging a great land
to his descendants.
Because Sarai cannot have
children, she tells Avram to sire
a child by her Egyptian servant,
Hagar: Hagar gives birth to a
son, Ishmael.
God changes Avram's name
to Avraham and establishes a
covenant, signified by circumci-
sion, with him and his descen-
dants. God changes Sarai's
name to Sarah and promises
she will give birth to a son.
For a project: One of the ma-
jor themes of this parsha is fam-
ily relationships, including
husband and wife, uncle and
nephew, father and son, mother
and son. Make a chart of your ex-
tended family, and consider your
relationship with each member.
In what ways could you improve
the way you act toward your par-
ents, siblings, aunts and uncles,
grandparents?

A Friend In Need

o you have a friend or family member who's
under the weather?
Halachah obligates Jews to care for those
who are ailing. Even God Himself is said
to have observed this mitzvah, after coming to
see Avraham following his circumcision.
Bikkur cholim (visiting the sick) extends to
both Jews and gentiles, and includes a num-
ber of guidelines. One should neither come
too late at night or too early in the morning,
and he should make certain not to overstay ,, i
his welcome. Family members must come
immediately to aid the ill, while others should
visit within three days. Guests may bring food

D

If you're planning a trip to

Israel in the near future,

consider stopping in some

of the country's less popular

sites.

Before setting your itin-

erary, check out some of the

new, or even well-estab-

lished guides (like the one

by Vilnay) to Israel. Look

carefully and you'll be able

to discover alligator farms;

tombs of Jewish scholars,

matriarchs and patriarchs;

rabbis who dispense won-

drous herbal cures; and zoos

with biblical animals.

Another good source is

Chaya Burstein's A Kids

or drink if needed, and also
should offer prayer for a
quick recovery.
At the same time, Ha-
lachah directs Jews to be
thoughtful of the condition
of those they are visiting. If
patients may be embar-
rassed by their physical
state, one should wait just
outside the room and ask
whether assistance is need-
ed before entering the room.

Catalog of Israel, which de-

scribes such unusual tourist

spots as mysterious caves

near where Samson pic-

nicked with Delilah, and an

amusement park where you

can go on a parachute.

