COMPILED BY ELIZABETH APPLE

! Consider This

WZPS PHOTO/SAMMY AVNI SAN

Make Your Mark

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From the exhibit "The Jews of Kaifeng: Chinese
Jews on the Banks of the Yellow River." A 1906
photograph showing two Chinese Jews beside a
stone from the Kaifeng synagogue.

I

f you like to read, or know
someone who does, you
can help him keep his
place with a snazzy book-
mark.
You will need:
construction, or
other strong paper
a hole punch
a ribbon
felt-tip markers
photos
stamps
stickers
First, cut out
the bookmark.
About 1 1/2" wide
and 6" tall is a
good size, but you can make
yours bigger or smaller, too.
After you have cut it out,
punch a hole at the top, then

tie in a ribbon.
Theme bookmarks are
great. What about one for
your favorite Jewish holiday,
or your favorite city in Israel,
or your fa-
vorite per-
son in
Jewish
history?
You can
use pic-
tures and
stickers
(there are
many at
your fa-
vorite
Jewish bookstore) and in-
clude some facts, too: Tu

B'Shevat will be celebrated
this year on Feb. 5.

Write On

I

D

o you know where the
world's largest Jewish
population lives? (Not Is-
rael.)
And do you know how many
Jews live in China? How about
what Jews in France eat on
Rosh Hashanah?
Make it a point this week to
learn all you can about one Jew-
ish community far from where
you live. Two places to help you
get started: the Encyclopedia Ju-
daica and the American Jewish
Year Book.

Jessica Finkelstein, whose mother was killed in a terrorist bombing in
Buenos Aires, and her uncle plant a tree in Israel in memory of victims of
the attack.

W

hat kind of a pol-
icy do you think
the United
States should
have regarding terrorism?
Do you think the U.S.
should actively pursue ter-
rorist leaders? Do you
think terrorists should
face the death penalty for
their crimes?
What about negotiating
with terrorists. Should any
country do this? Should

terrorist demands ever be
met? Do you think you
would feel differently if
your family was being held
hostage?
What constitutes a ter-
rorist? Is there a difference
between a terrorist and a
"freedom fighter"? Do you
think anyone who has
been a terrorist for years
can really renounce his
past actions?

Parsha Project

he coming week's Tbrah portion, Exo-
dus 6:2-9:35, is Vaera. In this parsha,
the famous series of plagues against
Egypt begins.
At God's command, Moshe and Aharon ap-
peal to Pharaoh again to release the Israelites
from slavery. God assures Moshe that Pharaoh's
obstinacy is part of the Divine process of the Is-
raelites' liberation.
Moshe and Aharon approach Pharaoh seven
times, and each time they are rebuffed. Every
rejection, however, brings on a plague that af-
flicts everyone in Egypt except the Israelites: the
Nile River turns to blood, swarms of frogs cov-
er the land, humans and animals are infested
with lice, harmful creatures attack people and

livestock, an epidemic dev-
astates the Egyptian live-
stock, people and animals
are covered with a rash
that breaks into
boils, and hail
pounds down, smashing everyone and every-
thing caught outdoors.
Pharaoh is unmoved.
For a project, look through the Haggadot in
your home and see the way the famous plagues
are portrayed. Then come up with your own ideas
and make illustrations. Keep them on hand for
Pesach, when you can ask your family what they
thought the river of blood, and the hail, and the
boils looked like.

f you're searching for the want to include Aunt Rose's
perfect present for some- name at the top, and maybe
one who has everything, your own message (Happy
or simply want to make a -Birthday! From Lydia, Jan-
nice gift for yourself, here's a uary 1996) marking the oc-
fun idea.
casion, as well. Be sure to
With a few photographs, leave enough white space in
some copyright-free illustra- the middle for Aunt Rose to
tions (or drawings of your write her letter!
own) and family mementos,
The final stop is your fa-
you can make your own sta- vorite photocopy store. Con-
tionery.
sider whether you want to
Begin with a blank, white make the copies in black-
sheet of paper. Now, suppose and-white or color, or per-
you want to make some sta- haps a mix of both.
tionery for your Aunt Rose.
When you have all the
You might want to include a copies, you can tie a beauti-
photo of your aunt when she ful ribbon around them for a
was a baby, perhaps engaged perfect gift.
in her favorite hobby, or
with family and
friends. (You won't
Do you have an
want to use more than
idea or photo that
three photos, though,
would be good for The
as your space is limit-
ed). Look for other
Jewish News
treasures that tell the
Fu for the
story of Aunt Rose: a
Family
section?
ribbon from her hair
when she was a baby,
a drawing she made
Please send to
when she was a
Elizabeth
child, the matchbook
cover from her fa-
Applebaum,
vorite restaurant, or
Family Fun,
an antique postcard
c/o The Jewish News,
of her favorite ani-
27676 Franklin Rd.,
mal.
So uthfield, MI 48034
Now, arrange all
the items at the
outside edges of
the white paper
carefully
and
(since you'll want
to remove the
photos later) tape
down. You might

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