ADVANCE
Pteaid4c9. c
jee4ti4e9 Scopi# ea,
Something To Wine About
vitio4):4311
Can you imagine a French meal
with your choice of low-fat or 2 percent?
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSOCIATE EDITOR
"Because Plumbing
Plumbing Doesn't
Have To Be Boring."
A
dvance Plumbing Supply Company's showroom features the latest
products the plumbing industry has to offer.
High end brands such as Kohler, Dombracht, Franke, Porcher & American
China are favorites of interior designers and builders alike.
Come see our showroom & let our knowledgeable sales staff make your bath
& kitchen ideas come to life.
Store hours are 7:30-5 Mon.-Fri., 8-3 Sat., or other times by appointment.
1977 W. Maple Road, Walled Lake (Between Haggerty & Decker Rds.)
(810) 669-7474
Bedrooms
Complete
Selection of
Bedrooms
and
Bedding
FURNITURE DIRECT
o y s
T he
Prght
MON.-FRI.: 10-9 • SAT.: 10-6 • SUN.: 12-5
Price!
et Ca , a
-yr P7, 1
WATERFORD/WEST BLOOMFIELD • 7570 COOLEY LAKE RD. • 810-363-2800
TRANSFER YOUR HOME MOVIES
8mm- 16mm TO VHS
CCNITURS CAMERA
UJ
LU
CD
tr
w
Film Length In Feet
8mm & Super 8 & 16
1-200 Feet
201-400 Feet
401.600 Feet
601-800 Feet
801.1000 Feet
Film Over 1,000 Feet Add 60 A Foot
(Video Tape $8.00 Additional) }
UJ
34
$20.00
$26.00
$39.00
$52.00
$65.00
3017 N. WOODWARD
rV
IMMr
A ROYAL OAK
I
(3 Blocks South of 13 Mile)
r
Spring Special
FREE
BACKGROUND
MUSIC
On Any Video Transfer
Century Camera 288-5444
With This Coupon. Expires 6/17/96
810-288-5444
Daily & Saturday 10-6
.. Friday 10-8
Q: I remembering hearing about
a certain French-Jewish statesman
who caused a stir when he em-
barked on a campaign to change his
fellow countrymen's drinking habits.
What's the story, Tell Me Why?
A:You must be thinking of
Pierre Mendes-France, quite an
interesting figure who did in-
deed begin a novel campaign di-
rected at wine drinkers — but
we'll get to that in a minute.
Mendes-France, born in 1907
in Paris, was a radical from the
word go. By the time he was 16
he was a member of the Radical
Socialist Party, whose econom-
ic program he helped design. He
was an early spokesman against
Hitler (long before World War II
even started) and headed an op-
position movement to the Vichy
government during the Nazi oc-
cupation of France. He was im-
prisoned but escaped to
England.
After the war, Mendes-France
held numerous government
posts including prime minister.
Following his election as premier
in 1954, he established exten-
sive economic reforms and in-
stigated a new defense strategy
that linked much of Europe. He
resigned in 1955 after his plan
for Moroccan and Tunisian in-
dependence from France failed.
Mendes-France later formed
his own political party, the Par-
ti Socialiste Unifie, and wrote
numerous books on politics and
economic issues. Throughout his
life, he was a supporter of Zion-
ism and Israel.
Never one to shy from con-
troversy, Mendes-France
aroused quite a stir when he be-
gan an extraordinary campaign.
The French, he said, were drink-
ing too much wine. He encour-
aged them instead to bring
bottles of his favorite beverage
to the breakfast, lunch and din-
ner table. Apparently, though,
he didn't meet with much suc-
cess. And no wonder. Mendes-
France's favorite drink was milk.
Q: As president of the Apple
Anti-Defamation Organization of
America, I have had it right to the
core with all the anti-appleism I
see in this country. For crying out
loud, the apple used to be every-
body's favorite fruit. Now it's that
droll banana. And what about this
unending attack on the apple be-
cause of the Garden of Eden inci-
dent? For crying out loud, it's time
The Marx Brothers in "Duck Soup." Rhett — er, Groucho — is second from right.
the apple had some good publici-
ty !
A: Apple lovers everywhere
can sleep safely tonight, know-
ing that Tell Me Why will at last
put to rest at least one anti-ap-
ple myth. Let's start at the be-
ginning.
Despite widespread belief to
the contrary, nobody knows for
certain that Adam and Eve ate
an apple from the forbidden tree.
The Torah uses the word p'ree,
or fruit, when discussing in Gen-
esis the tree from which Adam
and Eve were not allowed to eat.
Later, Christian scholars mis-
appropriated the term, trans-
lating "apple" for any "fruit"
mentioned in the Bible.
You will be happy to know
that Jewish writings have a
great many nice things to say
about the apple. The Song of
Songs (2:3,5 and 7:9) makes
mention of the fruit's lovely fra-
grance and the comforting shade
of its tree. The Talmud recounts
how, long before anyone uttered
"an apple a day keeps the doctor
away," apples were sent to the
sick. Jews throughout ancient
Israel were known to drink
cider, and of course what would
Rosh Hashanah be without ap-
ples and honey or Passover with-
out an apple-based charoset?
Today, apples, tapuchim in
Hebrew, are grown throughout
Israel and often exported.
Q: Is it true that a woman of Jew-
ish heritage competed for the Ger-
mans (Hitler, of course, became
chancellor in 1933) in the 1938
Olympics?
A: Proving once again that
truth is stranger than fiction, the
answer to your question is yes.
Helene Mayer, born in 1911
in Offenberg, Germany, was the
daughter of a Jewish father and
a gentile mother. She was a fenc-
ing champ who won her first
Olympic victory in 1928, taking
the gold medal in individual foil
.
One year later, Mayer became
the world foil champion, a title
she held again in 1931 and 1937.
In 1932 Mayer came to study
in the United States, where in
1934 she became U.S. foil cham-
pion. Despite her place of resi-
dence (she would later
immigrate permanently to the
United States) and heritage,
however, German officials asked
her to represent their country at
the 1938 Olympics. She agreed
and won a silver medal in indi-
vidual foil.
Mayer, who died in 1953, also
held the title of American foil
champion from 1937-1939, 1941-
1942 and in 1946.
Q: Could it really be true? I just
can't believe it. Margaret Mitchell,
author of Gone With the Wind, real-
ly suggested that one of the Marx
Brothers star as Rhett Butler in the
film version of her book? Which
one?
A:Imagine, if you dare, a ro-
mantic scene with the beautiful
Vivien Leigh as Scarlett held in
a passionate embrace in the
arms of .... Groucho Marx?
Groucho, born Julius Marx in
1895 in New York, was indeed
Mitchell's first choice to play
Rhett. Although she had noth-
ing to do with the film's produc-
tion, she recommended Groucho
because she was such a fan of
the Marx Brothers. Wisely, pro-
ducer David 0. Selznick polite-
ly ignored her suggestion and,
of course, went with Clark Gable
instead. (Wonder if anyone con-
sidered Harpo for the role of
Ashley?)
Send questions to Tell Me Why,
The Jewish News, 27676
Franklin Road, Southfield, MI
48034, or fax to (810) 354-6069.
All letters must be signed and in-
clude the writer's address. Ques-
tions answered in the column will
feature only the writer's initials
and city of residence.