EXOTIC ADVENTURES
2 FOR 1 LESS $1,000 PER COUPLE
Omega Seamaster Professional.
New Jewish Group
Active In Prague
Self-winding chronometer
SKY PRINCESS
in stainless steel,
water-resistant to 300m/1000 ft.
Swiss made since 1848.
19 Day Alaska/Far East - April 11, 1997
$2,175 Inside* $2,525 Outside*
Sail from Osaka to Vancouver
RUTH ROVNER
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
O
From the window of his office,
lawyer Evan Lazar has a strik-
ing view of the Moldau River,
the Charles Bridge and the
Prague castle across the river.
It is one of the most scenic views
in the city.
The Purim ball held in the
castle was just one of the "firsts"
organized by a pioneering Jew-
ish organization in Prague,
which Mr. Lazar helped to
found.
It is because of his leadership
in Bejt Praha that I found my
way to his office during a recent
visit to Prague. Bejt Praha is an
unusual new group that is
changing life for many Jews liv-
ing in Prague and affecting Jew-
ish tourists, too. Israeli folk
dancing, Chanukah and Purim
parties, Israeli Independence
Day celebrations, Shabbat ser-
vices and lectures — all these
are among the activities that
Bejt Praha has organized.
The city had a small Ortho-
dox Jewish community of about
1,300 officially registered mem-
bers. Many other Jews in
Prague were unaffiliated.
"There were many Jews who,
during the Communist rule, did
not practice Judaism and now
they had nowhere to experience
Jewish life," said Mr. Lazar. Two
years ago he was among the
small group of organizers, both
Czechs and Americans, who
founded Bejt Praha — the Open
Prague Jewish Community.
The first event was a
Chanukah party, held in the
Jewish community center in the
Old Town of Prague, where the
Jewish quarter is located.
Then came the Purim cele-
bration. Rabbi Abraham Turet-
sky from White Plains, N.Y.,
read the megillah and the holi-
day was explained in Czech. The
next evening was the ball, com-
plete with costumes, in the cas-
tle.
For Bejt Praha's first High
Holiday services, the organizers
got permission from the official
Jewish community to hold ser-
vices in the Spanish synagogue.
This historic building had not
been used as a synagogue since
Hitler's army marched through
Prague. Chairs were rented and
Torah scrolls were borrowed
from the Jewish community.
Just before sundown on Rosh
Hashanah, the rabbi, together
with Mr. Lazar, carried the
Torahs through the streets of
the Old Town to the sanctuary.
Just two years after its found-
ing, Bejt Praha is flourishing.
For Mr. Lazar and the other
founders, all the time and effort
have been well worth it.
❑
*cruise only, per person, dbl. occ.
subject to availability.
,810-358-5330
CADILLAC7
0 F
A DIVISION
al 0
CADILLAC TRAVEL
TRAVEL
BARGAINS
COLORADO
0/7.p.
fro5
m169 9
Nonstops Mo/Fr/Sa
3, 4, 7, 10, 11 or 14 nights
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
LAS VEGAS ORLANDO
from
229 0.7.p.
9
5
from •
a
ch 90
p.
Nonstops We/So
Packages from $429.90
Nonstops Mo/Th/Fr/Su
Packages from $299.90
FOURTH
ARUBA
from $
j 9
0J0 p.p.
39111111
Saturday Nonstops
7 814 nights
Packages from $629.90
CANCUN
fiom5 181 9 9 r.t7p.p.
PRE—HOLIDAY
SHOPPING
TRIPS
Nonstops So/Su
1 814 nights
Packages from $359.90
Mall of America from $139.90
New York City from $159.90
Mall of America • New York City
GENERATION
JEWELERS.
AT BIG BEAVER & 1-75 JUST EAST OF THE SOMERSET COLLECTION
755 West Big Beaver • Troy, Michigan 48084 • 810-362-4500
Main Floor, Top of Troy Building
Financing available. .12 months same as cash on engagement and wedding ring purchases with approved credit
To book, call any travel agent!
All rates are airfare only unless otherwise noted. They will vary according to
HMHF
day, duration, airline and time of travel. Fares are capacity controlled, and
subject to change. Please add applicable tax, airport P.F.C. charges, or taxes on
'.cations!
international departures. Participation Contract required. Protect your trip, ask
about HMHF ETP!
For insurance
call
SY WARSHAWSKY, C.L.U.
7071 Orchard Lake Road
Suite 110
In the J&S Office Bldg.
W. Bloomfield, MI
48322
(810) 626-2652
Office Phone
See me for oar, home,
life and health
insurance
Like a good neighbor. State Farm is there.
THIS WINTER
JOIN WITH OTHER
To Spa or Not to spa?
Call now for 6pecial rats
6UMMIT TP_AVEL (810) 932-1188
CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHY
MURRAY GOLDENBERG & MARC COHEN
810-350-2420
wis
h
■
Singles
■
(ages 23-39)
e9 on a facinating Hadassah tour to Israel
sini
December 22nd - January 1
For further information, call 1-800-363-2373