r

1

$ 10MOff

WILD BILLS

The Jewish people need new
win the internal battle. But the
cost was high — no independent Maccabees — a movement of
government for 1,900 years. No Jews who would assimilate in-
wonder the rabbis felt so am- sights and blessings from the
bivalent about the Hasmonean West but absorb them within a
dynasty. They never incorporat- Jewish cultural system.
Jews are needed to take the
ed the accounts of Chanukah into
tradition
into politics and social
the canon of the Bible. They in-
terpreted the holiday itself more action but humanize and uni-
as a miracle story of oil discov- versalize its best values out of en-
ered than as a celebration of a po- counter with modernity and with
litical-military triumph and the other.
Jews need a rededicated sav-
cultural renewal.
ing
minority that will self-critique
Only in modern times did
Chanukah enter its greatest pe- its own positions.
Only a new coalition can break
riod of importance.
American liberal Jews pro- down the barriers of estrange-
claim it as the festival of religious ment, ignorance and differing so-
freedom and the Jewish answer cial realities that divide religious
to Christmas. Orthodox Jews and secular Jews worldwide.
hold it up as the story of res- When the oil ofJewish unity and
olutely faithful religious Jews re- mutual respect seems to be close
sisting the blandishments of any to burning out, it is time for a
outside culture. Zionists in the miracle of rediscovery of the tra-
State of Israel lionize it as the dition, of the contemporary, of
great military political fight for each other.
Chanukah must become mul-
independence that provided the
tidimensional
— a celebration of
justification and the last living
model for the recreated Jewish the new coalition of the Jewish
people. The alternative is dissi-
state.
All these accounts simplify pation ofJewish sovereignty and
Chanukah and evade its deeper increased assimilation and loss
challenge: Can the Jewish peo- of Jews everywhere. God forbid
ple come together in religious un- that in our lifetime, we relive
derstanding and rule in Santayana's dictum that those
accordance with Jewish values? who do not learn from history are
Or are the Jewish people con- condemned to repeat it. II
demned to a unity viable only in
foxholes and war — a unity that
breaks down into cultural war-
fare and empties sovereignty of
its content and coherence once
external threat is removed?
The Rosenthal Collection, mak-
Again, in our time, a coalition er of handcrafted Judaica, has
of traditional and modernizing come up with a unique gift for the
Jews both religious and secu-
lar Zionists — has built a Jew-
ish state backed by
assimilating Jews who knew
enough to stand by Israel and
the Jewish people in the face
of destruction, war and exter-
nal threats. Again, the inner
divisions are rampant. The
danger grows that the Jewish
people will split into fervent-
ly Orthodox and Chasidic
types who are not invested in
sovereignty except as it can be
used for security and benefits;
into religious Jews so full of
passion and vision that they
resist moderation in diploma-
cy; into secular Jews so alien-
ated from tradition that they
underestimate the threats —
bride and groom — the Wedding
some even dream of assimilation Dreidel. It is inscribed with "Ani
and emptying the state and the l'dodi v'dodi ii — I am my
people ofJewish content.
beloved's and my beloved is
The threat grows of a ruinous mine." It is crafted in copper,
polarization between militant po- brass and steel; its four sides are
litical extremism advocating sup- colorful combinations of art glass.
pression of Arabs and as- The Wedding Dreidel is available
similating universalism that at Tradition! Tradition! Call (810)
would turn Israel into a Middle
557-0109.
Eastern colony of the West.

Squirrel-Proof
Bird Feeder

expires 12-31-96

L

THE ONLY BIRD FEEDER YOU'LL EVER NEED!

This bird feeder
features a mild, harmless
electronic shock without af-
fecting the birds.

■ 3 separate bird seed
compartments

■ Holds up to 20 lbs. of
bird seed

31645 Southfield Rd. • BIRMINGHAM
(810) 646-WOOF
(9663)

ROCHESTER AREA: Call (810) 969-2600

INVISIBLEw

P ET CONTAINMENT

Long

Gift

Tradition Gets
A New Spin

k

List?

make Lincoln Center

your holiday headquarters

BASKIN & ROBBINS
BOOK BEAT
BREAD BASKET DELI
CHECKER BAR-B-Q
COATS UNLIMITED
DILLMAN CHIROPRACTIC LIFE
DOLLAR CASTLE

• /

40.

ft

ha ter

DOTS
EYES RIGHT OPTICAL
FARMER JACK
GLORY JEWELERS
KMART
KING LIM'S GARDEN
LINCOLN BARBER SHOP
MAGIC-TOUCH BEAUTY SHOP
MARIANNE PLUS
METROPOLITAN DRY CLEANERS
NORA'S FASHIONS
PAYLESS SHOESOURCE
RADIO SHACK
RICHARD BOYS & GIRLS WEAR

RITE-AID
SECRETARY OF STATE
SHERMAN'S - FOOT CARE
STRICTLY KOSHER MEATS
T. NAILS
TOWNE THEATER
WINKELMAN'S

10 1 /2 MILE AT GREENFIELD
OAK PARK