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THE DETRO NOW OPEN SUN DAYS PM - 5 PM 51exivtlippleu,„ A Collection of Distinctive Shops and Services Telegraph at Nlaple Q: On a trip last year to England, I heard from a tour director that Win- ston Churchill's mother, Jennie Jerome, was Jewish. Is this true? I noted that her grave had a cross on it. From reader E. W. in Huntington Woods A: Tell Me Why certainly wish- es Churchill had a Jewish con- nection — how can you not love the man after hearing this sto- ry: Quite tipsy at a party, he ran into a woman who chided him for having had too much to drink "Madam," he said, "I may be drunk now, but I'll be sober in the morning. You, however, are ugly now, and you will still be ugly tomorrow." But there's no evidence that any of Churchill's ancestors was Jew- ish. Specifically, his mother, Jennie Jerome (1854-1921), Lady Randolph Churchill, had French, English, Scottish and possibly Iroquois blood — and was about as gentile as you can get. On her father's side, Jen- nie was descended from Huguenots, French Protes- tants. In the 1500s, they sought religious freedom in England. Jennie's great-great-great- grandfather was Timothy Jerome, who emigrated from the Isle of Wight to America in 1710. The Jerome family re- mained Protestant. Jennie's mother, Clara, was the daughter of Ambrose Hall and Clarissa Wilcox, neither of whom was Jewish. Q:Right after Thanksgiving and throughout December the radio stations play nothing but Christ- mas music. Even my favorite clas- sical-music station saturates the airwaves with Christmas compo- sitions by the greats. I'm sure the program manager knows that many of his listeners are Jewish, and that at this time of the year we celebrate Chanukah. Once in a while the station plays a piece with a Jewish theme, like Max Bruch's "Kol Nidre" or Ernst Bloch's "Shiomo," just for the sake of playing something Jewish. But these pieces have nothing to do with Chanukah. I've wanted to call the station and suggest some- thing more appropriate, but I don't think any of the serious composers ever wrote music with Chanukah in mind. Does Tell Me Why have any suggestions? A: Believe it or not, the Chanukah story stirred the imag- ination of at least one great com- poser: George Frederick Handel. His oratorio, Judas Maccabaeus, centers on the heroic leadership of the most famous member of the Hasmonean family, Yehuda Mac- cabi. Within Handel's grand corn- or with your local music or Ju- daica store, you may be able to locate a CD that includes it. Q: I've yet to understand this whole Marilyn Monroe obsession. I mean, she was OK-looking and an OK ac- tress, but I'm convinced she's be- come an icon solely because she died under mysterious circum- position is one of his best-known stances at a young age. That got choruses, "See The Conquering me wondering about other celebri- Hero Comes." (Someone in Israel ties with a Jewish connection who even set the music to Hebrew died while still quite young. Can words.) Not as well Tell Me Why tell me known, but also striking, some? Guess which is the aria "How Vain Is A: Certainly the classical Man." youngest Tell Me Why found The meaning of the composer can find was Freddie Chanukah word chanukah in He- Prime (whose father was inspiring? brew leads us to another Jewish), the "Chico and musical composition. Chanukah the Man" star who ended his own can mean dedication, consecra- life when he was only 22. Here are tion or inauguration. Ancient a few more: Jim Croce was 30 Jewish sources label the holiday when he died in a plane crash; as chanuka ha-mizbeiach ("ded- "Mama" Cass Elliott was 33 when ication of the altar"), referring to she died choking; Andy Kaufman the cleaning of the altar in the was 35 when he died of cancer; Temple defiled by the Greco-Syr- Lenny Bruce was 40 when he died ians. Other sources call the fes- of a drug overdose; Jeff Chandler tival chanukat ha-bayit (born Ira Grossel) died when he ("consecration of the house" -- was 42, as did actress Judy Holl- the "house" being the Temple iday; Gilda Radner died at 42 of that was rededicated after its de- cancer, and Dennis Wilson (of the filement). Beach Boys, whose mother was Although not written for Jewish) died of a drug overdose Chanukah, a piece of music that when he was 42.0 is highly adaptable to the holi- day is The Consecration of the House overture, opus 124, by Send questions to Tell Me Why, The Jewish News, 27676 Ludwig van Beethoven. The traditional hymn, Maoz Franklin Road, Southfield, MI Tzur, with its stirring melody, 48034, or fax to (810) 354-6069. has been orchestrated and All letters must be signed and in- recorded. It would sound mar- clude the writer's address. Ques- velous on the radio. If you check tions answered in the column will the catalogs of recorded music, feature only the writer's initials and city of residence.