<A)INFINITI

Of Farmington Hills

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500 people. It is marble-lined,
built in the design of Sephardi
synagogues, with a central
bimah. The upper floor has seat-
ing for women in the Orthodox
tradition. Light filtered in
through stained glass windows
adorned with the Star of David.
I felt as if I had walked into the
past. The chairs still have the
names of the hundreds of fami-
lies that used to worship here.
One wall is covered with the
names of the congregation mem-
bers.
The woman remembers many
of these families with great sad-
ness and told me many stories
about her friends who had left.
She opened the doors to the ark
and even the Torah scrolls stand
and wait for someone to come

and read them again. I felt the
sadness, too, for here was a syn-
agogue waiting for the return of
its community and I knew that
no one would return.
I left Cairo with many im-
pressions about my discoveries
within the remnants of the Jew-
ish community. In the end, it is
not the wonderful structures that
we leave behind or the money
that is spent to restore them to
their former splendor that make
being Jewish important. It is the
people that were here that make
up the community, not the build-
ings. The people who stayed be-
hind and attend these places
watch over the ghost of the com-
munity. These people concerned
me more than the beauty of emp-
ty synagogues. ❑

Palm Springs:
A Gracious Oasis

D

LEWIS ERIC LACHTER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

o you like fun in the sun, es-
pecially during the cold
winter months?
Do you like very tall,
gently swaying palm trees sur-
rounded by even taller, majestic
mountains?
California's popular city of
Palm Springs will give you all
that plus a full synagogue life,
many and varied Jewish cultur-
al activities and all the Jewish vol-
unteer activities you can think of.
About 10,000 Jews live in the
"Valley" during the winter sea-
son. The Valley, Coachella Val-
ley, includes Palm Springs and
neighboring communities such as
Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and
Cathedral City. The total Valley
population goes from 265,000 to
375,000 during the frigid months.
The well-run Jewish Federa-
tion of Palm Springs and the
desert can provide you with de-
tailed data about Jewish life in
the communities. The federation
is at 255 N. El Cielo Road, Palm
Springs, CA 92262. If you want
current information, ask for a
copy of the Jewish Community
News, the paper published by the
federation.
The Holocaust Memorial of the
Desert was erected recently in the
Palm desert Civic Park by the in-
volved, informed Jewish commu-
nity. Desert residents have been
streaming to the memorial as
have bus loads of school children.
The impressive Temple Isaiah
also houses the Jewish Commu-
nity Center. The temple has a
beautifully designed, large sanc-
tuary for Friday night and Sat-
urday morning services. The daily
minyan meets in a small sanctu-
ary.
In addition to the services, the
synagogue offers a full program

of lectures, workshops and adult
studies. The JCC also has a wide
variety of programs for residents
and visitors.
If you are looking for kosher
food, check out Trader Joe's huge
supermarket. You will find kosher
baked goods, deli and dairy prod-
ucts, candies, sauces, cereals, cof-
fees, teas, frozen juices and a wide
variety of healthful snacks.
Enrichment of all kind
abounds in Palm Springs. Golf is
the major sport, but you will also
find lots of tennis and volleyball
courts. Swimming pools, large
and small, number over 10,000 at
last count. Horseback riding is
popular.
Theaters of all sizes with var-
ied productions are easily acces-
sible. There is the Palm Springs
Follies with its music and mem-
ories of the 1930s and 1940s. The
plush, 450-seat Annenberg The-
ater offers dramas, musicals and
beautiful productions of the Los
Angeles Ballet Company. The Mc-
Callum Theater is a place to
spend a pleasant evening. If you
are a movie fan, there is an an-
nual international film festival.
Because it is so close to Holly-
wood, many of the movie stars vis-
it and have homes in the area.
You can visit the Palm Springs
Desert Museum, but don't miss
the Living Wildlife and Botanical
Park in Palm Desert. Over 1,200
acres of land are devoted to desert
trails, gardens and native and
African animals. You can walk
around on your own or take a
guided tour. Of if you are adven-
turous, you can take rides out into
the desert.
The Palm Springs area has be-
come a very popular vacation
place with lots of fun things to do
and see. ❑

1997 130
$377* OR sn995
one PaYment
36 Mos.

1997 J30

24 Mo. Lease

Automatic, Leather, Moonroof, Power Windows, Locks,
Tilt, Cruise, Dual Air Bags, ABS, Security System, Remote
Entry, Alloy Wheels, 210HP V 6.

-

Auto, Air, Dual Airbags, ABS, Power Windows, Locks,
Tilt, Cruise, CD/Cassette, Alloy Wheels, Dual Power
Seats, Remote Entry, 190 HP V-6. Leather, Moonroof
and Security system.BUY FOR $28,895.

1997 Q4

Fully appointed: V8, Leather, Automatic, Sunroof, Power
Windows, Locks, Tilt, Cruise, Security System, CD, Alloy
Wheels.

$399** OR$9595

24 Mos.

one payment
24 Mo. Lease

1996 QX4

All-mode full time 4WD, V6, 16" Alloys, roof, rack, pwr., moon-
roof, seats, windows, locks, leather, cruise, tilt, roof console,
compass, defrost, air, outside temp. display, home-link, remote
sec. system. Bose sound system w/CD dual airbags.

$469*

36 Mos.

BUY FOR

$369995

FREE SERVICE LOANER, FREE PICK UP AND DELIVERY

I NFINITI

Of Farmington Hills

OPEN SATURDAYS, SALES AND SERVICE

24355 HAGGERTY ROAD • (810) 471.2220 • BETWEEN 10 MILE & GRAND RIVER

'36 Month closed end leases. Due at inception: S599 down on 130, $1500 down on G20, $999 down on J30 and $2500 down on Q45. 1st month pymt, doc,
aeq. fee, title, license, ref. sec. dep., and applicable taxes. 12,000 miles per year allowed, 12c per mile over on G20, 15c per mile over on 130 & Q45. Lessee
has option but is not obligated to purchase at lease end. leases subject to credit approval, factory programs & vehicle availability. Standard gap protec-
tion' included. Total of pymts. equals pymt x term. " Plus applicable taxes, title, license, & fees. Plus destination. Excludes prior sales and leases. JD
Power and Associates 1996 Car Customer Satisfaction Study. Study based on a total of 23,365 consumer responses.

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810-6614677

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Near 12 Mile Rd. bet. Evergreen & Southfield

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7Q
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