Jewish children attending day schools especially develop a fine appreciation for the art of fund raising because they are repeat- edly reminded that "tzedakah be- gins in the school, not at home." Tuition paying parents of Jewish day-school students already know that. In American Jewish communi- ties, where schnorring is no longer _ a fine art but a science, holders of • Jewish federation pledge cards concur that the same people show up year in and year out for Super Sunday. Also, fund raising in America is overwhelmingly gen- erational. Ninety-eight percent of the donors interviewed are sure that their fathers and mothers were asked for money by the fa- thers and mothers of present • schnorrers. • Schnorring in the material world of suburban Jewish Amer- ica has become extraordinarily cre- ative. There are silent auctions, tabs to be folded on Kol Nidre ap- peal cards, endless dinners aimed at ostensibly honoring people who are important. The schnorring modalities that have lasted the longest, of course, \_„ are the proverbial pledge card and /- phone-a-thons. Cutting edge schnorrers are already replacing their Chai (18) and double Chai (36) giving levels with 50 and 100 to commemorate and coincide with Israel's five decades and a century of Zionism. In one Jewish area of suburban Phoenix, there was a brief mo- ment of delight when it was found • that Charles Rainwater, thought /- to be a Native American fund-rais- er and the most gifted fund-rais- er in Arizona Jewish history, was not genetically connected to an earlier generation of successful schnorrers. But after considerable inquiry, including interviews conducted with Rainwater's great aunts at the "Home," Olam's skepticism \--) /- was proven correct. Two of his aunts reluctantly confided that his paternal grandfather was Issac Regenwasser from Lithuania. This is the same Regnewasser that raised funds for the Kaiser and Lenin prior to the Great War. 1 When asked if American polit- ical schnorring is gene related, Olam quickly replied that it was purely unfounded rumor that any \9 current White House fund-raising issues were related to a Jewish schnorring gene. Olam did speculate that all successful Middle East negotia- tors have been Jewish, from Kissinger to Ross. He noted that because schnorring required pleading and chutzpah, these schnorers were particularly suc- cessful. Privately, Olam confided > that he thought that Jim Baker had Jewish genes. At the conclusion of the confer- ence, Olam asked for donations to pay for the caterer, transportation, and administrative costs. 0 • . .. Very special pricing ends April 1, 1997 BIRMINGHAM 810-644-1919 • 690 S. WOODWARD LIVONIA 313-522-9200 • 29500 W. 6 MILE RD. NOVI 810-348-0090 • 48700 GRAND RIVER • Please call for store hours. CASUAL OUTDOOR FURNITURE AT DESIGNS IN DECORATOR LAMINATES, LTD. COMPLETELY RELAXED PRICES 6DITZEQ'6 HEBREW BOOK and GIFT CENTER, INC. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COST A FORTUNE...ONLY LOOK LIKE IT! FEATURING • Wall Units • Bedrooms • Dining Rooms •Credenzas •Tables •Offices SPECIALTIES • • • • • Formica Woods Stones Glass Lucite LOIS HARON 851-6989 Allied Member ASID Advertise in our new Entertainment Section! Call The Sales Department (810) 354-7123 Ext. 209 THE JEWISH NEWS WINE SPECIALS Baron Herzog Merlot Baron Herzog White Zinfandel Reg. $9. 49 Reg $7.49 sale $7.99 sale $5.99 Chateau Neuf Semi-Dry White Kedem Grape Juice Reg. $11.29 50 oz Sale $8.99 Sale $3.79 $gs9e9 . I AVROHOM PLOTNIK, Owner I 21790 W. 11 Mile Road • Smithfield • Harvard Row • 356-6080 OPEN WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHTS UNTIL 7:00