N,

New Reasons To Party

Getting in a plug for celebrations for Mom and Dad,
and others.

ERICA MEYER RAUZIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

ill ABBOT
SERVICES
rOR HOWES

Rabbi Joseph P. Klein

Rabbi, Temple Emanu-El

Friday, July 18 • 7:30 p.m.

TEMPLE EMANU-EL

14450 W. Ten Mile Road, Oak Park

Services will be followed by an Oneg Shabbat

Lawrence Welk — instead of
Nine Inch Valls or Spice Girls.
We could even stay up late.
Well, we would stay up, that
is, if we could. Seems I get sleepi-
er earlier than I did in my
Rolling Stones days, but then I
bet Mick Jagger does, too. He
just doesn't admit it.
To give the teens a boost, let's
plan a bash or two to commem-
orate the small but meaningful
events that shape the period of
their lives between bar or bat
mitzvah and getting a law de-
gree, events such as passing al-
gebra, obtaining a junker car or
getting into college. I know, for
instance, that my 14-year-old
will be ready to hire an orches-
tra and line up a caterer the very
minute she gets her braces re-
moved. (And the
caterer better serve
plenty of gum, taffy,
caramels and other
sticky stuff, because
the kid has been de-
prived.)
I also think we
could add a couple of
celebrations to the
Jewish social ramble,
such as a dinner in
mid-June to mark the
end of the charity din-
ner season. Keep the
price cheap and wear
denim, just don't serve
a rolled up, stuffed
chicken breast and
don't announce any
pledges. I appreciate
the enormous good
charity that dinners
accomplish (I'm even
youngest kid ditches the last di- in the m'ddle of organizing one),
aper? Imagine the party we'd but by mid-summer I'm really
throw when that same kid's last ready for an evening out that
semester of college tuition is doesn't include a raffle.
How about a commemorative
paid. The child already gets a
graduation celebration, but what event urging everyone to dis-
mantle their stereotypes. We
do the parents get?
Speaking of parents, let's have could bid a cheerful overdue
a little lawn party for Mom and farewell to the JAP, the domi-
Dad when the kids leave for neering mother-in-law and the
summer camp. We could cele- holiday glutton. We'll hold an
brate the onset of a month with- understated, low-fat dinner and
out bikes in the driveway, spilled toast them out the door.
While we're thinking up nec-
cereal on the breakfast table and
twice-a-week Little League prac- essary new holidays, let's work
tices. I miss my kids a lot when summer's strengths: unions, re-
they are at camp, but I do ap- unions, homecomings, bon voy-
preciate the chance to have an ages. This is easy. Anyone can
adult household for just a little play. Just drum up a reason to
celebrate when life is going good,
while.
Imagine, we could use white and we'll all cheerfully show up
tablecloths, talk about some- at your house. Just don't forget
thing other than school and play to call the caterer. She's out buy-
the music we used to dance to. I ing a puppy so she can name it
mean the Stones, here, not after me. ❑

hotographers should love
me. Caterers should name
their dogs after me. Hotel
managers, florists, party
planners and cantors should all
be glad I'm here.
Why?
Because I think we need more
special events, more parties,
more simchas to celebrate in the
life cycle and the calendar's turn.
Tune up the band, fellows.
Let's party.
We already mark births, bar
mitzvahs and weddings with one
degree of hoopla or another. We
do give some credence to birth-
days, especially — at least in my
immediate circle of friends —
the 50th. But I have other par-
ties to pitch. How about a big
blast for Mom and Dad when the

p

Rabbi Klein will officially become the temple rabbi on
Aug. 1. Prior to coming to Temple Emanu-El, Rabbi
Klein was the spiritual leader of Mizpah Congregation
in Chattanooga, Tennessee,
and United Hebrew Congre-
gation in Terre Haute, Indiana.
He taught at Indiana State
University and the University
of Tennessee.

The Shabbat Services program
is sponsored by the Michigan
Board of Rabbis in cooperation
with The Jewish News and the
Community Outreach and
Education Department of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit.

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