There's been a breakthrough in the area of col-
orectal cancer screening. Researchers at Johns
Hopkins Oncology Center in Baltimore have
identified a genetic mutation that is responsi-
ble for about 12 percent of colorectal cancer cas-
es among Ashkenazim.
And now a co-investigator from the faculty of
the University of Michigan Medical Center is
seeking some 1,000 volunteers of Ashkenazi
Jewish background to be part of local clinical
trials.
The U-M Medical Center is planning a series
of informational meetings in the area to explain
the Hopkins findings and to recruit volunteers.
See stories on pages 73-74.

PHOTO BY AP/RI CK BOWMER

A Cancer Breakthrough

Dr. Stephen B. Gruber said that U-M will try
to determine the most efficient ways to test for
colorectal cancer. He said that these tests will
be of no cost to the volunteers.
There now is, according to doctors, a way to
learn if you or your loved ones are at risk for
this cancer.
Cancer causes so much horrendous news, so
much pain and problems in our society and in
our families. And colon cancer is taking its toll
of our loved ones. So many of us have heard our
relatives say, "We can beat this thing" only to
watch them become yet another victim.
Now it's true, we can beat this "thing," by be-
ing aware, by being tested.

Living Jewishly

As the old joke goes, this year the Jewish hol-
idays are late; last year they were early. Will
they ever be on time?
Fortunately, the Jewish calendar offers a con-
venient way for the High Holy Days and their
following acts to never catch us off guard. It is
the Hebrew month of Elul, which began this
past Tuesday evening. This month precedes
that of Tishri, home to the popular fall lineup
of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shem-
ini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
During Elul, many Jews begin a month-long
preparation leading up to Yom Kippur. Indeed,
the 40 days between the first of Elul and the
start of the Day of Atonement are analogous to
the 40-day period that Moses spent on Mt. Sinai.
As such, morning synagogue services are con-
cluded with a shofar blast. In Ashkenazi con-
gregations, the penetrating words of Psalm 27
are read. In it, we plead with God for help as
we are beset by enemies around us — some of
which are internal, some of which are external.
Its beautiful verses include these inspiring
words: "The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?" and "Be strong and let your
heart take courage; Wait for the Lord."

LETS cuT iT HERE1

During this month, many Jews also seek to
apologize to those whom they have slighted dur-
ing the past year. We know who these people
are. This is the principle of teshuvah, or repen-
tance among human beings. Often, asking for
forgiveness is painful and humbling. But our
tradition wisely says that we must participate
in such acts before engaging in teshuvah with
God between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
So this year, allow your heart to capture the
spirit of Elul. Attend a morning service if you
have not done so in a while. Speak candidly to
a spouse, sibling, parent or friend with whom
you've had strained relations. Read reflective
literature, such as S.Y. Agnon's The Days Of
Awe, or the writings of rabbi/spiritual thinkers
such as Abraham Joshua Heschel, Menachem
Mendel Schneerson, Jeffrey Salkin, David
Wolpe and others.
By observing the precepts of Elul, you will be
living the Jewish calendar, not just trotting out
to synagogue when the congregational bulletin
says to do so. And with your spiritual fortitude
enhanced, the High Holy Days will be right on
time.

411 Kil o

TH E DETRO

J EW ISH NEWS

vac

Of CAKE

is ire

(Art His

PIECE. ia FAGSER
11/AN HE RP

41114,

.rTit NOT' KardiD?
EN NA Fot ME!

WERE l
I You FAINT
IMO' row!

The Mahane Yehuda market returns to normal.

Letters

The People
Are Not Afraid

The day after the double bomb
blast, the market at Mahane
Yehuda in Jerusalem was once
again teeming with people: hare-
di shoppers, Sephardi shop own-
ers, young women in sleeveless
shirts, tourists, soldiers. At the
spot where one of the bombs ex-
ploded, a group of people stopped,
lit memorial candles and recit-
ed psalms.
A few meters to the north and
south, shoppers were once again
purchasing plums, peaches and
peppers. One woman hung a sign
near a mound of memorial can-
dles that read simply: 'The peo-
ple of Israel are not afraid."
The people of Israel are not
afraid. They are a courageous
people. That is why Israel will
soon be celebrating the 50th an-
niversary of its existence.
It does not take courage for
American Jews to visit Israel.
Anyone who has visited Israel
will tell you that life goes on nor-
mally there day after day. Ter-
rorist incidents are the exception
to the rule. Yet we have allowed
the media to turn Israel, in our
imaginations, into a place of dan-
ger.
Let us remember that through-
out the past 49 years, millions
upon millions of tourists have vis-
ited Israel, witnessed the mira-
cle of Israel with their own eyes
and returned safe and sound.
Israelis proudly live in the
State of Israel 52 weeks a year,
year after year. Every American
Jew should at least experience
this long-awaited pride in a two-

week visit to Israel. "And if not
now, when?"

Shoshana Wolok
Oak Park

Minor Details
Need Correcting

Thank you for your very well
written and complimentary arti-
cle about Sherwood Food Dis-
tributors in The Jewish News
("Niche Market" Aug. 22). I have
had many compliments about the
quality of the article and picture.
After reading the article and
receiving phone calls from rela-
tives and associates, I realized
that Mr. Ishbia and I omitted a
few detail. First, the article states
that Regal was started by Earl
Ishbia only, while the correct de-
tails is that it was started by Earl
and Alex Karp.
Second, it stated that Orleans
was started by Max and Harry
Tushman in 1937, when it was
actually started by Max, Harry
and Sam Tushman.
I realize that these may seem
like small items to most people,
but to our family and associates
they are quite important.

Larry Tushman
Detroit

Eruv Article
Lacks Details

As president of the Oak-Woods
Eruv Group and the Huntington
Woods Eruv Committee, I wel-

DETAILS page 26