BRRR, IT'S
COLD IN

HERE,

WELL, IT
it LATE

SEPTEMBER.

EDITOR,S NOTE130011

Do WE HAVE ANY MATCHES'
I CAN Go DOWN Tb THE
BASEMENT AND TAKE A
CRACK AT LIGHTING THE
FuRNAc E.

TANACHS

0

from page 41

•

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Wall Units
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10/17

1997

42

Formica
Woods
Stones
Glass
Lucite

LOIS HARON

Allied Member ASID

851-6989

J

his cookies. Bobby didn't mind the
sandwich so much, but he spent a lot
of time crying over the cookies."
Often I see letters, cards and pho-
tographs, holiday souvenirs and well-
loved stuffed toys that must have held
a great deal of sentimental value, espe-
cially when they're on an otherwise
pristine dresser in a home filled with
modern furniture.
It's all there for the taking for $1 or
50 cents or, on the last day of the sale,
a quarter, less than a cup of coffee.
And if it's not sold, which is likely, it
goes right into the garbage.
Many times during my travels
through estate saledom I have come
across Jewish items.
I was at one of my first sales when I
noticed a pair of tefillin, smothered in
a batch of old shirts on a bed. Clearly,
the seller had no sense of their value
(new tefillin cost hundreds, and these
were in reasonably good shape)
because he told me I could have them
for $2. I bought them, of course, and
gave them to a rabbi who assured me
he knew someone who would be glad
to have them.
Since then, I have seen prayer
books and Shabbat candlesticks,
mezuzot and copies of the Tanach,
record albums in Yiddish and Jewish
calendars from the 1950s. Usually,
these are in good condition.
When I just can't bear to leave
them behind, I go ahead and spring
for the copies of the Tanach. We don't
need another, but sometimes it just
makes me too sad to imagine these
treasures going who knows where.
I have two questions.
The first is, how could family
members leave these behind? Clearly,
children or grandchildren go through
the house before an estate sale is
announced. Do they ignore this stuff,
or not see it, or do they simply have
no interest? I know dealing with items
left by a loved one is painful, but how
could anyone bear to offer for sale, as
though it were no more important
than an old blanket, a prayer book
with the inscription, "To my little Sara
from her Tante Rivka." Yet I have seen
this, again and again.
My second question is, why is there
no safe haven in the general Jewish
community for these items? Imagine a
shop where for a few dollars a family
could purchase a mezuzah. We all
know how ridiculously expensive
many Jewish ritual items are; this
would be a great way to help out fam-
ilies who otherwise simply couldn't
afford them. This would be an oppor-

tunity for others, too, who find they
have 15 pairs of Shabbat candlesticks Ato
and don't know what to do with them,
or for estate sale addicts like me who
would gladly fork over a few bucks for to
yet another Tanach — if only we
knew it would go to a good home.
Is there someone out there with a
few free hours and a talent for orga-
nizing who would be interested in this
100
project? If so, please give me a call,
(248) 354-6060 ext. 257.

C011111ENT

•

Professional
Blues

33

NEIL RUBIN
Special to The Jewish News

ii

ow come," a rabbinic
friend once asked me,
"we're so great at raising
buildings and so lousy
at raising Jews?"
I've often thought of that question -go
while strolling through the parking
1
lots and halls of our Jewish communi-
ty en route to yet another dedication
of a room, wing or building.
The structures, as everyone knows, 46,
are virtually littered with plaques rec-
ognizing willing donors. I'm grateful
that these benefactors give some of
their hard-earned money to benefit
11*1
others such as myself
4
But in the midst of such thoughts,
my friend's comment returns. Why, I
wonder is it so much easier to excite
people about buildings than what it
takes to bring people into the struc-
tures — good Jewish professionals?
But what are we doing for our
Jewish professionals?
• What percentage of synagogue
4 ►
and agency operating budgets goes to
training and conferences? Does it ever
increase?
• What independent analysis is
relied upon to identify the needed
skills of professional staff to meet the
agency's or synagogue's goals?
• Is there a commitment to creating
an environment in which staff can
thrive?
Often, the answer to most of the
questions is "no." That's because the
Jewish communal world is plagued by
well-meaning managers and volunteer
leaders who do not make professional
4
development a priority. This often cre-
ates a sad case of the Jewish profes-
sional blues. ❑