LDITORS NOTEBOOK kathryn scott MIRRORS from page 29 has a gift for you Bring in this coupon and share special savings with us. - She looks at the mirror again. She likes who she sees there. That makes me happy. We've all sat in that stylist's chair before, both actually and figuratively. The person in the mirror has stared back. Sometimes we look back confi- dently at ourselves, straight in the eye. Other times, we're not so sure, and we '.-.1st a gaze askance. It's hard to look at ourselves. In those straight glances comes the truth. We are the one person from whom it is difficult to hide that truth. As a Jewish people, we now are looking into that mirror as well. There's so much we see that we like. Jewish education is something that brings pride. We can look ahead in the C:nirror at that. Yet, our assimilation, our continuing loss of Jewish culture, that's something we'll have trouble with during a glance in the mirror. It is the difficult issues, though, that require the hardest look. Our world Jewry faces a fact now. It is not really together. How Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Humanistic and other Jewish groups learn to co- respect and validation is a cist challenge that is already shaking what unity there is. Whatever we call ourselves, there is a foundation, there is another mirror. That's our Torah. It is the reflection of the Jewish people, and it is as valid now as it was in biblical times. All we have to do is make a deci- sion. Do we look at it askance, or do we look the Torah straight in the eye? But the Torah has to be relatable not just to people who call themselves observant. Our Jewish educational organizations have to be assisted in their goals of outreach and instruc- tion. More money, more support, more volunteerism are needed. I see it in a group I visit each Tuesday night at the Yeshiva Beth `'ThYrehudah. It's called Partners In Torah. It is an opportunity for people who aren't necessarily accustomed to learn- ing, to meet with a mentor one on one. The growth has been astounding. But there are other groups as well — Aish HaTorah, Ohr Samayach, the Agency for Jewish Education and so many others, such as your temple, your synagogue, your mother, your father, your children. We can teach each other. Back to the mirror. Take it seriously. And learn that mirrors aren't just at the barber shop. They are all around us. This newspaper is a mirror. You are a mirror. Look at the people around you. They are a reflection of your body, your soul. It's a whirlwind. It moves with you wherever you go. Just take .a moment for an honest look every once in a while. Sometimes you'll find a place inside you haven't visited in a while. Like a tug on the hair, it hurts, and you'll grimace. But that's okay. ❑ COMMUNITY VIEWS PARENT from page 29 kathryn scott fine apparel for women move, didn't pan out and she took a series of short-term positions. My brother, sisters and I wrestled with a new language, school and culture. I wondered whether we would ever fit in. Following my mother's example, we introduced ourselves to our neigh- bors. The townspeople were kind and helpful. The woman who owned the local grocery store was very patient as we all stumbled through our early attempts with French. We lived over a patisserie at 1296 Sous les Arcades. The apartment overlooked a garden in an old court- yard. Each morning, we would open the windows and smell baking bread, flowers and petrol from a nearby gas pump. I loved that scent and can still call up the memory of it. 148 Pierce Street, Birmingham • 248-642-3064 Store Hours: - Monday — Saturday 9:30 - 6:00, Thursday '61 8:00, Sunday 12:00 — 5:00 MIDNIGHT MADNESS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12 This coupon is valid for one transaction. 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