Jewry's Role in
Human Advancement

for Openers...

The Name Game
Is Fun To Play

THE HERITAGE OF JUDAH MACCABEE

SY MANELLO
Editorial Assistant

hat's in a name? A rose
by any other name
would be .:. Raizel or
Rochelle or Renee or
Rapunzel. Names are our ultimate
identification and can convey impres-
sions, reflect personalities or augment
professional standings. They can also
bring some amused smiles.
Consider the names of the follow-
ing metro-area residents. Assuredly,
the names and the vocational fields
are merely coincidental, or are they?
There is a podiatrist named
Cornfield, an insurance agent named
cewindle, an attorney named
Cheatham, an accountant named

liowz By You

PAPP4 WH A T
DOES BEING
0-EWISH MEAN?

BEING 0-E1,3ISH
MEANS HELPING
TO FIX THE
WORLD

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REALL Y ? FIXING THE WORLD?
THAT'S FUNK) y .
WNy IS THAT, HONE?

I

BECAUSE MOMMY SSTT you
POUT KNOW HOW TO FIX F:INTHING

WELL, 61/416'LL. HAVE
TO FIX THAT!

I'M IN A
DEEP FIX!

czn

Pocket, a veterinarian named Fish, a
jeweler named Greenstone and a
tobacconist named Burns.
Nicknames are another thing. My
mother frowned on their use and I've
waited until my "mature years" to
switch from Seymour to Sy, and not
without repercussions. When not
articulated clearly, my name is under-
stood by some callers as Simon Ello.
Then, of course, there's the deadly Sal
Monella. I've even received one letter,
obviously written by a typewriter that
lisped, addressed to Fy.

A famous name
can lead to
misunder-
standings.

If you happen to have the same
name as someone who is famous, it
can cause some interesting develop-
ments. In a Jewish News article in
1994, there was an incident reported
about a local attorney named Michael
Bolton. When our Mr. Bolton fin-
ished a helicopter ride in Las Vegas
he was greeted by a group of women.
When he got out of the helicopter,
they walked away in disappointment;
we don't know if he offered to sing.
The issue of whether or not to
hyphenate arises in some modern
marriages, as does a combination of
first and last names that might pro-
duce humorous results. Consider: if
Ella Fitzgerald married Darth Vader,
would she be Ella Vader? If John
Candy married Roseann Barr, would
he be John Candy-Barr? If Jane
Curtin married Rip Torn, would she
become Jane Torn-Curtin? If Ernie
Banks' wife divorced him and mar-
ried Tom Hanks, would she be Mrs.
Banks Hanks? If filmmaker Saul Bass
married actress Carrie Fisher, would
he be Saul Bass-Fisher? If Stevie
Wonder married Julia Child, would
he be known as Stevie Wonder-
Child?
Well, by now you have the idea
and you can create more on your
own; happy rainy-day activity.
When we consider all the
Shlomos, Chanas, Barbies, Herbies
and Bransons, we can ask as did
Thomas Wolfe, "Where can you
match the mighty music of their
names?"

❑

0

Judah Maccabee rallies his army in battle

As we soon celebrate Hanukkah, we give evidence of an ancient epic similar
in some ways to the account of our own nation's Declaration of
Independence and Revolutionary War. The dramatic episodes in Judea from
168-164 B.C.E., and in the American Colonies under English rule ; were
largely rebellions against moral tyranny--the loss of a people's rights to
preserve deeply-held beliefs and to self-realization. Centuries apart, both
persecutions were rectified through fervent acts of martyrdom and heroism.
The old story had its roots in the Second Century B.C.E. when
Greek-inspired culture swept Judea ruled at that time by the Syrian king,
Antiochus Epiphanes IV. Attracted to Hellenism, many wealthy,
sophisticated Jews of the aristocratic class assimilated, adopting Greek
dress, names, language and manners. Only religion was exempt from this
subversion of traditional Jewish ways. But their pious, poor brethren--
farmers, shepherds and the landless--were indignant and regarded Hellenism
as a form of idol worship with its mythology of anger, hate, lust, envy and
greed.
Tinder was added to their smoldering resentment when in 167
B.C.E. Antiochus forbade the Jews to worship in the Temple, and
commanded them to break with their religious laws and practices. Jews
were even obliged to eat pork on pain of torture or death. Thousands who
defied such cruel orders were executed or fled into the wilderness. Among
the fugitives was the aged priest, Mattathias, and his five sons, the third of
whom was named Judah. After his father's death, it was he who became the
charismatic leader of an organized resistance.
He was given the name Maccabee (perhaps meaning "hammerlike")
which aptly spoke of his skills as a fighter' and military strategist. Under his
unifying leaderghip a ragtag band of guerillas grew into a formidable force
which demoralized and decimated the enemy with fierce, surprise attacks.
The imperial troops of Antiochus were driven from Jerusalem in 165
B.C.E., and the great Temple was purified and restored.
The menorah we light on the 23rd day of
December commemorates much more than the
rededication of our Temple. Although Hebraic
traditions returned under the swords of the
Maccabean warriors, the era of self-government
ended in 63 B.C.E. as Roman legions conquered
Judea, massacred many -thousands and eventually
put the Temple to the torch. So, .every candle lit in
celebration also denotes a brief, century-long but
unforgettable event in His name--as in America,
the shining rebirth of freedom and sovereignty; of
justice, dignity and honor.
Saul Siadimauer

It is fitting that as a salute to Maccabean prowess, a movement in Germany
by Zionists established the Maccabi World Union of Jewish athletic
organizations. Founded in Berlin in 1921, it later moved to London and is
now headquartered in Tel Aviv.

COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF
JEWISH HISTORY
Walter & Lea Field. Founciers.Sponsors
Harold Berry & Irwin S. Field. Co - chairmen
Harriet F. Siden. S ecretary

12/12
1997

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