PUBLISHER'S NOTEBOOE
REKINDLE from page 25
How do you know if you've made the right decision?
Which decisions count the most?
What are the tools to a good decision?
find out the:
are dark. Any claims that the JCC is
not allowed to provide Shabbat-spe-
cific cultural programming on
Saturday afternoons is revisionist his-
tory. Rather, the real reasons are eco-
nomic.
Quite simply, Shabbat afternoon
programming costs more money than
in generates. And with the communi-
ty's leadership squeezing the JCC to
balance its budget, there is no room
for money losers, only money mak-
ers.
It is ironic that the same Mandell
Berman who, 36 years ago, helped
smooth the community's ruffled feath-
ers about the JCC opening on
Saturdays, has his name on the very
fund that is underwriting much of the
community-wide Rekindling Shabbat
effort.
How fitting it would be if the JCC
took some initiative and, recognizing
its obligation to the community and
its own members, developed a com-
prehensive proposal for quality,
Shabbat-focused Saturday afternoon
programming.
How fitting it would be if our com-
munity leaders, instead of just bashing
the JCC for its lack of Judaic content
and programming, provided the neces-
sary underwriting through the
Berman-Cohn Pilot Fund For Jewish
Continuity to rekindle Shabbat at the
JCC, where it has been sorely absent
for so many years. ❑
Harry Hanukah:
The Interview
NEIL RUBIN
Contributing Editor
Ly-) Yes fellow descendants of Mattiyahu
and his sons, Christmas has come and
gone, bout our solstice festival of
lights is still going strong
Thus, Jews everywhere keep mak-
ing a big deal out of how Chanukah is
not the Jewish Christmas. Of course
not. Everybody knows that's Purim.
While marking up copy with a pen
in one hand and grasping something
called a power bagel in the other, a
funny looking, slightly disheveled,
overweight and gently inebriated jolly
fellow plopped beside me at my local
deli. He had a long black beard, wore
a multi-colored kippah and had a two-
for-one coupon hanging out of his
torn shirt pocket.
"Ho, ho, ho, Rubeleh," he bel-
lowed, taking effort to enable me to
call Jerusalem Brooklyn just like now
how you call Brooklyn Jerusalem. Get
it?
Me: No, but I don't understand
why the Love Boat got canceled. Why
do you spell you last name Chanukah
and not Chanukah like we do in our
stylebook?
Harry:I took spelling lessons with
the great-great-great really great grand-
;ro father of Moammar el-Kadaffi. What a
great guy. Back then he went by
Goldberg.
Me: Did you know Judah
Macabbee?
Harry:Know him? We used to work
out together at the YMCA across from
the King David Hotel — that is,
JEWISH SECRETS
To Self Improvement
"How To Make The
Right Decision"
With Guest Lecturer Rabbi Alon Tolwin
when he wasn't chasing that Malka
doll from Kibbutz Bissele Meshugge.
Me:Is it just me, or is this getting a -
little too much like Mel Brooks and
the 2,000 year old man shtick?
Harry:I think it's good for business.
Me:Any business i particular>
Harry:Mind your own business.
You eating that pickle?
Me:I feel like I'm talking to my
Uncle Sidney and Jack. Can't get a
straight answer to save your life. And
then they eat your dessert.
Harry:Love to stay Mr. Journalist,
but I have to be in Boise, Idaho by
sunset. Kringle and I are meeting at
the Denny's for poker. Loser has to
deliver to north Jersey by 4 a.m.
With the swiftness of the Titanic in
its final hour, Harry lumbered out of
our booth. Before exiting, he turned
to offer me some sage advice. "Next
time be a proud Jew," he said. "Get
the pastrami on rye."
Chanukah will never be the same.
Publicity Deadlines
The normal deadline for local
news and publicity items is noon
Thursday, eight days prior to issue
date. The deadline for out-of-
town obituaries is 10 a.m.
Tuesday, three days prior to issue
date.
All material must be typewrit-
ten, double-spaced, on 81/2 x 11
paper and include the name and
daytime telephone number of
sender.
Tuesday, January 6, 1998
7:30 P.M.
Jewish Community Center
Maple/Drake Building
There is no charge for this program.
Refreshments will be served.
Please call (248) 661-7649 to register for the lecture.
Jewish Secrets will be held on the first Tuesday of every month.
Sperber's North kosher restaurant, located inside the JCC,
will be serving dinner until 8:00 p.m.
For the hearing impaired an Infrared Sound System is available.
12/26
1997
27