OPINION

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MICHIGAN

AUTOMATIC
SPRINKLER

INCORPORATED

ESTABLISHED 1950

"Rain's Only Rive"

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Call To
Schedule Your
SPRING
START UP

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FULLY TRAINED STAFF
SPECIALIZING IN:

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Irrigation
Design
Installation
Service
Landscape Lighting

OFFICE HOURS:

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Mon.-Fri. 8 am-6 pm
Saturday 8 am-12 noon

Commercial • Residential

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NEIL BLAZOFSKY

PRESIDENT

2679 Orchard Lake Road
Sylvan Lake, MI 48320

(248) 681-3770

Showroom Hours
1-17 11 -5
Sat. 11-3 or by Appt.

Jewish Heritage Week
Is Cause For Celebration

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that people of myriad faiths and cul-
he celebration of Jewish
tures call home. The ancient com-
Heritage Week, April 26-
mandment of tzedakah — charity —
May 4, is a remarkable
challenges
us to embrace the duty of
event. For the first time,
service
to
others.
The talmudic teach-
after thousands of years of persecution
ings of mercy and justice and those
and expulsion, a chief of state has offi-
who have sought to uphold
cially extolled the role of
these ideals grace the pages
Judaism and the Jewish peo-
of American history. We can
ple. The first proclamation
draw strength and inspira-
was issued in 1976 by U.S.
tion from the enduring
President Gerald Ford and has
lessons
of Judaism and it is
been repeated annually.
entirely
fitting that we honor
That first proclamation
the great traditions of its fol-
states:
lowers."
"Throughout history and
The heritage of being Jew-
through times of profound
ish
is an identity with pride
adversity, the Jewish people
ANN BARNETT
and
accomplishment. Being
have built their lives on the
Special to
known
as the People of the
strength of family and the
The Jewish News Book has been a guideline
spirit of community. Millions
and a commitment to a posi-
have made their home in
tive way of life.
America — a nation filled with oppor-
In every area of human experience,
tunity and blessed with the miracle .of
there
are the leaders and innovators
freedom. And here, with hard work
who
have
made important contribu-
and dedication, the Jewish American
tions
to
America.
community has flourished.
Judge Brandeis, who introduced civil
"Jewish citizens have made vital con-
rights
legislation; Albert Einstein, the
tributions to every sector of our society.
most
brilliant
mind of the 20th centu-
From academia to the arts, from busi-
ry; Jonas Salk, who brought an end to
ness to government, from the smallest
the dreaded disease of polio. The high
towns to the largest cities, Jewish Amer-
rate
of infant mortality was ended
icans have infused our nation with a
when
Nathan Straus introduced pas-
powerful faith, a commitment to family
teurized
milk in free milk clinics all
and community and a devotion to
over
America.
scholarship and self-improvement.
Lilian Wald established the role of
"Judaism is a unique gift to this land
the settlement house and visiting nurses
all over the world. Danny Kaye
Ann Barnett is president of the Ameri-
can Zionist Movement, Michigan
brought modern medical care to Third
Region.
World children.

A Passover Encounter
Gives Pause For Thought

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A Subscription to

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information call

248-354-6620

Irving Berlin wrote music that fea-
tured songs for the important holidays.
The movies were introduced and estab-
lished by imaginative East European
immigrants. The best European per-
formers were brought to these shores
by impresario Sol Hurok. The field of
music included the most outstanding
conductors and musicians. American
musicals were all written by Jewish
Americans. The list is endless.
The finest area of Jewish Heritage
Week is the co-sponsorship of the vari-
ous branches of the Detroit Jewish
community: American Zionist Move-
ment, Michigan Region; Agency for
Jewish Education; Jewish Community
Council; Jewish Federation of Metro-
politan Detroit; Hillel Day School of
Metropolitan Detroit; The Jewish News-,
the Neighborhood Project. Merchants
in Oak Park and Southfield also are
jumping on the bandwagon by display-
ing posters in their storefronts
announcing the celebration, which is
made possible by the enthusiastic sup-
port of Jewish communal professional
staff members.
This year, proclamations for Jewish
Heritage Week were issued by the pres-
ident of the United States and on every
level of local government. Sen. Carl
Levin gave recognition through a page
in the Congressional Record.
Jewish Heritage Week is held every
spring, when Jews are commemorating
events like Passover, Yom HaShoah
(Holocaust Memorial Day) and Yom
Ha'atzmiut (Israel Independence
Day). ❑

families in our community had just
s a wife and mother who
received specially prepared Passover
works outside the home, the
food packages complete with Haggadot.
week before
Elaine Ryke, my co-director,
Passover is a time
in charge of the distribution,
that requires Herculean efforts
was
finishing up some paper-
to ensure that everything is
work; and I was, as usual, on
ready for the first seder. Every
the phone.
year during that week, my
In
walked a man I shall call
mind scans a continuous
Mr.
Fishman, an older gentle-
checklist of things to do:
man,
tall and imposing, white
clean, polish, shop, order,
hair
flowing,
thick glasses,
wash, etc.
with
a
booming
voice and
At Yad Ezra, where I work,
gracious
demeanor.
"Where is
LEA
L
UGER
we had just successfully com-
everyone?"
he
asked.
A con-
Spec ial to
pleted our Passover distribu-
versation
between
Elaine
and
The Jew ish News
tion. More than 1,000 needy
Mr. Fishman provided the
key to his visit. He had taken
Lea Luger is development director at
two
busses
from downtown to pick up
Yad Ezra.

his Passover food package. He had been
a former client of Yad Ezra, but hadn't
been receiving food from us for quite a
while. Elaine made arrangements for
him to start having food delivered to his
home and then proceeded to prepare
his Passover package.
While he was waiting, families were
trickling in to donate their chametz
before the holiday began. As I was get- {/
ting ready to leave, I overheard Mr.
Fishman ask each of the families who
came into the office whether they could
drop him off at the bus stop a couple of
miles away. One by one, they each said,
"No, sorry."
Everyone was rushed and worrying
about schedules and checklists. Mr.
Fishman was not visibly upset or disap-

