The BiG Story
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The Wedding Glass Mezuzah
from the Rosenthal Collection
The broken shards from the
ceremonial glass fit inside
the mezuzah
We are pleased to announce we now
carry the Rosenthal Collection line of
handcrafted Judaica. Visit our store
to see our selection!
Located in
The Orchard Mall
6385 Orchard Lake Road
at Maple
West Bloomfield 48322
248-855-4488
Monday - Saturday _
10 am - 5:30 pm
Thursday 10 am - 8 pm
and gallery
Your neighborhood store for twenty years.
Internationally
Acclaimed
Pianist
Piano Instruction
Classical 6- Popular
• Intermediate and advanced
students of all ages.
• Adult beginners
David Syme • 248-681-2417
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www.symepiano.corn
American Heart
Association-
Fighting Hoerr Disease,
and Stroke
100 Detroit Jewish News
2,000 years ago, the traditional
belief is that none of the suffering
we know of so well would have fol-
lowed. The Jews would have
remained in their land, the Jewish
people would have remained
intact, and the world would be a
different and much better place.
Tisha b'Av is surrounded by a
mini-season of mourning that
begins with the Fast Day of 17
Tamuz (this year, Thursday, July 1).
The fast commemorates the breach-
ing of the walls of Jerusalem by
King Nebuchadnezzar of Assyria
in 586 B.C.E. and by the Roman
general Titus in 70 C.E.
For three weeks, beginning with
7 Tamuz through Tisha b'Av, Jews
observe various mourning practices
(this period is known as the Three
Weeks). These include no haircuts
(or trimming the beard; some men
also do not shave), no weddings,
no celebrations that feature the use
of live music and no new clothing.
On the first day of Av (July 13-
14), the mourning practices intensi-
y (this period is known as the
Nine Days). Most men who
shaved during the first Iwo weeks
refrain from shaving until the ninth.
Swimming and bathing for plea-
sure are forbidden. Meat and wine
are consumed only on Shabbat (an
opportunity to test your vegetarian
cooking skills). Aside from not buy-
ing or wearing new clothing, many
do not buy new furniture or make
home improvements.
The afternoon before Tisha b'Av is
marked by a special meal of mourn-
ing, usually consisting of a hard-
boiled egg, bread and water (some
eat only bread and water). After
this, the fast begins and no food or
drink may be consumed until after
sundown on the ninth. Tisha B'Av
and Yom Kippur are the two longest
fasts on the Jewish calendar.
Along with the fast, on Tisha b'Av
we observe the following mourning
practices: We do not wear leather
shoes; we wash for hygiene only
(such as after using the bathroom);
we do not sit on ordinary chairs but
rather on low stools or on the
ground; we do not engage in mari-
tal relations. In the evening service,
end after sundown, we do not
indulge in meat and wine, as
well as haircuts, until after midday \
on the 1 0th of Av.
Parents who must stay at home
Weird Parents
Dear boys and girls:
As we all know, mothers and fathers can
be, well, a little strange at times.
Perhaps your mother likes to wear
her bathing suit while she prepares
dinner, or maybe your father thinks
it's oh-so-funny to gut on his chicken
costume when your friends come over
(how mortiying).
It's time the whole world knows about
your weird parents. With your help, Apple-
Tree will not only publish a brief description of
their strange behavior, we'll include a photo — caught in the very act of
being weird! What could be more fun!
Want to participate? First, consult with your parents before writing us.
If they agree, just send several paragraphs telling us about your parent's,
or parents', favorite oddball activities (you do not need to send photos).
Your entry must be at our office NO ATER than Tuesday, July 20, to be
considered for publication. Please type or clearly print the information
and mail to:
Weird Parents, c/o AppleTree, 27676 Franklin Road, Southfield, Ml
48034, or fax to (248) 354-6069, or e-mail to:
philapple@earthlink.net or you can leave a phone message at (248)
354-6060, ext. 308.
Thank you, and we look forward to seeing your weird stories!
we read Eicha, the book of Lamen-
tations. This is followed by kinot,
elegies, composed from the Middle
Ages up the present.
The next morning, the syna-
gogue service is followed by the
recitation of additional kinot,
inclucing those in memory of
those murdered in the Holocaust.
In most traditional synagogues,
the service lasts until midday,
about 1 p.m. After this, it is per-
mitted to sit on ordinary furniture.
Those who must go to work may
do so. Although most of the
mourning practices come to an
with small children come up with
their own observance of Tisha
b'Av. Children prior to bar or bat
mitzvah do not fast, but even they
can be made to understand that
this day is different. The house
will be quieter than usual because
there will be no television, no CD
player or tape deck, no video or
computer games. Parents can dis-
cuss with their children the concepts
of sadness, hurt and loss. In keep-
ing with Jewish tradition, the discus-
sion can conclude with ideas for
self-improvement, and words of
hope for a better future. 7