COMMON MAN, MYTHIC VISION: The Paintings of Ben Shahn JULY 25- OCTOBER 31 'KITCHEN Bookshop: Hebrew Books, Holy Day Books, I 953; The Detroit Institute of Arts © Estate of Ben Shahn/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY BEN S H A H N championed social justice and made paintings that communicate the shared experiences and concerns of humanity. His art expresses our joys and sorrows, reflects his Jewish heritage, and celebrates the strength of the human spirit. Enjoy Gallery Talks on Sunday, August 29 at 2 p.m. & Friday, September 3 at 6 & 7:30 p.m. (open till 9 p.m. Sept. 3) Free with museum admission. This exhibition is sponsored by Ernst C-Young LLP. lajor support ryas recrired through the generosity ef The Henry Luce Foundation. Additional funding WEIS provided by the .National Endearment /or tlw Arts, a federal agency Organized by The Jewish :Muse tt e, .In Detroit the exhibition is made possible with support from the Michigan Council for :Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City or Detroit. atu THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit • 313-833-7900 • www.dia.org The Case For Conversion THE INTELLIGENT CHICKEN WHERE SMART PEOPLE EAT NOW OPEN (248) 855-4455 32431 Northwestern Hwy. (between 14 & Middlebelt, Farmington Hills) www.intelligentchicken.com 8/27 1999 M-F: 11 am-8:30 pm; Sat: 11 am-3 pm; Sun: 4 pm-8:30 pm 98 Detroit Jewish News marriage, he said, "that we failed to deal" with the many non-Jews "who are honestly interested in Judaism." The community has "missed the boat terribly by a general misconcep- tion that Judaism is opposed to accepting these people," said Schulweis, who characterized the typi- cal reaction to such seekers as "conde- scension almost flirting on racism." Tobin agreed, saying at the confer- ence that an overwhelming fear of intermarriage "spills over" into the dis- cussion of conversion. "If we can keep the stranger out, then we can keep our sons and daugh- ters in. If the walls are permeable, then our sons and daughters can leave," he said. At the New York conference, Rabbi Rachel Cowan described her own feel- ings of rejection when she decided to convert to Judaism. "We need a language of welcome," she said. Cowan and Dru Greenwood, the director of the Commission on Reform Outreach of the UAHC- Central Conference of American Rabbis, grew up together as Rachel Brown and Dru Crigler in the exclu- sive community of Wellesley, Mass. "They say a successful Jew is some- ,, one who has Jewish grandchildren, Cowan said. Pointing to Greenwood, who also converted to Judaism, Cowan said, "Well, Mrs. Crigler and Mrs. Brown have Jewish grandchildren." I 1 Author Gary Tobin lists the bene- fits of an inclusive policy toward others, including: • A possible renaissance in Jewish Check out the Painters and Wallpaper Hangers in our Marketplace Home and Service Guide. • An infiision of the experience and knowledge of new individuals to help build institutional strength inside the Jewish community. • The thriving of institutions which offer a vehicle for Jews to express their Judaism. • Enhanced religious depth of all who participate in Judaism. • Increased ability of Jews to relate to other groups, adding richness to the fabric of life. • Jewish population growth accom- panied by greater political power, with an added influence "to repair an increasingly broken world."