TELL Me WHy
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* Special program for the younger
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The Glass
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Celebrating our 25th Season!
Does Halacha have rules about which
materials can be used to make menorot?
Elizabeth Applebaum
Q: I know that Irving Berlin wrote some
• of the most popular American songs
ever — but did he ever win an Acade-
my Award?
A: He won just one, for that traditional
Jewish number, "White Christmas" from
1942's Holiday Inn. Born in 1888 in
Russia, Berlin was an extraordinarily
prolific composer whose works includ-
ed "God Bless America," "Alexander's
Ragtime Band" and "Always."
Q: Could it possibly be true, as I heard
from an acquaintance, that an Ameri-
can flag with a great deal of Hebrew
writing was in the White House many
years ago? How can this be? Where
is it now?
A: It's a true story, though Tell Me
Why can solve only part of the mys-
tery. This is what happened: Among
the many outspoken anti-slavery Jewish
leaders of the mid-1800s was Abra-
ham Kohn, president of Congregation
Kehilath Anshe Mayriv in Chicago.
When Abraham Lincoln was nominat-
ed for president at an 1860 conven-
tion in Chicago, Kohn came up with
the idea of an unusual gift: He would
give the future president a silk Ameri-
can flag, which Kohn himself made,
upon which were four Hebrew verses
from the book of Joshua.
Lincoln may well have acknowledged
the present, though no such letters (or
any others mentioning the flag) exist.
But we do know it was real, thanks to
the book History of the Flag of the Unit-
ed States by Admiral George Preble,
where it is cited, and because of a let-
ter to the Jewish Record from Lincoln's
secretary, John Hay, who said the flag
"has been in the Executive Mansion
ever since the President's Inaugural."
Unfortunately, this intriguing story
ends on a mysterious note: after Lin-
coln's death the flag seems to have
vanished, and no one knows where
it is to this day.
855-1075
(248)
Q: Please settle a vexing question.
My mother insists a Chanuka menora
must be made of silver or gold; my
wife says it has to be made of stone.
Is there really any rule about this?
A: Halacha (Jewish law) is very flexi-
ble about the materials from which
one may make a menora. Virtually
any substance that can hold oil and
wicks or candles in a straight line
may be used. Museums and private
collections hold menorot made from
a variety of materials, but metal,
because of its durability and safety,
is the most common. In many places,
brass was and is the favored sub-
stance. Menorot then and now also
are made from ceramic, glass, stone
and wood. Halacha even allows us
to have the Chanuka lights without a
menora; one may place individual
candlesticks or oil lamps in a row.
Traditionally, the finest menorot are
made of silver.
Q: I know that one of the ailments to
which Jews seem especially suscepti-
ble is Crohn's Disease. Was this
named for a Jew, as well?
A: Indeed it was. Crohn's was
named for the late Burrill B. Crohn,
who throughout much of this century
was a leading expert on the dis-
ease.
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Do you have a question for Tell
Me Why? Questions may cover
any field of Jewish life, history
and religion, but should be of
interest to the general readership.
Please send questions to Elizabeth
Applebaum, c/o The Jewish
News, 27676 Franklin Road,
Southfield, MI. 48034. Please be
sure to include your name and
address. Unfortunately, I cannot
respond to individual queries, but
will answer as many questions as
possible in the column.
WHERE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE!
248.855.8747
Call today for your free
in-home consultation
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(248) 926-9579
Judaic & Holiday Gifts
12 / 3
1999
45