There Are Too Many
Sips Off* Times

G

ather 'round and I shall regale you
with memories of Burma Shave signs
or quote some verses from a camp
ditty known as "The Billboard Song."
For those who think I am going mad — no, I
did not ask to see a show of hands! — let me
explain that at one time it was possible to get some
enjoyment from those rare yet entertaining roadside
signs and billboards. Today, however, it seems that
they are taking over the landscape and taking away
some of the pleasures of the open road.
I am not against advertising, but there should
be some restraint shown. Face it, there are some
magazines today that have more pages devoted to
advertising than to the subject matter purported
to be contained therein, but I don't have to read
them. There are an abundance of commercials on
TV, but I can use that time for snacks or a bath-
room break. I could also change channels, but I
would run into the same plethora of ads.
If I am annoyed by sponsors' words on the
radio, I can turn to another station or turn the
radio off. But I am not given any options when
driving on the highway. I cannot drive with my
eyes closed, even though some folks think that is
the way I drive.
Why do we seem to be the only country so
enamored of such advertising? Have you noticed
when entering Canada that what you see are
rolling fields and lovely scenery? Why? Because
there is not a dearth of billboards. When my
wife and I traveled in Spain, there were a few,
clever roadside ads, but nothing to distract us
from the sights (except maybe that risque
Benetton ad — but that's another story). Why
must America show tourists, and residents, that
we are the land of buy? It will soon make us the
land of bye-bye!
I am reminded of a fitting poem:
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
Indeed, unless the billboards fall
I'll never see a tree at all. I I
— Sy Manello, Editorial Assistant

Notable Numbers

Russian Anti-Semitism
— percent of Russians with strong anti-Semitic views
58
percent agree Jews in Russia have too much power in business
49
percent agree Jews in Russia exercise "too much power"
38
percent agree Jews more than others are ready to use
unscrupulous means to achieve their aims."

—

—

—

Source: Poll of 1,528 Russian adults conducted for the
Anti-Defamation League by a Russian and an American research firm.

Yiddish Limericks

Donate your
car to JARC!

The new "Revenge Cookbook" is due
In print from the famed Cordon Bleu
On how to get even
By serving guests greeven.*
It's subtitled "Greys** of Wrath Two!"

* (also grivvenes) small, crisp pieces rendered from
fried poultry skin or fat; cracklings
** belch
— Martha Jo Fleischmann

How Is Candlelighting Time Determined?

habbat candlelighting is done most everywhere in the
world at 18 minutes before sundown on Friday.
In Jewish tradition, the new day begins at sun-
down. Extra time is added because the Torah says that it's a
mitzvah to lengthen the Sabbath. Because 15 to 18 minutes was con-
sidered a standard unit of time in ancient Jerusalem, rabbinic schol-
ars in the Talmud determined that 18 minutes is how much time
should be added to the Sabbath.
In Jerusalem, celebrants light candles 40 minutes before sundown
to create an even greater barrier between the workweek and the
Sabbath. According to the Talmud, Shabbat concludes Saturday
night after three medium-sized stars appear in the sky. In Detroit,
this happens roughly 45 to 72 minutes after sundown.
According to Rabbi Shaiall Zachariash of Congregation Shomrey
Emunah, there are controversial interpretations of the talmudic
sources and to the definition of when a new day starts.
"There is not a clear-cut measure," says the rabbi. "Therefore, tal-
mudic discussion abounds."
— Dana Dratch and Sy Manello

Write: Judaism 101, The Jewish News, 27676 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI
48034; by fax: (248) 345-6069; by e-mail: rsidar@thejewishnews.com
Check out JN Online at www.detroitjewishnews.,com and click on Judaism 101
on the homepage.

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