* * * * * * * * * * * * - On the Bookshelf . nomnavramovxmozkvaxmaccomexememOmmaxecomacsvemonmexumweconeroxemoomaganvotnteamixsmeavs.......sw-oxan STAR DELI IS ONE OF THE BEST CARRY OUT ONLY RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA! `The Heretic' OUR HOMEMADE FAT-FREE TUNA ALSO CANT'T BE BEAT! EVERYBODY KNOWS WE HAVE THE BEST HOMEMADE TUNA IN TOWN! TRY OUR DELICIOUS HOMEMADE VEGETARIAN CHOPPED LIVER! Lewis Weinstein's debut novel examines the Catholic Church's history of religious persecution. OPEN 7 DAYS -SAT. 7 AM TO 10 PM SUN. 1AM TO 10 PM WE CUT OUR LOX BY HAND! BRIAN SELFON Special to the Jewish News OUR TRAYS CAN'T BE BEAT FOR QUALITY & PRICE! 0 MEAT AND DAIRY TRAYS ON OUR BEAMED. 111.1161DY UM-PRICED MEAT OR DAIRY TRAYS WITH THIS COUPON DELIVERY AVAILABLE • Expires 12-31-2000 • One Per Person • Not Good Holidays • 10 Person Minimum L •„:,*, , tommaalitut,„ eL la tik thg ett o:3: .- 24555 W..12 MILE 248 • 352 • 7377 Just west of Telegraph • Southfield * * * * * * * * * * * * LET US CATER YOUR NEXT AFFAIR KITCHEN Authentic Indian Cuisine DELICIOUS!! MOUTHWATERING!! r • South Indian Specials • Cocktails Available • Catering For All Occasions A when a 2nd menu item of equal or greater value is purchased (248) 661-8414 L Not good with any other offer. Exp. April 30, 2000 Valid Anytime • Dine In Only 5566 DRAKE ROAD (Formerly Old Mexico) • Corner of Walnut Lake Rd. Uno'8 Chicago bar 0 Grill r 1 / 2 OFF Any Menu Item when a 2nd menu item of equal or greater value is purchased JN - L .Not good with any other offer. Expires December 31.2000 - " 'Valid Anytime • Dine In Only 4/71 , 0 1 15th-century Spain at the dawn of the Inquisition, The Heretic is a tragic but hopeful novel, many of whose charac- ters have good reason for taking issue with God's neglect. The protagonist, Gabriel Catalan, is a goldsmith, a respected member of the Seville community, and a converso (a Jew who has converted to Christianity) with a guilty conscience. nce upon a time at Big Boy's, my friends and I were talking about our fathers' life philosophies, and we discussed which of these best reflected Jewish culture as we knew it. Mr. Z's was "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst," which struck all of us as far too reasonable to be Jewish. My father took his from Rocky and Bullwinkle: "Never underestimate the power of a schnook." Although this credo hinted at Jewish paranoia and even used a Yiddish word, we still felt it lacked some- thing. Then Dave told us a phrase that his father recit- ed at least three times a - day, a kind of secular day- ening: "Why do I always get screwed?" Our approval was unanimous and we declared it the winner. That a life philosophy could be a question was an ingenious notion on Dave's part. Questioning is inte- gral to Jewish culture, and asking impossible ques- tions to no one in particu- lar is practically a-mitzvah. As for the getting screwed part, Jewish histo- ry as I was taught it is but A historical novel about Spain's secret Jews, "The variations on a line from the Haggada: "In every gen- Heretic," says its author, seeks to expose the Christian roots of anti-Semitism. eration they rise up to destroy us ..." Applying He also is the son of a converso who Dave's father's motto, then, to the his- was murdered by a mob of anti- tory of the Jewish people, we ask, semites. "Why do we always get screwed?" When the novel begins, Gabriel In his debut novel, The Heretic secretly practices Judaism with other (goodnewfiction.com ; $24.95), Lewis conversos, and his resistance to the Weinstein posits this question and Church grows over the course of the dares to attempt an answer. Set in book from diffident resentment to Brian Selfon, a resident of White Lake fearless — and ultimately fatal —defi- Township, will graduate from Brown ance. University in May. Gabriel's principal method of resist-