Enjoy Our Specialties... s r • Baby Lamb Shish Kabob • Lamb Chops Shish Kafta • Shish Tawook S • Deboned Chicken • Potato Chop • Chicken Cream Chop • White Fish (American & Chaldean-Style) / else be damned!" At the same time, the Chasidim aren't interested in becoming part of the local community. On their way to shul one Shabbat morning, one member of the Chasidic community admonishes Bloom for say- ing hello to some non-Jewish residents of Postville: "The goyim will always be the goyim, no matter how nice they are to you. So what's the point?" The tensions eventually come to a head when the town tries to annex the land where the slaughterhouse is locat- ed, which would force the Chasidim to pay taxes to the town. The Chasidim threaten to leave if the annexation passes. Bloom uses the tension during the annexation battle to tell his story. Along the way, he discovers some compelling stories: what happened at the deathbed of a longtime Postville resident, a non-Chasidic Jewish doc- tor; and a murder committed by two young members of the Chasidic com- munity But his own personal story — and views — emerge just as vividly as the battle in Postville. Bloom is not on a personal search for religious meaning. He seems to be at ease with the spiritual life he has created for his family. When asked about it, he emphasizes tikkun olam, or repairing the world. He and his family belong to a Reform congregation where they live in Iowa City, and his son was about to cele- brate becoming bar mitzvah. Like a good journalist, he doesn't pick any sides in the struggle over annexation. He says he enjoyed sharing the same Yiddishkeit and sense of humor with the Chasidim — and he compliments their "wonderful belief." But by the end of the book, he appears to prefer the local Iowa resi- dents to the Lubavitch. He feels more at ease in Iowa, writ- ing that the members of his family will never become Iowans, but Iowa has become our home." More controversially, he makes com- parisons between the Lubavitch and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan — whom he covered for that are sure the Los Angeles Times to rankle some readers. When questioned about the com- parisons, Bloom responds by making an analogy that appears to describe his journey: "A black author could have gone to interview Farrakhan and done a story, and in many ways it would have been a fight for his soul." ❑ °BATH 10Prolz e(5., irt AL Ithough the Orthodox Jewish AM T community in North America constitutes no more than 10 perc.ent of the'total Jewish population, it is clearly the fastest growing segment. Eton Diamond, author of the excellent book Aid / Will Dui-ell Middle-Eastern Dining SANDWICH WITH SOUP OR SALAD ANY DAY • .7„ 20%OFF 1_4 - in Their Midst: Orthodox Jews in -,Suburbia (University of North arolina. Press; $18.95) is a social historian who decided to study ' this phenomenon as it is mani- fested in Toronto. He selected this city and its suburbs as typical of ews in North America. t , to Jews as distinguis fervently Orthodox. The,group he studies'' is SIMI in appearawe to other Americans: They are laigely independent businessmen or self-employed professionals; the women are housewives; they are upwardly mobile and they are seeking bet7 ter housing for their families. IvioNing to the suburbs posed a, 29222 Orchard lake Road, S. of 13 Mile Farmington Hills (248) 855-1122 Fax (248) 865-6001 LUNCH OR DINNER ENTREE DINE IN OR CARRYOUT 7 DAYS A WEEK! Explres 2 - 29 - 01 With Coupon Call Us For All Your Catering Needs www.food.corn/desertsands Now Serving Cocktails & Wine Breakfast, Lunch 6 Dinner Served 24 Hours A Day ant FAMILY RESTAURANT of Southfield 26200 W. 12 Mile Road Just E. of Northwestern Enjoy Our Homecooked Daily Dinner Specials 4 Morning Glory Breakfasts from $ 2.49 3-Egg Omelettes— $3.99 Monday-Friday 5 a.m. - 11 a.m. (248) 353-3232 I I 111 MasterCard (Vat S No Holiday or Senior Citizen Discounts on these Super Specials VISA =MEI ko sciisj 'SA, :, age*t.,; .. . , ,, ..."*I ,". 43; . •-,,,, 01)) ,..' t.... THE GALLERY RESTAURANT Enjoy gracious dining amid a beautiful atmosphere of casual elegance BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER " — LUNCH SPEC IIAL7 1 ( OPEN 7 DAYS: MON.- SAT. 7 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. SUN. 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. West Bloomfield Plaza • 6638 Telegraph Road and Maple • 248-851-0313 ,...1111111111■• 1 ■moglik 1°L next ernphasizing especially the of the kosher food industry. Finally, he explores the subur- banization of Orthodox Jews as a North American phenomenon, not limited to Toronto, and he '- argues that what he has described. offers hope for the future of Jews: iviorton /. reicher Rembrandt at Marvin s is highly recommended by M rvin Q. Ya oda, owner 4 Quarters Free! With This Ad I Coupon &WI S MUM% 1lW t KCAL NUStair Per Person Monday -Saturday 10-11 Sunday I I-II 3 1 005 ORCHARD LAKE RD. BEHIND F&M, SOUTH OF 14 MILE • 626 5020 - Free quarters for use only on games at Marvin's Expires 2/22/01 2/1 2001