For Openers
Shabbat Lights
A
display in the lobby of the West
Bloomfield Jewish Community
Center June 23 had people
stopped and staring.
Were the Shabbat candles on a small table
being lit by an actual mother and daughter or
by look-alike dolls? They soon discovered the
soft, fabric-covered life-like forms with arms
raising and lowering to cover their eyes were
actually part of a Shabbat candlelighting
demonstration.
The display, set up on
varying Sundays beginning
last December, is the work
of the Lubavitch Women's
Organization of Metro
Detroit (LWO). Their vol-
unteer members are pres-
ent throughout the day,
answering questions and
SHELLI
distributing complimenta-
LIEBMAN
ry Shabbat candlesticks
DORFMAN
and candles.
Staff Writer
"They also get a brochure
that includes the blessing, a
calendar of times for candlelighting and inter-
esting, inspiring information about lighting
candles," says Miriam Amzalak of Oak Park,
who oversees the project.
The late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi
Menachem Mendel Schneerson, created the
design for the candlesticks. The next dates to
view the display are Sunday, July 7 and Aug.
11 at the West Bloomfield JCC.
"People Walk by the little Shabbat table, set
with lit candlesticks and see the animated dolls
waving their hands back and forth as if to
bring in the Shabbat — and they all corn--
ment," Amzalak says.
"They say things like, 'It reminds me of my
mother lighting Shabbat candles."' And that's
exactly the point — for spectators to become
participants, to be inspired by the display to
go home with the knowledge and tools to
light their own candles.
But reaching those who approach the dis-
play was just the beginning. At the suggestion
of Lubavitch Foundation of Michigan head
shlichah (emissary) Batsheva Shemtov of Oak
Park, Amzalak has expanded the project by
collecting messages of inspiration from those
who find meaning in lighting candles. Those
messages will be shared in a new weekly Jewish
News feature, beginning this week. Messages
from local individuals —
both children and adults —
will be highlighted alongside
a newly designed Shabbat
candle-lighting listing.
The hope is for those
inspired by the messages to
contact Amzalak for infor-
mation and candlesticks of
their own. ❑
Molly Spatter,
16, and Laya
Silberbeig, 15,
both of West
Bloomfield,
show Laura
Thimas, 8,
of Royal Oak
brochures and
a Shabbat
candlelighting
chart.
To submit a Shabbat candlelighting mes-
sage or to receive complimentary candle-
sticks and information on Shabbat candle
lighting, call Miriam Amzalak at (248)
967-5056 or e-mail at:
amzalak@juno.com
t
The mitzvah of ushering
in the Shabbat by lighting
Shabbat candles is tradi-
tionally performed by
women, but depending
on circumstances and
movement of Judaism,
men may also light them.
In many families,
children are also
encouraged to light
their own candles.
Ideally, members of
the household are pres-
ent while the candles
are lit. Typically two
candles are lit, repre-
senting the biblical
commandments to
"remember" and
"observe" Shabbat.
They also are said to
symbolize man and
woman,. with some fami-
lies adding a candle for
each child.
After lighting the can-
dles, the eyes are covered
and the blessing is recited
aloud. Some have the cus-
torn to wave outstretched
arms three times toward
themselves to welcome
the incoming Shabbat.
Those present respond
with "amen," followed by
a Shabbat greeting. Cl
Weekly candlelighting messages arc sponsored by
Lubavitch Women's Organization of Metro Detroit.
6/28
2002
10
Above right LWOi mother-daughter Shabbat
© 2002
By Goldfein
A
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Quotables
"There is an attempt at revisionism
on the part of some historians, an
attempt at rewriting the history of the
phenomenon of fascism and of the
consequences of fascism in Italy, such
as the war, repression and the anti-
Semitic racist laws. It worries me."
— No Marcelli, a former Communist
and now Predappio mayor; who sees the
pilgrimages, honor guards and shlocky
souvenirs as the face of a creeping nos-
talgia for Italy's fascist past under town-
hero Benito Mussolini, as quoted by
JTA.
"I definitely think that we are walking
into a place where we could die. But
you can't live your life stuck in
school."
— Ya'akov Klein, 18, an Israel yeshivah
student from New York City talking
about a Saturday-night visit to Ben
Yehuda Street in Jerusalem, the scene of
many Palestinian suicide bombings, as
quoted by JTA.
ara•Vk.,1..VV,AW
Shabbat Candlelightin
"Candlelighting on Shabbat is a very
special and peaceful time. I use my
grandmother's candlesticks and think
about how this tradition has been passed
down from generation to generation.
Now, that I am a grandmother, I look
forward to the day when my grand-
daughter lights candles too."
— Phyllis Meer of Oak Park,
nurse, mother of two,
grandmother of one
LVF,d, FE? 'cha
n't Know
Candlelighting
Yiddish Limericks
Photo by Joshua Kristal
Candlelighting
Friday, June 28; 8:56 p.m.
Candlelighting
Friday, July 5; 8:55 p.m.
Shabbat Ends
Saturday, June 29; 10:08 p.m.
Shabbat Ends
Saturday, July 6; 10:06 p.m.
"Look, Doc," questioned Old Mr.
Steiner,
"I'm not known for being a whiner;
But you make a schwa'
A half a foot wide,
And this operation's called minor?"
— Martha Jo Fleischman)!
cut