For Openers
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
E
veryone wants a piece of the
action, but being bombarded
by demands can GIVE one a
headache, a pain in the neck or
in the wallet.
Often, requests are made that not only
test our selflessness, but are calls to help in
ways that do benefit others. We can begin
by remembering that which makes our
SY
MANELLO country strong is reflected in
Emma Lazarus' famous
Editorial
words on the Statue of
Assistant
Liberty: "GIVE me
your tired, your
poor, your huddled masses yearning
to breathe free ..."
Recent tragedies have shown, once
again, that Americans care. We over-
whelmingly responded to requests to
GIVE our time (as volunteers), our blood and our
money to help those in need. We also showed we were
not averse to GIVING a hand. I think that many of us
enjoyed getting in touch once more with that perennially
favorite book, Shel Silverstein's The GIVING Tree.
But how do we deal with demands from a growing num-
ber of self-centered folk who frequently say: "GIVE it to
me; it's coming to me"? They seem to feel that everything
is due them with no more effort on their part than to
demand it.
I recall that when I was still in teaching, students were
given "free supplies." I was witness to much waste. Since
.•
no value (money or work) was ascribed to the materials,
they had little value and could be wasted at will; more was
available on demand. Michigan residents would GIVE till
it hurt and still do so, to no avail; no lesson is being
learned here.
Regularly, we are urged to "GIVE it a try." (When this is
part of a sales pitch, I remain cautious.) To encourage a
child to experiment with "new" foods may be good advice,
but a recent trip to the Jelly Belly Factory in sub-
urban Chicago convinced me that in no way
would I GIVE a chance to such flavors as Dirt,
Grass or even Jalapeno.
Who among us would question the advice of
the poet, who said: "GIVE crowns and pounds and
guineas but not your heart away." Ah, the tragedy
of lost love, especially when one is young.
It is always encouraging to "GIVE it your best
shot." Yes, some failure may be encountered, but what
more can one offer than one's best? As Edison once
said: "I have not had many failures. I have just found
many ways that don't work."
Especially bothersome people may be advised to
"GIVE it a rest!" That's no guarantee that results
will be forthcoming, but it's start. You may, of
course, be met with the rejoinder "GIVE me a
break!" Then what?
For those of you who feel it is more blessed to GIVE
than to receive, and are in need of blessing, my address is
- listed on the staff information page, usually on page 8 of
this paper. I assure you that all gifts (but not advice) will be
accepted in the spirit in which they are GIVEN. ❑
Shabbat Candlelighting
"On Friday evenings and holidays, I light a pair of small
sterling candlesticks that my bubbe sent to me when I was
a little girl at home with the mumps or measles. When I
see the flames of the candles, I have warm memories of
my grandmother and mother."
'cha
ow
© 2002
T
he fast of the 17th'of
Tammuz fell this year on
June 27. In Hebrew, it is
called tzom yud zion
b'Tammuz and is one of five yearly
fasts described with the Hebrew word
tzom, meaning "fast." Can you name
the one Jewish fast that is not
described using the word tzom?
— by Goldfein
.12tia
paifeo sr
nIpSH Jo
-
aged atl1 :Jamsuy
,
Quotables
"Prayer is a skill; it takes work. You
cannot run a marathon if you are a
two-times-per-year runner, and you
will not experience a spiritual high
in synagogue, no matter how inspi-
rational the workshop, if you appear
only twice a year."
— Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, president,
Union of American Hebrew
Congregations, as quoted in the fall
issue of "Reform" magazine.
"While several highly publicized
anti-Israel demonstrations on the
West Coast this spring gave the
impression that campuses were
unfriendly, the truth is that support
for Israel among students is about
the same as in the general popula-
tion."
— David Harris, American Jewish
Committee executive director, in
response to an AJC survey that showed
U.S. college students largely support
Israel despite recent flare-ups of anti-
Israel activity on campuses, as quoted
by JTA.
— Elaine Hersh,-West Bloomfield, mother and grandmother
Yiddish Limericks
Sponsored by Lubavitch
Women's Organization.
To submit a candlelighting
message or to receive
complimentary candlesticks
Candlelighting
Candlelighting
Friday, Aug. 30: 7:52 p.m.
Friday, Sept.6: 7:40 p.m.
Shabbat Ends
Shabbat Ends
Saturday, Aug. 31: 8:54 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 7: 8:41 p.m.
and information on Shabbat
candlelighting, call Miriam
Amzalak of Oak Park at
(248) 967-5056 or e-mail:
amzalak@juno.com
I knew I had troubles the year
The IRS agerit was here.
I queried, "A fine?"
He said, "Zol dos zine
Dine ergste dygeh,* my dear."
— Martha Jo Fleischmann
* That should be your worst worry.
tili
8/30
2002