On The Bookshelf The Primacy Of Spirituality Journalist writes book about the religious aspects ofglobalization. AARON LEIBEL Washington Jewish Week Novi Expo Center • Novi, MI April 11, 12, 13, 2003 I Daily Adult Admission $6.00 For Discount Admission Coupons: Children Under 12 FREE Parking FREE Compliments of Sugarloaf Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10-6 • Visit your local Farmer Jack • Print them from www.SugarloafCrafts.com • Call 800-210-9900 DIRECTIONS: Take 1-96 to Exit 162. Turn south on Novi Road. Turn right onto Expo Center Drive. flailielhaiv The Expo Center is located one block on the right. observer gi Event& Buy crafts online at www.CraftsOnlin -e.com IIMM III 111=1 NOM IMO IIII o( • Restaurant Italian, Greek & American Cuisine Spring Special I 248.476.0044 "Any Event" Catering Banquet Room Available 00 Buy any entree and cret , the second I for $6 off/$3 offfor lunch. Salads. pizza. sandwiches and ribs for 2 excluded. I-.:\pircs: April 11. 2003 01lc coupwr per bible L Farmington Hills • Corner of Grand River & Haggerty Road ME MI I ■ JEMMY FAMILY DINING 22921 NORTHWESTERN HWV. (Corner of 12 Mile Rd.) Southfield (248) 358-2353 Oc 1/4 3 OFF ANY ENTREE WITH PURCHASE OF ANOTHER ENTREE EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE MON. THROUGH THURS. AFTER 3 P.M. Not Good With Any Other Specials or Discounts Expires 4/11/03 SZECHUAN OLJ Chinese Carry-Out Restaurant Mon-Thurs, I I :00 am - 9:30 pm Fri, 11:00 am - 10:00 pm Sat 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm - 9:30 pm PARTY TRAYS AVAILABLE L Reg $6.95 Any cornbinition plate lunch includes egg roll & fried rice Expires 4/ 1 1 /03 (248)988-9333 Fax: (248)988-9381 3/28 3951 Telegraph (NE corner of Long Lake Rd.) • Bloomfield Twp. 2003 www.szechuangourmet.corn 70 I I I kind of globalization. "Halachah was accepted by Jews in Amsterdam and Baghdad," Rifkin says. "There was a common system of values and a religious legal code that could be enforced by a beit din (reli- gious court). This, in turn, allowed for international commerce between Jews who could trust each other, who lived by the same code. That set in motion the forces of globalization." ra Rifkin looks at everything through the prism of religion and spiritual beliefs. So the Annapolis, Md.-based religion writer and author of the recently published Spiritual Perspectives on Globalization: Making Sense of Economic and Cultural Upheaval (Skylight Paths; $16.95) felt per- fectly natural writing a book about the religious aspects of globaliza- tion. "I believe that religious ideas are the crux of every civilization," the author notes. Because everyone is influenced by the religious culture in which he or she lives, "looking at globalization through this prism is like looking at any issue becau:se everything is influenced by our religious perspective." In his book, Rifkin looks at how various religions — Roman Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, the B'hai faith, Protestantism, and tribal and earth-based belief systems — and Making Sense of Economic their leaders look at globalization. and Cultural Upheaval Judaism doesn't directly deal with the modern phenomenon — iro Rifkin a concept that emerged as we forewomi by Dt- Dayld to,44, Hotv,,vti Divimy &hoof know it in a 1944 plan for post- war economic recovery starting Ira Rifkin examines evidence of how various with the World Bank — but its religions view the economic, cultural and faith and values are related to personal aspects ofglobalization. aspects of globalization. . For example, the author explains, Judaism puts a great deal of Many of the institutions of modern emphasis on how employers are sup- globalization grew out of the Jewish posed to treat their employees. "If international businesses are mis- experience, he says. treating or taking advantage of their workers in Southeast Asia or Africa, then that is in conflict with the moral Experienced Journalist Rifkin, 60, was born in New York and ethical values of Judaism," he City. He calls his background "tradi- says. tionally Brooklyn Jewish," not very Jews themselves are a globalized observant — "we kept kosher for the people, he adds, having become one grandparents," he remembers — but after they were forced to leave their culturally Jewish. homeland and dispersed throughout He attended Hebrew school and the world. Out of necessity, they developed a system that became a SPIRITUALITY on page 78 SPIRITUAL PERSPEC S.