S . ty , 11S LA ice Cream Parlour Serving The Community Since 1964 NO FAT, NO SUGAR, LOW CARBS NO REASON TO SAY NO! ER Hot Topic T hese new recent titles also explore anti-Semitism: 1 E WS5' .. ., and Frederick M. Schweitzer (Palgrave Macmillan; $35). The authors analyze and rebut the resilient and never-ending reli- gious, racial, economic and cultural canards used against the Jewish people and Judaism. Readable, clear and well organized, the book pro- vides useful and engaging depth in the understand- ing of anti-Semitism. (HarperSanFrancisco; $24.95) Out this summer is a completely Oevas l'ethsldep revised and updated edition of 1983's Why The Jews? The Reason for Antisemitism, by Dennis Prager and Rabbi . Joseph Telushkin (Touchstone; $14). "We wrote the book then because we believed that anti-Semitism was profoundly misunderstood, but not because of any particular danger to the Jews," the authors explain in a new introduction. Never Again: The Threat of the New Anti-Semitism, A generation later, Jew-hatred remains misunderstood, by Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti- but we have rewritten this book because Jews are indeed Defamation League, is due to be published in in danger." While Prager and Telushldn don't share November (sale date is Oct. 21). Chesler's brand of progressive politics, the two books The book will chronicle the current rise of anti- clearly show how Jews across the political spectrum can, Semitism in the United States and around the world, and must, come together on behalf of Jews and Israel. and Foxman will offer an examination of the steps that must be taken to prevent this century from wit- For a more historical approach, pick up the recently nessing a replay of the horrors of the last. released Antisernitism: Myth and Hate from -- Don Cohen Antiquity to the Present, by historians Marvin Perry •Stroh's Ice Cream •Colombo Yogurt •£ other goodies too! WOW COW! 3659 West Maple ALL NATURAL FROZEN DESSERT (southeast corner of Maple & Lahscr) El 248 647-7660 (Diaspora) mentality. American Jews want their children to embrace the joy of being Jewish, not the pain. Can we see ourselves as victims with- out weakening ourselves? PC: Jews in history have always been victims. Maybe our persecution is the boilerplate for all the subsequent per- secutions that are persecutions of the "other," whether it is racial, cultural or tribal, or ethnic. Not all victims remain victims. One can be persecuted and deal with it in most honorable ways. If you are a child, and you have been abused in child- hood and are, therefore, a victim, it does not neces- sarily mean when you grow up you will have to abuse children, or that everything you do has to be excused and seen in that single light and be forgiven for it. We have free choice. We can be victims without hiding it or without feel- ing ashamed of it, and we can also then become strong. JN: You are passionate about both the rights and wrongs of Israel. How do you reconcile the two? PC: I have very good credentials to defend Israel. I am on record as suing the State of Israel on behalf of the Women of the Wall, in terms of Jewish women's religious rights, and this latest decision handed down by the Supreme If we are going to live, we have to live in tatters, impoverished, in exile and begging. We are certainly not meant to live with advanced military aircraft. I'm very proud of this Jewish state even though I, too, can criticize it ad nauseum. Given all the wars against Israel and this latest horrible intifada — the Rosh Hashanah intifada I like to call it, not the Al Aqsa intifada — Israel has behaved with such restraint, such "I now find it necessary and sane to think tribally as well as internationally, to think as an American and as a Jew who is concerned not only with justice for all but also with the survival of America and of the Jewish people." — Phyllis Chesler JN: Today, considering all that Israel has achieved, and considering "the new anti-Semitism," does Israel make Jews more or less secure? PC: I think it does both. I think that Israel, because it is a Jewish state, is used against Jews who are not Zionist or who don't live in Israel. I think the fact that the Jews there defend themselves is the mote in the eye of the anti-Semite. civility — the army and the people. And in some sense, perhaps, have even passed a very crucial test because they haven't shut their society down, they haven't clamped down on civil liberties because of this incessant ter- rorism and warlike situation. They haven't become tyrannical; it is still a democracy. It should be the inspiration to every Muslim Arab state in the region. 111 LOW LACTOSE LOW CARBS chic Restaurant Oar 2 ecaitieh ? •• • Curry Fish • Apple Salad Crispy Duck • Ginger Fish Ow/i attat Court definitely has me questioning if there is justice in the freest, most dem- ocratic country in that region. I have put my time and resources and body on the line to try to improve [Israel]. But I don't live there, I'm not paying taxes, and I'm not a military expert. And I hope that others in my category don't pretend- that they are. I can't tell Israel or the military gov- ernor of the West Bank or Gaza what is going to be safe in their view. I just don't know enough. CHOLESTEROL FREE Birmingham's " O IL FAT FREE 9 CALORIES PER OUNCE ecitAu t, G.et attret 0/0 II OFF 1 coupon per couple. Nor good with any other offer. Expire_s 9130/03. .1 Open for Lunch Monday-Friday Open for Dinner Monday - Sunday 297 E. Maple • Downtown Birmingham (Between Old Woodward c Woodward) (240)-594 --siss look for at the Jewish News ...the first Friday of every month...it's a monthly lifestyle pull-out-and-save section focusing on fash- ion, home design, local personalities, the arts and more! 8/22 2003 65