For Openers Never Too Late sit ing Tischler's parents, Pauline and ecoming a Harry of Farmington Hills, and bar or bat Castronova's parents, brother and mitzvah is sister and brother-in-law. always a "I was very grateful to be able milestone, no matter to have my parents there," how many miles one Tischler said. has traveled to achieve Temple Emanu-El has a Torah it. Gaye Tischler and dating back to the 1800s that was RONELLE Frank Castronova cele- found on the floor of a GRIER brated this rite of pas- Czechoslovakian synagogue after Special to the sage in a most unique the Holocaust. Tischler carried Jewish News way, as husband and this Torah through the aisles and wife, fulfilling together up onto the bimah, where she what each had read from it during the service. dreamed of individually for many It was very heavy, but I didn't years. even feel the weight because I was The Ferndale couple contacted so excited," she said. Rabbi Joseph Klein of Temple With this milestone behind Emanu-El in Oak Park, where they him, Castronova's goals include are members. Rabbi Klein was happy perfecting his chanting, leading to work with them on translating and some Shabbat services and even- understanding the prayers. Cantor tually teaching Hebrew school at Norman Rose taught them how to the Temple. chant their respective Torah portions. "They demonstrated their "The ceremony was Gaye's idea, knowledge and their leadership by but I wanted to do it," Castronova studying the text, working on the said. "Even though I had converted, I translations, writing their own Frank Castronova and Gaye Tischler at still felt it wasn't enough. And it was commentaries and taking responsi- their b'nai mitzvah at Temple Ernanu-El an honor to work with two such bility for leading the service," said in Oak Park. experienced clergymen. I was disap- Rabbi Klein. "By mastering both pointed when it was over. " the reading and the meaning of Castronova, who was raised as a the text, they now own these vers- Roman Catholic, converted to Judaism 4 1 /2 years ago. es. It was a pleasure working with them." "I hadn't been all that active in my church, and I was Tischler said, "It was an enormously challenging and questioning a lot of things," he said. "Going to shul emotional day, but really rewarding to accomplish this and celebrating the holidays with Gaye and her family at my age. I felt like a 13-year-old girl in spirit. made a lot of sense to me; it struck a chord. I knew that "We both felt like a couple of kids," she said. "It I wanted that to be my life, too." was just an amazing day. I'm glad we took the jour- More than 100 friends, family members and congre- ney. gants gathered to share the occasion on Aug. 30, includ- B " Don't Know 02003 A t the Passover seder, we twice dip different foods into one another — parsley into salt water and charoset into bitter herbs — and recite a bless- ing each time. We drink four cups of wine and recite a blessing each time. There is one other ritual we perform more than once at the seder, but we recite a blessing only one of the times. Which one? — Goldfein aipal Xluo lnq pLIODDS atia Suissaiq caDT. ma spuuti .ono LISEM OA& LI3M.SIlli notables "The tears that I shed as a 6-year-old girl have never stopped." — Charlotte Knobloch, president of the Jewish community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, at a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the Kristallnacht pogrom on Nov. 9-10, 1938; quoted by JTA. Yiddish Limericks I'm sure Arnold's worried as heck. His state is a virtual wreck! I tell you, I'm bettin' He's ibberg'betten* — Bag,rubben** right up to his neck. — Martha Jo Fleischmann Shabbat Candlelighting "It's a very special thing to light Shabbos candles. It means you are accepting the Shabbos upon you and you have a day of rest." — Sarah Levin, 13, student at Beth Jacob School for Girls, Oak Park Sponsored by Lubavitch Women's Organization. To submit a candlelighting message or to receive complimentary candlesticks and information on Shabbat candlelighting, call Miriam Amzalak of Oak Park at (248) 548-6771 or e- mail: mamzalak@juno.com * reconsidered ** buried Yiddish-isms pupik Navel 11/21 2003 10 Candlelighting Friday, Nov. 21, 4:48 p.m. Candlelighting Friday, Nov. 28, 4:44 p.m. Shabbat Ends Saturday, Nov. 22, 5:51 p.m. Shabbat Ends Saturday, Nov. 29, 5:48 p.m. Source: From The New Joys of Yiddish by Leo Calvin Rosten, edited by Lawrence Bush, copyright 2001, by the Rosten Family LLC. Used by per- mission of the Rosten Family LLC.