This Week
For Openers
Chanukah Surprise!
n
arold Rothenberg is a trouble-
maker — not evil one, but the
funny kind. The kind who
loves to surprise people, espe-
cially at his store's Chanukah celebration.
"Hersh," as he is known, owns Hersh's,
a contemporary women's clothing store
on the Boardwalk in West Bloomfield.
SHARON
"Every year, his employee Chanukah
LUC KERMAN party is a secret till the last minute,"
Staff Writer
says Ellen Wolfe of Farmington Hills,
who has worked for Hersh part time for
10 years, even though she has another
job. "But this year, it was a real extravaganza," she says.
But it didn't start out that way. Hersh hired a limo to
pick up his six employees and take them to Dunkin'
Donuts.
The women included Arlene Weiss, Joan Shiffman,
and Dore Sallen, all of Farmington Hills; Jodi
Grodman of Commerce Township and Janie Weinfuss
of West Bloomfield. They ranged in age from 40-70.
Hersh is in his early 40s.
- "We all knew this was only the beginning,"
Wolfe said. But they had no idea what was
coming next. They were only told to
clear the day, wear comfortable
clQthes and meet at the store by 11
a.m.
Filled with sweets and coffee,
Hersh and his women were
loaded back into the limo
and driven to Scher
Delights in Southfield,
where you not only
eat chocolate, but
also make your
own choco
late fantasy.
The women donned aprons and began to create. What
they didn't eat off their fingers went into a box to take
home.
With their sugar levels rising, what better thing to do
next than take in a movie called Honey.
From there, to work up an appetite, the women
climbed back into the limo and went downtown to the
MGM Casino in Detroit. Each got $20 starter money
-
from their boss to gamble.
Back in the limo, Hersh and his crew squeezed in one
more experience before dinner — a visit to the new
downtown department store called Julian Scott. Then,
finally, it was time to eat, and they were driven to a new
Detroit restaurant, Atlas Global Bistro on Woodward,
not far from the Fox Theatre.
Once they were well wined and dined, Hersh's party
piled back into their car and motored down to Detroit's
State Theatre to hear Brian Setzer. For those unfamiliar
with the name, Wolfe told them, "He's loud, and he's a
rock singer." He also fronts a 17-piece Grammy Award-
winning big band.
After the concert, a tired but
happy crew piled into the
limo for the last time and
headed home. Along
the way, Hersh passed
out more gifts.
But this year, it
will be Hersh, him-
self, who will get
the last surprise.
His crew turned
the tables and
decided to surprise
their boss by telling
their story to the
Jewish News. I
T
he ancient Scroll of Esther
tells the joyous story of the
Jews being saved from the
evil Haman, and it is read in
the synagogue on Purim. There is anoth-
er ancient scroll that tells the story of a
different Jewish historical event with a
joyous ending. It, however, is not read in
the synagogue on the holiday commem-
orating it. Can you name it?
— Goldfein
-XEplloq age uo peal
you sr lnq ctiminurqD Jo LIO1S atp sllaa
careauo-uisEH alp jp,..4-tons ap umomf
oslo csntpopuy jo rips j:JaivisTry
Quotables
"We are too close to the Jews for anti-
Semitism to develop. Greeks are gen-
erally more in sympathy with the
Palestinians, but they like the Jews."
—George Vizos, Greek Orthodox
church leader; in response to efforts to
build stronger ties between the Jewish
and Greek communities in South
Africa; quoted by JTA
Yiddish Limericks
Last Chanukah, someone named Lynn
Was giving her dreidel` a spin.
She slipped on a knadle**
And fell on the dreidel,
And that's how she fractured her
shin.***
— Martha Jo Fleischmann
Shabbat Candlelighting
"When I light the Shabbos candles with my daughter, it brings back the wonderful
memories of lighting the candles with my mother and anticipating the beauty of
Shabbat."
— Celia Lubetsky, Jewish communal volunteer, West Bloomfield
Sponsored by Lubavitch Women's Organization. To submit a candlelighting message or to receive complimentary candlesticks and
irformation on Shabbat candlelighting, call Miriam Arnzalak of Oak Park at (248) 548 6771 or e-mail: mainzalakuno.com
-
AtArnw**-
12/26
2003
10
1
Candlelighting
Friday, Dec. 26, 4:47 p.m.
Shabbat Ends
Saturday, Dec. 27, 5:54 p.m.
Candlelighting
Friday, Jan. 2, 4:53 p.m.
Shabbat Ends
Saturday, Jan. 3, 5:59 p.m.
a four-sided top played with on
Chanukah
** a matzah ball
*** a Hebrew letter on dreidels (used
outside of Israel) and standing for
shahm, meaning "there."
Yiddish-isms
bulba
Literally, a potato; also an error, a faux
pas.
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.