Wear, Oh, Wear!

DOER

PROFILE

C

GARY BI-RRIS

Age: 32
City: Waterford

How did you come up with the idea for "The
Rabbi Says ..." doll?
"I was roaming a Meijer store with so many
Christmas decorations. I thought, 'Wow, it'd be
cool to do something for Chanukah. You know,
make it fun.' And I thought, 'What better than a
rabbi doll.' I
thought, 'I'm
Jewish, and here's
a void in the
Jewish communi-
ty .

.

Is the doll just a
Chanukah item?
"Actually, the doll
is being purchased
year-round. .I get
many requests for
other Jewish holi-
days and special
occasions, like a
bar mitzvah or a
13ris."

Did you design it?
"I consulted Orthodox and Conservative rabbis
before sending the final sketches to China, where
more than 3,000 dolls were sewn, stuffed and
shipped back to Michigan."
What kind of reaction have the dolls gotten?
"I've sold more than 1,300 so far. And the rabbi
makes a cameo appearance in the production,
Mushuggah-Nuns. Sister Mary Amnesia pulls the
rabbi out of a hat. Friends and family told me the
doll was in the show, but I didn't believe them. I
contacted the theatre to verify it was mine.
Afterward I contacted the production company,
and we ironed out a deal for my doll to be offered
as a resale item at their events. Never in my wildest
dreams did I ever think that my doll would appear
on Broadway, but it is a dream come true."

"The Rabbi Says ..." doll is available at local Judaica
stores and online at www.therabbisays.com
— Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor

lothes make the man ...
er ... person.
. , Without getting into
the whole aspect of
what one's clothes say about him,
let us consider that pieces of
apparel and accessories do affect
our daily language. Consider some
of these colorful expressions that
SY
MANELLO have as a basis some aspect of
attire:
Editorial
• He's talking through his hat.
Assistant
This has come to refer to someone
who is going on and on about
something that he
knows little or nothing
about. None of us
knows anyone like
this, do we? (No one
reads a daily paper
either, I bet.)
• Button up your
overcoat. OK, so it's
not common conversa-
tion, but a song lyric.
So be picky. How
about Button your
lip? Good advice for
someone who can't be
civil or keep his opin-
ions or ideas to him-
self.
• Riding on some-
one's coattails. This means that someone is acting
as a noch shlepper (tagalong). There are those whose
only claim to fame is someone else; just look at-
our government and note those who have been
selected because of association.
• Buttonhole someone. Here I go losing some of
the younger set since they are not aware that a per-
son could be cornered and held onto, by hooking a
finger thought his buttonhole, usually on his lapel.
Today, there are few buttonholes; nay, few jackets
that are seen.

"

• He'd give the shirt off his back. This describes
the epitome of generosity. Be aware of where this
exchange" is made since many places will not
serve those who are shirtless.
• "(Sleep) knits up the raveled sleeve of care."
My attempt at a literary reference indicates that
sleep is a curative. That may not be the case but
the image is a powerful one.
• If you are in for some belt tightening, then
you are feeling the pinch of hard economic times.
Aren't we all!
• Hard shoes to fill. Imagine a child's delight in •
trying to wear a parent's shoes. Then apply this to
someone who is taking over for someone who was
an effective leader and imagine
that the delight is replaced by
consternation and, hence, the
saying. If, however, someone is
described as a shoo-in, you
know that he's a sure winner
for whatever the competition
might be.
• Maybe you have heard
someone say he plans to take
some cash and sock it away.
This is a throwback to the
times when people were highly
suspicious of banks and actu-
ally did secrete money in an
old sock and stash it for safe
keeping within the home. If
that is the case, then note the
following:
• He who steals my purse, steals trash. But he
causes me no end of problems in reporting that
my "trash" is gone: credit cards, ID, license, etc. I
am safe as long as he does not take my sock.
• If you are going to work hand in glove with
someone, then you are going to have a very close
relationship; and you'd better be amicable.
Well, I would be remiss by not ending with one
of my "jokes." Why is a dog warmer in the sum-
mer? Because he wears a coat AND pants.

((

❑

Shabbat Candlelighting

"The warmth of the candles brings warmth to my heart for the love of my family."

REPORT A DOER...
Know a Doer -- someone of any age doing inter-

esting, meaningful things in their life outside of
their job? We'd like to hear about them for possible
inclusion in this column. Call Ken Guten Cohen at
(248) 351-5144 or e-mail
kcohen@thejevvishnevvs.corn

—

Toba Rubenstein, mother, Oak Park

Candlelighting

Candlelighting

Friday, Jan. 2, 4:53 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 9, 4:59 p.m.

Shabbat Ends

Shabbat Ends

Saturday, Jan. 3, 5:59 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 10, 6:06 p.m.

Sponsored by Lubavitch Women's 0anization. To submit a candlehghting message or to receive complimentary candlesticks and information on Shabbat
candlelighting call Miriam fbnzalak of Oak Park at (248) 5484771 or e-mail• nuanzalak@juno.com