GIFT GUIDE

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tittabi, ceixte,

me. We want to ensure that we
have Jewish grandchildren,
though -- and I can't emphasize
this strongly enough — not yet.
And this is important to Jewish
spiritual leaders and educators
across the country and across
denominations who are seeking
sure-fire ways to forge strong
Jewish identities among our
youth.
Maybe the answer isn't Jewish
day school, a bar or bat mitzvah,
a summer at Camp Ramah, a
Birthright Israel trip or a sub-
scription to Heeb magazine.
Maybe the answer is as simple as
this: unmemorable Chanukah
presents.
Along with a memorable
Chanukah.
Growing up in Iowa, even with
only three other Jewish kids in
my grade, I never felt left out or
less than the other children. I
never felt the desire to sit on
Santa's lap in Petersen's
Department Store or have a big
frosted Christmas tree in our liv-
ing room. And it wasn't as if —
sorry, Mom — Chanukah was a
big blow-out in our family
"Go and make Christmas out
of Chanukah," my mom always
said, quoting her friend Alice
Weitzman.
But she did better: She made
Chanukah out of Chanukah.
A holiday of joy and warmth.
Of chanting the blessings and
lighting the "lion" chanukiah, of
eating freshly made latkes with
burnt edges, cooked by my moth-
er in the electric frying pan, of
playing dreidel with my siblings
and parents and betting with
gold-foil-wrapped Chanukah gelt.
And a holiday of driving across
the river to Rock Island, Ill., to
celebrate with my grandparents.
Of baking poppy seed cookies
using my grandmother's recipe
and the dreidel-, Jewish star- and
menorah-shaped cookie cutters.
A holiday that reflected the
anti-assimilationist ideals of the

Maccabees, that ancient band of
guerilla fighters who, unaware of
what an identity crisis was,
refused to submit to the Syrian
Greeks. Who were willing to sac-
rifice their lives to continue
studying Torah, observing
Shabbat and circumcising their
sons.
But the threat to Judaism at the
time, interestingly enough, was
internal as well as external. Many
Jews of the second century B.C.E.
were easily drawn into the domi-
nant Greek culture. Not unlike
today, where — according to the
National Jewish Population
Survey 2000-01 — 42 percent of
respondents who defined their
religion as Jewish described their
outlook as secular. And where we
have to work hard to remain
Jewish in a non-Jewish world.
Chanukah gives us that chal-
lenge and opportunity. Especially
since younger Jews already tend
to express their Jewish identifica-
tion through the celebration of
holidays, according to The
Sovereign Self Jewish Identity in
Post-Modern America by Steven
M. Cohen and Arnold M. Eisen.
And since, according to the popu-
lation survey 72 percent of all
Jews already profess to kindle
Chanukah lights.
And so this year, emulating my
mother, I will once again try to
make Chanukah out of
Chanukah. I will go through the
ordeal of buying, wrapping and,
perhaps, exchanging all those
Chanukah gifts, which dollars to
donuts — or, more appropriately,
gelt to sufganiot — my kids will
soon forget. And maybe that's
OK.
As Zack says, "Ten years from
now, will I remember all of the
presents I received? No. But will I
remember that magical feeling of
celebrating Chanukah?
Absolutely"
And, I hope, that magical feel-
ing of being Jewish.

Advance America
A.J. Wright
Aldi
Ashley Stewart
Brenda's Beans E Greens
Baskin Robbins
Book Beat
Bread Basket Deli
Budget Uniform
Dillman Chiropractic
Dollar Castle

Dots
Errol Sherman Footcare
Eyes Right Optical
Glory Jewelers
Jackie's Fashions
Kmart
LA Insurance
Lincoln Barber Shop
Lincoln Medical Center
& Skin Care
Magic Touch Beauty Salon

Metropolitan Dry Cleaners
Payless Shoe Source
Patzo's Pizza
Radio Shack
Rainbow Apparel
Rite Aid
Secretary of State
Strickley Kosher Meats
T Nails
White Castle/
Church's Chicken

Free Chanukah
Decoration
with Minimum Purchase of $10

Come in & sign up today to win a Chanukah menorah.
Raffle drawing to be held on Monday 12/06/04. No purchase necessary.

Chocolate Gelt, Bittersweet Tool • Chanukah Cookies • Dreidels
Dreidel Crayons • Lighted Dreidels • Decorations
Lighted Window Garlands • Chanukah & Jerusalem Glow Candles
Holiday Plates, Napkins & Tablecovers • Gift Bags

Visit Our New Unique Candles and Gifts Department

BARRY'S LET'S RENT IT

For Rentals AND Party Paper Goods
4301 Orchard Lake Rd. #170
Orchard Lake Rd. at Lone Pine • West Bloomfield

248.855.04E30

GIFT
GUIDE

11/26
2004

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