MI ME' L r Sl agg

How Time Flies!

E

and then the desire to be "free" once
again sets in and the lament for sum-
mer fun begins.
We mature adults seem to be only
too mindful that summer seems so
fleeting, especially here in Michigan.
After what seems like six months of
winter, we are eager to have some
warm weather, see blooming things,
enjoy the sunshine. And then — two
months later we are back in the winter
mode. It's just not fair!
Are you aware of the timing prob-
lem with Jewish holidays? You always
can hear someone say, "Rosh
Hashanah is late this year" or
"Chanukah is early." We never hear of
our holidays being "on time."
And, of course, there are the accom-
panying complaints:

ow time flies
when you are
having fun!"
"Time on my
hands."
"Time and tide wait
for no man."
"Timing is every-
SY
thing."
MANELLO
I think it's interesting
to note that the passage
Editorial
of time seems to be in
Assistant
direct correlation to
one's age, the season, the circumstances
and sometimes just to perception.
To a youngster, the summer seems
like it will never end, nor does he
want it to. Oh, sure, new school
clothes are nice and the supplies are
great; but that's good for a day or two

"The new year is next week? But I
haven't started cooking!"
"Who can put up a sukkah so soon?
Won't this rain ever stop?"
"Time to shop for Chanukah
already?"
Here's a scenario that may seem
familiar. You have just returned to work
after a vacation (which, of course, was
the shortest week on record) and part
way through the return day you think,
"Won't this day ever end?"
A statement that will get a definite
reaction from kids would be, "It's time
to go." The groans and complaints
will abound when this is said in rela-
tion to: going to bed, brushing teeth,
going to the doctor, visiting Tante
Rivkeh (who pinches cheeks), getting
ready for school, etc.

The complaining will also be great,
but for different reasons, if one has
been visiting Cedar Point or some
similar venue; how can it be if, "We
just got here"? ("Just" in this instance
might be eight hours and a small for-
tune ago.)
Adults might have complaints if it is
time to: pay taxes, get up for work,
replace the car, paint the house, walk
the dog, etc.
For all the nostalgia buffs among my
readers (he knows who he is), let me
offer, "Hey, kids, what time is it?" If
you said "Howdy Doody time," you
may join the list.
Let me end with this riddle: Why
did the dummy throw his clock out
the window? Why to see time fly, of
course. ❑

Natalie Stern shows off the blankets
to be donated to cancer patients.

many people's lives. Making the beautifilL
warm blankets was very charitable
because I bought the fleece fabric with my
own money and spent many hours during
my summer vacation to create them. In
doing so, I think that I have made the
world a better place. I have brought cheer
to those facing a difficult time and let
them know that others care."
Her full essay and those of the other
three winners can be read at
vvvvw.areyvut.org/Action/essay.asp
Winners received Jewish-oriented gift
certificates as prizes.
— Keri Guten Cohen,
story development editor

Acts Of Kindness

Natalie Stern of Orchard Lake, who
was featured in a JN "Doer Profile"
(Oct. 22, p. 3), has won second
prize in a b'nai mitzvah essay contest
from Areyvut, an educational
resource organization that helps pro-
mote the values of chesed (acts of
kindness), tzedakah (charity) and
tikkun olam (repair of the world) in
Jewish day and supplemental schools
nationwide.
Stern wrote about her mitzvah proj-
ect for her bat mitzvah last August.
She made more than 20 fleece lap
blankets and donated them to the
University of Michigan

cha
Don't Know©

Comprehensive Cancer Center in Ann
Arbor. In her essay, she wrote:
"In my d'var Torah, I explained how
the haftorah [Shoftim] reminds us that
our belief in God should not waiver
even during the most devastating times.
It is our faith in God that gives us
strength, enabling us to go on. Then I
related my mitzvah project to these ideas
and explained how this is especially true
for those facing serious illness.
"The values of chesed, tzedakah and
tikkun olam were an important part of
my becoming a bat mitzvah. I displayed
acts of kindness when I decided to do a
project that would have an impact on

,E L73

2005

The recent controversy over kosher animal slaugh-
ter in the United States is creating a debate here
that has been raging in Europe for years. Can you
name the five European countries that currently
forbid kosher ritual slaughter of animals?

— Goldfein

Yiddish Limericks

Do You Remember?

It's true that with each passing year,
I find it increasingly clear ...
You're bound to attract
More allies, in fact,
Mit tsucker vee esik,* my dear!

January 1975

— Martha Jo Fleischmann

* with sugar than vinegar

Jewish students at Southern Illinois University in
Carbondale, who asked for a kosher kitchen at
the SIU Hillel Center for years, have built and
are operating a vegetarian kosher restaurant.
Funding came from Chicago and Southern
Illinois federations, which will also make possible
a student study-rap lounge, extra classrooms and
a special room for Jewish student publication.

•spuepatpaN a tp pre puepaalms

'InpWAS

1/20
2005

10

qEMION LIWASTIV

— Sy Manello, editorial assistant