Consider, for example, the Torah's
Leach to T. Berry Brazelton, are firmly
admonition not to "cook a kid in its
opposed to using physical violence
mother's milk." Anyone with even a
against children. This is a lesson Rabbi
modicum of Jewish knowledge knows
Cohen, with all those years as a rabbi
this means a great deal more than sim-
and teacher, has yet to learn.
ply "don't eat baby goat meat that has
In a passage called "Corrective
been cooked in its mother's milk."
Measures," Rabbi Cohen asserts that,
In fact, that passage is the basis for
"In Judaism, hitting a minor child is
much of our laws about kashrut today
an acceptable form of discipline, pro-
viding it is done judiciously, not in the — detailed laws outlined by rabbis and
scholars who considered and debated
heat of anger, and providing it is not
and discussed at length before finally
done frequently."
advising what God wanted — a path
As his proof, he cites the famous
Rabbi Cohen would have done well to
Proverbs 13:24 verse, "Spare the rod
follow before writing this book.
and spoil the child."
Amazingly enough, Rabbi Cohen
then goes on to tell a method of disci-
The Purim Costume by Peninnah
pline he used with his own child: plac-
Schram, illustrations by Tammy L.
ing him in a cold shower when he mis-
Keiser. Published by the Union for
behaved. "It left a scar on his psyche,"
Reform Judaism. Copyright 2004.
Rabbi Cohen admits, but at the time
Hardcover. $13.95. 30 pages.
"the cold-water treatment accom-
The Union for Reform Judaism pub-
plished the purpose."
lishes
many of the best, most interest-
Meanwhile, earlier in the book
ing, useful and creative books out there
Rabbi Cohen advises parents to "teach
today. Unfortunately, this isn't one of
your children that if they hurt some-
them.
one in any way, physically or verbally,
The Purim Costume is the story of a
they should rectify their error immedi-
girl, Rebecca, who does not want to be
ately." (So does Judaism sanction
Queen Esther — yet again — for
parental hypocrisy?)
Purim. Then her mother tells Rebecca
As Rabbi Cohen certainly knows,
about Vashti, the queen who refused to
aspects of Judaism are open to inter-
dance naked for the king. As the moth-
pretation. This is why Sephardic Jews
er points out, "If it weren't for Vashti,
eat peas on Passover and Ashkenazim
there would
do not. It is why German Jews gen-
be no story
erally wait three hours after eating
TliercRim
— and no
meat before consuming milk, and
l'enimtait ;.zcitram
saving the
Polish Jews wait six. It explains why
Jewish
peo-
Lubavitch Jews prefer not to deco-
ple."
rate their sukkah, while most Jews
So, of
do.
course,
Rabbi Cohen could no doubt pro-
Rebecca
vide a rabbinic source who advocates
decides she
hitting children. But to state as
will dress as
irrefutable fact that Judaism itself
Vashti —
sees "hitting a minor child" as "an
not the
acceptable form of discipline" is both
naked one,
arrogant (plenty of leading rabbinic
but the
scholars would be there to argue the
Vashti
opposite) and offensive.
Tammy I.. keia,
"after being
Further, with as much Jewish edu-
thrown out
cation as he says he has, Rabbi
of the
Cohen should know better than to
palace,
after
years
of
wandering
and
take a statement like "Spare the rod"
being an outcast beggar."
(always a favorite used by right-wing
The rest of the book consists of a
religious fanatics to "prove" that the
Bible supports physical violence against retelling of the Purim story, and then
at the end, Rebecca wins first prize
children) to illustrate his point.
with her costume. We also read anoth-
How we live as Jews is not based
er few paragraphs about how, without
solely on the literal text of the Torah,
Vashti, there would have been no
which is why, despite "an eye for an
Purim story, a point already under-
eye," Jews don't run to poke out the
stood.
eye of someone who poked out ours.
There's nothing offensive here, just
Instead, "an eye for an eye" requires
nothing special. The art is so-so, the
intense study and interpretation, and
story so-so. If you're looking for a great
that's why we have the Talmud and
Purim book, this isn't it. ❑
vast numbers of rabbinic commentary.

From art and music appreciation to physical
and mental wellness, SAJE has something for everyone.

It's Not Too Late to Register!

Classes run through Mach 17

information crAbu=p ci complete brochure,

call

243.432.5577 or visit www.jccdet.org.

Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan DetroitA

ks

I

D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building • Eugene & Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
6600 W. Maple Rd. • West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Jimmy Prentis Morris Building • A. Alfred Taubman Jewish Community Campus
•
15110 W. Ten Mile Rd. • Oak Park, Ml 48237

k '$ iW
SAJE is endowed bu a generous gift from QS IligsellieC
Nit

Federation%

\

MEM Djap

THE CENTER

H

appy, Ecstatic, Can't say enough good
stuff...that's Sandy Weiss, who LOVES
Gittleman Construction and the work they do. Her
enthusiasm began 12 years ago when she and
husband Norm embarked upon a major remodel of
their home.
"The minute we met Scott (Gittleman), I felt
comfortable," recalled Sandy.

So comfortable that the couple left everything—
new floors to new walls to new rooms—up to
Gittleman and his team who in 10 months of
renovations, never once failed to deliver.

"He promised I'd get my bedroom back in four
months, and in four months, I got my bedroom
back," Sandy said. "He kept every promise."

That's why when the Weiss's recently needed a speedy response for a flooded basement, they
immediately called Gittleman. "He tries to do everything he can to accommodate you."
Basement now redone, Sandy doesn't think she'll need Gittleman again, but the grandmother of two
can't help but shower motherly praise on the amiable contractor. "He's absolutely wonderful."

Next time you need care and consideration besides a job done on time and within budget, you can
get it all from Gittleman.

JUST ASK NORM AND SANDY WEISS.

GITTLEMAN

CONSTRUCTION inc

28580 ORCHARD LAKE RD., SUITE 102
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334

248.538.5400

www.gittleman.net

CUSTOM

RENOVATIONS

S

2/24
2005

33