Something Extra NOTEBOOK Fixated On Food here have been many arti- cles of late that stress the obesity of our citizenry, with a strong finger pointed at our youth. However, in all the analyses that have been made, no one seems to have given any thought (until now) to what I consider an insidious influence: nursery rhymes. Subliminally, we are turning the thoughts of our youth to the importance of food and eating and their impact on our actions as early as the playgroup. Consider that we stress the importance of having enough to eat when we encounter Mother Hubbard who did not T even have a bone to offer her poor dog. Of course, if you were rich, all you had to do was ask. King Cole sent for his "bowl," which, considering that he was a king would have been filled with all sorts of goodies. I doubt that it was plain old cooked cereal. If children didn't behave, they would be deprived of food. Remember the old woman who lived in a shoe? When the kids acted up, she gave them some broth, no bread, and then beat them and sent them to bed. Bread is staple in many rhymes, which is the foreshad- owing of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I'm positive. Peace Activist Visits Special guest, Diane Balser, chief executive officer of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, spoke last week at the weekly Birmingham Temple forum in Farmington Hills. Always supportive of the two-state solution, Balser said the real question is: "Can Israel live without a Palestinian state She said the Oslo Peace Accords was a posi- tive step for Israel because it showed that a majority wanted a two-state solution; it start- ed the disengagement plan; people around the world saw Israel reverse a bad decision and caused the United Nations to have a more Dianne Balser positive view of Israel. "I found it very interesting, and I agree partially with her argu- ments, but I also feel it was a stretch:' said Fred Stein of West Bloomfield. "I hope there will be a two-state solution, but I don't know if I'll live long enough to see it happen." — Harry Kirsbaum, staff writer WSU Honors Of course, being a dessert- aholic, I was always concentrat- ed on screaming for ice cream, Kookaburra's gumdrops, and Jack Horner's plum pie while I ran around the mulberry bush. The only image that comes to mind to deter eating was hav- ing a dish run away with a spoon -L.-. but that just encour- ages eating with one's hands, doesn't it? Let me end with a rhyme that sort of sums it all up: Mary had a little lamb, t little toast, a little jam, An ice cream soda topped with fizz And oh, how sick our Mary is! ❑ Zionist Credit Card Interested in helping Israeli charitable organiza- tions and helping yourself at the same time? You might be interested in the Heritage Affinity Services (HAS) Advantage Visa Platinum card. Founded by Menachem Landau and Zev Dobuler, it's the first affinity credit card that targets Israeli charities while promoting Israeli investment and tourism. Available Nov. 20, the card allows users to donate a percentage of each purchase to up to five Israel-relat- ed charitable organizations within the HAS network. HAS, together with U.S. Bank, will make the donation. The network includes hospitals, social service agencies, universities, humanitarian causes, emergency services and community development pro- grams in Israel. In addition, card holders earn one HAS reward point for every dollar they spend. HAS has part- nered with El Al Airlines, the Dan and Sheraton Hotels and car rental companies, Avis and Budget in Israel, to encourage card-members to redeem points for Israeli travel. In addition, points can be redeemed for domestic travel on any airline as well as brand-name merchandise, electronics, Judaica, gift certificates and more. The card has no annual fee. For more information, see www.hasadvantage.com . — Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor The late Mort Zieve, his wife Mary Lou, and the Workmen's Circle were among seven organizations and individuals honored as Community Peacemakers on Nov. 11 by the Wayne State University Center for Peace & Conflict Studies. Workmen's Circle was cited for its work on immigration policy reform. The Zieves were hon- ored for "bringing media and marketing expertise to social and community problems." Mort Zieve was chairman of Simons Michelson Zieve advertising agency in Troy when he died in August. He and Mary Lou were longtime support- ers of the 40-year-old Center for Peace & Conflict Mort Zieve Studies. Zieve earned a theater degree at Wayne and was a WSU Humanity in Arts Award winner. — Alan Hitsky, associate editor November 17 2005 spinach isn't a bad There is the rhyme that choice, have them think asks us to ponder what about having "four and it would be like if "all 20 blackbirds baked in the trees were bread a pie" (a "dainty" dish?) and cheese"; the one in or eating "curds and which a queen is eating whey," which only spi- "bread and honey;" the ders seem to be enam- same rhyme that has a ored of. "pocketful of rye" — Sy M anetlo Images of food definitely on its way to Edit orial preparation abound. a bakery somewhere, Assi stant Humpty Dumpty was no doubt. the precursor to the If you want to sug- scrambled egg; Polly put the gest limiting food intake, then kettle on for tea; and some ran do not consider Jack Spratt up and down market places who, with his wife, managed to lick the platter clean despite the with "green cheese and yellow laces." (Someone must have fact that one ate no fat and the been looking in the back of the other, no lean. fridge.) If you want to show kids that Name Dropping We want to share the ultimate in Jewish geography with you. The Jewish News is on the look- out for Detroiters with "famous" relatives. If you have a family member who is a well-known sports fig- ure, celebrity — or maybe even royalty, contact Shelli Liebman Dorfman by Monday, Nov. 21 at (248) 351-5141 or sdorfman@thejewishnews.com . SLEMET 'cha Don't Know Which former University of Michigan football player's entry into the Canadian Football League doubled that league's Jewish contin- gent this year? —Goldfein slneuoalv mum' out Joi sAejd s! u!alsd3 Jolueo geoN pue sowpis3 uoluowp3 out '130 out u! &Weld qs!mar aniloe onAl /quo jo puooas out sl i olenPa0 zooz e iinalsd3 uapiteH Aatautf .