reassuring."
descriptive than
"It is a perfect
prescriptive, but he
illustration of immi-
devotes a short clos-
gration," says Barrett.
ing chapter to sugges-
"They are not coming
tions. They include
to be hostile to their
not letting foreign
society; they are corn-
conflicts destroy local
ing here to succeed,
relationships; con-
which is a time-hon-
demning anti-Muslim
ored tradition. It's
statements by evan-
impossible to read
gelical and conserva-
about them and say, `I
tive leaders, which
have nothing in com-
concern Muslims
mon with Muslims."
deeply; and urging
Author Paul Barrett: "In New
Nonetheless, he
American involvement
York, Muslims are typecast
says, "there is quite
in brokering peace
as
cab drivers; in Detroit,
a considerable if not
between Israel and her
as owners of grocery stores
universal consen-
neighbors.
and gas stations. The overall
sus" that sees "the
As Barrett puts it:
economic reality is very dif-
state of Israel as
"There is an under-
ferent."
unalloyed evil." And
current in Islam of
anti-Semitism is a
extremist thought; and
problem.
if it is allowed to fester in pockets here
"I heard tons of it, because I would
and there, it is dangerous.
raise the subject and because it is pres-
"How can we encourage the much
ent," notes Barrett. Dearborn Shiites
larger group to succeed in pulling that
told him the American invasion of Iraq smaller group into the main fold?" I I
was a Jewish plot to subjugate Shiites,
and "multiple times" he was asked how
Hear Paul Barrett discuss
thousands of Jews knew not to go to
and sign copies of his book 7
the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.
p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the
But, he says, he met others "who
Shaman Drum Bookshop, 311-315
would laugh at such ideas in the same
S. State St., in Ann Arbor. (734)
derisive way that you or I would."
662-7407.
Barrett's book is much more
Underwritten by a generous donation from the
Masco Corporation Foundation
The Jewish Ensemble Theatre presents the World Premiere of...
41t $k0411)
Overpaid?
Forbes magazine recently published a
list of the 20 highest-earning women
in showbiz. The only
Jew on the list was
Judy Sheindlin,
better known as
"Judge Judy." (The
list excluded enter-
tainers who mostly
make money on
Judge Judy
royalties, like Barbra
Sheindlin
Streisand.)
I agree with the original TV judge,
the Jewish Judge Joseph Wapner, who
said of Sheindlin, She is not portray-
ing a judge as I view a judge should act.
She's discourteous and she's abrasive."
In real life, if Sheindlin acted the way
she does on TV, she would probably
be thrown off the bench. The secret
is that the litigants on the show don't
care about Judge Judy's rudeness
— because if they lose, the judgment
against them is simply deducted from
the nice fee they get for appearing on
Judge Judy's show. Everybody goes
home with extra money in his or her
pocket.
When In Rome
Make a note, if you get HBO, to watch
the cable channel's Rome series, which
began its second and final season
a couple of weeks ago. If you don't
get HBO, rent the first-season DVD
and enjoy it knowing that the second
season (which will come out on DVD
in about eight months) has a strong
Jewish subplot.
Last season, we were introduced to
Timon, a Jew living in ancient Rome
who does "dirty work" for the mother
of Augustus (Octavian) Caesar. This
year, Timon's brother, who has become
a devout Jew, flees Israel for Rome and
challenges his brother's willingness to
do any criminal act for money.
His brother's words haunt Timon and
create a dramatic climax in an episode
airing Sunday, Feb. 4. Check your local
cable listings. I
Featuring: Evelyn Orbach & Loren Bass
341,41441e0
23-lettwoli 18, Z667
The poverty of the 1930's is no match for this matriarch when it comes to her family.
With only wit, wisdom, love and humor in her arsenalthis mama makes it all
happen, keeping her family on track; as it should be!
Tick*: 248.1861906
1208510
February 1 • 2007
35