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Buddha Belly Maternity 6718-B Orchard Lake, West Bloomfield, MI 48322 For more information please call Jacqueleen Crittie at 800.786.7235 *Discount is valid only on December I , 2007 and cannot be combined with any other offers. 1329140 A38 November 22 • 2007 Whadda Ya Say? Ann Arbor I as it's not in English. I don't bring this up as a criticism, but to point out how confusing it is for many people —espe- cially non-Jews — who want to say the right thing but often don't know how. My Protestant parents have made huge strides recently by calling on Erev Rosh Hashanah and wishing my wife and daughters a happy New Year (although, sometimes they check with me first to make sure that saying "happy" is proper on this par- ticular holiday). After confirm- ing with me, my brother wished Bonnie an easy fast on Yom Kippur. It means a lot to her that they are all making an effort. I just wish I had a cheat sheet for them to reference. Going over the different greetings was helpful not only to my family, but also to me. As I am the Christian member of a Jewish interfaith family, I am often in Jewish surroundings. I want to sound like someone who's in the know. At least now I feel that I am better prepared for next year. II hope everyone had a nice High Holiday season. I was going to start off this column by saying, "Happy New Year," but I think that it's too late to do so. That's really my prob- lem — I have a hard time knowing exactly what greetings are appropriate during the Jewish holidays. Is it too early to say this? Is it too late to say that? Is it a happy holiday? Is it a som- ber holiday? After 21 years as a Christian in an interfaith relationship, I can't believe that I still stumble. Let me see if I can make some sense of it here. During Rosh Hashanah, I let the salu- tations fly. I was fully confident saying "Happy New Year" to people. I even let loose a "Shanah Tovah" here and there (the Hebrew for "Happy New Year"). It wasn't until Yom Kippur that I began having difficulty again. This Day of Atonement is a somber holiday and I've always thought that Jim Keen is a freelance writer and columnist the greeting should be somewhat som- for InterfaithFamily.com . He is the author of ber. Walking into temple for services Inside Intermarriage: A Christian Partner's Shabbat morning, my friend handing Perspective on Raising a Jewish Family out prayer books greeted me with a (URJ Press). "Shanah Tovah:" I stuttered the same phrase back to her. As we took our seats, I asked my wife, Bonnie, about it. "How can you wish someone a happy any- A Penny Saved thing on Yom Kippur? Is it appropriate?" Start counting pennies for the 13th "You can pretty much say "Shanah annual Tzedakah Experience for sixth- Tova" until the Book of Life is closed at graders and their families. The event is the end of the holiday — I think',' she planned for Sunday, Jan. 27, from 9:45 replied, tepidly confident. "Cant you?" to 11:45 a.m. at Congregation Shaarey she said turning to our friend, Staci, in Zedek, 27375 Bell Road in Southfield. the seat next to her. Staci eventually con- Sponsored by the Federation's curred after giving it a bit of thought. I Alliance for Jewish Education and then realized that I wasn't the only one Women's Department, LaSalle Bank, who didn't know for sure. Metro Detroit Board of Jewish Educators After services, we discussed the and Congregation Shaarey Zedek options in detail. Things you can say with Corporate Partner the DeRoy on both holidays: "Happy New Year," Testamentary Foundation, the children's "Shanah Tovah" and its full version, event puts fun into fundraising using "L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu" ("May coins collected in a Penny Harvest to you be inscribed for a good year). In teach valuable lessons in charitable giv- addition, my in-laws like to say, "Gut ing and community services. Students Yontif,' which is Yiddish for "Good (or will participate in a Choose Your Own Happy) Holiday' Adventure road rally and will shop for Yom Kippur-specific greetings volunteer projects in the Mitzvah Mall. include, "Have an easy fast."What if Highlights will include hands-on you don't know if they are fasting? You activities learning about community can simply say, "Have a meaningful agencies and allocating dollars to Jewish Yom Kippur." However, you cannot say, communal organizations. "Happy Yom Kippur!" For information, call Jennifer So there's the part I don't get — you Greenhill, (248) 203-1460, or e-mail can say "happy" on Yom Kippur, as long greenhill@jfmd.org.