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The Heat Of The Moment
W
hen you seek to get away, do you want to leave the winter
behind and seek hot climes? Are you on the lookout for
the "in" things to do or wear? Are you the kind to be very
much involved in any project? If so, then you are conscious of what's
hot and what's not.
Let's start with travel. Why is it that those of us who can't
stand the heat (and yet refuse to get out of the kitchen) are
always the ones who seek someplace warm, nay hot, for
rest and relaxation? We seem to equate heat with comfort;
hence, the admonition from doctors to "apply heat" and the
growing popularity (attested to by TV commercials — and
what better bellwether have we?) — of the heat wrap.
Other than a popular spot to visit, we are sure to be
attuned to what is the hot new look, a hot color that compli-
ments our skin tones or the latest hot new sales item on the
shelves.
Regarding bargains, there may be a caveat there: You do
not want to get involved in something described as "hot
off the truck" or what is identified as a "hot item:' for you
are opening yourself to acquiring possibly stolen items and
may find the police in hot pursuit. This may then lead you to plan an
escape by hot-wiring a car. Not a good plan.
If, however, you are feeling especially lucky, you might experience a
hot streak in your gambling. If this is done in hot-weather Las Vegas
with a hot actress on your arm, you may be on a roll — or at least a
hot cross bun.
If your gambling is limited to.the stock market, then you may find
yourself hot and bothered about a hot tip.
Involvement in any sort of interest may subject you to
pressure (when things heat up), may open you to being
defensive (as in a heated debate) or being uncomfortable
(when someone makes it hot for you). Your hot temper
may then result in hot words being exchanged and a new
spin on there being a "hot time in the old time tonight"
Do you like spicy foods? I do not like spicy foods. I espe-
cially do not like hot peppers and was hot under the collar
when I was "treated" to a bagel that had jalapeno in it. But
consider the popularity of such items as the hot tamale,
hot curries and highly spiced Chinese foods. Food that
makes one perspire or be in pain is not my cup of tea (hot
or iced).
.Well, the next time you find yourself humming "It's too
darn hot" or "She's causing a heat wave you may want to
heat up the wok and show what a hot-wire person you can be in the
kitchen. That would be cool.
Get Those Feet Moving
The Jewish Community Center of Washtenaw County is hosting an
Israeli dance party in the spirit of Israel@60 that will be for all ages.
A special beginners' session begins at 7:30 at the JCC. Open dancing
— including requests, the latest dances and mixers — goes from 8-10
p.m.
Teachers will be Ann Arbor's Tom Starks plus guest teachers Cheryl
Feit and Gordon Smith from West Bloomfield. Fee is $6 per person,
including refreshments. RSVP to a2rikud@gmail.com or call the JCC
front desk at (734) 971-0990. Bring a pair of sneakers or other flat,
comfortable shoes.
Melton Maven
Judy Loebl of Huntington Woods
received International Director
certification from Florence Melton
Adult Mini-School International
Director Dr. Jonathan Mirvis at a
luncheon in Bloomfield Hills on
Feb. 13.
The Melton school is based at
Hebrew University in Jerusalem,
and Loebl has served as director
of the Florence Melton Mini-
Judy Loebl with Jonathan
School of Metropolitan Detroit for
Mirvis
two years.
Detroit Melton is the largest
Mini-School in the world and graduated 142 students last year. Detroit
Melton is sponsored by Federation's Alliance for Jewish Education and
the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit.
- Keri Guten Cohen,
story development editor
Reverse Spring Break
Many college students look for a warm beach to spend their spring
break. Some over the last two years have spent their week off volun-
teering in Gulf Coast communities still suffering in the aftermath of
hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Wayne State University students this week added a twist to the
volunteer efforts, participating in an alternative spring break closer
to home. Students have spent the week listening to morning panels
and roundtable discussions on poverty, hunger, homelessness, blight,
education, arts and cultural awareness. In the afternoons, they have
volunteered at Detroit area sites that address these issues, including,
among others, Gleaners Community Food Bank, the Detroit Rescue
Mission, Woodbridge Community Youth Center, Grandmont Rosedale
Development Corp., the Detroit Police forensics lab and the Detroit
Institute of Arts.
Some of the Jewish panelists this week have included David Strauss,
WSU dean of students; Eric Adelman, incoming Michigan region
director of B'nai B'rith Youth Organization; Ed Steinberger, a housing
and mental health specialist at JVS; and Sharon Lapides, executive
director of Family Care Network.
- Alan Hitsky, associate editor
A10 March 13 • 2008
❑
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Homepage for an Israel story
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Teen2Teen Web Site
You've seen the printed sec-
tion each month in the JN;
now Teen2Teen goes online!
This week look for teen vol-
unteer opportunities, new
blog entries and an insider's
view of the Auto Show from
Seth Samuels. Though the
Web site is for Jewish teens
by Jewish teens, other gen-
erations can check it out, too.
Only at JNt2t.com .
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Correction
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Celebrations!
Find weekly listings of births,
b`nai mitzvah, engagements,
weddings and anniversaries
as well as past simchahs all
online. They are all bundled
under each week's date.
Just visit JNonline.us and
click on Lifecycles on the left.
Online Poll
Dr. Jasser
Dr. Parker
Dr. Raviv
In last week's Metro Digest (page A18) a photo was placed with the
wrong story. The photo of Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser should have appeared
with the "Understanding Islam" story. The "Adult Retreat Planned"
story about the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School conference May
2-4 should have shown photos of scholars Dr. Mitch Parker and Dr.
Zohar Raviv.
Last week's results:
Should Israel re-occupy Gaza?
Yes 75%
No 25%
This week's poll question:
Will you attend a Megillat
Esther reading for Purim?
Visit the JNonline.us
homepage, below the left
menu, to cast your vote.