A "hora" dance, Hadzawi-style
Back In Time
Suzi and Jon Colman
Special to the Jewish News
W bile on a safari in the east
African nation of Tanzania,
we went to a remote region
near Lake Eyasi where a nomadic tribe
called the Hadzawi manages to main-
tain their traditional lives as hunter-
gatherers.
We hired a guide named Hassan to
help us, and he took us on a long drive
that made the Yom Kippur fast feel like
a hiccup. Yes, it was that nauseating,
but it was worth it when we arrived
and were immediately welcomed by the
Hadzawi tribe. Fortunately, Hassan was
one of the few outsiders to understand
the Hadzawi language. After a short
greeting, they invited us on a hunt.
We were given bows and arrows
and five minutes to target practice.
By then we were regular Robin Hoods
and off we ran to hunt. Despite the
obvious difference in running styles,
we felt like we were truly part of the
group. We tried to keep up with them
and help spot their game, but in the
end we were helpless. By ourselves, we
would probably have lasted mere days
before making an untimely return to
the wrong end of the circle of life.
Suddenly, we spotted baboons and
ran to corner one of our primate cous-
ins. This was one smart baboon, and he
showed us why he was the most prized
kill of the Hadzawi. After being shot
with an arrow, he would pull it out and
run with it because he knew the arrow
could be reused to shoot him.
Despite his attempt to escape into
a palm tree, an arrow finally put him
down for the count. It had taken four
hard-fought hours to kill the baboon.
The chief threw it over his back, and
off we marched to start a fire. Without
matches, lighter fluid or even birch
bark, the skills we learned at Jewish
summer camp were of no use. Instead,
the Hadzawi rubbed two pieces of
.1111 CONTENTS
wood together, and within a minute
they had a fire.
They tossed the baboon on the fire
and used Hassan's knife to cut it up
in a not-so-kosher way. There was
no seasoning, no preparing and no
utensils. They each got an equal piece,
except the chief, who got the delicious
head. They offered us some, but not
wanting to take the food from their
mouths, we declined.
After, we went to a neighboring
village to get the Hadzawi men some
metal arrows for hunting as a gift.
They danced their version of the "hora"
to thank us. We looked around for a
klezmer band and chairs, but when we
couldn't find any we simply joined in
for the dance. In a land so far away and
with a people so different from our
own, we still felt a touch of home as we
danced their hora with them.
Suzi and Jon Colman live in Commerce
Township.
theJEWISHNEWS
Sept. 15-21, 2011 I 16-22 Elul 5771 I Vol. CXL, No. 6
Moshe Serour's father opened a
Papa Romano's franchise to establish
a family business and as a way to be
with people every day. Unfortunately,
when Roger Serour did not survive a
heart attack, his two sons were left
with the business that only Moshe
wanted to keep.
"I bought out my brother's share,
but it was difficult," Moshe said. "My
wife and I put in 80 hours a week to
meet our expenses, with 'tie left over."
The Serours were a business
success, but only on paper. "We had
a great balance sheet, but rent on
that space was twice as high as the
going rate around us, and the land-
lord refused to work with us," Moshe
said. "No bank would touch us, either
to move or to make improvements.
The rent affected our cash flow."
Just when the Serours were ready
to call it quits, they connected with
Hebrew Free Loan and Main Street
Bank, an hfl.bis partner. Armed with
new business financing and a
gleaming new space at Maple and
Cranbrook roads, the Serours left
their old storefront and began again.
"HFL believed in us. We're doing
so well now, and we wouldn't be
here without that support."
The Power of Recycling
Rosh Hashanah, First Night:
Wednesday, Sept. 28, 7:02 p.m.
Hebrew Free Loan gives interest-
free loans to members of our
community for a variety of
personal and small business
needs. HFL loans are funded
entirely through community
donations which continually
recycle to others, generating
many times the original value
to help maintain the lives of
local Jews.
Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah
calendar.
www.hfidetroit.org
248.723.8184
Shabbat / Holiday Lights
Around Town
Arts/Entertainment
Business
Calendar
Family Focus
Food
Health
Letters
Life Cycles
Marketplace
Metro
20
53
41
34
62
58
50
5
64
67
8
Obituaries
Points Of View
Sports
Staff Box/Phone List
Synagogue List
Teen2Teen extra
Torah Portion
74
38
46
6
44
48
43
Columnist
Danny Raskin
Shabbat: Friday, Sept. 16, 7:23 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, Sept. 17, 8:22 p.m.
Shabbat: Friday, Sept. 23, 7:10 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, Sept. 24, 8:09 p.m.
61
On The Cover:
HEB
FREE LOAN
hfldetroit.org
Page design, Deborah Schultz
Our JN Mission
The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that's useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. It strives to
reflect the full range of diverse viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continu-
ity. We desire to create and maintain a challenging, caring, enjoyable work environment that encourages creativity
and innovation. We acknowledge our role as a responsible, responsive member of the community. Being competi-
tive, we must always strive to be the most respected, outstanding Jewish community publication in the nation. Our
rewards are informed, educated readers, very satisfied advertisers, contented employees and profitable growth.
We Provide Loans.
We Promise Dignity.
F 7,Z' o ' ok "U 'd'
Nicmi
The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is
published every Thursday at 29200 Northwestern
Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical
postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and
additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes
to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern
Highway, #110, Southfield, MI 48034.
of Metropolitan Detroit
WE'RE PART OF THE TEAM
.
JN
.
.
September 15 • 2011
3