views My Story for openers Room For More Meanings, Especially About Sukkot I Rochel Burstyn love how when you’re talking to someone, it can be so clear to you exactly what you mean; you’re both nodding away and then you come to a sudden crossroads mid-conversation and realize you both meant something entirely different. Like when a kid comments on how ancient someone is, “like, at least, thir- ty-FIVE!” and you’re cringing because, darlin’, anyone 35 is a spring chook (Aussie-speak for chicken) where you’re concerned … Sometimes it can work in your favor. Like the time I was having a bit of a moan about my weight, and my little one said, “But, Mommy, you’re very skinny.” She sounded so sure of herself, I had to ask her why she thought that. She started pointing at my face, neck, hands. “There’s skin, there’s skin, there’s skin … see, Mommy, I told you; you’re skinny!” A different time, my then 2-year-old was enjoying her ice cream and, after agreeing to share, started wailing. “Mommy! You said you were just going to have a small bite, but really you had a big one!” I told her, “Sorry about that. Here, let me try again. I’m sure I’ll get it right this time …” My favorite was when I told someone we’d gotten an Einstein mask for Purim. “Cool!” she said. “So, it’s all green, right?” Um … WHAT? “Oh no, wait,” she corrected herself. “I’m thinking of Frankenstein …” It’s not just with people; it’s road signs, too. When I first moved here, I’d logically assumed that “96” was a nick- name for “696” — until one day, there I was, happily driving home, congratu- lating myself on driving alone for the first time, when I came to a fork in the highway with two choices for what I’d always thought was the same highway. I was swerving all over, completely thrown, no idea what I should do. (I don’t remember what I chose, but I’m home now, so clearly the story ended just fine.) There’s really no more “say-what- now?” Jewish holiday than Sukkot. In Australia, a “sook” is a slang term for a “wimp” so just the name alone takes a little introduction Down Under … Then there’s the lulav and etrog. We’re not decorating with them or put- ting them in vases or even just holding them like “normal” people, oh no. We’re shaking them together — and, go on, ask any random person the last time they felt shaking. You’ll hear talk about earthquakes, being sick with fever, watching the washing machine, being frightened (“I was shaking like a leaf !”) — it’s never an experience anyone’s looking forward to repeating. But here we are, year after year, the unlikeliest people, with an unlikely combination, shaking the lulav and etrog in all directions, connecting us to each other and to God, just because it’s a mitzvah. Odd? Definitely, but beauti- ful, too! We’re also hanging out in the “great outdoors” (yet another term that means different things to different peo- ple. You might picture Mother Earth, communing with nature, singing in the breeze … quite different from battling over the tablecloth with a fierce wind and drying rain from your chair before each meal, not to mention the bees that are as excited about our Sukkot treats as we are …) Have a wonderful Sukkot — and I mean that in the best way possible! • editorial It’s Past Time For A New Special Envoy To Combat Anti-Semitism I t’s been 500 days and counting since the United States had a Special Envoy to Combat Anti- Semitism. It’s a shandah that the Trump administration has allowed this post to remain vacant for so long. Although the office is still listed on the State Department website, its final two remaining employees were reportedly reassigned in July 2017, according to the ADL. The post was created by the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004, passed with broad bipartisan sup- port and signed by President George W. Bush. The special envoy “develops and implements policies and projects to support efforts to combat anti- Semitism,” according to the State Department website. The position was most recently held by Ira Forman, former executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council. Appointed by President Barack Obama, Forman was let go the day President Donald Trump took office. And for nearly 19 months now, the important work of the person who holds this position has not been done. Since its creation, the envoy’s office has worked to remove anti-Semitic Jake Leider gives the credit for his business, Meditation Works, to his mother. “My mom had been into yoga and meditation for a long time, and she suggested I try it,” Jake said. “At that point, I was working hard all the time, stressed, and willing to try anything to feel better. I wasn’t very good at first, but I kept at it, and it helped. Then she said, ‘I wish I could bring [teacher] Justin Barnes to more people, he’s amazing.’ That sparked the whole concept of mobile meditation for the stressed worker. Who doesn’t like having services come to you? Meditation Works is like a food truck that comes to a workplace but offers a mental health break, 15 minutes at a time. It’s like any other work break, but healthier.” Jake and his mom partnered with Justin Barnes as the meditation teacher, and cousin Josh Leider, and launched their first meditation truck. The program was so popular, the truck’s schedule was soon very full. “We looked into another truck,” Josh said, “because people responded to our service, and looked forward to it. We wanted to do more.” Jake turned to Hebrew Free Loan’s Marvin I. Danto Small Business Loan Program after a chance discussion with another HFL borrower, who suggested it. “HFL is helping us make a living out of something we love, and making it accessible to others,” said Jake. “The loan is interest- free, the staff are supportive, and it feels like they want us to succeed. It’s such a great resource.” Click. Call. Give Now. www.hfldetroit.org 248.723.8184 content from Arabic-language text- books in the Middle East, partnered with the Catholic Church in Latin America to counter anti-Semitism, pressed for adoption of a work- ing definition of anti-Semitism in the European Union and fought Holocaust revisionism around the world. A bill, introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), would make the Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism an ambassador-level position appointed by the president and subject to confir- mation by the Senate. “Jewish communities here and Health. A fresh start. A good education. The next great business idea. 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. 6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 300 • Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 Hebrew Free Loan Detroit continued on page 10 jn @HFLDetroit September 20 • 2018 5