10 March 28 • 2019
jn

The Anti-Defamation League and the 
Silent Observer, an anonymous tip line 
for crime in Kent County, announced 
this week they are putting up a com-
bined $7,000 in rewards for those 
coming forward to tell who has been 
vandalizing Temple Beth El in Battle 
Creek. 
Tipsters who offer information lead-
ing to the arrest of individuals who are 
later sent to trial on the charges can 
receive cash awards for up to $7,000, 
according to a release. The reward 
consists of $2,000 pledged by the Anti-
Defamation League and $5,000 from 
Silent Observer.
Carolyn Normandin, Anti-
Defamation League Michigan regional 
director, told the Battle Creek Enquirer 
that it is “very important” to catch the 
perpetrators. 
Normandin said the ADL money 
comes from an anonymous donor 
who provides rewards for information 
about similar acts across the United 
States.
In January someone painted “lier” 

below a symbol on a concrete menorah 
on the front of the building. That same 
menorah was damaged by a chisel and 
hammer six weeks earlier in November 
2018. No arrests have been made in 
either case.
The synagogue sits alongside other 
houses of worship on Capital Avenue 
in Battle Creek. But it was the only 
building targeted, said synagogue offi-
cials.
Temple board members told the 
Enquirer that they are making prepa-
rations to repair the damage and add 
extra security around the building.
Anyone with information on the 
vandals is asked to call Silent Observer 
at (269) 964-3888. People can also text 
tips to CRIMES (274637) with SOTIP 
in the message. ■

views

“Fine Lines” from page 5

Nothing makes me want to buy 
something more than knowing it’
s 
half price or it’
s not going to be 
available anymore in a week. 
Once circulation has returned to 
my fingers, I’
ll do what I have to 
do: put away the groceries, hide the 
cookies, etc., etc., and usually that’
s 
when I’
ll discover that those two 
ingredients I went to the store for? 
Yup, I forgot to buy them. 
The trick, I’
ve discovered, is to 
go to the shop with a few bucks, 
just enough to cover the two 
ingredients I need. (And to recite 
the two items in my head the entire 
way to the shop.) But even then, 
the sales are going to be winking at 
me. And it doesn’
t really feel like 
I’
m getting a good deal if I only 
come home with one box of a sale 
item. I need to come home with 25, 
at least. That’
s how they get people 
like me. I don’
t need it, don’
t want 
it, never even thought about it 
before; but, hey, if they’
re going to 
mark it 75 percent off, I’
ll buy out 

the stock and feel like I’
m getting 
a deal. 
That’
s why online shopping can 
be super handy. You type in what 
you want, it will pop up on your 
screen, come to your door. Unless 
you suffer from carpal tunnel 
syndrome from typing too much, 
your fingers are safer this way. 
But the cons include no nice little 
walks in the (finally!!!) sunshine, 
no socializing in the paper goods 
aisle with random folks you 
happen upon while shopping, no 
opportunity to make the cashier’
s 
day while telling jokes surely never 
heard before. (“Didn’
t scan? Oh, 
that must mean its free, right?! Ha, 
ha, ha.”) 
So, are we winning or losing out 
with online shopping? Hard to tell 
— there’
s yet another fine line.
Turns out there are fine lines 
practically everywhere. You can 
even see them between hyphenated 
words! ■

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

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Reward Offered 
for Battle Creek 
Synagogue Vandal

STACY GITTLEMAN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Temple Beth El in Battle Creek

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