May 16 • 2019 5
jn

M

oses and the people of Israel 
wandered the desert for 40 
years. Is it any wonder then 
that sand has come to play such an 
important part of our conversational 
lives?
Of course, a majority 
of references are to the 
actual grit itself, but 
there are many others 
we use to add colorful 
expressions to what we 
are trying to say.
Sandcasting is a 
procedure that involves 
pouring metal into a sand mold. We, 
in Michigan, are proudly aware of 
the famous sand dunes that mark our 
western shore. As part of the Water 
Wonderland, Michigan has many sand 
beaches for our summer enjoyment.
If you have been sailing, you know to 
be on the lookout for sandbars so you 
do not get beached. If you have chil-
dren, you know that hours of fun can 
be found playing in a sandbox, building 
sand castles. Older kids enjoy games 

played in a sand lot, which can be any 
vacant lot, not necessarily covered in 
sand.
If you are angered by someone, you 
may find yourself drawing a line in the 
sand. Your attitude may have arisen 
from someone trying to sandbag your 
attempts at something. (Trying to stop 
flood waters by sandbagging is alto-
gether different.)
It is not a good idea to avoid current 
events by burying your head in the 
sand. Then again, you may be tempted 
because you recognize the futility of 
some efforts: You feel like you are plow-
ing sand or bringing sand to the beach. 

(Exercises in futility.)
Want to renew the facade of a 
building? You may try sandblasting. 
The person who helps dig underwater 
tunnels is known as a sandhog. A less 
strenuous job may be to take up sand-
painting. In any instance, you will find 
that truly dirt-encrusted hands could 
be cleaned by using a sand soap (a grit-
ty one).
Before you tell me to pound sand 
because it is time for you to get a visit 
from the Sandman, let me leave you 
with a riddle. Why would you not 
starve on a desert island? Because you 
could eat the sand which is there. ■

for starters
A Gritty Life

views

Successful Walk for Israel
On May 5, [close to 1,000] enthusiasts 
gathered at Adat Shalom Synagogue to 
join this year’
s Walk For Israel. There 
were representatives from each major 
branch of Judaism and hundreds of 
members of the Christian faith. 
 American flags, Israeli flags, inspira-
tional posters, message-laden banners 
and affirmation-imprinted T-shirts 
colorfully dotted the assembly, while 
lending added meaning and further joy 
to that sunny afternoon. The friendly 
presence of the Farmington Hills Police 
Department dispelled any fear that out-
siders might interfere with the demon-
stration.
Thanks to numerous volunteers 
and donors, the participants enjoyed a 
complimentary kosher lunch and had 
access to information offered by Zionist 
organizations of every ilk and by other 
like-minded nonprofits.
The chairman of the annual event, 
Andre Douville, served as emcee. 
Renowned speaker Matti Friedman, an 
Israeli-Canadian journalist and veteran 
of the IDF, shared his well-considered 

thoughts with the audience. ater, Sen. 
Gary Peters , a habitual participant in 
the annual Walk, reiterated his unwav-
ering support of the Jewish State and his 
stanch hostility toward Israel’
s enemies. 
Adat Shalom Synagogue’
s clergy set 
the spiritual tone as Hazzan Daniel 
Gross led the crowd in the “Star-
Spangled Banner” and “Hatikvah.
” 
Rabbi Aaron Bergman chanted a prayer 
for our country and a prayer for Israel. 
The Walk itself filled Northwestern 
Highway with an ebullient throng of 
men, women and children. The 2-mile 
round-trip reflected the heart-felt dedi-
cation of the group to the principles that 
have made the Walk For Israel such a 
success these many years.

Stuart Logan

Bloomfield Township

Walk Blocked Traffi
 c
If there is a good way, a bad way and a 
very bad way of doing a Walk for Israel, 
the organizers usually choose a very bad 
way. 
The Walk again blocked traffic. 
Motorists who suffer delays blame Jews. 

The Walk thus increases anti-Semitism. 
If the organizers cannot do the Walk 
without blocking traffic, they should 
change the event to a Rally for Israel 
that doesn’
t block traffic. 

Leonard Schwartz 

Oak Park 
Memories of Dr. Stark
I read with great interest the article 
about Dr. Stark, “
An Unlikely Hero,
” 
May 2, page 22. He and I both gradu-
ated from Berkley High School class of 
1966. Dr. Stark did his MD at Harvard, 
but the only reason he wasn’
t accept-
ed there as an undergrad is that in 
his application, when asked about his 
family’
s army service, he wrote that his 
grandfather fought with the kaiser in 
WWI 
, obviously not a popular move at 
that time! 

Les Goldstein

West Bloomfield

Correction: In the story “Champion of 
Justice,
” page 20, May 9, 2019, 
it should 
have stated that Rozanne Sedler retired 
from Jewish Family Service in 2018, not 
2008.

letters

Sy Manello
Editorial Assistant

