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