August 22 • 2019 5
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views
O
ur house pets are more
than just family. They often
influence our daily conver-
sations. Case in point: the cat.
A deluge may be described as
raining cats and dogs (with a poo-
dle in the road).
If you are seek-
ing to describe a
nerve-wracking
situation, you may
say you feel like a
cat on a hot tin roof.
(Tennesse Williams
liked the saying
enough to title a
play.) You may also conjure the
image of a cat in a room of rocking
chairs.
We may observe that a very quiet
individual is that way because a cat
has his tongue. This may be pre-
ferred to an extremely talkative per-
son, who may let the cat out of the
bag if he’
s in on a secret.
One way to solve a tired condi-
tion is to take a cat nap. Waking
refreshed, you may
find in approaching
a problem that there is
more than one way to
skin a cat. Be original,
though, not a copycat.
Be bold, not a scaredy-
cat.
The epitome of some-
thing in the ’
20s was said
to be the cat’
s pajamas (or
cat’
s meow). A person feeling the
music in the ’
40s might have been
described as a hep-cat. The “with it”
person in the ’
50s was a cool cat.
If you act smug about an accom-
plishment, you may be said to look
like the cat that got the cream. If
your deed was a bit mischievous,
you look like the cat that swallowed
the canary. Appearing bedraggled,
you may look like what the cat
dragged in.
It seems contradictory to encour-
age questioning and investigation
and then to warn that curiosity
killed the cat.
Looking for a
vocation? Do not
consider being a cat
burglar; it’
s frowned
upon.
Feeling hemmed in, literally or
figuratively, you may observe that
there is no room to swing a cat. If
you take advantage of not being
under scrutiny, you may recall that
when the cat’
s away, the mice will
play (and anyone who turns you in
is a rat!).
I’
d like to find the purr-fect way
to end this, but I don’
t kitten to
anything that fits. Oh, well … ■
for openers
Feline Fun
letters
A Thank You
to the Community
On Aug. 9, the 2019 JCC Maccabi
Games and ArtsFest ended with a bang
… literally. Close to 2,000 athletes,
artists, coaches, delegation heads and
volunteers watched as the torch was
passed closing out an incredible week.
Fireworks illuminated the sky as teens
were sharing their final few moments
and saying goodbye to their newfound
friends.
It has been said over and over again,
this event is so much more than sports
and arts. It is a feeling that is indescrib-
able. You have to experience it. We are
thrilled that so many did. It truly takes
a village. We are so very proud of our
Detroit community for once again step-
ping up to volunteer and house. Thank
you!
Just a few short weeks before the
Game and ArtsFest, we sent out word
that we were significantly short on beds
for our visiting teens. Your response:
“Heneni” — Here I am. Not only did
we house every single athlete and artist,
but we had extra beds. You answered
our call.
Hundreds of volunteer shifts also
needed to be filled. Again, we asked
our community to help. Your response:
“Heneni” — Here I am. Volunteers in
their purple shirts were now peppered
across our venues, thrilled to be taking
part in such a powerful community
wide event. You answered our call.
We are thankful to everyone who
had a part in the success of the 2019
JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest.
There are now 1,400 athletes and art-
ists, who made Metro Detroit their
home for a week, still gushing from the
amazing Jewish experience that you
helped to create.
Metro Detroit has a rich, long-stand-
ing JCC Maccabi history. We have set
the record of hosting more than any
other community. We do so because,
no matter where you live (Grand Blanc
to Coldwater to Windsor), your Jewish
affiliation or your age, we band togeth-
er. Your hospitality, generosity and
willingness to step up is what makes
this community so special in helping to
enrich the lives of so many. We could
not have made this possible without
you answering our call. Heneni.
— Steve Fisher
— Karen Gordon
— Franci Silver
2019 JCC Maccabi Games
and ArtsFest Co-Chairs
What’
s in a Name?
In regards to all of the commentary
about the border crisis and the places
where families are being separated and
detained, I remain heartsick by these
events. However, I strongly disagree
about the acceptability of calling these
places concentration camps. Over these
past several weeks, I have given careful
thought regarding how to express what
is so disturbing to me about this mon-
iker (besides the obvious fact that my
dad was a Holocaust survivor).
I am fully aware of the dictionary
definition of the term “concentration
camp” but, my purpose in writing this
letter has little to do with a debate in
semantics. Although I personally dis-
Sy Manello
Editorial Assistant
continued on page 10