JANUARY 9 • 2020 | 5
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wo of my favorite
things are food and
words. To that end, I
should like to present exam-
ples of how we include edible
items into our
daily talk.
If you are in a
career, it is your
bread and butter.
When you get
a promotion,
milk it for all it’
s
worth. Pay raises
may ensue if your boss, the big
cheese, recognizes your value
and is brimming with the
milk of human kindness. You
both know you won’
t work for
peanuts.
Mess with a bully (someone
who would take candy from
a baby) and you are toast. If
you have insulted him, you
may have to eat humble pie.
Whatever you do, do not egg
him on.
If you are not a couch pota-
to, you may find a task per-
formed is easy as pie. You may
even observe that doing it was
“a piece of cake.
” Working with
ease is your cup of tea.
If you know someone who
is fond of only the basic food
items, you’
ll know you are
dealing with a “meat and
potatoes man” — er, I meant
person. Do not go bananas in
having to cook for him; just
remain as cool as a cucumber.
If a suggested plan seems
to be questionable, you may
think it sounds fishy. If you
invest poorly, you may find
that the scheme was a “fine
kettle of fish” and has left
you in a pickle. Well, do not
stew about it; realize you have
bought a lemon and you will
have little to show as the fruit
of your labors.
To argue successfully, make
sure you are not comparing
apple to oranges. To avoid
arguing, do not be one to spill
the beans if you have been told
of a secret enterprise.
Once you become aware
of your propensity for food
expressions, you are on the
gravy train as a conversation-
alist. B’
tay avon — good appe-
tite.
The Days are
Getting Longer
I don’
t like living in a world
where people don’
t have what
they need.
I do like living in a world
where people help others to get
what they need.
Over the last couple of
weeks, the community has
filled Jewish Family Service
up with its generosity. JFS’
role
is to spread this generosity
throughout the community to
the Chanukah and Christmas
celebrators who don’
t have
what they need.
This season, 850 people
received that generosity from
more than 500 generous
donors. Generous individuals.
Generous families. Generous
congregations. Generous
workplaces. All “adopting”
families.
Scooters and balls and
games and jackets, and so
many other familiar gift items.
Wrapped beautifully. Walking
around JFS’
Adopt-A-Family
“workshop,
” I noticed some
paper towels. Then some kitty
litter. Then some dishwashing
liquid. More paper towels. This
made me feel so sad and also
so happy.
Whether we know it or not,
acknowledge it or not, there
are lots of families, right here
in the Jewish community, not
so far from our homes, that
need paper towels and soap.
And they don’
t just need help
during these dark and cold
months. Families need help in
April and July, too.
Jewish Family Service, our
sister institutions and the
Jewish community provide this
light to help brighten others’
darkness. All of us, if we are
lucky enough to provide for
ourselves, need to continue to
bring this light to everyone.
As the days imperceptibly
get longer, let us all commit
to help our neighbors in the
most dignified and respectful
way we can. In December and
April and July and every day.
I don’
t like living in a world
where people don’
t have what
they need.
I do like living in a world
where people help others to get
what they need.
— Perry Ohren, CEO
Jewish Family Service
Sy Manello
Editorial Assistant
letters
for openers
I’ll Eat My Words
Peters Joins Anti-
Semitism Task Force
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI)
joined the U.S. Senate
Bipartisan
Task Force for
Combating Anti-
Semitism.
Last year, Sen.
James Lankford
(R-OK) and Sen.
Jacky Rosen
(D-NV) launched the task
force. The collaboration is
the first of its kind in the
U.S. Senate, serving as a
corollary to the House of
Representative’
s Bipartisan
Task Force for Combating
Anti-Semitism.
“With evidence showing
that anti-Semitism is on
the rise, we are taking a
stand against this disturbing
ideology and violent acts
of hatred,” said Senators
Rosen and Lankford. “We
are proud to be joined by
colleagues on both sides of
the aisle who are committed
to working together to pre-
vent anti-Semitism before
it starts, and to educate,
explain and empower our
communities to combat
anti-Semitism.”
Noah Arbit, founder
and chair of the Michigan
Democratic Jewish Caucus,
said, “The establishment
of the Senate’
s anti-Semi-
tism task force is incredibly
important, and I am thrilled
to see Sen. Peters continu-
ing his long-standing record
championing the issues and
concerns of Michigan Jews.”
The task force has 32
members, spilt evenly
between Democrats and
Republicans.
Se. Gary
Peters