4 | JUNE 2 • 2022
for openers
A Busy Body
A
goal for us all is to
remain as active as
possible. Doing so
has many positive physical
and mental ramifications.
If, however,
you find your
mind is willing,
in this instance,
but the flesh is
weak, you may
want to hone
your language
skills to include
as much of your body as you
can. Lend me your ear.
Do not keep your head in
the clouds; that is not practical
either literally or figuratively.
Doing so may find you in over
your head in situations.
To have a really good time,
you may be requested to let
your hair down. (These days,
I wish I could!) Caution: Try
not to get in someone’s hair.
Off the top of my head, that is
the best advice I could come
up with.
Being a sight for sore eyes
means you are bringing joy to
someone; good way to go. If
they let you in on a secret, be
sure to keep your lips sealed.
It is not usually a sound
idea to stick your neck out for
a cause or person. In return,
you may get the cold shoulder,
especially if money is
involved. Then you may have
to cry your heart out just to
get it off your chest. Finding
a shoulder to cry on may be
a difficult task if folks are not
sympathetic and that may eat
your heart out.
Someone really bothering
you? Ask him to get off your
back. Don’t get involved in
anything that will cost you
an arm and a leg. When
confronted, say your hands
are tied. Making a promise of
financial aid can sometimes
have you put your foot in your
mouth.
Always remember to play it
by ear.
Sy Manello
Editorial
Assistant
PURELY COMMENTARY
The Scourge of Hate
I am a 72-year-old Jewish
woman whose heart is broken
for Sofia Bat Sarah (“Detroit’s
Youngest Tichel-Maker,
” May
19, page 38). I am very sad
that that she was attacked by
antisemitic people and took her
site down. What is happening
to our country and world? It is
such a scary place.
Growing up in the ’50s
and ’60s, our family lived in
northwest Detroit. My schools
were very integrated. We
Blacks and Jews stuck together.
I still have many of my Black
and Jewish friends from my
early years. I grew up in the
shadow of the Holocaust, which
frightened me along with
the lynchings down South. I
personally experienced hateful
people when I was out of my
realm.
Sofia, who sounds like a
wonderful young woman, I
am so sorry that you had to
experience hate. All this hate
in our country and world is
horrifying. This is not how
I grew up. We are going
backwards, and it is terrifying.
The white supremacists march
at night like the nazis did and
look how that turned out. I
refuse to capitalize their names.
It’s an assault on humankind.
Some people will never learn,
and I say never again.
— Gaye Tischler
Via the web
Our Teachers
Deserve Respect
As you mention in your
introduction (“Educators of the
Year,
” May 19, page 22), teachers
are often not recognized for the
vital contribution they provide
to our students and, in turn, the
culture at large.
As a retired teacher in the
arts field, the return on my
efforts came in light of the
transformation of the middle
school student from day one
through graduation. This alone
was often a sufficient personal
reward.
It is apparent that there
are many educators in the
Jewish community that are
commended for their skills.
Thank you for reporting on
this usually invisible effort!
What a great resource! What
encouragement!
— Laura Gumina
Via the web
Bill Cohodas’ Legacy
As daughters of Willard
and Lois Cohodas, we were
particularly grateful to see your
recent article about our father,
Bill, in the William Davidson
Digital Archive column (“‘The
UP’s Jewish Soul’
,
” May 19, page
118). How proud my dad would
be to read of your appreciation
of his dedication and efforts!
Our mother, who is 104, was
deeply touched by this article.
We both agree that Dad
would have been thrilled
with the Governor’s Council
on Genocide and Holocaust
Education that was passed a
mere four months after his
death.
Thank you for continuing my
father’s sterling legacy.
— Lynn Cohodas Stahl
Nancy Cohodas Oberman
letters