4 | NOVEMBER 3 • 2022 

for openers
The Shape of Things
W

e are surrounded 
daily with 
many shapes. 
The square of a house; the 
roundness of the Earth. (I 
have recently 
been forced to 
face the fact 
that the Earth is 
actually round! 
Wow!)
Our awareness 
often translates 
into expressions 
in our conversations. 
Consider angles and arcs, 
for instance, as they are 
hidden in our vocabulary.
A beautiful bracelet, for 
example, a bangle, may have 
charms that make it jangle as 
it dangles from your wrist. 

(What did you have to do 
to wangle that from your 
spouse?)
Technologically advanced? 
Not I! I am greatly 
intimidated by newfangled 
things. At times I’d like to 
strangle inventors.
Have you known folks who 
mangle the language? Ugh! 
They need to wrangle some 
lessons.
Have you tried to 
disentangle a child’s hair? 
That is a challenge.
Many university buildings 
were built around a 
quadrangle to give a unity 
to the structures. That 
plan is often supported by 
archaeology. (Do you see 
that clever segue?!) Multiple 

shapes are abundant in 
architecture.
When tracing your family 
tree, you may encounter 
the prominence in the 
hierarchy of a matriarchy or 
patriarchy or even find that 
you a related to an archduke 
or even a monarch. Maybe 
you need to employ an 
archivist to aid you.
If you are into exploring, 
try visiting the arctic 
or some of the many 
archipelagoes on our 

globe. Perhaps you may 
wish to draw some of your 
observations; try charcoal.
There is a demarcation 
of proper behavior; be 
observant. Do not let social 
climbing become a narcotic. 
For inspiration, remember 
“The Star Spangled Banner;” 
no, I am not being sarcastic.
If your conversational 
ability is getting rusty, you 
need to shape up, line up 
topics and structure some 
interesting talk. 

Sy Manello 
Editorial 
Assistant

PURELY COMMENTARY

statement

JCRC/AJC Endorses 
Ballot Proposals 2 and 3
T

he JCRC/AJC board 
voted to endorse Ballot 
Proposals 2 and 3 in 
the Nov. 8 election.
Proposal 2 seeks to amend 
the state constitution to add 
provisions regarding elections.
Proposal 3 seeks to amend 
the state constitution to 
establish new individual right 
to reproductive freedom.
Board president Phil 
Neuman noted that JCRC/AJC 
was proud to support the 2018 
ballot proposals that expanded 

absentee voting and that this 
cycle’s Proposal 2 expands on 
that progress. 
“We believe that it is entirely 
consistent with Jewish values 
to make sure that everyone 
who is legally entitled to vote 
has the opportunity to do so, 
and that their vote is counted,” 
Neuman said.
Proposal 3 would reverse 
Michigan’s 1931 law that 
prohibits abortions while not 
providing any exception for 
rape or incest. 

“We believe the decision 
whether to terminate a 
pregnancy should best 
be made by a woman in 
consultation with her medical 
and spiritual advisers, and 
not by the government,” 
Neuman said. “Jewish law 
fully supports the concept that 
the life of the mother takes 
precedence over the fetus, and 
we believe that other religions 
that may view the matter 
differently should not foist 
their beliefs on us.”

JCRC/AJC continues to 
work with other Jewish and 
interfaith groups to ensure 
a woman’s right to choose 
remains intact in Michigan. 

JCRC/AJC’s mission is to represent the 

Metropolitan Detroit Jewish commu-

nity, Israel and Jews throughout the 

world to the general community, and 

to establish collaborative relationships 

with other ethnic, racial, civic and 

religious groups. JCRC/AJC educates 

and advocates on important issues, 

seeking consensus with a commitment 

to Jewish values. 

JCRC/AJC

