Author Ilana Blumberg to Open the 21St Annual Jewish Book Festival Tina Gargotta, Special to the WJN
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November 2008 Cheshvan/Kislev 5769 Volume XXXIII: Number 3 FREE Author Ilana Blumberg to open the 21st Annual Jewish Book Festival Tina Gargotta, special to the WJN lana Blumberg, author of Houses of to live well. This was the lesson of both the Ilana M. Blumberg is an assistant pro- Study: A Jewish Woman Among Books, Modern Orthodox Jewish world in which fessor of humanities, culture, and writing I will open the Jewish Community Ilana Blumberg was educated, with its com- at James Madison College, Michigan State Center of Washtenaw County’s 21st An- mitment to traditional Jewish practice and University. She is married to Ori Weisberg, nual Jewish Book Festival on Wednesday, ideas, and the modern secular world in a Ph.D. candidate in English Literature at November 5 at 7:30 p.m. A dessert reception which she lives. But when the paths of Jew- the University of Michigan. Their two for audience members will take place that ish tradition and secular wisdom inevitably children, Priya and Shai, attend the Early evening at 7 p.m.. The event is sponsored by diverge, applying this lesson can become ex- Childhood Center at the JCC. n the University of Michigan Jean and Samuel traordinarily tricky, especially for a woman. Frankel Center for Judaic Studies and Simply Blumberg’s memoir of negotiating these two The Jewish Book Festival runs from Novem- Scrumptious catering. worlds is the story of how a Jewish woman’s ber 5–17. To become a Book Festival Sponsor, Winner of the 2008 Sami Rohr Prize life was shaped by a passion for learning; it or for more information, contact the JCC at for Jewish Literature and runner up for is also a rare look into the life of Modern 971-0990. the 2007 National Jewish Book Award in Orthodoxy, the twentieth-century move- Ilana Blumberg Women's Studies, Blumberg’s book explores ment of Judaism that tries to reconcile mo- More Book Festival what happens when the traditional Jewish dernity with tradition. from a childhood immersed in Hebrew and ideal of learning asserts itself in a woman, Set in “houses of study,” from a Jewish classical Judaic texts, as well as American nov- coverage begins directed by that same tradition toward a life grammar school and high school to a Jeru- els and biographies, to a womanhood where on page 18 of modesty, early marriage, and motherhood. salem yeshiva for women to a secular Ameri- the two literatures suddenly represent mutu- To learn was to live, and to learn well was can uni versity, Blumberg traces her own path ally exclusive possibilities for life. Community invited Federation’s 2008 Main Event features NPR'S Mara Liasson to TBE Kristallnacht Where we go from here: the changing face of American politics commemoration Jeffrey Lazor, special to the WJN Marianne Aaron, special to the WJN n November 4 a new president of Mara Li- her current assignment, Liasson was NPR’s On the night of the November 9, and well the United States will be elected. asson is the White House correspondent for all eight into November 10, 1938, on the pretence of O American Politics will change. national po- years of the Clinton administration. She won retaliation for the killing of a German Em- What does this mean for the country? For litical cor- the White House Correspondents Associa- bassy staff person by a 17 year old Jewish the economy? For the Jewish community? respondent tion’s Merriman Smith Award for daily news Polish boy living in Paris, the German peo- For Israel? for NPR, coverage in 1994, 1995, and again in 1997. ple were incited to “rise in bloody vengeance These questions and more will be an- and a regu- The Jewish Federation Main Event once against the Jews.” While the German police swered as the Jewish Federation of Greater lar panelist again has the generous support of the Ford stood by, crowds of storm troopers, SS, and Ann Arbor welcomes National Public Radio on Special Motor Company. Michigan Public Radio is Hitler Youth beat and murdered Jews, broke political correspondent Mara Liasson to Report with the Media Partner for the event. into and wrecked Jewish homes and busi- speak at the Ypsilanti Marriott Eagle Crest Brit Hume “We are thrilled to be co-chairing the nesses, and brutalized women and children. Resort on December 11. and Fox Main Event!” said Brad and Robin Axelrod. Synagogues were especially targeted for van- The 2008 Main Event is chaired by Brad News Sun- “As a Jewish community we all have the excit- dalism and systematically burned, while local and Robin Axelrod and Jerry and Judie Lax. Mara Liasson day on the ing opportunity to join together, regardless fire departments stood by or simply prevent- This year’s Main Event bears incredible sig- Fox News of political opinions, religious observance, ed the fire from spreading to surrounding nificance as the political and economic cli- Channel. Her reports can be heard regularly or level of involvement. Please share a won- buildings. 267 synagogues were burned, with mate shifts in the wake of the presidential on NPR’s award-winning news magazines All derful evening with us by coming to what we 177 totally destroyed. election. “We are very happy to be involved Things Considered and Morning Edition. Lias- expect will be a fascinating conversation with In 1938, Marianne Aaron was a young with this event, which gives the entire Jewish son provides extensive coverage of politics and Mara Liasson.” n girl living in Mannheim, Germany, where community an opportunity to meet and to policy from Washington, DC—focusing on the her father was the head cantor at the Haupt- celebrate the Federation’s Annual Campaign, White House and Congress—and also reports synagogue. She will share her memories of which contributes significantly to meeting on political trends beyond the Beltway. To RSVP for the Main Event, visit http:// www.jewishannarbor.org/mainevent. Tick- Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass, at important local and international needs. We Each election year, Liasson provides key Temple Beth Emeth’s shabbat service on No- also look forward to the insights of Mara Li- coverage of the candidates and issues in both ets for the event are $36 for adults and $18 for high school or college students. For more vember 7, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Kol Halev, asson concerning the election and its likely presidential and congressional races. During the TBE adult choir, will sing special music impact on issues of vital importance to all of her tenure she has covered three presidential information, contact Jeff Lazor at jefflazor@ jewishannarbor.org or 677.0100. for the occasion. The community is invited us,” remarked Jerry and Judie Lax. elections, in 1992, 1996, and 2000. Prior to to attend the service. Washtenaw Jewish News NON-PROFIT ORG. In this issue… 2935 Birch Hollow Drive U.S. Postage PAID Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Ann Arbor, MI UMS presents Federation Maestro Permit No. 85 Jerusalem Overseas Arie Lipsky Symphony Allocations in Poland Orchestra Page 4 Page 6 Page 22 I Letter to the Editor 2935 Birch Hollow Drive Desmond Tutu poor choice for Wallenberg honor Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 This year’s recipient of the Wallenberg medal and lectureship, former South African Arch- voice: 734/971-1800 bishop Desmond Tutu, was an unfortunate choice. While Tutu has been chosen for his cou- fax: 734/971-1801 rageous opposition to the apartheid regime in his native South Africa and his efforts toward e-mail: [email protected] reconciliation after the collapse of apartheid, he is also well-known internationally for his www.washtenawjewishnews.org one-sided attacks on Israel. Of course there is nothing wrong with criticism of some Israeli PAULA policies or actions. In fact, vigorous criticism comes from Israelis themselves. However, for- Editor and Publisher CHRISTENSEN mer Archbishop Tutu goes well beyond criticizing specific Israeli actions and policies. By ac- Susan Kravitz Ayer Acclaim Photography cusing the State of Israel of practicing apartheid in the South African model and advocating divestment from Israeli companies and also from non-Israeli companies engaged in trade Copy Editor Seniors • Weddings • Bar & Bat Mitzvahs • David Erik Nelson Families • Business Portraits with Israel, he has, in fact, joined forces with the Palestinians in their war against Israel. www.paulachristensenphoto.com There could have been a Palestinian state in 1948 if the Palestinians had declared indepen- Calendar Editor 734-995-8880 dence at the end of the British mandate, just as the Israelis did. However, neither the Palestinian Claire Sandler leadership at the time nor any of the Arab states were interested in a state covering only a part of the British mandate. Their goal was to drive the Jews into the sea. Since the founding of the Advertising Manager Gordon White State of Israel, the area of the West Bank of the Jordan River has become the source of terrorist attacks against Israel, even before 1967, at a time when it was a part of Jordan. Design and Layout Israel has in the past made serious efforts to come to a compromise solution of the conflict Dennis Platte TAILOR with the Palestinians. Unfortunately, even the latest offer by Israel made at the end of the Clin- ton administration in December 2000 was rejected outright by the Palestinians, and instead of Staff Writers MADE SERVICE Judy Cohen, David Erik Nelson, a counter offer they answered with an all-out war. The South African whites never made any Sandor Slomovits reasonable offer to the blacks until forced to do so by a variety of circumstances, including With Me You’re Family depressed world commodity prices, wars across the country’s borders, the impact of the divest- Contributing Writers ment movement, etc.