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Page 4 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE December 19, 1986 Editorial The gift of life This is the season for giving, regardless of what holiday we celebrate. There is one gift, unique and personal, that each of us can give. It isn’t hard to find, and it doesn’t cost a cent. This gift is that upon which all human life depends...the gift of blood. People need blood donations every day, but the need usu ally becomes more acute during the holidays because fewer people take the time to donate. The American Red Cross (and please don't confuse it with the International Red Cross which refuses to admit Israel's Magen David), has issued an urgent call for blood donors. Most of us can take just a little time out of our busy schedules to give the gift of life. ‘Orphan illness’ Over and over this newspaper’s readers have responded to the kinds of special needs that fall through the cracks ol organized philanthropy or “disease of the month” drives. After a story in The Southern Israelite tw o weeks ago about Sammy Rosenberg, who has Tourette Syndrome, some of you quickly got in touch with his mother. Bunny, who is trying to help the newly formed Tourette Syndrome Association ol Georgia continue its work. There were caring notes and contributions. Tourette has been called an “orphan illness” because, since it affects a relatively small number of people and is not fatal, there is no federal funding, no big name telethons. There are just parents and friends maintaining support groups, primarily to help educate the public and professionals so that people with TS can be more easily identified and helped. Too often the symptoms of Tourette, which usually begins in childhood, are mistaken for behavioral abnormality rather than a neurological disorder. When the behavior manifests itself in school or at work, too often the result is punishment or job loss rather than understanding. For the families of Tourette sufferers, the Tourette Syndrome Association pro vides support and an opportunity to learn they are not alone in this difficult situation. The Georgia Chapter is not seeking massive funding. What they hope for, Bunny Rosenberg says, is enough money to maintain an office so the efforts of the association can be efficiently coordinated and there is a central identifiable place for those who either need help or information. Anyone who wants to help achieve this worthwhile goal can send a check to TSA of Georgia, c/o Mrs. Charles Rosen berg, 2679 Cravey Drive, N.E., Atlanta, 30345. For more information, or help for someone who may have TS, call her at 934-6584. The Southern Israelite The Voice of Arlonro s Jewish Community Since 1925 Vida Goldgar Jeff Rubin Editor General Manager Luna Levy Managing Editor Published by Sun Publications, Inc. also publishers of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle Stan Rose Steve Rose Chairman and President and Publisher Co Publisher Second Class Postage paid at Atlanta, Ga (ISSN 00388) (UPS 776060) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Southern Israelite, P.O Box 250287, Atlanta, Georgia 30325 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 250287, Atlanta, Georgia 30325 Location: 300 Atlanta Technology Center, Suite 365, 1575 Northside Dr., N.W., All., Ga. 30318 Phone (404) 355-6139 Advertising rates available upon request. Subscriptions: $23.00 a year. Member of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Religious News Service, American Jewish Press Assn , Georgia Press Assn , National Newspaper Assn The Southern Israelite A Prize-Winning Newspaper Better Newspaper Contests Vida Goldgar Decision on dilemma Every newspaper has its share of errors of omis sion or commission. In the high pressure world of advertising deadlines, editorial deadlines, produc tion deadlines and even headline deadlines, slip-ups now and then are unavoidable. That’s why papers have those little boxes that say “Correction” or“Ampli- fication and Clarification” or sometimes just “Oops!” But when we inadvertently allow something to appear which produces a major dilemma lor a segment of our readers to avoid compromising their deeply held religious beliefs, it calls lor more than a box on page 2. Let me explain. Our Hanuka gift guide last week, which has brought so much positive feed back, had all of us excited, too. That is, until it was called to our attention that an advertisement, placed in a spirit of good will to our community, contained, in Hebrew lettering, the name of God. According to Halakha, this means that the page should not be destroyed hut must be stored and ritually buried. 1 he advertisement in question, prepared by the client’s advertising agency, came to us “camera ready," meaning we only had to put the page number and date on. It slipped through without being noticed. We’ve been told that many members of Belli Jacob Synagogue have brought in the page from last week’s paper to be properly dealt with. Since Rabbi Emanuel Feldman has generally been under standing not only of the role of the press but of our particular role in representing the entire Jewish community, 1 telephoned him. He knows we would not willingly have created such a problem and said, “It was an innocent error,” but explained that because the letters were in Hebrew, there was no alternative for them. At that point, everything would have been fine- but here’s the rest of the story. Because the gift guide was to run not only last week but this week, as well, we had done something unprecedented for us. We had had all the copies for both weeks printed at the same time. So here we sat w'ith two choices. We could go ahead and distribute them just as they appeared the first time—and compound the dilemma. Or, we could have the entire guide reprinted after excising the Hebrew text. I he decision was never in doubt. Our new owners, the Roses, quickly said “reprint." Ar rangements were made with Rabbi Feldman to properly dispose of all the undistributed copies; the printer was called to schedule another press run (at no small expense). And now, a gift guide we’re quite proud of is again available for your shopping convenience. The art of compromise by Rabbi Barry R. Friedman I cm pic I manu-l 1 How should a person light Hanuka candles? According to one tradition, the candles should he lighted from the right to the left. According to another tradi tion, the candles should be ligh ted from the left to the right. However, in order to establish uniformity in Jewish customs and observances, the rabbis decreed that it was inappropriate lor one group of Jews to he lighting Hanuka candles in one direction and another group of Jews to be lighting Hanuka candles in the opposite direction. They there fore established the custom ol putting the first Hanuka candle on the right side ol the menorah with each subsequent candle added to the left. I he lighting ol the candles, however, begins with the lelt-most candle and nto\es toward the right side ol the menoraU B\ abiding b\ this compromise custom, neither side uispuie wins over the other side. Since neither side is a total winner, neither side is a total loser either. Both sides in the dis pute have achieved important goals: uniformity in lighting the candles and peace in the house hold of Israel. Throughout Jewish history, innovative solutions have been required to problems besetting the Jews. At the time of the dis pute concerning the Hanuka candles, the problem lacing the Jewish people was one ol tac- tionalsim and devisivencss. I he solution that was achieved was compromise between the two sides, since compromise would force both tactions to abandon their ntransigenee. AsdiHercnt prob lems arise, so different solutions are required. Our history has shown us to be a resourceful people, a people adaptable to change, a people whose inner tal ents have always applied them selves in creative ways to seeking resolutions of difficulties. In order for Judaism to remain the vibrant, living, affirming religion that it is, creativity and innovative thinking must be brought to our problem solving and decision making. In this way. Judaism will remain the faith it has always been: responsive to the needs of our people. May the Hanuka festival w hich we are celebrating this month be lor you and your family a holi day ol joy and gladness, ol peace and enlightenment. The Southern Israelite will be closed Thursday and Friday. .. CC l , a , nd to enable out employees to enjoy the long eckend Since the following week is also a short week, we ask a a copy lor the Jan. 2 issue be in our office by 4 p.m. ei nesday, Dec. 24. I he office will also be closed Jan. I, but will be open I rtdav. Jan. 2.