Up Front
Up Front
Usually, I\’m so used to the clutter that has accumulated inmy 1986 Honda Civic that I don\’t even notice it. Now and again,however, I squint and think to myself, \”Why am I seated in a mobilegarbage can?\”
An unusual Buddhist-Jewish dialogue took place inSeptember 1989, when the Tibetan Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama, metwith a group of six Jewish leaders. The Dalai Lama requested themeeting, not because of an academic interest but, rather, because ofa practical need. He wanted to learn the Jewish \”secret technique\”for survival. \”We always talk of Jewish people scattered in so manycountries, speaking so many languages, yet the Jews keep theirtraditions. It\’s something remarkable,\” he said.
Perli Pelzig first knew he had talent at the ageof 5, when he would chalk life-size figures of animals on thesidewalks in his native Germany. These figures attracted attentionfrom passers-by, and, not long after, Pelzig was named \”wunderkind\”for his dazzling artistic capabilities.
My friend Susie asked me to recommend a \”goodhaggadah\” for her seder. Tell me first about your guests, I said. Arethere many children? Grandparents? Republicans? Buddhists? Today,selecting a haggadah is a form of Rorschach test, a unique,personalized snapshot of you in the here and now, never to beduplicated again.
The good news about Passover in America circa 1998is that more Jews than ever are embracing the holiday. It has become,as Dr. Ron Wolfson tells us (in the Passover section), our mostpopular Jewish holiday. Even non-Jews seek an invitation to a sederat the home of Jewish friends.