Challah Baking Workshop A Great Success!

Our challah baking workshop back on December 13th was a great success by all accounts.

A delicious evening, to be sure!

Mitzvah Mall & Souper Bowl 2

From the pages of Kadima, the newsletter of Congregation Adas Emuno:


 

A Report from Annette DeMarco
Social Action Committee Chairperson




 


Hello to All!

We tried something new this past holiday season.  We held a Mitzvah Mall with two goals in mind: the first and foremost was to "bring to life" the concept of tikkun olam (healing the world), which our students learn about in our religious school and at home, by presenting special people in their lives with special gifts.  The other goal was to raise money for some charitable organizations.  Well, our students, their parents and other congregants opened up their hearts (once again!) so we raised $500 in donations!  Here are the subtotals: Center for Food Action—$109; Leket Israel—$66; Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center—$146; Jewish National Fund—$72; UN High Commissioner for Refugees—$107. But wait!  There's more!  Rabbi Schwartz offered to match all of the donations!  So our grand total was $1000 in donations to these wonderful organizations. So thank you very much to everyone who supported this event.  Thank you, too, to the following people who worked it: Jody, Pearl, Ron, Richard, Carol, Virginia and Lauren.  Lauren also designed the cards and then worked with  Instant Image Printing of Ridgefield for the final, beautiful results.  And thank you to Amy Chartoff, Virginia and Rabbi for the table materials.


It's Super Bowl LI (51) vs. AE Souper Bowl II. From the beginning of January, through Super Bowl Sunday, February 5, we will be collecting soup of every sort, including though not limited to cans, cartons, packaged and microwavable containers.  Please bring donations to the vestry room at the entrance to the sanctuary.  Last year we collected a little over 100 items… maybe this year we can beat our own score? 

  A happy and healthy new year to all! 

Annette – acheryl21 at gmail.com

Blood Drive on Sunday, Jan. 31st, 10 AM - 3 PM in the Social Hall. Walk-ins welcome. No appointment necessary. Coordinated by Emma Schuller

********************************************************************* 

Not Social Action, but “social”! Thanks to Debby Schwartz for the fun challah baking workshop on December 13!

Hello Hanukkah!

As we continue to say Hello! to Hanukkah, here's a parody of the hit Adele song, entitled Shalom (warning, this really does make fun of the original, while also continuing the latke theme of yesterday's post):





And here are the lyrics by Ari Blau:

Shalom, it’s me
I was wondering for Chanukah, would like to meet
To go over everything
The miracle of Chanukah and Judah Macabee
Shalom, can you hear me?
I’m in Synagogue dreaming about when you’d play with me
Light the menorah and eat
I remember you and I would made delicious latke treats
When you see Christmas amongst us
It is Chanukah time
Shalom from the other side
I must’ve spun a thousand times
To tell you I’m sorry for beating you at this game
But I promise to go easy when we play dreidel again
Shalom from the Kosher aisle
We used to shop, we used to smile
We’d get onions, eggs and potatoes with starch
Matzo meal, veggie oil, and applesauce on the top
We need more…we need more applesauce
Shalom, how are you?
It’s the festival of lights, we need to celebrate together
The Jews, beat King Antiochus
And they shooed the Greeks right out of town like nothing ever happened.
And the biggest miracle
Oil lasted 8 nights
Shalom from the other side (other side)
I must’ve spun a thousand times (thousand times)
To tell you I’m sorry for beating you at this game
But I promise to go easy when we play dreidel again
Shalom from the Kosher aisle (Kosher aisle)
Now we shop, And now we smile (now we smile)
We get onions, eggs and potatoes with starch
Matzo meal, veggie oil, and applesauce on the top
We need more
We need more, ooooohhh
We need more, ooooohhh
We need more applesauce, ooooohhh
We need more, I love this applesauce
We need more, We need moreeeee
Shalom from the other side
I must’ve spun a thousand times
To tell you I’m sorry for beating you at this game
But I promise to go easy when we play dreidel again
Shalom from the Kosher aisle
Now we shop, And now we smile
We get onions, eggs and potatoes with starch
Matzo meal, veggie oil, and apple sauce on the top
We need more…
Mmmm, latkes and applesauce
Happy Chanukah, everyone…
SHALOM!

And we echo that sentiment, Shalom you all on this happy season of Hanukkah, and Shalom to all, all over the world! And don't forget our outdoor candle lighting at 7:00 PM!

The Festival of Latkes!

What would Hanukkah be without its special culinary delights? By which, we mean... LATKES!!! And sure, there are all kinds of different recipes out there for making them, but how about this musical Latke Recipe? 





This new song by The Maccabeats sure is a great way to enhance our appetite for celebrating Hanukkah! And a reminder once again, that our outdoor menorah lighting will be held at 7:00 PM sharp tonight, and you are invited to join us for five minutes of blessings, songs, and stories.

Apples and Honey

On Rosh Hashanah, we dip apples in honey to symbolize our wish for a sweet year! And this music video parody is nothing if it's not sweet!






Happy New Year from Adas Emuno!

Let's Light Up Them Latkes!

There are lots of ways to make latkes, and maybe you have a family recipe that's been handed down to you, or maybe you found one in a cookbook, or on the back of a box, or cooked one up yourself. But just in case you are in need of some assistance in preparing this distinctive Hanukkah dish, or maybe if you just want to check out an alternative approach, or even if you just want to watch a cooking video for the fun of it, here's a two-parter courtesy of the Union for Reform Judaism:









So, what do you think? Can that Tina Wasserman cook, or can she cook? And if you're interested in learning more, she's the author of her very own cookbook:



There's also a kid-friendly, family-oriented version:





So, be'te-avon (or bon appetit), and Happy Hanukkah!

Looking Forward to Shavuot!

The Festival of Shavuot begins on the evening of Tuesday, June 3rd, and Congregation Adas Emuno will be joining together with Temple Emeth of Teaneck and Temple Sinai of Tenafly in a collaborative service hosted by Temple Sinai, at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, June 4th.

It is customary to celebrate Shavuot by eating dairy, so here are some tips on cooking up some blintzes:





And be sure to join us on Friday night, June 6th, as we celebrate Shavuot on Shabbat with this year's Confirmation class.

The Rabbi’s Top 10 Jewish Foods

As we mentioned in a previous post, The Rabbi’s Top Ten: The Best of Everything Jewish, Rabbi Schwartz has been recruited to write a weekly online column (aka blog) for the Times of Israel. Here now is his first top ten list, The Rabbi’s Top 10 Jewish Foods, originally published on their website on April 17th. You can click on the title to read it over there, or continue on to read it here:

Since food is especially on our minds during this week of Pesach, and matzah ranks #2 on my list, I thought this would be a good (and tasty) way to kick off my weekly list.

1. Challah—Synonymous with the Jewish Sabbath, and round ones with raisins for the New Year are extra-special.

2. Matzah—Eating this rather than regular bread dramatizes the Exodus experience.

3. Bagel—Now one of our culinary gifts to America and the world.

4. Latka—The true miracle of Hanukah when made well.

5. Humentashen—As much a part of Purim as the megillah.

6. Felafel—Israel’s culinary gift to the world.

7. Chicken Soup—Jewish home remedy and all-purpose starter.

8. Kugel—Durability and varieties make it an enduring staple.

9. Knish—Even sold in some stadiums, evokes Old Country legacy.

10. Gefilta fish—Nobody’s favorite, but remarkable generational staying power.

Feel free to leave a comment if you disagree, or agree, with this list, or if you otherwise have anything you would want to add, or subtract, from it, or would change the order in any way.

Hanukkah Obamakah

Some years we can't help but remark that Hanukkah is coming early, even though Hanukkah always begins at the same time each year, the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar.  This year, Hanukkah seems to be very much in sync with the secular calendar, but that didn't stop the White House from celebrating the holiday early, almost two weeks early, in fact.

Here now is a look at the Hanukkah party hosted by the President on December 8, 2011, featuring Barack Obama's greeting to all those assembled:

To prepare for this celebration, the White House kitchen, which is not normally kept kosher, had to be specially kosherized:

And what was on the menu, you well might ask.  Well Obama Foodorama, "The Blog Of Record About White House Food Initiatives, From Policy To Pie," reports the following:

A Kosher menu...with sushi rolls
The reception had a buffet of Jewish holiday specialties--as well as sushi rolls, which were also served last year. The kitchen was Koshered for the event, and the menu was prepared under the strict rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Lubavitch Center of Washington (Chabad), in cooperation with the Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington, according to the White House. The Meat was Glatt Kosher - Chassidishe Shechitah. All baked goods were Pas Yisroel; all wines were Mevushal. The foods were prepared Lemihadrin with a Mashgiach Temidi.

2011 Hanukkah Reception Menu

Roulade of Chicken Breast
Fresh Thyme Sauce
Arugula and Fresh Artichokes
Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Filet of Beef
Au Jus
Caramelized Pearl Onions
Shiitake Mushrooms

Pine Nut Herb Crusted Lamb Chops
Mango and Mission Fig Chutney

Homemade Potato with Scallion Pancakes
Apple Sauce

Dill and Vodka Scottish Smoked Salmon
Non-Pareil Capers
Chopped Egg Whites and Yolks
Parsley
Lemon Wedges

Assorted Fresh Sushi Rolls
California Roll
Spicy Tuna Roll
Vegetable Roll
Pickled Ginger
Wasabi

Winter Squash Salad

Assorted Rolls

Dessert Station
Homemade Soufganyot
Crème Anglaise
Raspberry Jelly
"An assortment of homemade desserts" 

 

This is taken from a post entitled, President Obama Hosts 2011 White House Hanukkah Reception - The Menu, The Guest List, so go check it out if you are so inclined (the blog also features numerous White House recipes).

The decision to hold an early Hanukkah party was met with some criticism from critics and opponents of the President--must everything be politicized and polarized these days?  Obama did issue a statement of Hanukkah greetings on December 20:

Michelle and I send our warmest wishes to all those celebrating Hanukkah around the world.

This Hanukkah season we remember the powerful story of a band of believers who rose up and freed their people, only to discover that the oil left in their desecrated temple -- which should have been enough for only one night -- ended up lasting for eight.

It's a timeless story of right over might and faith over doubt -- one that has given hope to Jewish people everywhere for over 2,000 years.

And tonight, as families and friends come together to light the menorah, it is a story that reminds us to count our blessings, to honor the sacrifices of our ancestors, and to believe that through faith and determination, we can work together to build a brighter, better world for generations to come.

From our family to the Jewish Community around the world, Chag Sameach.

And here's some charming amateur footage of the lighting of the National Menorah in Washington, DC on December 20, 2011:

The American celebration of Hanukkah is indeed a celebration of freedom, of how a small band of rebels defeated the forces of a mighty empire and secured the independence of a nation, and the right to practice their own religion free from persecution or interference.

And so, we at Congregation Adas Emuno, Wish You A

Happy Hanukkah, America!

The Festival of Latkes

Well, okay, Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, sure, but the candles we light symbolize and substitute for the oil that was burned in the Temple, which was a special type of sacred, purified and sanctified olive oil, the same olive oil we use to cook various foods, including potato pancakes, otherwise known as latkes.

And here's a little tidbit from the Wikipedia entry on Potato pancake:

The word leviva, the Hebrew name for latke, has its origins in the Book of Samuel's description of the story of Amnon and Tamar. Some interpreters have noted that the homonym levav means "heart," and the verbal form of l-v-v occurs in the Song of Songs as well.


Latkes need not necessarily be made from potatoes. Prior to the introduction of the potato to the Old World, latkes were, and in some places still are, made from a variety of other vegetables, cheeses, legumes, or starches, depending on the available local ingredients and foodways of the various places where Jews lived.

And  maybe you've got an old family recipe for making latkes, but maybe not, maybe you'd like some help, or are looking for new ideas, or just want to compare.  So here, courtesy of the Union for Reform Judaism, is a two-part video demonstration on how to make potato pancakes, by Tina Wasserman, author of the acclaimed Jewish cookbook Entree to Judaism:

And maybe you'd like some nice music to accompany you while you're cooking and/or eating your latkes, so here is a recording of the late Debbie Friendman performing her famous "Latke Song" live at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston in 2001:

And here are the lyrics for you to read:

CHORUS:
I am a latke, I'm a latke
And I am waiting for Chanukah to come
I am a latke, I'm a latke
And I am waiting for Chanukah to come


I am so mixed up that I cannot tell you,
I'm sitting in this blender turning brown.
I've made friends with the onions and the flour,
And the cook is scouting oil in the town.
I sit here wondering what will come of me,
I can't be eaten looking as I do.
I need someone to take me out and cook me,
Or I'll really end up in a royal stew.


CHORUS


Every holiday has foods so special,
I'd like to have that same attention too,
I do not want to spend life in this blender,
Wondering what I'm supposed to do.
Matza and choroset are for Pesach,
Chopped liver and challah for Shabbat
Blintzes on Shavuot are delicious,
And gefilte fish no holiday's without.


CHORUS


It's important that I have an understanding
Of what it is that I'm supposed to do,
You see, there are many who are homeless,
With no jobs, no clothes and very little food.
It's so important that we all remember,
That while we have most of the things we need,
We must remember those who have so little,
We must help them, we must be the ones to feed.


CHORUS

And if you're a regular viewer of the ABC network's program, Grey's Anatomy, you probably have heard the song, "Latke Clan," performed by The LeeVees.  Here's a live version, performed at 2007 convention of the Reform Jewish youth organization NFTY  (North American Federation of Temple Youth):

And now for the lyrics:

Hanukkah, I know it's gonna be all right
Everyone's together tonight
Feeling good, it's Hanukkah


Two candles lit
The holiday's just begun
We're in for lots of fun
The time has come, it's Chanukah


The sun is setting
Get home as fast as you can
We'll put the oil into the pan
So come and join our Latke Clan
Cause we are latke fans
It's true


Your uncle's here
Flew in from out of town
It's nice to have him around
Even though he's weird
It's Chanukah


Santa's cool
But Hanukkah Harry's the man
So come and join our latke clan
We'll save you a plate
It's Hanukkah


The sun is setting
Get home as fast as you can
We'll put the oil into the pan
So come and join our latke clan


Sun is setting, get home as fast as you can
We'll put the oil into the pan
So come and join our latke clan
Cause we are latke fans


Your weird uncle is doing the can-can
Hanukkah Harry, he's the man
Everyone's here, it's Hanukkah

And in the category of holiday season toys that never quite made it, here's one you no doubt have never heard of, Latke Larry (we're not sure if he's any relation to Hanukkah Harry):

How about a nice story instead?  Courtesy of JewishTVNetwork.com, we can enjoy this charming, animated tale from the old country, A Magical Latke Story, narrated by none other than famous television celebrity Bob Saget:

And what's that you say?  You want to hear a different "Latke Song" now?  Sure, here's one:

And, for our coda, here's a nice amateur video featuring holiday images, set to the studio version of Debbie Friedman's "Latke Song":

And with that, we hope you've liked our virtual latkes.  Now go and enjoy some real latkes of your own!  B'tayavon!

And don't forget to join us this evening, at 7 PM, for the Leonia Community Menorah Lighting outside of our shul, followed by our Shabbat service, and a Hanukkah party of an oneg!  With, you guessed it, lots and lots of latkes!

Rue the Rueben?

This video is a marvelous bit of fun, one that speaks to some issues that exist within the Jewish community.  

In one sense, it serves as a parable of the conflict between orthodox and reform, literal and liberal, fundamentalist and metaphorical approaches.  

In another sense, it reflects the conflict between east and west coasts Jewish communities, specifically between New York as an old world, elitist center where Jews remain relatively traditional and Jewish identity is very strong and overt, and Los Angeles as the new world where people feel free to leave their old identities behind, and disguise who they are.  Someone once said that in New York, everyone is Jewish, even the non-Jews, and in LA, no one is Jewish, not even the Jews (I suppose it was a New Yorker who said that, though).

But go ahead, take a look, it's worth your while:

Over on YouTube, the write-up for A Reuben By Any Other Name is as follows:

Noble Savage Productions and Sonny Boy Studios are thrilled to announce that we have completed our short comedy "A Reuben By Any Other Name." The film takes a humorous look at the differences between Orthodox and Reform Judaism played out in terms of the differences between the New York and Los Angeles versions of the Reuben sandwich. Brilliant performances are provided by an ensemble cast of familiar faces from film and television - Jasmine Anthony (Stephen King's 1408, Commander in Chief), Anita Barone (The War at Home, Daddio), Paul Ben-Victor (In Plain Sight, Entourage), Larry Cedar (The Crazies, Deadwood), Pamela Cedar, Alanna Ubach (Hung, Legally Blonde), and Matt Winston (John from Cincinnati, Little Miss Sunshine). Are you an Orthodox or Reform Reubenite? Watch the film and find out!

As Reform Jews, we are not obligated to keep kosher, although we are free to choose to do so, as strictly as we would like, or to pick and choose which of the kosher laws to observe and which to disregard.  For many of us, keeping kosher is not a religious obligation, but we may still have certain cultural and aesthetic tendencies towards not mixing meat and dairy, or not eating trafe.  

For me, as far as the Reuben is concerned, I'm pretty much with the little girl.   The delis I remember from when I was growing up, including the Pastrami King in Kew Gardens, Queens, which was often referred to in the columns of famous New York Daily News columnist Jimmy Breslin, were kosher, and something like the Reuben sandwich was never on the menu.  My first encounter with it was in Greek diners in New York City, although I later saw that some Manhattan delis served it as well.  But I really don't see how the Reuben could be a Jewish sandwich, no more than the Philly cheesesteak, or your basic, run-of-the-mill cheeseburger.  It's just not kosher!


If you have a similar encounter with the Reuben, or a different one, well, feel free to share in the comment section, we'd love to hear about it! 

And so, the lesson is, both sides are right, both sides are wrong, and no one knows where the truth lies, so why don't we all just get along?  And have a good laugh at ourselves in the process?

What To Do With All That Left Over Matzoh

There always seems to be quite a bit of matzoh left over at the end of Passover, and maybe not so much inclination to continue eating that "bread of affliction" after a week of being weighted down by the great unleavened.  And so, the question is posed, what to do with all that left over matzoh?


By way of an answer, here's an amusing and creative music video called, "20 Things To Do With Matzah" that might help you out:






Over on http://jewishrobot.com/work/matzahsong, it says the following:

Title: 20 Things To Do With Matzah (2008)
Client: Streit's MatzosMusic: "20 Things To Do With Matzah" written and composed by William Levin, lyrics by William Levin and Michelle Citrin, performed by Michelle Citrin and William Levin
Video: Directed by William Levin and Michelle Citrin, camerawork byJesse Epstein, edited by Simon Weaver, starring Michelle Citrin and William Levin, tee-shirts provided by PopJudaica

Passover music video sponsored by Streit's Matzos. The video was featured on Yahoo! Video in the Butterfinger Comedy Network and the Yahoo! front page where it received over 100,000 views in the first 48 hours.
The video has now received over 1 MILLION views on YouTube for Passover 2009.
Mentioned on the Time website, April 9, 2009: So You Think You Know Matzo?New York Times Arts Beat, March 3, 2010: Road to Broadway Is Paved With ‘Matzah’
View the website: MATZAHSONG.COM

And, if you have some more ideas of what to do with your matzoh, let us know!

Down the Hatch

Well, Hanukah may be over now, but the pleasant memories linger on.  And it is certainly not too late to share with you the latest about the Senior US Senator from the great state of Utah, Republican Orrin Hatch.  What does Hatch, a Mormon from Utah, have to do with our Bergen County Reform Jewish congregation, you may ask.  Well, nothing directly, but Time magazine reports that he recently wrote a song called, "Eight Days of Hannukah," which they described as "a snappy, earnest ballad about the Jewish holiday that went viral Dec. 9 after Tablet magazine posted a video for the track online."  And here it is, courtesy of Vimeo, a leading alternative to YouTube:

Eight Days of Hanukkah from Tablet Magazine on Vimeo.

The Time article goes on to relate

While the 75-year-old Mormon looks a bit uncomfortable and out-of-place throughout the two-minute "making of"-style video, the man is serious about his love for God's chosen people: check out the mezuzah necklace he flashes at 00:45. "Anything I can do for the Jewish people, I will do," Hatch told the New York Times. "I feel sorry I'm not Jewish sometimes."

Well, Senator, perhaps you remember the old advertising campaign for Levy's rye bread?  Here's a reminder:

Well, you don't have to be Jewish to love Hanukkah!  Happy Chanukah to you, and Happy Holidays!

Round Challahs for Rosh Hashanah

On Rosh Hashanah we use round a challah in our ceremonies and meals instead of the usual braided challah of Shabbat.  The round shape symbolizes the cycle of renewal that we celebrate with the new year.  


And here, courtesy of the Union for Reform Judaism, (of which, Congregation Adas Emuno is a member) is Tina Wasserman, author of the acclaimed Jewish cookbook Entree to Judaism, demonstrating two techniques for shaping a round challah:

Find more Rosh HaShanah ideas and resources at http://urj.org/holidays/highholidays/roshhashanah, and have a Shana Tovah!