Happy Chanukah - The Jewish Georgian

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Page 34 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN November-December 2011 My beautiful tapestry BY By Jonathan Barach Balfoura Friend Levine L e t me tell you about my beautiful tapestry...at least as I visualize this magnificent work of art that no one can see or feel, not even I. When I was born in Shanghai, China, I was given a blank piece of canvas and two colored threads—one of my mother’s and the other of my father’s. My mother’s was probably a pale lilac silk, much like the color of her favorite flower, the pansy, and probably smelling like her best perfume, Miguet (Lily of the Valley), shpritzed on the handkerchief tucked into her bosom. Papa’s thread was probably of a coarse worsted wool, such as his suits were made from and which I used to say were so itchy when I sat on his lap. There were probably a few stitches there already, but faded soon after, of my grandparents who died in Russia when I COMPANY J DEBUTS. Company J kicks off its inaugural season with The Producers, December 8-18, directed by Producing Artistic Director Brian Kimmel. Tickets are $12-$28. Housed in the Morris & Rae Frank Theatre at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), this new company will feature theatrical offerings for audiences of all ages and provide a nurturing was a baby, and none of whom I met. Very soon, there were more and different threads, of other colors, entering my tapestry. My childhood friends: little timid stitches of our rabbi and rebbitzen neighbors’ two daughters, both overshadowed by their parents’ larger and stronger communal status; there was my friend Dora, her vibrant colored thread just moving like the tornado she was, and how steadily her stitches plowed their way over the decades throughout my tapestry; my other friend, Marge, with whom we played in the park as kiddies—her vibrant color, probably a bright red, such as the Spaniard she was, has danced in and out of the canvas for the past sixty-plus years as well. A bright velvet thread like that of my darling Anita’s sang its way into the brocade, only to be cut short, just like her life, in the midst of so many other bright hues. And those lovely threads of my parents, after almost half a century of my life’s tapestry—these, too, were cut short. Thought You’d Like To Know environment for theater artists to train and develop their creative potential. For details, visit www.atlantajcc.org/companyj. Single tickets and 2011-2012 season subscriptions are on sale now. Discounts are available for students, seniors, groups, and MJCCA members. To purchase tickets, call 678-812-4002, or visit www.atlantajcc.org. BIDDING FOR GOOD. The Amit Program’s online auction, Bidding for Life in the United States, in 1947, really added a host of new colors, those of new friends and classmates at the University of Georgia...and even now, most of these threads keep resurfacing in my tapestry, as I see alumni at the Ahavath Achim Synagogue, at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. In fact, I find more threads from fellow members of Hadassah, ORT, B’nai B’rith, City of Hope, and most recently, the newest batch of vibrant and interesting colors of my Russian immigrants. In the meantime, more lovely threads came into the tapestry...my husband Hans Mayer and our children, Sandy, Ronnie, and Laurie, all wove their enchanting threads into my now expanding tapestry. (And I now adore the bright colors of my grandchildren, Erica, Scott, and Tommy.) Of course, there are lots of new threads of my new friends and neighbors from Hawkinsville, Georgia, where we lived. Many years ago, Hans’ thread was cut short in the prime of his life, and later, when I married Bernie Dudman, his and his children’s colored threads enhanced the vivid patterns of the tapestry. Soon Bernie’s enchanting and bright strokes were cut short as well. And fifteen years ago, Nate Levine brought his light and bold colors into my artwork, when his and his family’s brightly colored threads entered my tapestry, too. Recently, his majestic stitches came to an abrupt halt and disappeared Good, is November 30-December 11. For details, visit amitatlanta.org, or contact Karen Paz at 404-961-9963 or kpaz@amitatlanta.org. CAFE EUROPA. Café Europa is a monthly social gathering for Holocaust survivors, organized by Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS) and funded by The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. The next Café Europa is December 5, 11:00 a.m., at Congregation Beth Jacob. This is the group’s 3rd annual Chanukah celebration; it will also include members of the JF&CS Café Vstrecha group, for Russian survivors. The 4th-grade choir at The Epstein School will perform. For more information about Café Europa or JF&CS Holocaust Survivor Services, contact Amy E. Neuman at 770-677- 9382 or aneuman@jfcs-atlanta.org. HANUKAH BAZAAR. Or VeShalom’s 36th Annual Hanukah Bazaar is December 11, 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. The day features Mediterranean cuisine, including hand-made delicacies and pastries packaged to go; handcrafted jewelry, pottery, art, gifts, and Judaica; face painting and an outdoor moonwalk; gently used books; and, new this year, a from my brocade as well. Every two years, we hold an Old China Hands reunion—those of us born and raised in China. Over a thousand people come from all over the world, all joyously hugging, kissing, and reminiscing about old times, of our Camelot that is no more. Well, my tapestry really comes alive then...all the tiny stitches that entered my canvas when I was a child in Shanghai, and most of which have been unseen for almost half a century, suddenly come to life in a burst of color, in bright patterns, exquisite lights and marvelous textures, then fade back into the tapestry. In another two years, all the stitches will dance their way across the canvas again. I am in the last quarter of my work of art, and the canvas is full of stitches of every kind, inching their way across my magnificent brocade. Sometimes I lose a thread or two, but I pray to the Almighty to keep filling my tapestry with threads of family and friends to the end of my days. If I happen to be in your tapestry, I hope I have a steady, bright little thread, just weaving in and out of your individual and very beautiful work of art. Why don’t you sit back some time and imagine your very own tapestry of life. Think of all the brilliant threads that represent all the very special people in your life. You will be truly amazed. God bless America. silent auction. Come for lunch and stay for dinner featuring kosher Sephardic cuisine. Congregation Or VeShalom is located at 1681 North Druid Hills Road. Free overflow parking is available across the street at Cross Keys High School. Admission is $2.50 for adults and children. For more information, call 404- 633-1737. VODKA & LATKES. Vodka & Latkes, the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s (MJCCA) Young Adult Chanukah Party, is December 15, 7:00- 11:00 p.m., at Shout. Admission is $10/members, $15/non-members. For more information, contact Zoe Fox at zoe.fox@atlantajcc.org or 678-812-3982. STEAK NIGHT. Join the men of Congregation Ariel for a fun filled evening of scotch, cigars, and steak, on December 18. Drinks will be served at 6:00 p.m., followed by a steak dinner. All proceeds benefit Ariel Youth Programming. Admission is $65 per person. Sponsorships are available and volunteers are needed. Contact the shul office at 770-390-9071 or shuloffice@congariel.org. HAVINAGALA. Havinagala, the annual fundraiser for JF&CS’ PAL Program, is January 28, 8:00-midnight, at the Defoor Center. Buy tickets now and save; the November Ticket Special is $40 and includes an open bar. For details, visit Havinagala.org.
November-December 2011 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN — KASHER LIVING Page 35 lent addition to a cookbook library. Brisket will improve your life.” Give yourself or someone this book and a kosher brisket! Kosher Affairs Kosher Affairs By Roberta Scher BY Roberta Scher In the spirit of the approaching holiday of Chanukah, I would like to shine some light on several subjects. It’s the season for frying, so let’s talk oil and margarine. Several readers have contacted me with their concern that Fleischmann’s parve margarine is difficult to find in the Atlanta area. My reply: Although Fleischmann’s is a classic and a longtime favorite of kosher cooks, I have switched brands and now use Earth Balance. The reason? Earth Balance is a versatile, parve, healthful “natural spread.” I use it for all of my dairy-free baking, cooking, sautéing, and spreading. These margarines, officially labeled “spreads,” are based on a blend of expellerpressed oils developed and patented by researchers at Brandeis University. They are 100% natural, rich in Omega 3s, and are free of GMOs, trans fats, hydrogenated oils, and artificial ingredients. Each is made with one or more oils, including palm fruit, soy, canola, and olive. I use two different types of Earth Balance spreads. For spreading, I like the original, which is in a round gold tub. For baking and frying, I use the Natural Shortening sticks, which come in a green package. Earth Balance is available at Whole Foods and Return to Eden, and I have spotted it at Kroger and Publix as well. For more information, visit Earthbalance.com. And now, to oil. Except for those times when I deep-fry such foods as chicken, fish, French fries, and yes, potato latkes in vegetable or canola oil, I use extra-virgin olive oil for almost everything. But be aware that all “EVOO” is not the same. I try to buy single-source olive oil, such as Italian or Spanish oil, instead of blends from various countries. Read the source labels, and keep in mind that most rabbis agree that plain cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil is kosher, even without certification. Both Costco and Sam’s Club offer single-source, value-priced store brands. GADGETS FOR GIFTING OR KEEPING For my website Koshereye.com and for this column, I have had the pleasure of interviewing chefs and cookbook authors, both kosher-focused and not. I always ask them which kitchen gadgets are their “go-to” favorites. Here are a few of their recent suggestions, along with mine: • Microplane grater: This is high on many lists. This little gadget moved from the tool shed to the kitchen and is now available in several grating sizes. It can be used to grate many foods, including cheese, fruits, vegetables, and chocolate. If you gift it, be sure to include some chocolate! • Trigger scoops: I have these in several sizes. While perfect for scooping ice cream, they are just as useful for easy release of cookie dough, meatballs, and, yes, latke batter. • Food processor: Kitchen royalty. Almost every chef puts this accessory at the top of the list, and Cuisinart is the brand of choice. If you would like to add to your food processor “repertoire,” I recommend purchasing The New Food Processor Bible by cooking instructor/lecturer Norene Gilletz. She presents 600 kosher recipes that use a food processor. I refer to this book all the time and highly recommend it. • The Spider: I first saw this on a Martha Stewart show; this is the best strainer for soup, pasta, and more. I have both a small and a large size. • Bodum travel press coffee maker: I recently received this as a gift. It’s a coffee press and a travel mug all in one. I use mine all the time. • Sodastream: A new model of this home seltzer maker was recently introduced; the soda bottles are now dishwasher-safe. Carbonator refills are available at Bed, Bath & Beyond. (Remember to use your coupon!) FAVORITE NEW COOKBOOKS I recently “read” (yes, as I’ve mentioned previously, I read them as if they were novels) three new cookbooks, which I can recommend: • Plenty (Chronicle Books) is a gorgeous volume of 120 recipes by Israeli-born London restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi. For vegetarians or those wanting to eat more vegetables, this book is a must. Some of the recipes are simple, familiar, and easy for everyday preparation. Some include a long list of ingredients, including some unfamiliar to me. (I will be heading to the Farmer’s Market to investigate.) I think that this book is an exemplar of its type—including the fabulous photos—and that it would be an excel- • Kosher Revolution (Kyle Books) shares “new techniques and great recipes for unlimited kosher cooking.” This book, by Geila Hocherman and Arthur Boehm, is based on the principle that all recipes can be translated to kosher through the innovative use of ingredients. “Kosher is a set of rules, not a cuisine.” The authors dip into their creative culinary toolbox to share international recipes converted to kosher. In addition to the collection of contemporary and classic recipes, I like the ingredient exchange guide and cooking technique tips found throughout. • The Brisket Book: A Love Story with Recipes by Stephanie Pierson (Andrews McMeel) had me smiling all the way through—starting with the steer (I thought it was a cow) on the cover. The author has a sense of humor as she shares serious and useful tips, stories, jokes, and anecdotes about brisket. She then provides brisket recipes by chefs, cookbook authors, cowboys, pit masters, and home cooks. In the words of the author, “Some foods will improve your meal, your mood, your day, your buttered noodles. ————— Here are some favorite new locally available kosher products: • Tnuva Goat Cheese (Sam’s Club) • Osem Israeli Pearl Couscous Original Flavor (Available at Costco in bulk bags) • Angie’s Kettle Corn (parve)—suggested by my friends Janie and Gennye. I don’t know whether to thank them or blame them. I am totally addicted! (Costco) ————— Atlanta’s kosher community now has a “Candy Shoppe” located inside Steve Gilmer’s Kosher Gourmet. Candies, chocolates, nuts, and dried fruits are available individually, by flavor, or arranged for gifting in candy trays. Along with the parve pastries already offered by Bernie the Baker, this sounds like a one-stop sweet shop! ————— Have you been to Judaica Corner/Chosen Treasures lately? You should go. In addition to the large kosher cookbook collection, Judaica, and religious items, I love their new disposable tableware, especially the disposable silver-look Kiddush See KOSHER AFFAIRS, page 36
Page 1 and 2: Happy Chanukah Jewish THE Georgian
Page 3 and 4: November-December 2011 THE JEWISH G
Page 33: November-December 2011 THE JEWISH G

Happy Chanukah - The Jewish Georgian

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?