JGA Mar-Apr 10 - The Jewish Georgian

March-April 2010 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 21
Jewish
THE
Georgian
Kosher
Korner:
Preparing
for Passover
By Rabbi Reuven Stein
Passover, the Jewish holiday of freedom,
is one of the only holidays primarily
identified by its food. Passover is
called the Holiday of the Matzohs or the
Holiday of Unleavened Bread.
Throughout the ages, Jews all over the
world—even those who do not necessarily
follow the dietary laws—have tried to
keep some of the laws for the duration of
the Passover holiday or at least at the
Seder.
Passover laws are from the Torah.
They require us to refrain from using
foods that contain any of the five
grains—wheat, rye, oats, spelt, and barley—unless
they are processed into matzoh.
Dishes, pots, pans, or equipment
that have come into contact with any of
these grains are not usable for Passover.
Be alert for caterers who advertise
Passover foods but have prepared them
on equipment unsuitable for Passover
use. Only caterers with rabbinic supervision
can claim to have Passover foods.
There are also various customs that
forbid the use of legumes and other
foods, such as corn and rice, during the
Passover season. People should follow
the custom of their family.
PREPARED FOODS
The following companies are offering
kosher-for-Passover prepared foods:
Bijan Catering
770-457-4578
bijancatering@yahoo.com
See KOSHER KORNER, page 27
By Roberta Scher
For Atlantans, Passover 2010 (5770)
will likely be a delicious holiday, with
more kosher food choices than ever.
Along with an expanded and price-adjusted
kosher-for-Passover selection at area
supermarkets, local catering and takeout
choices have increased.
Goldberg’s is now offering kosher
catering under AKC supervision at select
kosher-certified kitchens. Linda Baron of
Goldberg’s has graciously shared some
delicious Passover recipes.
Elegant Essen Catering will offer
classic and contemporary Passover dishes,
such as its chef’s specialty fried chicken,
farm-fresh grilled vegetables, and red
quinoa salad. For a complete Passover
menu, visit elegantessencatering.com
Some other resources include Kosher
Gourmet, offering a complete line of
ready-to-go Passover foods, and Return to
Eden, which is stocking a huge selection
of cheeses.
And then, from the BBQ pit of
By Dr. Stuart Rockoff
HappyPassover
Due to its location beside the Flint
River and amidst fertile cotton growing
land, Albany emerged as a regional commercial
center in the mid-19th century. A
handful of Jewish immigrants were soon
attracted to the bustling seat of Doughtery
County in the 1840s.
Bavarian-born Marx Smith was
among the first. Smith, a general merchant,
achieved economic success rather quickly;
by 1860, his net worth was $12,000.
In 1854, four Jews, including Smith,
incorporated the United Hebrew Society of
Albany, which was founded for the express
purpose of purchasing land for a cemetery
and building a house of worship. By this
time, Albany Jews were worshipping
together at Smith’s home. In 1858, they
purchased land for a cemetery.
Despite this early growth, Albany
Georgian
Kosher Affairs: catering, wines and more for passover
Atlanta’s beloved kosher BBQ king,
Goodfriend’s Catering, come kosher-for-
Passover, pit-smoked brisket, chicken, or
turkey, slow-smoked beef ribs, and pulled
BBQ beef. More traditional specialties are
also available. Visit thegoodfriendcompany.com.
Griller’s Pride offers one of the best
glatt kosher meat and poultry selections
in the country and one of the
largest in the Southeast.
According to owner Peter
Swerdlow, “We will be offering
1st-cut glatt kosher
briskets at $7.49/lb.—an
unprecedented value” in the
six years he’s been in the
business. (And mazel tov to
Grillers Pride, which, as of
this writing, is a finalist in
the “Flavor of Georgia 2010”
competition at the University of
Georgia; its kosher Italian
grilling sausage is in the finals in
the meat products category. The winners
will be announced during a mid-
Albany has always treasured
its Jewish community
Jews did not officially form congregation
B’nai Israel until 1876, when an estimated
100 Jews lived in the
city. Sam Mayer was
elected president of
the fledgling congregation,
which quickly
became a charter
member of the Union
of American Hebrew
Congregations. Thus,
from its founding,
B’nai Israel was a
Reform congregation.
One of the
founders was Charles
Charles
Wessolowsky
Wessolowsky, who came to Albany from
Savannah with his wife, Johanna, and their
three children in 1869 and opened a grocery
store. The Prussian-born
See ALBANY, page 23
March ceremony, where the governor will
award the prizes. For more information,
visit www.grillerspride.com.
See KOSHER AFFAIRS, page 24
On Sunday, April 11, 2010, at 4:00 p.m.,
the Marcus Jewish Community Center of
Atlanta (MJCCA) and the Atlanta
Rabbinical Association (ARA) will
remember the victims of the Holocaust
with a Yom Hashoah, or Day of Holocaust
Remembrance, program entitled Ani
Ma’amin: A Community Yom HaShoah
Commemoration. The program will take
place at the MJCCA’s newly constructed
Besser Holocaust Memorial Garden, and
will include music, prayers, and the lighting
of the torches. Additionally,
Holocaust survivor and memorial benefactor,
Abe Besser, will share his story of
survival and hope. For information, call
678-812-4071.