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Last Call!
Monthly Archives: April 2011
New Series Brewing
After the Mesorah Project in 2009 and the interviews of people who have made alyiah last year, I have a new idea in mind. The interview is ready and has been proofread by Michael – a former interviewee. I have sent out requests and have already received positive answers.
I’ll soon tell you more. At this stage, I do not want to reveal more but I think you’ll like the new series.
Pre-Pesach Review with Lilac
On My Blog
Pesach Posts:
– Pesach Lists
– Pesach Desserts – 2011/5771 Update
– Meat and Fish Pesach Dishes – 2011/5771 Update
The Pity of It All, a book review
Elsewhere in the JBlogosphere
Beyond Conversion, a post by Shimshonit
Who is “Orthodox”? Who is “Religious”? Who is Just “Observant”?, an article by Jonathan Kolatch
Food Memories of My Father, a beautiful tribute by Mother in Israel
Mrs.S. shares some Pesach Humor: Fun and Games Friday: Guests Edition
Are Freedom and Slavery Opposites?, a Pesach post by Leora
Shabbat Shalom!
Meat and Fish Pesach Dishes – 2011/5771 Update
This is a list of recipes which I have posted since I started this blog and which are all kosher for Pesach. Beware that three of them contain kitniyot. For those wondering, soy is kitniyot but soy sauce is chametz as it contains wheat.
Meat:
– Moroccan Tagine of Chicken with Prunes
– My Mother’s Chicken Patties (kitniyot)
Fish:
– Halibut, Red Peppers, Onions, Potatoes and Gremolata
– Salmon in Curry Sauce (kitniyot)
– Fish Yellow Curry (kitniyot)
More recipes to come – vegetable and side dishes as well as desserts
Pesach Desserts – 2011/5771 Update
– Rhubarb Cobbler (kitniyot)
Leora’s Sponge Cake Recipe
TriLcat’s Apple Cake
Shimshonit’s Passover Lemon Pie
The Pity of It All
The Pity of It All: A Portrait of the German-Jewish Epoch, 1743-1933 by Amos Elon is an extremely informative account of German Jewish history from the arrival of Moses Mendelssohn in Berlin to Hitler’s being appointed chancellor by President Hindenburg.
Amos Elon focuses on influential Jews while giving a detailed picture of the political background behind these well-known figures.
The book starts with the German Enlightment, which was not very enlightened as far as Jews were concerned, before dealing with the rise of Germany as a nation and international power. It shows how a handful of Jewish intellectuals, political reformers and artists contributed to the shaping of Germany as a modern nation despite the pervading anti-Semitic conservatism of the time.
This book reads like a story of unrequited love. The Jews adopted German culture with almost fanatical devotion to its music, literature, art and philosophy. This culminated in 1914 with their almost unanimous backing of the German aggression and their patriotic enthusiasm for war.
Unfortunately this did not prevent the Germans, as a people, to conclude that the Jews were responsible for all their problems and turn against them very soon after the German defeat in 1918. A feeling that gradually led to Hitler’s accession to power.
The Pity of It All is a scholarly yet entirely readable book and I higly recommend it.
Is Kosher Getting Healthier?
I went kosher shopping in Antwerp last week where I bought meat for my freezer as well as all sorts of fresh and dry foods.
Usually I find that kosher biscuits and cake are case studies in unhealthy food. Here is a sample for the skeptics: sugars, wheat flour, eggs, water, vegetable oil, poppy seeds filling, emulsifiers (E433, E481, E491, E524), yeast, stabilizer E415, dietary fibers, soy flour, food starch, humectant E422, flavors, salt, citric acid, preservatives (E282, E202, E200). And this is just one item.
Yet as I looked around looking for parve cookies and cakes for a friend as well as for a cup of instant noodles for myself. I found that things seemed to be changing as the above photos suggest: no colorings, no preservatives, no trans, less salt, no added MSG …
This is a trend I have not witnessed in French kosher stores and interestingly all those products came from North America, not Israel. As for the organic section (a rather reduced product line), it contained American and European items.
Have you noticed a similar tendency where you live?
Pesach Lists
Here are a few links to Pesach lists, articles and guidelines:
– London Beth Din Pesach Page
– Orthodox Union Pesach Page
– Paris Beth Din Pesach Page
Please, feel free to suggest other links
March Review with Breads
On My Blog
Photo Meme:
– Back to Ruby for Ruby Tuesday
– Flowers in French Synagogue for Ruby Tuesday
– Lavender Shop for SOOC
– Since 1904 for SOOC
Elsewhere in the JBlogosphere
Heblish: Plenty more where that came from edition, a language post by Mrs.S.
Light at the end of the tunnel, a heart-warming post by Treppenwitz
ShaareZedekinJapan, a blog
When it’s healthy to get in a pickle, a Jewish Chronicle article
Rayna Eliana reviews Jerusalem Maiden
A Vintage Rant, a post by Frozen Challah
Salads, In the Pink’s readers share their favorite salads
Raritan Avenue Watercolor, Leora shares a beautiful painting
Britain’s Chief Rabbi’s thoughts on the parshah
Pesach made simple(r) and Pesach prep (in detail), two seasonal posts by Shimshonit
The Uri L’Tzedek Food and Justice Haggadah Supplement, essays, insights and action to unite food, social justice, and ethical consumption
Shabbat Shalom!
Hannah's Nook 