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This Dutch Christian Boat Maker Wants To Sail His LifeSize Replica Of Noah's Ark To Israel By Cnaan Liphshiz Krimpen Aan De Ijssel, Netherlands (JTA) -- For two years, the world’s only seaworthy life-size replica of Noah’s Ark has been wowing passengers traveling along Holland's Maas River. Built according to the specifications detailed in the Hebrew Bible, the 390-foot-long vessel towers to a height of 75 feet. It boasts enough wood to fell 12,000 trees. And its distinct form dominates the coastline of the small town hosting it deep in southern Holland’s so-called Bible Belt. Dwarfing even some modern-day cruise ships, the ark instantly became an international tourist attraction when it was completed in 2012 after four years of construction. But the man who built it, the devout Christian businessman Johan Huibers, can’t wait to take the mammoth to Israel -- a country whose problems and successes, he said, are always on his mind. “My preferred destination for the ark is Israel,” Huibers, 60, told JTA earlier this month on the forward deck, which features a life-size statue of a giraffe. His love for the Jewish state and people, he said, flows from the same impulse that compelled him to raise nearly $5 million to build the ark. “It may sound scary, but I believe everything written in this book, cover to cover,” he said while pointing at a copy of a translation into Dutch of the Hebrew Bible. “This is a copy of God’s ship. It only makes sense to take it to God’s land.” Huibers planned to take the ship to Israel soon after its completion, but wildfires in Israel torpedoed the journey. Now he no longer has the approximately $1.3 million necessary for getting there (the ark has no motor, so Huibers needs to rent tugboats to sail it). Huibers had plans to sail the ark to Brazil, but those fell through, too. “I love the land, I love the country, I love the people,” he said of

Israel. “They don’t obey, they do what they want, and they drive like mad, shove while waiting in line and don’t listen to anyone. Just like me.” But Huibers, who made a fortune building storage spaces, wants to be listened to. He built the ark, he said, “to show people that God exists.” The ark, which Huibers said he built with just seven people over four years, proves that Noah’s Ark could indeed be built by that biblical figure.

then I said out loud that if none had, I would.” Huibers’ daughter, Deborah, excitedly relayed the news to her mother, Huibers’ wife, who is a police officer. But it drew little more than an incredulous chuckle from her “She told the kids that after I finish building my ark, we can all go on vacation to the moon,” he recalled. Thirteen years later, Huibers completed his first Noah’s Ark rep-

The bow of Johan Huibers' Noah's Ark is seen in Krimpen aan de Ijssel, the Netherlands (Wikimedia Commons)

“I wanted children to come here and feel the texture of the wood, see the nails and see that what is written in the book is true,” he said. In the Bible, God warns Noah, a righteous man, of an approaching flood. He instructs Noah to build the ark with his family and collect pairs of animals so they may survive the deluge, which was meant to cleanse the Earth of the sins of humankind. By contrast, Huibers got the idea to build an ark from reading a story about it to his children after supper one evening in 1993. “I wondered whether someone, Disney perhaps, had already built a replica of the ark,” he said. “And

lica, dubbed "Johan's Ark" by the Dutch media. It was only 230 feet long and 33 feet wide because those were the maximum measurements for any vessel seeking to negotiate Holland’s extensive network of canals. “I wanted to spread God’s word in the Netherlands,” he said. But his ambitions grew “when everyone asked me: Why is it only half the size of the one in the Bible? So I sold the smaller one and built a lifesize one, too.” Huibers isn’t the only one using the ark to prove the probability of the biblical story. In 2016, Ark Encounter, a creationist theme park featuring an ark

built on a biblical scale, opened in Kentucky. But unlike Huibers’ boat, the one in the landlocked state does not float. The Kentucky ark was built with more than three times the budget of the one in the Netherlands. Huibers said his crew was made up of amateur carpenters without real training, adding to the overall authenticity of the vessel. “We had a butcher, a hairdresser and a teacher working here," he said. "We’re not professional boatmakers. A lot of stuff here is a bit crooked.” The big ark is made of a steel frame and American cedar and pine wood. Its cavernous interior is surrounded by side decks whose impressive size is magnified even further by their curvature. It is relatively dark inside. The ship features an open amphitheater in its center, connected to the raised deck by a series of stairs that many thousands of visitors, most of them children, have climbed. The ark is currently closed to visitors because of disagreements between Huibers and this municipality. Krimpen aan de Ijssel officials say they favor reopening it but require “certain adjustment,” citing public safety concerns. Huibers said the ship is safe, insured and equipped with better fire extinguishing equipment than required by law. He also claims that the reluctance to allow the ark to open in Krimpen -- a highly devout town – owes to how some “very strict individuals consider it a forbidden depiction of God’s image.” When it was open to the public, the ark had a small petting zoo, of which only an aviary with parakeets and other small birds remains. Huibers said he does not intend to place living animals in the ark for now, “only to show they could fit.” The boat features stalls, larders and internal gutters for the disposal of refuse. In addition to wanting to give See BOATMAKER on Page

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New Orleans JCC January 3, 2019 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm New Orleans JCC - Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 o Lunch & Learn With The Rabbi Join us for our monthly lunch and learn as we discuss interesting topics with a local Jewish clergy member. This month, it's Rabbi Gerber, from Gates of Prayer. A light lunch will be served. RSVP by Monday, December 31 to Rachel Ruth at 897-0143 x 161 or rachel@nojcc.org. $3 members / $5 non-members Contact: Rachel Ruth Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: rachel@nojcc.org January 6, 2019 9:30 am - 12:30 pm New Orleans JCC – Uptown New Orleans JCC - Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 Kicking For Kids Footgolf Tournament The New Orleans JCC presents the inaugural Kicking for Kids Footgolf tournament Sunday, January 6, 2019 at Timberlane Country Club. Proceeds from this event will go towards scholarships for the New Orleans JCC’s Maccabi team. No experience is required to play. For more information visit nojcc.org/kickingforkids2019. Ages: 21 and up Instructor: Neal Alsop $200 per team (all walking) or $240 per team (with one golf cart) members and non-members Register Now Contact: Neal Alsop Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: neal@nojcc.org January 8, 2019 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm New Orleans JCC Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 Book Club - We Are Gathered By Jamie Weisman Humor and sorrow join together in the story of an interfaith wedding from the perspectives of its (adoring, envious, resentful) guests. Reviewed by Lauren Gerber, a book lover with a B.A. in English THE

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and M.A. in English Education who looks forward to meeting some fellow bibliophiles in the Big Easy Contact: Judy Yaillen Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: judy@nojcc.org January 10, 2019 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm New Orleans JCC Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 Cathy And Morris Bart Jewish Cultural Arts Series Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me is the first major film documentary to examine Davis’ vast talent and his journey for identity through the shifting tides of civil rights and racial progress during 20th-century America. Sammy Davis, Jr. had the kind of career that was indisputably legendary, so vast and multi-faceted that it was dizzying in its scope and scale. And yet, his life was complex, complicated and contradictory. Davis strove to achieve the American Dream in a time of racial prejudice and shifting political territory. He was the veteran of increasingly outdated show business traditions trying to stay relevant; he frequently found himself bracketed by the bigotry of white America and the distaste of black America; he was the most public black figure to embrace Judaism, thereby yoking his identity to another persecuted minority. Featuring new interviews with such luminaries as Billy Crystal, Norman Lear, Jerry Lewis, Whoopi Goldberg and Kim Novak, with never-before-seen photographs from Davis’ vast personal collection and excerpts from his electric performances in television, film and concert, Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me explores the life and art of a uniquely gifted entertainer whose trajectory blazed across the major flashpoints of American society from the Depression through the 1980s. I want to live, not merely survive And I won’t give up this dream Of life that keeps me alive. I’ve gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me The dream that I see makes me what I am. I’m Puerto Rican, Jewish, colored, and married to a white woman. When I move into a neighborhood, people start running in four ways at the same time. –Sammy Davis, Jr.

As part of the Cathy and Morris Bart Jewish Cultural Arts Series, this event is free and open to the community. Contact: Judy Yaillen Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: judy@nojcc.org January 13, 2019 11:00 am - 3:30 pm New Orleans JCC Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 HARRIET W. KUGLER MEMORIAL MAH JONGG TOURNAMENT Enjoy a lovely catered lunch and an afternoon of Mah Jongg at our annual Harriet W. Kugler Memorial Mah Jongg Tournament on Sunday, January 13. Check-in begins at 10:30 AM and the tournament runs from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM. This year's tournament will include cash game prizes, door prizes, and a special section for beginners to play together. 2019 Registration Levels: Basic/$40 Patron*/$60

Mahj Maven**/$75 Receives either one* or two** chances for patron prize About Harriet Wainer Kugler Harriet, who suffered a fatal stroke in September 2010, was not only Community News Continued on Page

BOATMAKER Continued from Page 1 schoolchildren a tangible experience of Noah’s Ark, Huibers had darker reasons for building the two wooden vessels he has made. “I believe we are living in the end of times,” he said. “We’re not conscious of it. People never are.” Growing up in a low-lying country whose population has been fighting back water for more than 1,000 years has given Huibers a better understanding than many of the risks of flooding. He was born five years after the North Sea flood of 1959, which killed more than 2,000 people in a society still crippled by the devastating effects of World War II. “The water is going to come. From the mountains, from the sea, through Germany. Just like in 1959,” he said. “It sound’s like doom and gloom. But I’m not afraid of it.”

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The ark, though, isn’t designed to save Huibers’ life or family, he said. “Maybe it will, who knows, but my survival is not its purpose," Huibers said. "It’s meant to educate, a reminder that our world is changing, will continue to change, as we see now because of global warming, rising sea levels, fires.” As he prepares to take the ark to Israel, he is busy with another project involving water and the Holy Land. Huibers has designed a gravity-based system that he says would transport water from the coastal desalinization plants through the desert and into the shrinking Dead Sea. In case of a calamity, Huibers does keep a few boats for his family, he said, noting that one of them can hold 100 people. “Maybe we’ll end up saving the neighborhood one day,” he said.  HOME GUIDE 2018

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COMMUNITY NEWS Continued from Page 3 a long time dedicated employee of the JCC but a committed community volunteer, philanthropist and teacher of Mah Jongg. Harriet taught hundreds of women both young and old and even a few men, the ancient board game of Mah Jongg. Many years ago she was a featured instructor at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival cultural tent and founded and directed the JCC Annual Crescent City Mah Jongg Tournament which ran for four years prior to her untimely death. Therefore, we have renamed it t he Harriet Wainer Kugler Memorial Mah Jongg. Contact: Judy Yaillen Phone: 504.897.0143 Email: judy@nojcc.org Tournament in her honor. January 14, 2019 11:45 am - 1:30 pm New Orleans JCC Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 Morris Bart Lecture Series: A Summer Of Birds: John James Audubon At Oakley House Join us as Danny Heitman, awardwinning columnist for The Advocate, discusses his latest book, "A Summer of Birds: John James Audubon at Oakley House," which chronicles how Audubon's time in Louisiana made him into a world-renowned bird artist. Lunch will be served. RSVP by Thursday, January 10. No charge members / $10 nonmembers Contact: Rachel Ruth

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Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: rachel@nojcc.org January 17, 2019 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm New Orleans JCC Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 Nola Grannies: Recyclable Bag Production In honor of Tu B'Shevat, the new year of the trees, we will spend the afternoon working on a recycling project for a wonderful cause. In their efforts to bring support and comfort to asylum seekers passing through New Orleans, the NOLA Grannies have come to realize one of the most needed resources for families are bags to carry their few possessions. Thanks to YouTube, there is an easy solution. Bring in your old t-shirts (solids and patterns are better than logos or pictures) to cut-up and turn into useful carrier bags. Bring your lunch. Desserts and coffee will be served. RSVP by Monday, January 14 to Rachel Ruth at 897-0143 x161 or rachel@ nojcc.org. No charge members and nonmembers Contact: Rachel Ruth Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: rachel@nojcc.org January 23, 2019 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm New Orleans Museum of Art Noma: Ear To The Ground: Earth And Element In Contemporary Art Working with natural elements like earth, wind, water and fire,

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the artists in Ear to the Ground show how nature can spur artistic innovation and spark new thinking about human culture and community. In their art, nature is not just as a resource to be protected or exploited, but rather a generative force with its own sentient power. Mining earth both as a material and a metaphor, the artists in this exhibition treat nature as a teacher: a model for negotiating the complexities of contemporary cultural life. Informed by a kind of elemental logic, their art envisions new ways we might relate to the natural world, as well as to one another. Join your friends for lunch at Cafe' NOMA in the museum at noon, then enjoy this new exhibit with the guidance of a docent *Museum entrance is free for Louisiana residents on Wednesday. Lunch is on you. RSVP by Monday, January 21 to Rachel Ruth at 897-0143 x161 or rachel@nojcc.org. No charge members and nonmembers Contact: Rachel Ruth Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: rachel@nojcc.org

ing and dancing! Parents will also have the chance to ask questions and learn more information about upcoming camp registration. $25.00 per family (up to five family members) members and nonmembers Contact: Brigid MacArthurThompson Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: brigid@nojcc.org January 31, 2019 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm New Orleans JCC Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 Movie Day: Million Dollar Arm Looking to save his failing business, sports agent J.B. Bernstein launches a reality show to find India's best cricketers, with the goal of turning them into professional baseball players and signing them to Major League contracts. Movie snacks will be served. RSVP by Monday, January 28 to Rachel Ruth at 897-0143 x161 or rachel@nojcc.org. No charge members and nonmembers Contact: Rachel Ruth Phone: 504-897-0143 Email: rachel@nojcc.org 

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January 29, 2019 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm New Orleans JCC - Uptown 5342 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70115 2019 Camp Reunion Camp families will enjoy an evening at the JCC filled with food, camp activities, and lots of singTHE

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This Jewish Teen Is Helping Underprivileged Kids Apply To College By Zev Stub

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“He brought up the idea of starting some sort of organization to help underprivileged kids go through the application process. And I just loved his idea. The ability to harness what current college students already know about the application process and use that knowledge to help others seemed amazing.” The two started working together, and with the help of friends launched a program that uses a network of college volunteers to serve as mentors for underprivileged high school students. The mentors give the students feedback on their college essays, help them navigate the application process, and share information with them about scholarship opportunities and best ways to obtain financial aid. Steinle and Zahn called their program F.O.R.M. Consulting, an acronym for Future Opportunities

Daniel Zahn helps low-income students navigate the college application process. (Courtesy of the Diller Foundation)

When Daniel Zahn was applying to college, he felt very stressed. The essays, the questions, the decisions he had to make – it all seemed overwhelming. But Zahn had two older siblings who had gone through the process, as well as the support of seasoned parents and teachers. After applying to more than 10 schools and for a handful of scholarships, Zahn landed a spot at one of his top choices: Penn State, where the 19-year-old is now a junior. It was only once he got to college

that Zahn realized how lucky he was by comparison. Many of his classmates did not have experienced family members to guide them through the applications and financial aid forms. In some cases, students didn’t even have the money necessary to apply. It was during a conversation during his freshman year with a friend who was the first in his family to attend college that Zahn decided to do something to help. “I was eating lunch with my friend and future co-founder, Cory Steinle,” Zahn recalled.

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Reached by Mentor. The mentors usually work with students in oneon-one sessions, but F.O.R.M. also hosts group workshops at local high schools. “For me, it was assumed my whole life that I would go to college,” Zahn said. “But for firstgeneration college students, the application process is very different. We want to make sure that less fortunate people can benefit from what we’ve learned.” In just over a year, F.O.R.M. Consulting has assisted more than 100 students from six Pennsylvania high schools apply to college, helping place many in top-ranked schools. F.O.R.M. says it also has helped students obtain more than $250,000 in scholarship funds. “We want to help make sure they don’t go into heavy debt,” See JEWISH TEEN on Page

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When Anti-Semitism Comes To Jewish Theater, It Feels Deeply Personal By Julia Metraux On Wednesday night, during a performance of “Fiddler on the Roof” in Baltimore, an audience member, who was removed thereafter, shouted “Heil Hitler, Heil Trump.” Honestly, even though I don’t live in Baltimore, this felt like a deeply personal attack. My Jewishness and love of theater are so intertwined; I can’t narrow down why this chant made me upset to just one reason. But I’ll start with how Jewish theater has always continued to thrive amidst any horrific anti-Semitism happening at the time. Jewish theater, specifically Yiddish theater, was a staple in early 20th century New York. In 1818, New York City had 20 Yiddish Theaters. Twenty! This attracted over two million patrons every year, my maternal grandfather’s family and himself being some of them. They were Jews who had recently arrived from what’s now known as Belarus. So, while theater was a form of

entertainment, seeing these shows allowed them to be immersed in Jewish culture when mainstream culture did not embrace Jews. It still arguably does not. While my maternal grandfather was a patron of Yiddish theater during its heyday, my love of theater comes from my maternal grandmother. She is an artist, and she was a set designer for theater shows in Toronto during the 1950s. I followed in my grandmother’s footsteps into theater during my middle school and high school years. I was a costume designer for four years during high school. Theater became a home for me, from a love and passion that was passed down from my grandmother to myself. In a sense, this Nazi chant happened in my home, a place where I have always felt safe, worked hard, and had fun. I once saw “Fiddler on the Roof” with my Jewish family members in New York City. Honestly, at the

time, I was a bit bored: I had seen the play before and was already familiar with all the songs. But the conversations that we had after are what I’m thinking about now. We talked about how lucky we are that we’re living in the United States in the 21st century. About how we’re safe as a family, unlike Teyve and his family, whose lives were constantly at risk because they were Jewish. But now I have to ask, are we really that safe as Jews living in the United States in the 21st century? A few years, I wouldn’t have thought to even ask myself that question. But after the Tree of Life shooting and how visible neo-Nazis have become, I’m scared. After someone shouted “Heil Hitler, Heil Trump,” in a theater, a place where I have called home, and a place that has been home to so many Jews throughout history, my heart has shattered even more than I had thought was possible. Julia Metraux is a freelance writer and university student, who splits her time thinking about dogs and politics. 

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COLUMNS HOTEL JEWISH TEEN Continued from Page 6 Zahn said. A growing number of high schools has discovered the program, and Zahn wants to expand F.O.R.M. to other universities across the country. Zahn recently was named one of the 2018 winners of the Diller Tikkun Olam Award for Teens. Zahn credits his team of volunteers for F.O.R.M.’s success. “The people who volunteer with us are so dedicated, and so many people are giving their time," he said. "I really feel they deserve all the credit.” Olivia Pierce, a Penn State junior who currently serves as F.O.R.M.’s president, says her experience working as a mentor has been transformative. “A story I love to tell is about a student I mentored last year,” she said. “There was one session that we spent around two hours going through his common app essay THE

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word by word and phrase by phrase, and I could see how dedicated he was to his own future. I think of him now as the model student for the work we do. Every student deserves an opportunity to be excited about his or her own future.” Zahn says the driving force behind his project is the “culture of giving back” that he learned growing up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and which he considers part of his Jewish identity. “F.O.R.M. isn’t specifically Jewish, but the tzedakah aspect has come to form part of my Jewish identity on campus,” Zahn said. Now in his second year leading the program, Zahn is working on improving it and partnering with more high schools. He also wants to expand F.O.R.M. and take it national. “Nobody should have to go through the college applications process alone,” he said. (This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with

the Helen Diller Family Foundation, which sponsors the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards, annually awarding $36,000 to Jewish teens demonstrating exceptional leadership in repairing the world. Nominations/applications for 2019 are now open. This article was produced by JTA’s native content team.)  “THE MOST WELL TRAVELED VEHICLES ON EARTH”

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New Yorker Cartoonist Liana Finck Draws On The Light And Shadows Of Her Jewish Upbringing By Josefin Dolsten

Liana Finck attends an event at the Milk Gallery in New York City, Feb. 22, 2018. (Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Moleskine)

NEW YORK (JTA) — Liana Finck is in the eating area of a grocery store in Southampton, New York, and I’ve interrupted her beach excursion. Once a week, the Brooklyn-based illustrator rides a train to the east end of Long Island to channel her creative energy. She wakes up at 6:30 in the morning to catch

that train and stays until the afternoon. Each year she picks a different beach. “I think of the big picture of what I’m working on, and it’s for some reason the only time in the week when I get to really assess what I’m doing,” Finck tells me over the phone.

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Due to a miscommunication, this interview ends up being scheduled precisely on her beach day, so she’s talking to me instead of working. I offer to reschedule several times, feeling guilty about impinging on her creative process, but she reassures me that it’s fine. Finck, 32, has risen to fame in recent years through her clever cartoons and illustrated "Dear Pepper" advice column — named after her childhood dog — in The New Yorker. Her drawings, which she also posts on Instagram, poke fun at everyday awkward moments and annoyances, such as trying to get an automatic faucet to turn on and only wanting to hang out with the people who don’t actually want to hang out with you. Her drawing style is simple and disarming. With a few jagged strokes she manages to capture a relatable feeling of discomfort in her character’s faces. Finck has been drawing ever since she can remember. “I was really shy, so drawing was how I expressed myself, and there was always a lot I wanted to say. I made fun of teachers and drew funny animals,” she says. As she grew older, something shifted. “I felt like I didn’t deserve to draw unless I could make something that strangers wanted to pay money for and editors would like,” she says. “So from the time I was a teenager, I started making things much more elaborate and polished, and with that came writer’s block.” Apparently she has overcome her block. In addition to her frequent work for The New Yorker, Finck is the author, in 2014, of “A Bintel Brief: Love and Longing in Old New York,"an adaptation of the famed Yiddish advice column that appeared in the Forward. The book dramatizes stories of recent immigrants from Eastern Europe who

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wrote Forward editor Abraham Cahan asking for advice on how to live in their new country. Her latest book, “Passing for Human,” is more personal, a "graphic memoir" in which she focuses on the experiences of the women in her family. In the whimsical yet serious memoir, each woman is born with a shadow that guides her life. But as they age they eventually lose the shadow. The book, published in September, features a main character, Leola, who looks for her own shadow and the shadows of her female relatives. “It’s half about me and half about my mom, and the thing we have in common is that we are women and we are artists, so that’s what it’s about," she says. In the book, Finck draws on plenty of Jewish inspiration — ancient and modern. At one point, she retells the biblical creation story, but her version features a female God and devil (who is good rather than evil). Though the Jewish immigration experience isn’t central to “Passing for Human,” the main character’s great-grandmother is from Russia, but lost her shadow when she moved to the United States. Finck grew up in Chester, a town in Orange County about an hour north of Manhattan. She attended a Conservative synagogue and a Solomon Schechter day school. As a teen, she says she was “a pretty weird and awkward person,” and felt like an outsider at her Jewish school. “The school was pretty suburban and small, and even if some individual people were my kind of people, the overall culture was so strongly mall shopping and not intellectual and so not shy,” she recalls. She has yet to find a Jewish comSee CARTOONIST on Page

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This Bukharian Jewish Meaty Rice Dish Is The Crockpot Meal You Need By Leanne Shor (The Nosher via JTA) – I’m savory aroma. One element of this recipe that Yemenite and my husband and his family are Bukharian Jews who hail might surprise is the addition of from Uzbekistan. After we married, grated Granny Smith apple and fresh lemon juice. These flavors are so crucial to the complexity of this dish, and they add sweetness and acidity that balance out the richness of the brisket. The original recipe from my mother-in-law calls for bone marrow bones and flanken, but I prefer brisket so that there is more meat and no bones to remove. I’ve made it dozens of times both ways, and there’s no major difference in flavor. Note: I prefer to use a crockpot liner for easy cleanup with this dish. It is plastic and disposable, and a huge time saver. Osavo, like an Eastern European cholent, cooks all night in a crockpot. (Leanne Shor)

Ingredients:

• 2-pound brisket, excess fat trimmed • 1 24-ounce can diced tomatoes • 2 medium yellow onions, chopped • 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and grated • juice of 1 lemon • 1 or 2 russet potatoes, whole plus skin on, rinsed and scrubbed. • 2 cups round, short grain rice (often sold in the Asian aisles) • 2 teaspoons kosher salt • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 2 teaspoons sweet paprika • 3 1/2-4 cups water • 4 eggs, rinsed

my mother-in-law gave me full tutorials on several traditional Bukharian dishes that are special to her and the family, including this osavo, a slow-cooked brisket and rice dish that reminds me of a rich tomato-based risotto studded with meat. As I was learning the dishes, I would always ask for measurements. My mother-in-law would say, “Oh, it’s all by eye.” So I would pull out my kitchen scale to portion the ingredients as best I could in order to re-create the dishes in my own home. I love making so many of her recipes, but the dish I come back to over and over for cooler weathDirections: er is this osavo. Like an Eastern 1. Fill a medium-size pot halfEuropean cholent, the dish cooks way full with water. Bring to a boil. all night in a crockpot, so you 2. Cut the brisket in 1-inch piecwake up in the morning to a es and place in the boiling water. house filled with a delectable

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Cook for 2 minutes. 3. Line the slow cooker with a plastic, disposable liner. 4. Add the partially cooked meat, along with the chopped onion, canned tomatoes, grated Granny Smith apple, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and paprika to the slow cooker. 5. Rinse the rice well, until the water runs clear, then add it to the pot. 6. Cover the ingredients with the water, then nestle in the whole potatoes. Place the eggs in a slow cooker bag and add them to the pot. 7. Cook on low for 10-12 hours. 8. Check in the morning and add more water if it seems dry. 9. Add another large squeeze of lemon juice before serving. Serve with prepared tahini, Israeli chopped salad and challah. Serves 6. (LeAnne Shor is a food writer and photographer based in Pennsylvania. She has worked in pastry kitchens and restaurants for years, learning from some of the finest in the industry. Her recipes and photos have been featured by The FeedFeed, Today Show Food, Whole Foods, The Kitchn and Pinterest.) The Nosher food blog offers a dazzling array of new and classic Jewish recipes and food news, from Europe to Yemen, from challah to shakshuka and beyond. Check it out at www.TheNosher.com. 

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Arts & Culture

Stan Lee Gave Comic Books Permission To Be More Jewish By Arie Kaplan

(JTA) -- When Stan Lee died on Nov. 12 at 95, he left behind a vast legacy. Between 1961 and 1969, his greatest sustained burst of creative activity, he co-created a vast array of iconic characters, including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Avengers, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther, Daredevil, Nick Fury, Doctor Strange and Falcon. Lee raised the bar for superhero storytelling. He created characters who had godlike powers, but who were painfully human nonetheless. They were relatable because of their flaws and foibles. They squabbled and gave in to petty jealousies, a rarity at the time. Lee’s skill at writing clever dialogue and witty one-liners ensured that his characters came off as charming and lovable, if also plagued by self-doubt. By setting many of his stories in New York City rather than a fictional venue like Metropolis, he kept his tall tales grounded in the real world. Or if not the real world, something very much like it. But Lee did more than that. He also gave American comic books permission to be more Jewish. One of Lee’s innovations as a comic book writer was his ability to imbue each of his characters with a well-defined, unique personality. Spider-Man, alias Peter Parker, was neurotic. A superhero nebbish was a novel idea back in 1962, when the character was first created. But this doesn’t make the character Jewish per se, and Jews don’t have a monopoly on neuroses. However, Lee injected something very unique into the character’s DNA: Jewish humor. When Spider-Man fights his foes, he usually makes jokes and quips to cut the tension. In Amazing Spider10 HOME GUIDE

Man #40, published in 1966, the web-head is fighting the Green Goblin, and our hero climbs up on the ceiling. His nemesis yells, “The Goblin has ways of bringing you down!” Spidey replies, “But it’s so nice and cozy up here!” Superheroes often quipped in the middle of action sequences in those days. But when most superheroes made jokes, the jokes were so … generic. On the other hand, consider Spider-Man’s line: “But it’s so nice and cozy up here!” It sounds like something a Borscht Belt comedian would say. Did Lee purposefully intend to put Borscht Belt-style jokes in Spider-Man’s mouth? Not likely. However, there was an interesting thing happening to American comedy in the 1960s. Television shows like "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Tonight Show" would frequently book comedians who cut their teeth at the Catskills resorts, like Henny Youngman, Jackie Mason or Jack E. Leonard. All of America was being exposed to their distinct brand of Jewish humor. American humor was, in effect, becoming more Jewish. And Stan Lee, born Stanley Martin Lieber, the son of Romanian Jewish immigrants, grew up in New York City in the 1920s and 1930s. He must have been familiar with Borscht Belt humor. But why did he include those kinds of jokes in Spidey’s dialogue? Perhaps he couldn’t help it. Maybe it’s the sort of comedic voice he was most comfortable using. But there’s definitely a sense of Yiddishkeit that comes through in the webslinger’s one-liners. And since Lee stopped writing Spider-Man comics in 1972, no other Spidey writer has deviated from this template. These types of jokes have always been a popular part of the character’s repertoire. And no matter how dark a Spider-Man story is, Peter Parker never loses his sense of humor. But Lee’s stories were more than just yarns about earnest (yet conflicted) do-gooders. Thanks to visionary artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, the 1960s Marvel titles were stunningly delineated dramas bursting with emotional angst and

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stuffed to the gills with pulsepounding action sequences. But thanks to Lee, sometimes they also had a layer of sharp social commentary baked in. Take for example the X-Men as initially created by Lee and Kirby in 1963. The titular supergroup was a band of mutants, people who were more than people, their bodies having evolved to contain a superhuman ability. One mutant boasted animal-like strength and agility. Another had sprouted wings and could fly. Their mutant powers were triggered during their teenage years, just as their readers’ bodies “mutated” during adolescence. The entire premise of the X-Men was an unsubtle metaphor for puberty. However, in issue 14 of X-Men (published in 1965), Lee and Kirby discarded that rather obvious metaphor in favor of another, more socially relevant one -- that of the mutant as a persecuted minority. In this story, titled “Among Us Stalk … The Sentinels,” an anthropologist named Bolivar Trask builds an army of giant killer robots programmed to detect and hunt down people with mutant DNA. Toward the beginning of the story, the X-Men’s leader, Professor Charles Xavier, worriedly scans a newspaper article about Trask. “So, it has finally begun,” he frowns. “The one thing I always feared – a witch hunt for mutants!” The newspaper features an artist’s interpretation of a mutant in a chariot being ferried around by human slaves. The caption above the drawing reads, “Dr. Trask warns that the superior abilities and supernatural powers of the hidden mutants will enable them to enslave the human race, replacing our civilization with their own.” By today’s standards, this dialogue is more than a bit cheesy. But for a comic book designed for children in the 1960s, this was heady stuff; a superhero tale designed to warn kids about the dangers of prejudice. In the story, mutants are clearly a substitute for any oppressed minority. Even the newspaper caption might sound eerily familiar with the line about mutants “replacing our civilization with their own.” It’s the sort of thing that bigots in 1963 would say about Jews, African-Americans or other minority groups. It’s exactly the thing white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia, said last year, when they marched while chanting “Jews will

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not replace us!” X-Men #14 kicked off a threepart story arc with the “mutants as minority” allegory. With their intolerance for anyone different, Trask’s robots, dubbed the Sentinels, are clearly a metaphor for real-life hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan or the SS death squads of Nazi Germany. By rerouting the trajectory of the X-Men series and making it about a group of persecuted outsiders, Lee and Kirby opened the door for other writers and artists down the road to make the X-Men a more diverse, inclusive superhero group. And that’s exactly what happened. After floundering during the late 1960s, the X-Men title was rebooted in the mid-1970s under the stewardship of writers like Len Wein and Chris Claremont, who teamed with artists like Dave Cockrum. For the first time, people of color such as Storm (who hailed from Kenya) were a part of the group. So were Jewish characters, like Chicago teenager Kitty Pryde. The backstory of the X-Men’s archfoe Magneto was even tweaked, revealing that he was a Jewish Holocaust survivor. Whereas Stan Lee’s X-Men was a Rod Serling-style allegory for anti-Semitism, the later incarnation of the group featured actual Jews as superheroes. This was unthinkable when Lee was the primary scripter on the title. In the 1960s, he did cocreate a Jewish character: Izzy Cohen, one of Sgt. Nick Fury’s multicultural group of soldiers known as the Howling Commandos. But Cohen is a mere supporting character in someone else’s story. It would take another decade for Jewish characters to become more prominent in comics, and even then it would be under someone else’s direction. But it took Stan Lee to carve the path that his successors would follow. (Author and public speaker Arie Kaplan interviewed Stan Lee for his award-winning nonfiction book "From Krakow to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books." He has written scores of comic book stories and graphic novels featuring everyone from Superman to Speed Racer. Follow Kaplan on Twitter @ariekaplan) The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media. 

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Home Guide Tips For Staining Wood

Staining wood can transform the look of everything from fencing to decking. While wood can be beautiful in its natural state, staining can protect the wood and complement landscaping and other home design elements. Staining wood can transform the look of everything from fencing to decking. While wood can be beautiful in its natural state, staining can protect the wood and complement landscaping and other home design elements. Staining can seem like a simple project, and that is often true. However, certain woods, such as pine, cherry, maple, and birch, can be difficult to stain. Boards with attractive grain patterns also can absorb stain differently, resulting in blotching and uneven tone. Before beginning a staining project, it is important for homeowners to test the stain chosen on a sample piece of wood to see how the color and THE

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absorption turn out. This gives homeowners the chance to understand what they're dealing with and time to make any necessary accommodations to achieve a more even look. Begin by gathering the necessary supplies. A pair of latex or vinyl gloves will protect your hands. Drop cloths will catch any drips or spills. Safety goggles and a dust mask provide protection if sanding is required prior to staining. If sanding is necessary, homeowners will need an orbital sander, hand sander and sandpaper. Start with the coarsest grit sandpaper and move to a higher grit for a smooth finish. Wood that is covered in paint may need to be stripped prior to sanding. Follow the directions carefully when using chemical strippers. Natural bristle paint brushes are handy for oil-based stain applications. Synthetic paint brushes can apply water-based finishes. Many do-it-yourselfers find that foam brushes or paint pads are the handiest because they provide a smooth finish and there's no need to clean up the brushes afterward. Many professionals recommend using wood conditioners or pretreaters so that the stain will not leave blotches on the wood. This is especially important for homeowners who determined their wood is prone to uneven color absorption. Allow the conditioner to dry according to product directions. Stain should be applied so that it is evenly coated. Wipe off the

excess to get the preferred color. Apply more stain as necessary to get the desired color. Many stains only offer color, so you'll need to apply a finishing coat to protect the wood. Otherwise, look for a product that combines stain color and a finish to save time.

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Protect Your Joints And Prevent Pain

Swimming is a great workout that can alleviate pain and reduce stress on the joints. While not all joint pain is debilitating, the discomfort of joint pain is such that it's wise for adults to take steps to protect their joints with the hope of preventing joint pain down the road. Recognizing that joint pain can negatively affect quality of life, the Arthritis Foundation offers the following joint protection tips to men and women. Joints play vital roles in the human body, forming the connections between bones and facilitating

movement. Damage to the joints can be especially painful, and that damage may result from conditions such as osteoarthritis or gout. While not all joint pain is debilitating, the discomfort of joint pain is such that it's wise for adults to take steps to protect their joints with the hope of preventing joint pain down the road. Recognizing that joint pain can negatively affect quality of life, the Arthritis Foundation offers the following joint protection tips to men and women. Forgo fashion with regard to footwear. When women choose

their footwear, fashion should not be their top priority. According to the Arthritis Foundation, three-inch heels stress the feet seven times more than one-inch heels and heels put additional stress on knees, possibly increasing women's risk for osteoarthritis. Though heels may be fashionable, the risk of developing joint pain is not worth making the fashion statement. Get some green in your diet. A healthy diet pays numerous dividends, but many may not know that a healthy diet can help prevent joint pain. Green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, kale and parsley are high in calcium and can reduce age-related bone loss while also slowing cartilage destruction. Shed those extra pounds. If you start including more healthy vegetables in your diet, you might just start to lose a little weight as well. Such weight loss also can help your joints, as the AF notes that every extra pound a person gains puts four times the stress on his or her knees. The AF also notes that research has shown that losing as little as 11 pounds can reduce a per-

son's risk of osteoarthritis of the knee by 50 percent. Hit the pool. Swimming is a great full-body workout and can be especially helpful to the joints. The buoyancy of water supports the body's weight, reducing stress on the joints and minimizing pain as a result. If possible, swimmers already experiencing pain should swim in heated pools, which can help relieve pain. While you can still benefit from swimming in pools with colder temperatures, cold water may not soothe the joints like warm water can. See the experts at Backyard Living for all your pool needs. Take breaks at work. Many people develop joint pain thanks to their jobs. If you spend all day sitting at a desk or standing on your feet, try to find a greater balance between the two. Joints can grow stiff from sitting all day, while standing throughout your work day can stress the joints. Take a short break every 30 minutes to stand up and walk around if you spend most of your day at a desk. If you stand a lot at your job, stop to sit down for a few minutes once every half hour.ď&#x192;Ź

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Transform Bathrooms With Technology

Technology is infiltrating every room of the house. Many new home buyers are millennial, and this techsavvy demographic covets technological innovations. A recent survey by Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate indicates 77 percent of Generation X and Y home buyers want their homes equipped with the tech capabilities they have grown accustomed to. Many of these involve smart innovations, including those that can

transform one of the most private rooms in the house - the bathroom. Automated home theater rooms and Wi-Fi-enabled home security systems have become the norm, but what tech improvements are available to make the powder room more in touch with today's digital lifestyle? According to the home improvement resource The Spruce, bathrooms have the most potential of any rooms to be improved with technology.

The following are just some of the bathroom gadgets and gizmos no one should resist before giving a try. · Automatic faucets: Infrared sensors have been helping keep public restrooms more hygienic for years. The same technology can be used in home bathrooms to curtail water waste and keep faucets and sinks from becoming infested with germs. In addition, faucets with built-in timers can be programmed to set tasks for brushing teeth or washing your face. · Musical shower: Instead of having to blast the volume on the portable speaker you use in the bathroom, a wireless speaker is built into some showerheads. This enables those who like to sing in the shower or listen to podcasts while washing up to enjoy this luxury effortlessly. · Smarter weight management: Bathroom scales have gone high-tech as well, with various options enabling users to measure weight, BMI and body fat percentage before sending the data wirelessly to a phone, tablet or computer. This can put you in greater control of fitness goals.

· High-tech toilets: Borrowing ideas from bidets and trends around the world, modern toilets do not require hands or paper. These toilets have temperature-controlled water, spritzing wands and air dryers to clean and sanitize. Self-cleaning toilets help busy professionals save time and are ideal for those who always want their bowls as clean as possible. And if you desire extra comfort, toilet seat warmers are available, while LED lights can make nighttime restroom visits easier. · Soaking tubs: As fast as standalone showers were introduced to the modern bathroom, tubless designs have been replaced with streamlined soaking tubs. Tubs come with different features, including chromatherapy, which employs colored lights to enhance mood. Air baths are controlled electronically and provide different levels of sensation for those who are skipping the hot tub. Round out these innovations with automated lights, chilled medicine cabinets and aromatherapy, and your bathroom will indeed become a technological spa. 

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Tips For Finding A Home Services Provider The wrong contractor can cost homeowners time and money, so homeowners must exercise due diligence when vetting contractors before going forward with a home improvement project. Homeowners who are good with their hands can tackle many minor home improvements on their own. However, more complicated projects often require the services of professional contractors to ensure the renovations are done right, completed on time and within budget. Choosing a home services provider requires careful consideration

on the part of homeowners. The wrong contractor can cost homeowners time and money, so homeowners must exercise due diligence when vetting contractors before going forward with a home improvement project. Types of contractors The Federal Trade Commission notes that the scope of a project may necessitate hiring various types of contractors. The more complex a project is, the more likely it is that homeowners will need to hire contractors who specialize in certain areas. Understand-

ing the differences between contractors can help homeowners make informed decisions. · General contractor: General contractors manage home improvement projects. This includes hiring subcontractors and supervising their work. General contractors also secure building permits and schedule inspections. · Specialty contractors: Specialty contractors focus on specific areas of a project. For example, homeowners who are remodeling their kitchens may need new cabinets installed by a contractor who

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specializes in cabinets and cabinet installation. That contractor is a specialty contractor. · Designer or design/build contractor: The FTC notes that these contractors both design and build projects. · Architects: Architects design homes as well as any additions or major renovations to homes. Architects are often necessary when projects involve structural changes to existing homes. Hiring a home services provider Once homeowners determine which type of contractor they need, they can they begin researching local professionals. · Speak with neighbors, family and friends. Neighbors, family members and friends who have worked with contractors in the past are great resources. Seek recommendations from people you trust, even asking to see completed projects if possible. · Utilize the internet. Websites such as HomeAdvisor and Angie's List are free of charge and can be great resources when homeowners are looking for contractors. Each site includes reviews of contractors from past customers and contact information for local contractors. · Confirm qualifications. The FTC advises homeowners to confirm contractors' licensing and qualifications before hiring anyone. Some areas may not require licensing, but many do. Homeowners can contact their local building department or consumer protection agency to determine the licensing requirements for their area. Hiring a home services provider is a complicated process that can be made easier by homeowners who do their research and take the decision seriously.  THE

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Defining Hardscape

PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD CAREFULLY FOR SPELLING & GRAMMAR, AS WELL AS ACCURACY OF ADAnd How To& Use It DRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS OTHER VITAL INFORMATION. The pros suggest looking at the

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overall plan of the design, even if

Your ad will run all of the work can't be completed AS-IS unless changes at once. This way the eventual finare made andished project will be cohesive. Think about the purpose. approved with your Hardscaping can look good but Account Executive alsoby serve key purposes. Pebbles or

gravel can mitigate trouble areas that don't grow grass or plant life well. Retaining walls hold back soil in yards with sharply inclined hills. Mulch can set perimeters around trees and shrubs, as well as planting beds. Fencing, another form of hardscaping, is essential for estabAfter this deadline, lishing property boundaries and tips to make the most the of hardscape only changes adding privacy. features on your property. that may be madeConsult a professional. Choose materials. are toprojcorrect While many hardscaping addiAs with many landscaping tions can be handled by novices, PUBLISHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ects, homeowners must first deter-ERRORS. large-scale projects, such as patios mine what types of additions they and decking, can change the gradThis properties. is a low-resolution would like on their ing of the yard. Professionals can proof of your Common hardscapePDFfeatures map out how to handle drainage include patios, decks, walkways of issues and meet building codes. In advertisement pavers or bricks, (may andnotretaining addition, professional installation be true to actual size). walls. Hardscape elements can be can ensure hardscaping features last It is property of functional or simply decorative fea- for years to come. Renaissance tures that add whimsy to the yard.Publishing This is why we recommend Bev(or the original creator) and at Exterior Designs. She erly Katz Choose a theme. The right style allows hardscapcannot be can be reached at 504-866-0276. ď&#x192;Ź ing and softscaping materials to reproduced, work together. For example, homeduplicated or used in any owners may want to give their other with format. yards an eastern feel, complete a koi pond and decorativeCopyright bridge or2009, trellis. A formal English garden, Renaissance Publishing. however, may include manicured paths with stepping stones and ornate topiaries. Mixing too many styles together can take away from the overall appeal.

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Curb appeal is beneficial in various ways. Curb appeal can make a home more attractive to prospective buyers and give existing homeowners a place they want to come home to. In its study of the worth of outdoor remodeling projects, the National Association of Realtors found standard lawn care and overall landscape upgrades were most appealing to buyers, as well as the most likely to add value to a home. Although plants, grass and other items can improve curb appeal, homeowners should not overlook hardscaping. Hardscaping is an industry term that refers to the non-living features of a landscape. These features can include everything from decks to walkways to ornamental boulders. Introducing paths or paver walls to a property helps develop that home's hardscape. Hardscape and soft elements often work in concert to create inspiring landscape designs. Exterior Designs can heed certain

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Illuminating Walkways And Doorways Illuminating walkways and doorways provides a clearly visible and safe path to and from the home. The following are a few ways to improve outdoor lighting. Curb appeal can affect prospective buyers' perception of a home. When addressing curb appeal, homeowners may be inclined to focus on features that are easily seen from the street during the day. But what can a homeowner do to improve on his or her home's nighttime aesthetic? Outdoor lighting is one aspect of curb appeal that is often overlooked, advises the home improvement experts at The Spruce. Home-

owners may fail to recognize the importance of how proper illumination can provide their homes with a warm glow and make it look beautiful after the sun has set. For example, think of how cozy and inviting neighborhoods appear during the holiday season when homes are strung with twinkling lights. Homeowners can replicate that look all year long with lighting elements. Lighting for evening hours also helps maintain a safe environment for people who are visiting the property. Illuminating walkways and doorways provides a clearly visible and safe path to and from

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the home. The following are a few ways to improve outdoor lighting. Focus on architectural features. Outdoor lighting can focus on the external features of the home's architectural style. Use light to draw attention to interesting gables, dramatic roof lines, dormers, or curved entryways. Play up landscaping. Stylish lighting can highlight trees, shrubs, pathways, gardens, and all of the elements of softscapes and hardscapes on a property. Uplighting trees or other elements can add a dramatic effect. Light up all doors. Make sure that doors, both entry and garage, are properly lit for ease of entry and

egress from the home. Safety.com, a home and personal security resource, says a home burglary occurs every 15 seconds in the United States. Installing motionactivated lights or lights on timers can deter break-ins. Consider using home automation to control porch lights and other outdoor lights remotely, if necessary. Create entertaining areas. Outdoor lighting can be used to extend the hours residents can spend outside. This is great for entertaining and can be an excellent selling point. Homeowners are urged not to overlook outdoor lighting as a vital part of their plan to improve curb appeal. ď&#x192;Ź

Washer/Dryer Units with private courtyards available Pets Welcome

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Steve Richards

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december 2018

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CHAR DAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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latter & blum inc/realtors 712 orleans, new orleans, la 70116 / 504 948 3011

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Rug Chic For more than 16 years, Rug Chic has been the primary source in the greater New Orleans area for providing interior designers and the public with the finest hand-knotted rugs, furniture, and home decor. They work closely with weavers in the world's best rug making regions to find fine quality, one-of-a-kind hand knotted rugs. Their Northshore showroom has rugs from all over the Middle East, including Egypt, Iran, Tibet, Turkey, and Pakistan. They can also provide many different types of material, including wool and silk, and can also offer fine-woven and hand-knotted rugs for almost any decor. Rug making is an ancient tradition that dates back at least 3,000 years. Purchasing a handmade rug can be daunting, yet rewarding: an instant heirloom. Rug Chic can help you come to a deeper understanding of the beauty and richness of the handmade rug. Buying a quality, hand-made rug is exciting and you should love a rug before making it your own. When looking for the perfect rug to compliment your personal style, taste, and space, you will notice that while some irregularity is part and parcel of being hand-made, a good rug lies flat and straight on the floor and is reasonably regular in its shape. It has lively, lustrous wool or fiber. Its colors are in balance, having neither faded nor bled. It has been intelligently "finished" so that it is not washed out, unnaturally shiny, or THE

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unpleasantly bright and harsh. Above all, the rug has a certain sophisticated quality that will be unique to you and your taste. When deciding on a rug for your home, you will want to do some prep work on your own. First, measure the area the rug will cover. Remember, you should probably have a border of flooring all the way around the rug. Allow for a range of sizes; the greater the range, the more choices you will have. Consider whether you prefer traditional rugs or those with contemporary designs. Rug Chic's expert staff can be wonderful allies in finding the right rugs. But

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remember, your focus is likely to be on "the look." They can focus on the quality! If, after searching, you can't find that certain "je ne sais quoi" Rug Chic is pleased to be able to offer custom rug design. No one will know your space better than you, and they can help you create a custom rug from start to finish. They work closely with the best weavers in the industry, and can create rugs in any size and color palette. They are able to source rugs that translate well in our local marketplace, and only choose items that are made with 100 percent child-free labor.ĂŹ

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CARTOONIST Continued from Page 8 munity that feels like home, but her faith continues to play a major role in her identity. “I didn’t leave Judaism, but I did leave the community I grew up in,” she says. After high school she studied fine art and graphic design at Cooper

Union College and traveled to Belgium on a Fulbright fellowship. She received a Six Points Fellowship for Emerging Jewish Artists and contributed to the Forward and Tablet. Her current style, which she describes as “very messy, very quick,” is a reaction against the more put-together style she adopted in her teens.

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“I make my stuff almost aggressively simple in order to trick the writer’s block and the second guessing,” Finck says. There are other deliberate choices in her drawing, too. One recent cartoon labeled "default" shows a neutral face, no more than two dots for eyes and a line for a smile. Next to it is the same face, labeled "female," with long hair and lots of makeup. It's a comment on the kind of clichéd representations of women in drawing that Finck tries to avoid. “Most of my characters are female, and most of my characters aren’t purely sexy because I don’t feel that way, and I don’t feel like my friends just exist to be sex symbols,” she says. As Finck has gained fans — her Instagram account has over 200,000 followers — she finds that the people close to her are watching. “I do get a lot of people thinking the art is about them, and sometimes they’re right and sometimes they’re wildly wrong,” she says. Finck often takes inspiration from her real-life relationships, but alters the details to get at a specific feeling. “I’ll try to refine it into its purest

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form and then put it into a drawing,” she says. She once drew a cartoon that featured a dachshund, and a man with whom she had gone on a date became convinced that it was inspired by him. He claimed that he had told her a story about the dog breed on their date, but Finck remembered no such thing. “I don’t think it came from him, I really don’t,” she says. As our conversation draws to a close, it’s time for Finck to resume her creative time at the beach. She only has a few hours left before the last train back to New York, and I don’t want to keep her away from her work. A week later, as I start working on this article, I find myself scanning her Instagram wondering if anything I said may have inspired a cartoon. There’s one cartoon in which a woman talks on the phone with a robot — did I come across as too robotic? But quickly I realize I’m becoming one of those people who study Finck's work too closely, hoping to see a trace of themselves in it. I close the browser and start writing. 

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Attention Homeowners 62+

FREE Reverse Mortgage Seminar Call today to reserve your spot at our next event.

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Best Wishes from all of us to all of our friends and clients in the local Jewish Community!

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CAROLYN TALBERT

Barbara Robinson Picou 504-452-2602

Jennifer Lacoste 985-373-4927

Peggy Talbert 985-869-0798

TOP Producer Since 1985 · SOLD OVER $845 Million · Experience Makes a Diﬀerence

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“I want to sell your home!”

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