SPRING PASSOVER 2020/5780
TABLE OF CONTENTS PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
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RABBI YOSSI ON PESACH
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CANTOR BEN ON PESACH
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HEBREWS'COOL MESSAGE
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RECIPE: CHEESE DUMPLING WITH BROCCOLI SAUCE PASSOVER SCHEDULE 10 PLAGUES OF MODERN LIFE
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POEM: THE PASSOVER STORY - ABRIDGED
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CREATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES
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POEM: MATZAH BRIE
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WHY PRESIDENT JOKOWI SHOULD WISH ALL JEWS A HAPPY PASSOVER RECIPE: SPICED SALMON WITH ASPARAGUS MAZAL TOV
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CONDOLENCES
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RECIPE: PASSOVER CHEESECAKE
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TREE OF LIFE
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE This is a unique and unusual time to be writing my first message to the Beth Torah Congregation as President of the Board of Trustees. I had expected to be making the usual comments about the coming spring and good wishes – instead, we are all doing our best to cope in these incredibly trying times. Where we would normally be preparing for our seders and thinking about who should sit in which seat, we are instead thinking about holding remote seders without family and friends around our tables. At this time, I am particularly grateful to Rabbi Yossi for his strong leadership, as well as the support of each of the members of the Executive Committee. There have been many difficult decisions that have been made over the past several weeks affecting our Shul, often in a climate of limited and fast changing information. These decisions are being made to best ensure that we are able to support our members, both in day-to-day matters and in significant life cycle events, with our staff and clergy exhibiting great dedication and care. I am exceptionally thankful to the generous support of Martin and Shirley Glick, who have allowed us to move our Shabbat services to an on-line livestream. This has been very well received and attended over the initial Shabbats, and will expand with a Passover Seder on-line as well. The forward-thinking of Rabbi Yossi, combined with the generosity of our members, is certainly one of the great strengths of our congregation, which will allow us to emerge from the Covid-19 crisis and continue to be strong and vibrant. As we sit around our (much smaller) Passover tables this year, the discussions will likely be very different than in past years, and I am sure we will find different meanings in many of the Haggadah passages. As is often quoted, “this too shall pass” and it is most important to focus on keeping our families safe and healthy, and remember to help others who are in need. From my family to yours, we wish you a happy, healthy, safe and kosher Passover, and a speedy end to this current crisis. Chag Sameach, David, Gayle, Noah, Samara and Joshua
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RABBI YOSSI ON PESACH Dear Friends, Members and Community, I write to you from the edge of a precipice, the abyss of social disconnection. I am grateful that in my own life I have loving family and friends to support me, and I have many loving family and friends to whom I can offer support. Terribly, there are many who are not blessed with a strong social network. There are many who are suffering horribly from the financial strain of this crisis, and also those who suffer deeply from unending anxiety. It is they who are foremost in the thoughts of so many. Our seder opens with the call to “let those who are hungry come and eat,� and even that is not possible this year. We cannot have anyone at our table, other than those with whom we are isolated, and thinking about the limitations of our compassion reminds us that this is a Passover unlike any other in memory. In these difficult times, it is our moment to shine, as individuals, as families, and as a community - to be greater than, and not lesser than. It is our call to dispel the darkness of human discomfort with a brightness of the warmth of caring and compassion. It is our moment to embark on a journey to freedom, one which we never imagined would be withheld from us. And it is our duty to make sure that each and everyone of us experiences the freedoms yet to come, once this terrible circumstance has passed. Very much like the first seder, we are behind closed doors, avoiding a plague. Let us join together in the fervent hope that we go to the Promised Land, throw off the shackles of fear, uplift the downtrodden, and proclaim liberty throughout the land. I remain with my family and I hope you are safe at this time. Wishing you a meaningful Passover despite the circumstances. With love, Rabbi Yossi, Michol and Allegra
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CANTOR BEN ON PESACH Dear Friends, Passover is normally a time to come together in the synagogue and to be with family to rejoice and sing. As I write this, so much is uncertain. Music is not a cure, but it can be effective medicine in times of uncertainty, trial, and isolation. In my High Holiday message for 2019, I wrote about the power of unified sound: when multiple voices come together, there is an undeniable and palpable energy created. As I write to you this Pesach, we are not likely to be able to stand side by side and sing together. The power of music is such that it can help uplift us, even when we are alone. A close look at the liturgy from Hallel (sung during the Passover services), reveals prayers and music which do just that. At Beth Torah, we debuted a stirring arrangement of the prayer Min Hameytsar at the 2019 High Holidays; its liturgy is also in the Hallel for Passover. It speaks of calling for help in times of distress, and receiving help. Musically, this arrangement by Mesivta of Waterbury is both brilliant and applicable for our times. Notice how the song alternates between one voice singing solo and a duet. Both the solo line and duet line are beautiful and stirring each in their own way. You can find this beautiful rendition of Min Hameytsar on Youtube. We are used to being able to sing with others whenever we want, however singing a melody alone does not detract from the power nor beauty of the song or its intended message.
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CANTOR BEN ON PESACH
The liturgy in the Passover Haggadah has a prayer Vehi Sheamda, which is also poignant for where we are today. It speaks of how in every generation, something will try to destroy us, but with faith we will ultimately survive. In this version of Vehi She,amda, Yaakov Shwekey shares the stage with Shlomi Shabat to create a moving piece, once again displaying that music can be powerfully emoted as a duet or solo. You can see this musical piece on YouTube as well, by searching for “vehi sheamda yaakov shwekey.” One of my favorite arias from the world of opera is Nessun Dorma, made popular by the late Luciano Pavarotti, and available for viewing on YouTube. During the lockdown in Florence Italy, tenor Maurizio Marchini sings this aria from his balcony. As he picks up his son, the aria ends with the words “Vincero! Vincero!” I will survive! As Maurizio picked up his son, it signalled to me, and perhaps all those who watched, that we need relief now and for tomorrow. Allow me to take license and pluralize the lyrics and say WE WILL SURVIVE! From my family to yours, wishing you a safe and healthy Passover. Sincerely, Cantor Ben, Karen, Emily and Ryan
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HEBREWS’COOL MESSAGE Passover has traditionally been viewed as a time for personal reflection and also a time for learning. Over the years, Passover education has taken on several methods of instruction, including traditional classroom, family learning, interactive methods, and storytelling. As Passover fast approaches and with our everchanging definition of societal norm, we can look to children to remind us of the joys of the holidays. Below, you can read about some amazing activities we offer at Beth Torah Hebrew School and how they can be adapted at home: A favourite event is our group Passover Jeopardy contest. This is something that can be played as a family at home. Turn your kitchen or living room wall into a giant Jeopardy game and play together! (For example, "His cup of wine awaits his arrival at every seder." Answer: "Who is Elijah?") Pesach Trivia Scavenger Hunt, another favourite, can be played by having parents create a list of questions. Cut out the questions and hide them all over the house. Have your kids search for the questions and see how many they can answer. It becomes a fun game and learning opportunity! (For example, “What are the names given to the four types of sons in the Haggadah?," “What does the word seder mean?" and “What are the items on the seder plate?") Beth Torah Hebrew School's older students participate in multiple activities which are created to induce investigative thinking. For example, Idea Line-Up is an activity where students choose a question like “What does Jewish identity mean in Exile?” or “Pharaoh vs. Moses: What are the important elements for being a great leader”. These questions have a variety and a range of responses. We ask students where they stand on the topics relative to other respondents. You can use this concept or these questions to have an interesting family discussion and compare family member's responses. Another Passover activity some of our younger student’s love is Passover Mystery Match. Parents can do this activity at home by creating a list of quotes or song lyrics and a list of where they are from in the Haggadah, and have students match individuals. (For example, "What is the meaning of this service to you?" - from the Contrary Son, or "Then came the water and quenched the fire." - from Chad Gad-Yo).
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These activities are designed to get children excited about learning and actively participating in collaborative and fun ways. Baking together is also always fun! If you would like to make some fun Passover Pop-Tarts at home please follow the recipe below! Recipe from "Friends, Family, Food". Ingredients 1. 100g ground almonds 2. 75g potato flour 3. 55g margarine 4. Half a medium banana 5. 100g fruit jam 6. Optional – Sprinkles and icing Instructions • Put the almonds and potato flour into a food processor and pulse a few times to give a fine powder. Mash the banana and add to the almond mixture with the margarine. Blend in the food processor for a few seconds until a soft dough forms. • Wrap the dough in cling film, and freeze for 10-15 minutes. • Roll out the dough between two sheets of baking parchment, to a thickness of around 4mm. Aim to roll into a large rectangle shape to minimise offcuts. Cut the rolled-out dough into eight rectangles of roughly equal size. Return to the freezer for a further 10 minutes. • Preheat the oven to 175C. • Place around 1.5 tbsp of jam on each of four of the rectangles. Carefully cover with the other four rectangles and press the edges together to seal with the tines of a fork. Make holes in the top of each pop tart to allow steam to escape. • Bake at 175C for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. • Allow to cool before eating. • Top with any icing or sprinkles (if desired) Kayla Hendriks Director of Education
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CHEESE DUMPLINGS WITH BROCCOLI SAUCE SAUCE: • 1 medium potato, peeled & cut into 1-inch pieces • 14 oz frozen broccoli • ½ cup vegetable broth • ½ cup olive oil • Salt and pepper to taste
DUMPLINGS: • 1 1b ricotta cheese • 8 oz mozzarella cheese, coarsely grated • Olive oil for frying • 1 ½ cup cold water • 1 large egg yolk • Pinch salt • 1 ¾ cup potato starch
FOR SAUCE: 1. Cook potato in large pot of boiling, salted water for 10 minutes, and add broccoli for another 5 minutes. Drain water and blend potatoes and broccoli in food processor, or with hand blender. Add broth and oil and blend well. Season with salt and pepper and set sauce aside. FOR DUMPLINGS: 1. Using an electric mixer, beat ricotta cheese in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in mozzarella cheese. Form into eight to ten patties or logs and place on baking sheet. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours. 2. Heat a generous amount of olive oil in a large skillet. Whisk water, egg yolks, and salt in a large bowl; whisk in ¾ cup potato starch. Place remaining starch in medium bowl. Coat each cheese dumpling patty in starch, dip in batter and fry until pale golden, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. 3. Heat broccoli sauce to simmer, adding more broth to thin, if necessary. Serve dumplings with sauce on individual plates.
- Recipe from "Dining In"
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PASSOVER SCHEDULE APRIL 8 – EREV PESACH 7:36 PM Candle Lighting 5:30 PM Livestream Seder begins. Visit bethtorah.ca/event/seder2020 for more information and to register APRIL 9 - PESACH I 8:45 AM Passover online services at bethtorah.ca 5:30 PM Rebroadcast of Livestream Seder at bethtorah.ca 8:37 PM Candle Lighting APRIL 10 – PESACH II (FIRST DAY OF OMER) 8:45 AM Passover online services at bethtorah.ca 7:38 PM Shabbat Candle Lighting APRIL 11 - SHABBAT AND PESACH III 8:45 AM Livestream Shabbat Service at bethtorah.ca 8:48 PM Havdalah APRIL 14 - PESACH VI AND EREV CHAG 7:34 PM Candle Lighting APRIL 15 - PESACH VII Candle Lighting – 8:44 PM APRIL 16 - PESACH VIII 8:45 AM Livestream Yizkor Service at bethtorah.ca 8:53 PM Havdalah
*Please note, the times for livestreaming services are approximate.
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10 PLAGUES OF MODERN LIFE By Dr. Elliott Malamet Beth Torah Scholar-in-Residence While the Ten Plagues of the Haggadah might be fun in the same way as some people get a voyeuristic kick out of Game of Thrones or a slasher movie, most of us do not seriously believe that our tap water will turn into blood, or frogs will invade our bedrooms. Still the image of ten plagues, or “signs and wonders” as the Torah calls them, is one that we surely all relate to in our own way. Here are ten “signs of trouble” in modern life, and what we can do about them. 1. ISOLATION: My recent quarantine has jolted me into awareness about the nature of the confinements that so many people suffer as a regular part of their daily existence. Housebound because of chronic illness, locked up tight due to unlawful or inexplicable incarceration, escaping deep into the recesses of their rooms to drown out the storms in their minds of depression, social anxiety, fear of human contact. For such individuals, “social distancing” is not some temporary lexicon of the digital age, a phrase that will become a memory or disappear with a Coronavirus vaccine. It is a permanent feature of their torment and their struggle to keep up with a world that is too loud, too scary, too fast or too remote. Compared to these prisons, virtual and walled, my quarantine was scarcely an impediment; it was a luxury. 2. OUTSOURCING YOUR LIFE: The Talmud states that every time gossip is uttered, three people are damaged: “The one who spoke the gossip; the one who listened, and the subject of the gossip.” The person being gossiped about is an obvious choice for harm; who hasn’t felt the sting of finding out that others were chatting about us behind our backs? But the speaker and the listener? They too, have forfeited something valuable; in spending time, energy, and lots of money purveying or consuming gossip, they have rerouted the vitality, focus and personal introspection needed to live well, and transferred it to someone else’s life.
Some years ago, I remember my students talked repeatedly about Tiger Woods and his disintegrating marriage. I do not expect that Tiger Woods is much interested in my marriage – is there a reason I should have been interested in his? Will his fleshly infidelities help me figure out the value of my own short and complex existence on earth? Unless of course that is exactly the point, that the spotlight continuously flashed on Mr. Woods and the myriad of changing names that imbue this contemporary religion of celebrity gods, are important precisely because they allow me not to focus on my own life, to divert me as much as possible from my own challenges. Stop outsourcing your life. 3. NARCISSISM: Much as people would like to brand millennials as self-absorbed and vapid, that would be A) a gross generalization and B) historically shortsighted. Already forty years ago, the American historian and social critic Christopher Lasch, in a book whose title would be the catch phrase for a generation that cultivated self-involvement, announced “the culture of narcissism.” Lasch writes: “To live for the moment is the prevailing passion — to live for yourself, not for your predecessors or posterity.” A look at some of the male elder statesmen in various political positions of power around the world—naming no names–is enough to confirm that a narcissistic bent is not simply the province of the young and tanned. Narcissism, going back to the utterly egotistical Greek hunter who gave the term its origin, has always been with us. As Maimonides cuttingly observes in the 12th century everyone imagines “that all that exists, exists with a view to his individual sake; it is as if there were nothing that exists except him…[but] if a person considered and represented to himself that which exists and knew the smallness of his part in it, the truth would become clear and manifest to him.”
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Judaism’s answer to excessive self-love is humility and outer directedness. Self-care is a good thing, but it’s not the only thing.
both be possible.”
4. TRIBALISM: “A man with a conviction is a hard man to change…Suppose that he is presented with evidence, unequivocal and undeniable evidence, that his belief is wrong: what will happen. The individual will frequently emerge, not only unshaken, but even more convinced of the truth of his beliefs than ever before.”
6. ACTUAL SLAVERY: As the Washington Post’s Max Fisher reported in 2013, we think of slavery as a practice of the past, an image from Roman colonies or 18th-century American plantations, but the practice of enslaving human beings as property still exists. He writes:
It sounds like some typical op-ed in 2020, commenting on our increasingly intransigent convictions about everything from politics to morality. But the passage is from a 1957 book, When Prophecy Fails, written by the psychologists Henry Riecken, Stanley Schachter and Leon Festinger. The sheer idiocy of all of our Jewish tribalism, our nitpicking about the other and our reflexive judgmentalism, was beautifully harpooned many years ago in R. Yitz Greenberg’s telling quip: “I don’t care what denomination you’re a member of, as long as you’re ashamed of it.” Let’s try hearing out the other person for change. 5. LACK OF URGENCY: A standard answer that is usually given as to why the Jews ate matzah coming out of Egypt is that they didn’t have time to let their bread rise. To which I might ask, “Why not?” You are slaves for 400 years and you can’t stop an extra few minutes to bake bread? When it comes to changing our lives, everyone seems to find a reason for delay, usually on the grounds of physical or emotional discomfort. Imagine a slave coming out of Egypt saying, “I’d like to escape barbarism and tyranny but I can’t leave until I have my twelve-grain.” We do versions of this every day. Many of us act as if we have unlimited time, and that if we put off crucial decisions, there will always be another time when we can get to it. As the psychoanalyst Allan Wheelis pointed out “Some persons sit at the crossroads, taking neither path because they cannot take both, cherishing the illusion that if they sit there long enough the two ways will resolve themselves into one and hence
Give your life the urgency it deserves.
“There are 29.8 million people living as slaves right now…living as forced laborers, forced prostitutes, child soldiers, child brides in forced marriages and as pieces of property, chattel in the servitude of absolute ownership. In Sub-Saharan Africa, roughly 0.7 percent of the population is enslaved — or one in every 140 people. Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe are blighted particularly by sex trafficking. Women and men are coerced into participating, often starting at a very young age, and are completely reliant on their traffickers for not just their daily survival but basic life choices; they have no say in where they go or what they do and are physically prevented from leaving. Since Fisher wrote this, matters have only gotten worse. The slave trade now oppresses over 40 million human beings, and its tentacles stretch to every part of the globe. 7. WORKAHOLISM: Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik observes that there are two ways to talk about slavery. In the Haggadah it says, “We were slaves to Pharaoh.” But in a verse from Genesis 24:34, Eliezer states “I am Avraham’s slave” (literally “a slave to Avraham am I”). Rabbi Soloveitchik points out that the phrase in the Haggadah implies that “I am my own person, and I happen to be a slave to Pharaoh at present.” But Eliezer’s expression means that my very essence is inextricably linked with my master. In other words, is being a servant what I do, or is it what I am? As reported by various health websites, work addiction, often called workaholism, is a real mental health condition. It often stems from a compulsive need to achieve status and success, or to escape emotional stress. So it turns out you can be
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financially comfortable, and under no one’s control, and still be a slave. 8. DISTRACTION: I have talked about this in a previous post (“From Doubt to Distraction”). Sometimes on the street, or the restaurant, the bus, the plane, the park, it could almost be the set of a post nuclear movie where every single person, as if in unison, is staring down at their phones, the small rectangular lover. My ensuing sense of claustrophobia, that there are no spaces left that are free and uncluttered, is palpable. The planet has become a stuck elevator. There is nowhere left to hide. None of this is accidental. There are forces at work that seek to find and distract us, whatever it takes. Distraction is zero sum. If you are staring at a screen, then you are not with me, not really present, no matter how much you’d like to pretend. Commercial interests benefit from my lack of focus, seducing my gaze and redirecting my fractured attentiveness towards toothpaste, a weekend in Mexico, a mindfulness retreat, a high-powered lawnmower. The membrane between the private and the commercial has been so seamlessly ruptured that most of us don’t even realize that we are the object of the “sell” practically every waking moment. What are the implications for friendship and intimacy, for love and for marriage when we can no longer “stay” with anything, not even the person who is trying to speak to us? One journalist claims that in the year 2000, the average amount of time we could remain focused on one task without our mind wandering to something new was twelve seconds. By 2010, he says it had dropped to eight seconds. What would it be now, one wonders? 9. MEANINGLESSNESS: The Torah stresses (Exodus 1:13) that “the Egyptians made the Israelites serve with hard labour. The Ben Ish Chai, a notable Iraqi sage of the 19th century, understood the phrase this way: “Doing meaningless work is the ultimate hard labor. Even a slave in bondage has satisfaction when he sees that his labor results in some purpose.
But if he is told to draw water from the river and to pour it back, his labor will be a thousand times more difficult.” Part of what enslaves human beings is a feeling of futility and meaninglessness attached to their lives. As Erich Fromm already reported in the 1950’s, “Today I would say that most people who go to a psychoanalyst are people who suffer from what [Freud] used to call `la malaise du siècle,’ the uneasiness which is characteristic for our century. No symptoms at all, but feeling unhappy, strange, not even sleeplessness, life has no meaning…They have everything but they suffer from themselves.” 10. LOOKING PAST THE OTHER: Rabbi Lord R. Jonathan Sacks astutely comments on the weirdness of the invitation we offer to others early in the Haggadah: “This is the bread of oppression our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come in and eat.” As Rabbi Sacks asks, what hospitality is it to offer the hungry the taste of suffering? His insight is that sharing food is the first act through which slaves become free human beings. “Bread shared is no longer the bread of oppression.” It’s not the food, but rather the fellowship that matters. At your Seder, pour out a drop of wine for each of these. And then let’s get to work on liberating ourselves and loving others.
- Dr. Elliott Malamet, a renowned contemporary Jewish thinker, is known for pushing his audiences to think beyond the conventional. He creates a sense of emotional and spiritual connection that attracts individuals to lead an informed, meaningful and inspirational life, underpinned with Jewish values. Dr. Malamet visits Toronto on a regular basis and will be teaching at Living Jewishly throughout the year. Elliott was a lecturer in Jewish Philosophy in Canadian universities for 20 years and was the Department Head of Jewish Thought at TanenbaumCHAT secondary school. He currently lectures in Israel at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and many other Israeli institutions. Contact Dr. Elliott Malamet at elliott@livingjewishly.org
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WEDNESDAY, 8 APRIL, 2020 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
THURSDAY, 9 APRIL, 2020
REBROADCAST OF APRIL 8TH SEDER 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Join Rabbi Yossi and his family for a Passover Seder like you’ve never experienced before, from the comfort of your own home! While you #stayathome Rabbi Yossi and his family will be reading the Haggadah, sharing their experience and participation with the community via livestream. All you need is an internet connection and a computer or smartphone. Now more than ever is a time to re-dedicate ourselves to the idea of liberation, and the themes of Passover can give us greater strength during isolation. Invite your friends and neighbours, and let this Passover Seder be a reminder that we shall overcome… one day!
5:30 PM LIVESTREAM BEGINS, WITH A SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR KIDS 6:00 PM MAIN SEDER BEGINS 7:00 PM DINNER BEGINS 8:30 PM LIVESTREAM WRAPS UP REGISTER AT
WWW.BETHTORAH.CA - 14 -
THE PASSOVER STORY – ABRIDGED Moses said to Pharaoh, “Let them go!” But Pharaoh’s answer was, "No, no, no!” Many plagues did not persuade him, ‘Til the Angel of Death at last dismayed him; Then Pharaoh proclaimed, “Be on your way!” So the people waited not one single day, They baked up their matzah and quickly fled, To wherever their leader Moses led; And on that day the Red Sea parted, That was the day that our freedom started.
- Sharron Elkouby, Beth Torah Poet-in-Residence
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CREATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES As the holidays fast approach, and with our ever-changing definition of societal norm, we can always look to children to remind us of the joys of Passover. This has always been my favourite holiday, not only because my birthday usually falls during Passover, but because I have always loved the tradition and the excitement that comes with fun and meaningful family activities. While you're at home, try any of these creative, fun activities with family. 1. CHOCOLATE SEDER – This is a favourite activity of our Hebrew School students. Every year, without fail, on the first day of Hebrew School, students ask if we are going to be doing this activity again. You use a specific Haggadah (see below links) that includes content converted to student centric language with a fun twist of exciting foods replacing traditional ones in the seder. For example, you substitute wine for chocolate milk and dark chocolate for bitter herbs. Please follow one of the three links below if you would like to host your own chocolate seder. You can find additional articles on chocolate seders at: • reformjudaism.org • agudatachim.com • staff.ncsy.org 2. MAKE A FAMILY HAGGADAH – This is a fun activity that everyone of varying capabilities can partake in. Adults and older students can help by writing a page or section and can add their own flair to the text or adding a theme, such as social justice. Younger children can add drawings and help with the Four Questions. After everyone has put together all of the components it becomes a wonderful family Haggadah and keepsake you can use every year. There is also an online Haggadah at www.haggadot.com, which you can use instead if you want more guidance as you create your Family Haggadah. 3. BUILDING A MATZAH HOUSE – Hands-on creations using food is something the entire family can enjoy. It may take some patience getting your matzah walls to stick together but it’s something that is fun that you can display at the seder and even more fun to eat afterwards. Stay tuned for more fun Passover activities next week! Kayla Hendriks Director of Education Beth Torah Hebrew School
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MATZAH BRIE Here’s my recipe for matzah brie, Which is actually matzah that you fry; Come on, try it, don’t say “Yucky!”, Once you’ve tasted it, you’ll feel lucky. In a bowl, soak 6 matzahs in water that’s hot, Can you skip this step? Absolutely not! Softening the matzah is a must, Follow the directions – me, you can trust! Squeeze out the water and set apart; See, wasn’t that an easy start? 4 eggs with a little milk you next beat, (Oh, this is going to be such a treat!), Add salt and pepper if you wish, (Oh, what a tasty Passover dish!); Then break up the matzahs, add to eggs and mix, See? It’s easy! There are no tricks. Fry in some butter, brown on both sides, For the yummiest breakfast you’ve ever tried.* Serve with syrup, ketchup or jam, But OY! Don’t you EVER serve it with ham!
Sharron Elkouby, Beth Torah Poet-in-Residence *Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but I needed it to rhyme!
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WHY PRESIDENT JOKOWI SHOULD WISH ALL JEWS A HAPPY PASSOVER By Niruban Balachandran, MPA Harvard University President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's recent Christmas greeting and uplifting message of tolerance was moving and timely. Now, the year 2020 is an opportunity for harmony, illumination and inspiration, with dozens of religious holidays celebrated in Indonesia. One special holiday of note is Passover – the celebration of the Exodus of the Jewish people from 400 years of slavery – which runs from sundown on Wednesday, April 8, and ends at nightfall on Thursday, April 16. Although Passover is not one of the Jewish High Holy Days, it is an unexpectedly complex and fascinating holiday. Jews are an ethnoreligious group indigenous to the Middle East, with a total global population of approximately 15 million – less than half the population of Greater Jakarta. In fact, approximately 200 Jewish Indonesians, mostly descendants of Middle Eastern and Dutch Jews, actively practice Judaism across the archipelago – primarily in Jakarta, Bekasi, Manado and Papua. Indonesians, especially all students and workers overseas, should ask their Jewish friends and colleagues more about the Passover holiday. They may also be surprised by how heartwarming it is. Back when I was a university student, my Jewish roommate (and still a close friend) Elazar invited me to a "Seder" dinner to celebrate and retell the story of Passover.
The original Passover story, which describes Moses' courageous resolve to tell the cruel Egyptian Pharaoh "Let my people go!", then rescue the enslaved Jews to the new land of Israel, is heroic and inspiring. Indonesians from all faiths and worldviews will probably find much to appreciate in the Exodus story's celebration of universal values: social justice, vitality, persistence, valor and freedom from oppression. The annual Muslim 500 global ranking, as well as Foreign Policy, Time and Forbes magazines, have all rightly honored President Jokowi as either one of the world's most powerful people, or as one of the world's most influential people. Indeed, as president of the world's largest Muslim-majority nation and eighth-largest economy, Jokowi's voice resonates through the prestigious G20, the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other powerful international blocs. But of course, with great power (or great influence) comes great responsibility. In April, in addition to President Jokowi's annual Ramadan greeting, he should also wish all Jews worldwide a "Happy Passover." To Indonesians who ask, "For what reason?", the answer is that operating in multireligious settings is a key requirement for global leadership. In fact, leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, Bahrain and other Muslimmajority nations have all publicly greeted and
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wished their indigenous Jewish communities on their religious holidays. Moses is also a well-respected leader in Islam, Christianity and Judaism alike. Therefore, like Moses, leadership requires President Jokowi's courageous resolve. If Indonesians want more of the world to honor them as respected global leaders, then they need to actually build the most difficult, most necessary bridge of all for international peace: Jewish-Muslim ties. To those who wonder if extremists in Indonesia and overseas might express anger at Jokowi's Passover greetings, I ask: really, what can the fundamentalists do to us? Any anti-Jewish rhetoric from them will only publicly reveal their own utter bigotry and conspiracy-theorizing. As the late Indonesian President B.J. Habibie said, "Without love, intelligence is dangerous, and without love, intelligence is not enough." Secondly, with both Islamophobia and antiSemitism on the rise, Jews worldwide need Muslim allies, just like Muslims worldwide need Jewish allies. Indonesia is an optimal place to start. As a leader of one of the world's largest and most diverse nations, President Jokowi should emphatically encourage all faiths to stand up for each other – especially in moments of oppression. The mantra "There but for the grace of God go I," springs to mind. So does the Nazi-era poem "First they came...," which describes the wishywashy cowardice of German society during Hitler's genocide of six million Jewish civilians – 1.1 million murdered in the Auschwitz concentration camp alone. (As of February 2020, only about 195,000 Holocaust survivors are alive today.) All of us want to be treated as if we were valuable
and worthy. This is because the human desire for dignity – the acknowledgment of our sufferings in life and of our fundamental value – is a universal thirst. Lastly, Judaism is also arguably consistent with the four central pillars of the Indonesian state: the Pancasila, the 1945 Indonesian Constitution guaranteeing religious freedom for all, the concept of a unitary state, as well as the national philosophy, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" (Unity in Diversity). A re-commitment to these pillars can help Jokowi overcome objections that building bridges with Jews is somehow anti-Palestinian or a betrayal of OIC members. It is neither. Given the above-mentioned 200-strong Indonesian Jewish community, officially recognizing Judaism and all of Indonesia's documented 1,200+ religions, not just the original six, would help Indonesia more fully live up to its declared ideals as a global leader and bridge-builder. I also encourage Indonesians to consider visiting and following the social media accounts of inspiring interfaith groups like Palestine Loves Israel, Muslim-Jewish Brotherhood, The UN Alliance of Civilizations and The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, which excel at bringing Muslims and Jews together, as equals, around superordinate values. Warm Passover greetings in April from the president of Indonesia, with the Red-and-White flag proudly raised in the background, would be a win-win peace surplus for everybody. In this time of cold geopolitical divisions, the world could frankly use more warmth.
- Niruban Balachandran is an American of Sri Lankan descent and a 2017 graduate of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government
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SPICED SALMON WITH ASPARAGUS
INGREDIENTS: • 1 ¼ lb salmon fillet, preferably tail section, about 1-inch thick • 1 TBSP + ½ tsp strained fresh lemon juice • 1 TBSP + 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil • 1 TBSP ground cumin • 1 tsp ground coriander
• • • • •
½ tsp paprika ½ tsp dried thyme Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Cayenne pepper to taste 1 lb medium-width asparagus, spears peeled, trimmed, and cut into 3 pieces
METHOD: 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. 2. Set salmon in a heavy roasting pan. Sprinkle fish with 1 TBSP lemon juice and 1 TBSP oil and rub over fish. 3. Sprinkle fish with cumin, coriander, paprika, and thyme, and lightly rub in spices. 4. Sprinkle evenly with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. 5. Roast salmon, uncovered, about 12 minutes or until the flesh flakes and has changed colour on its thickest part. 6. Meanwhile, cook asparagus in a saucepan of boiling, salted water about 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. 7. Drain and toss with remaining ½ tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp olive oil, salt and pepper. 8. Arrange salmon on platter and spoon asparagus around it. Serve hot.
- Recipe by Faye Levy, "1,000 Jewish Recipes"
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MAZAL TOV! To the following students who celebrated their B’nai Mitzvah at Beth Torah from September 1, 2019 – April 1, 2020
BENJAMIN ORBACH
RILEY MAYER
BEN & JAKE FORTIS
CALLA & CASSIUS BLOOMBERG
OLIVIA CHAPNICK
BENJAMIN TAYLOR
ASHLEY COHEN EVAN GOLD TYLER PHILLIPS
JAIME MORRIS NOAH BACK & CHLOE SISKIND SAMSON GERSTEIN
JESSE LEDERMAN
BENJAMIN BAYLIN
MACKENZIE BURNETT
JESSE POSNER
BENJAMIN MACKEY
ARYELLE SIGULIM
MATAN ZAMIR
DANEL ESAKOV
RILEY BLEIWAS
MAYA FICHMAN
ANNA GOLDFARB
JACOB KREINDLER
LAILAH OAKNINE ROBYN BAUER - 21 -
CONDOLENCES We offer our sincerest condolences to the following families on their losses since October 1, 2019. May you know no more sorrow.
EDWIN (TED) COHEN father of RuthEllen Cohen.
RELLY NEWMAN mother and mother-inlaw of Dean and Jodi Newman.
JOE GERSKUP father and father-in-law of Marlene and Sheldon Cooper, brother and brother-in-law of Beth Torah Past President Allen Gerskup and Maida Gerskup.
ABRAHAM PLOTNICK father and fatherin-law of Andrea Plotnick and Bernie Mayer.
HARRY GLOWINSKY brother and brother-in-law of Helen and Sam Yermus. ZELDA GOLDENBERG mother and mother-in-law of Teresa Goldenberg and Harry Shapero. ROBERT GREENWALD husband of Judy Greenwald and son-in-law of Helen and Aaron Yermus. SAMUEL KESSLER ANNALEA LIBSTUG beloved wife of Saul Libstug.
EVE RUBENSTEIN mother of Rosalee Rubenstein Naster and grandmother and great-grandmother of Mark and Elyse Tytel and family. TED SCHWARTZ father and father-in-law of Elaine and Mitchell Grossman. VICTOR SCHWARTZ father and fatherin-law of Stephen Schwartz and Sharon Goodman-Schwartz, Richard Schwartz and Joan Mortimer. SYDNEY SOLOMONS father and fatherin-law of Lori and Shawn Goldenberg and Hayden and Robyn Solomons. RANDALL ZALKEN husband of Anne Zalken.
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PASSOVER CHEESECAKE INGREDIENTS: • 6 TBSP (¾ stick) unsalted butter, melted • 1 ¼ cups macaroon crumbs (see note below) • 1 lb block cream cheese cut into pieces and softened
• • • •
2 cups sour cream ¾ cup, plus 3 TBSP sugar 3 large eggs Grated rind of one large lemon
METHOD: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a 9-inch springform pan and set aside. Add melted butter to macaroon crumbs and mix well. Press macaroon mixture in an even layer on bottom of prepared pan and about 1-inch up sides of pan. Bake 5 minutes. Let cool completely. Leave oven at 350 degrees F. 2. Beat cream cheese with ½ cup sour cream in a large bowl with an electric beater at low speed until very smooth. Gradually beat in ¾ cup sugar. Beat in eggs, one by one. Beat in lemon rind. Carefully pour filling into cooled crust and bake about 45 minutes, or until firm in centre. Remove from oven and cool 15 minutes. Raise oven temperature to 425 degrees F. 3. To make topping: mix remaining 1 ½ cups sour cream with 3 TBSP sugar. Carefully spread topping on cake in an even layer, without letting it drip over crust. Return cake to oven and bake 7 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Remove sides of springform pan just before serving. NOTE: To make macaroon crumbs, process macaroons in a food processor to fine crumbs. Alternatively, put them in a bag and crush them with a rolling pin; then measure needed amount into a bowl.
- Recipe from "Dining In"
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TREE OF LIFE
Honour or memorialize a loved one, commemorate a simcha, or recognize a special achievement with an inscription on our magnificent Tree of Life. PLEASE SELECT YOUR LEAF OR BARK SIZE: LEAVES:
BARK PLAQUES:
$360 - Small
$180 - Small (1" x 4")
$720 - Medium
$5,000 - Medium (2" x 6")
$1,800 - Large
$7,200 - Large (2.5" x 8")
$5,000 - Extra Large
INSCRIPTION:
PAYMENT: Cheque Enclosed
Please Charge My:
Visa
Card Number:
Expiry:
Name:
Signature:
Mastercard /
CVV:
Ordering is easy! Submit your order online, email communications@bethtorah.ca, or fax your form to 416.782.4496. While best efforts will be made, we cannot guarantee placement of leaves or plaques.
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GET INVOLVED YOUR AD HERE
JOIN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ADVERTISE IN OUR HIGH HOLIDAY & PASSOVER BULLETINS
BRING A FRIEND TO SHUL
SPONSOR A PROGRAM OR EVENT
MAKE A GIFT TO BETH TORAH
SPONSOR THE BETH TORAH BASEBALL TEAM
SPONSOR A KIDDUSH
ADD A LEAF TO OUR TREE OF LIFE
VOLUNTEER ON A COMMITTEE OR AT EVENTS
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS DAVID LEWIS President
STANLEY FREEDMAN Treasurer
JEAN WAGNER SUTKIEWICZ Vice President
ANDREW WEISBERG Immediate Past President
PAUL BAIN Vice President
JORDAN TURK Secretary
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Jeremy Alter
Barnet Kussner
Paul Bain
Sam Marr
David Beron
Tami Swartz
Judith Farb
Jordan Turk
Brian Feldman
Mark Tytel
Warren Ikeman
CLERGY RABBI YOSSI SAPIRMAN
MARK KRANTZBERG Gabbai
CANTOR BEN SILVERBERG IRVING MUELLER ע"ה Gabbai Emeritus
SAMUEL FRANKEL ע"ה Cantor Emeritus
For all inquiries, please contact yourshul@bethtorah.ca
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47 GLENBROOK AVENUE TORONTO, ON M6B 2L7 T. 416.782.4495 F. 416.782.4496 YOURSHUL@BETHTORAH.CA WWW.BETHTORAH.CA