Chanukah Gift Guide by Lauren Yoffe

WashingtonJewishWeek

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Chanukah Gift Guide

Washington Jewish Week â&#x20AC;˘ November 29, 2012

ChanukahGiftGuide

Eight days of giveaways! O

3. Rachel Strisik of Rachel and Company

ur gi to you!

Each day of Chanukah, WJW will be announcing a prize on Facebook that we will give away to one of our loyal readers. To enter our giveaway, simply “like” the announced prize (Facebook.com/WashingtonJewishWeek). Check back oen as more prizes will be added daily. Share our giveaway on your Facebook page and you will receive an additional entry in that day’s giveaway.

1. Certifikid Each day Certifikid features an unbeatable family value. Subscribers can purchase and print their CertifiKid certificate directly on the website. Offer: $25 Certifikid gi card

2. Tribes-A-Dozen, Leah Hadad, Founder Tribes-A-Dozen oﬀers a unique line of three Voilà! Hallah Egg Bread Mixes for every consumer — Traditional, Wholey Wheat, and Simply Spelt. e wholesome, all natural bread mixes bring you back to a kitchen from long ago — recreating the warmth, aroma and taste. We keep it simple so you can bake these traditional breads to share fresh with your friends and loved ones, and make every meal special. “BREAK BREAD, NOT TRADITION” Oﬀer: For each day of Chanukah, we will give a package of three mixes, including one of each product.

Rachel and Company is a professional organizing company that empowers families and individuals to live more organized, productive lives. Our organizing approach addresses not only closets and cabinets, but also schedules and time. e firm’s approach also results in a place for everything — either in the home or in a routine. With new confidence in the organization around their lives, clients enjoy less frazzled, more engaged day-to-day living. Offer: One hour of professional organizing consultation with Rachel Strisik of Rachel and Company $150

4. e Pedal Studio e Pedal Studio is a fitness boutique specializing in premium indoor cycling (Spinning ®) classes. We have classes for all levels, especially beginners, and offer personalized private cycle classes — when you want them — without a gym membership, contracts to sign, or hidden fees. We have a complete 22 person spin studio and offer a variety of custom classes to fit your busy schedule. We are completely focused on giving you the best workout experience possible. Offer: A three-pack of classes valued at $48

See GIVEAWAYS, next page

Happy Chanukkah!

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Chanukah Gift Guide

ChanukahGiftGuide GIVEAWAYS from previous page

5. Alef Bet by Paula

8. Washington, DC Jewish Community Center Jewish Film Festival

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6. Eli Chai’s 1stop Judaica Offer: Chic Made Simple: Fresh. Fast. Fabulous by Esther Deutsch (Value $29.59) Imagine this: An exquisite coffee-table cookbook that’s also your most used companion in the kitchen. An unlikely combination? Perhaps. Until Now. Prepare to be smitten with this collection of more than 185 deliciously dazzling recipes, accompanied by over 210 magnificent photographs. Includes a comprehensive 20-page index with full recipe cross-referencing. Yet the recipes are so easy, they take just minutes.

Washington filmgoers will soon be treated to a dynamic program of contemporary films ranging from indie romances and coming-of-age tales to heavy-hitting documentaries dealing with universal experiences such as divorce and mental illness. e festival will span 11 days from January 313, 2013, with 55 films from 15 different countries being screened at 10 different venues, and is curated by Ilya Tovbis, the DCJCC’s new film festival director. Offer: Two tickets to the Visionary Evening with Noemi Schory on Monday, Jan. 7, 8:00 p.m.

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Chanukah Gift Guide

Washington Jewish Week • November 29, 2012

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Authors’ favorite Chanukah books for kids I was very moved by There’s No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush, Sandy Goldstein by Susan Sussman, which I read some time ago (it was published in 1983). Just the title made me exhale with relief, as it validated my experience. As a child, I couldn’t understand why we didn’t have a Christmas tree when it seemed like everyone else did. My parents explained that Christmas trees were not something that Jewish families had in their homes. As I grew older, many Jewish families I knew began having Christmas trees in their home so the children wouldn’t feel “left out.” This only added to my confusion. This book is a wonderful jumping off point for discussion about respect for different traditions and cultures. Leslie Kimmelman (The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah) Hands down, Zlateh the Goat and Other Stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer, with glorious pictures by Maurice Sendak. I think it’s still in print. Some, though not all of the stories are Chanukah specific, but they’re all pure magic. No one can write Jewish folktales like Singer. I read the sto-

by Amy Meltzer Special to WJW

s Chanukah approaches, many of us are scouring the shelves of our local bookstore (because we all know how important it is to support our local bookstores) for wonderful Chanukah books for our children. This year I thought it would be fun to ask some authors of Jewish children’s books to tell us about their favorite Chanukah books. I hope it inspires you to add a few new titles to your holiday library. Linda Glaser (Emma’s Poem) I especially love Latkes and Applesauce by Fran Manushkin. Gentle humor, family closeness, and a flavor of "the old country" imbue this delightful Chanukah story. The warmth, spirit of goodness, and wisdom found in lines such as, "apples are always a miracle," make this a gem of a book. The warmth and gentle humor of Latkes and Applesauce inspired me to write The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes. Leslea Newman (A Kiss on the Keppie)

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ries with my grandmother, way back when the book first came out (not to give away my age or anything!), and many years later read them to my own children. The title story will blow you away. More recently, I love Eric Kimmel’s The Jar of Fools (illustrations by Mordicai Gerstein) — eight Chelm stories, one for each night of Chanukah and all deliciously silly. Richard Michelson (Too Young for Yiddish) My very favorite, and the one I come back to every year, is The Power of Light: Eight Stories for Hanukkah by IB Singer with pictures by Irene Lieblich. No one can weave a story like Singer and on this holiday where even secular Jews like myself put aside our skepticism and entertain a belief in miracles, Singer captures the power of love and faith to overcome doubt. The language is simple enough for young children and yet poetic and mysterious enough to keep the parents enchanted. The parakeet named Dreidel and Hershele the fawn come to life, as do the Eastern European ghettos, the Holy Land and even New York City. Irene Lieblich’s paintings bring just the right amount of playfulness to the tales. I can’t wait to read them all again this year. Laurel Snyder (Baxter, The Pig Who Wanted to be Kosher) My all-time favorite Chanukah book is The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming. I feel like it brings an honest and outrageous kind of humor to the holiday. Erica S. Perl (When Life Gives You OJ) Our family favorite is The Chanukkah Guest by Eric Kimmel. We were surprised, and then very pleased, to discover that it is also the favorite Chanukah book of our rabbi at Temple Micah, in Washington, D.C. Every year, Rabbi Danny Zemel

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Chanukah Gift Guide

brings a teddy bear to Chanukah services and reads The Chanukkah Guest aloud to the congregation. The story of the hungry bear and the confused blind grandma who entertains him never fails to get kids and adults alike giggling. The message is warm, simple and satisfying, just like a plate of delicious potato latkes. Eric Kimmel (Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins) My favorite Chanukah book was a coffee table edition of Howard Fast’s My Glorious Brothers, illustrated by Ezekiel Schloss. Schloss did a lot of work for Jewish publishers and educational institutions. His work was exciting and dynamic. I haven’t seen a copy of the book in years, but I still remember the picture of the Maccabees attacking the war elephants of the Greek army. Wow! Great stuff for a little kid. And as for me? I have a special spot in my heart for the very out-of-print chapter book, The Magic Top by Rosalind Welcher (1965). It’s a classic fairy tale with a Chanukah twist, and I read it over and over again when I was a child. There are used copies on line, and it’s a great choice for 7-9 year olds. The picture book that I can read to my daughters year in and year out without ever tiring of it is When Mindy Saved Hanukkah. Mindy, the brave and stubborn heroine, is an endearing role model. The suspenseful plot, combined with illustrations by the inimitable Barbara McClintock, set in the Eldridge Street Synagogue, has turned this book into a modern classic. For more suggestions, check out the list of Great Chanukah Books for Kids by the Association of Jewish Library at jewishlibraries.org/ajlweb/resources/AJL STBA Hanukkah.pdf.

ChanukahGiftGuide

Maccabees of sports by William Treger Staff Writer

ndrew Gershman is the author of Modern Day Maccabees, a collection of current Jewish sports heroes’ profiles from baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. While Gershman did not intend to create a Chanukah book from the start, he inadvertently did so by including the famous Maccabee warrior name in the title.The Maccabees, he says, were true warriors and fighters, like many of the Jewish athletes in the book. For each of the 20 profiled athletes in the book, there is a section on the player’s feelings of Jewish pride, his/her biography, career highlights, mitzvah moments and how they “step up to the plate” as team players. Last week, Washington Jewish Week caught up with Gershman, a resident of Silver Spring, for questions and answers. Your passion for sports is all over the book — how did you become such an avid fan and what was your motivation behind the book. I’ve always been a sports fan. I grew up as a sports fan, and even more recently, I started a radio show in Israel, Israel Sports Radio, where I had the opportunity to interview professional athletes. My kids wanted a book about Jewish athletes, and I put feelers out to athletes. I was surprised to find there is nothing like this book for kids. I wanted to bring together a collection of Jewish athletes so kids could see what these athletes were all about. Were you/are you an athlete as well? As a kid in Richmond, Va., I played basketball in JCC basketball leagues and ran cross country in high school. And now I coach the Bethesda Chevy Chase teams. I’ve also coached kids in Jerusalem. Are your sons, Jonah and Ariel, big sports fans/athletes too? Both of my sons have their own talents. Jonah is into rock climbing and individual sports. Ariel is into team sports. When we were living in Israel we had an opportunity to meet national teams in Israel. They respect and have a good understanding of the sports world. Modern Day Maccabees primarily covers four sports – baseball, hockey, football, basketball — and around 20 athletes. What was your approach in putting together the book? I wanted to achieve a balance in my profiles so I started with the four major American sports. I want to include a full

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range of athletes from diverse backgrounds. There were several other athletes that could have been included. When I approached Jewish athletes and let them know I was creating a book with their profiles, I didn’t get a lot of push back. Especially the hockey players — all of the hockey guys were amazing. They’re very blue-collar, very down to earth. They love to tell their story, and they are proud to be Jewish. Modern Day Maccabees also covers golf, tennis, boxing — are there others you wanted to cover but didn’t have enough room for? I received a lot of inquiries from cricket and rugby players, but I wanted it to resonate with children in North America — that’s our market. Do you have a favorite player in the book? Or one you find exemplary? The piece about the Jewish high school champion wrestler Alex Swieca, who goes on to play at the University of Michigan as a walk-on quarterback — that’s truly an amazing story of self-determination. How did you originally research/learn that these players were Jewish? Primarily from Jewish publications and other news features. A kid who is a sports fan gets this book for Chanukah — what are the main messages you want them to get from it? Young students should study the pride these athletes feel in their Judaism. They are proud of who and what they are, and they can do great things in any walk of life. I want these kids to put down the book and be inspired and help people do great things. What is your advice for future Jewish athletes? If you work hard and pay attention in school, greatness can come to anyone. This book shows people who care that if you make the right choices you can do great things. There’s a message in the acknowledgements that you worked through Kickstarter. How did that process work? I pitched the book to traditional Jewish publishers, and they said they already had a book on Jewish athletes. So I heard about Kickstarter [the online fundraising vehicle] from another guy who had put out a book this way, and I went for it and selfpublished the book. Just for the record, who are your favorite teams? I liked the Dallas Cowboys because by older brother liked the Cowboys, and I

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Chanukah Gift Guide

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Eight nights of heroes by Dasee Berkowitz JTA News and Features NEW YORK â&#x20AC;&#x201D; My 4-year-old son is obsessed with superheroes, dressing up at every opportunity as the superhero du jour to do battle with the bad guys lurking around the corner. From a developmental perspective, I know this fantasy play is his way of exercising control over a world he is learning is increasingly out of his control. But I also see other qualities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; his desire to be strong, to stand up for the good guys â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in short, to be courageous. Becoming courageous doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen overnight. It develops when children have opportunities to stand up for whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right and take responsible risks. î ˘rough experiences my husband and I provide, and the stories we tell them, we can lay some groundwork. As I think about a central message of the Chanukah story and the way I want to portray it to my kids, models of courage abound. From Judah Maccabee, to Judith and Hannah and her seven sons, heroes and heroines fought for the right to be diďŹ&#x20AC;erent, to be Jews who refused to assimilate into the prevailing Hellenistic culture. When Antiochus Epiphanes came to power, and observance of the most basic

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mitzvot (circumcision, Shabbat and kashrut) were turned into capital oďŹ&#x20AC;enses, their acts of courage formed the basis of a central narrative of the Chanukah story. Consider Judah Maccabee, whose army with a bunch of Jewish soldiers used guerrilla tactics and religious zeal to defeat the stronger Assyrian Greek army. He forced the Assyrian Greeks to rescind the policies that forbade Jewish practice, and in 164 BCE liberated the Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to a place of Jewish worship. Consider Judith, who did her part to prevent the siege of Jerusalem in her hometown of Bethulia by seducing Holfenes, the Assyrian Greek army general, and then decapitating him. Her bravery is so highly esteemed by the rabbis that it is because of her act of courage that Jewish women are obligated to light Chanukah candles. And consider Hannah and her seven sons, who refused to bow down to Zeus and Antiochus and eat nonkosher meat. î ˘e Book of Maccabees relates that each of her sons and then her mother were tortured to death. î ˘ese acts of courage seem extreme and even unpalatable to our modern ear â&#x20AC;&#x201D; what woman would sacriďŹ ce her son, not to mention all seven? And arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we a peace-loving people who should not extol brute force? But they also lead us to deeper questions about the nature of courage. Are there values and beliefs for which we are willing to make great sacriďŹ ces, and if any of these values or beliefs were violated, would we take action? While these ďŹ gures present us with one narrative of the Chanukah story â&#x20AC;&#x201D; of heroism in battle and martyrdom â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a second narrative is favored by the ancient rabbis. î ˘e story begins with the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem and the faith that the Jews had that the small cruse of oil which should have lasted for one day only could last for eight (in time for others to travel and get more oil). î ˘e second narrative downplays the military victory won by human hands and elevates the story to one in which our faith in God and Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s miracles are kindled. It reminds us that courage is born when we continue to have faith and hope even in our darkest time. Having faith in itself is an important kind of courage. While the call to be courageous is central to the Chanukah story â&#x20AC;&#x201D; spiritually or physically â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it is also daunting. But the rabbis offered another way for us to understand how to live a courageous life and be our own heroes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who is a hero?â&#x20AC;? they ask. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One who overcomes his urges?â&#x20AC;? (Mishna, Pirkei Avot 4:1) Overcoming our most natural desires and exercising personal restraint is another kind

Chanukah Gift Guide

Writer Dasee Berkowitzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4-year-old son, Tamir, preparing to battle the bad guys â&#x20AC;&#x201D; his way of showing courage, which we celebrate at Chanukah. Photo courtesy Dasee Berkowitz

of heroism. î ˘is is a kind of everyday courage. When we are present in a diďŹ&#x192;cult conversation with someone we care about even though our impulse is to leave, we are a hero. When we resist the urge to say something that we know will oďŹ&#x20AC;end another person, even if we think it is warranted, we are courageous. When we have vowed not to feed a habit that is destructive to us, and when tempted and resist (a smoke, an extra piece of chocolate cake), we are being our own heroes. î ˘is Chanukah, celebrate all of the dimensions of courage by dedicating each night to one of them: Candle 1 to the classic Chanukah heroes of Judah Maccabee, Judith and Hannah. Candle 2 to the courageous acts of our children who welcome a new kid to the school, speak out against bullying or have faith that the next day at school might be a little better than today. Candle 3 to someone in your community who took up a cause you believe in and fought for it. Candle 4 to someone in your family â&#x20AC;&#x201D; perhaps a parent or grandparent â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and a courageous act they performed during their lives. Candle 5 to American and Israeli soldiers who are ďŹ ghting to protect values and ideals that are sacred to us. Candle 6 to the courage that you have exercised by restraint â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with a co-worker, spouse, child, friend or parent. Candle 7 to a person in your life who exempliďŹ es courage the most. Candle 8 to that quality of courage in ourselves that enables us to bring light into dark places and for the energy to continue to stoke the embers of our own sense of courage.

Chanukah Gift Guide

Washington Jewish Week â&#x20AC;˘ November 29, 2012

ChanukahGiftGuide

Bake your giî&#x2020;? T

his Chanukah, why buy a giî&#x201A;? when you can bake it? From oversize chocolate cookies to combo mandel bread, area chefs share their best recipes that everyone on your giî&#x201A;? list will love to open on Chanukah. Recipes and text from Beth Kanterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new cookbook, Extraordinary Recipes from Washington, D.C. Chef â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Table (Lyonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Press, $24.95).

Combo Mandel Bread Makes about 8 dozen pieces Recipe from Elizabeth Hutter, executive pastry chef of Sunflower Bakery 8507 Ziggy Lane Gaithersburg, Md. 240-361-3698; sunflowerbakery.org Former Watergate Hotel pastry chef Elizabeth Hutter now teaches the ďŹ ne art of professional baking to the adults with development and other disabilities who are her students at SunďŹ&#x201A;ower Bakery. In order to follow the dietary laws of the certiďŹ ed kosher bakery, Hutter substitutes margarine for butter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our mandel bread is really good, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like a biscotti but not as hard,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Margarine doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get as hard as butter so when you sub margarine in for butter, you wind up with a cookie that is going to be a bit more chewy. Ideally you should cut up your mar-

garine like ice cubes and put it in the freezer for a half hour before using it. î ˘at way itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more like butter.â&#x20AC;? 2 1/4 cups (12 ounces) all-purpose ďŹ&#x201A;our 1 cup (8 ounces) granulated sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder Pinch of salt 6 ounces cold salted margarine* 5 ounces dried cranberries 9 ounces semisweet chocolate chunks/chips 6 ounces slivered almonds (not sliced) 3 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract *Margarine breaks down faster than butter, so you really have to keep the margarine cold. Put it in the freezer for half an hour before using, and it will be more like butter. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line two half-sheet pans with parchment paper. Combine the ďŹ&#x201A;our, sugar, baking powder and salt in a 5-quart mixing bowl and mix well on low speed, using a paddle attachment. Cut cold margarine into small pieces and toss into the mixing bowl. Mix on low speed until the margarine is incorporated and the mixture is cool and powdery. Pour in the fruit, chocolate and nuts, mixing brieďŹ&#x201A;y to combine. Whisk the eggs and vanilla together in a

small bowl. Beat in the eggs and vanilla to the margarine/ďŹ&#x201A;our mix on low speed, taking time to scrape the bottom of the bowl very well. Turn the dough out onto a ďŹ&#x201A;oured surface and knead it lightly, making sure that the fruit, nuts and chocolate are evenly distributed. Divide the dough into four equal pieces, each weighing about 13 ounces. Roll each piece of dough into a smooth log about 12 inches long on a lightly ďŹ&#x201A;oured board. Place the logs on sheet pans lengthwise,

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November 29, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ Washington Jewish Week

Chanukah Gift Guide

spacing them 4 inches apart. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the logs are golden and ďŹ rm to the touch. Remove pan from oven. Allow the logs to cool completely. (Aî&#x201A;?er they cook, they may be wrapped and frozen for ďŹ nishing at a later date.) Carefully place the cooled logs on a cutting board. Use a serrated knife to carefully cut the mandel into half-inch-thick slices. Arrange See BAKE, next page

ChanukahGiftGuide

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BAKE from previous page the cookies on the baking sheets, laying them ﬂat. Bake for a second time at 325 degrees until the mandel are golden, about 10-15 minutes. Cool the mandel completely before wrapping in airtight container. Store cookies at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Galletas de chocolate de amor Makes 12 oversize cookies or 24 standardsize cookies Recipe from Greer Ann Gilchrist, baker and owner of Black Strap Bakery 944 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 202-290-2865; blinddogcafe.com One bite of baker Greer Gilchrist’s heavenly chocolate chip cookies lets you know she has a magic touch, and Gilchrist points to the creaming of the butter and sugar as the most signiﬁcant step in moving from good to great on the cookie meter. “When you cream the butter and sugar together, it should change color from brown and white to tan,” she shares. “Otherwise the sugar is not fully incorporated and the texture of the cookie will

be grainy.” It can take up to 10 minutes to get the color and mixture just right so Gilchrist reminds you to be patient. e final product will be worth it. 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/4 teaspoons salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup white sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups chocolate chips — dark and milk (can also use chocolate chunks) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (alternatively you can also use a good nonstick tray). In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. With a mixer, beat butter and sugars together until fully blended and the mixture is tan in color. Add egg. Add vanilla. Slowly add the flour mixture. Add the chocolate chips. Form the dough into balls and place on the lined baking sheets. At Blind Dog, Greer uses an ice cream scoop to create the oversize cookies she bakes, but she says you can make them any size you wish as long as you leave about 2 inches between the cookies so they don’t conjoin as they bake. Bake for 10 minutes.

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AUNT (the opera fan): • MY VOLPONE, Wolf Trap Recordings's GRAMMY-nominated CD box set featuring the Wolf Trap-commissioned comedic opera performed by the Wolf Trap Opera Company.

MY WORK OUT BUDDY (the jokester): • Tickets to THE SECOND CITY at The Barns at Wolf Trap or BILL COSBY at the Filene Center so he can laugh out loud.

ANYONE ELSE: WOLF TRAP GIFT CERTIFICATES • For tickets to any available performance at the Filene Center,

The Barns at Wolf Trap, or Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, and apparel, picnic supplies, CDs, and more at the Wolf Trap Gift shops.

ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS YOU'RE D DONE

Chanukah Gift Guide

Washington Jewish Week • November 29, 2012

ChanukahGiftGuide

2012 Chanukah gi guide by Diana Burmistrovich JNS.org

he story of Chanukah was about bravery, determination and ﬁnding light in the darkest of times. ese days, we certainly remember and celebrate the centuries-old victory of the Maccabees, but with a modern and material spin — plenty of gis. is year, consider bringing back the historic themes of the Festival of Lights through your purchases.

A menorah doesn't have to be a dull gi with such funky options. Photo courtesy of Menorah.com

It is a Festival of Lights aer all e nine branches of the menorah have signiﬁed the Jewish people’s perseverance for more than 2,000 years since the Maccabees’ Chanukah triumph. ough the story stays the same, your menorah doesn’t have to.

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November 29, 2012 • Washington Jewish Week

Bringing the holiday back to the future, the brushed metal menorah from Etsy.com oﬀers a contemporary take on tradition. Fashion lovers may not get a new pair of shoes for every night, but they can sure pretend with this Menorah Blahnik reinterpretation on Moderntribe.com. Chanukah headwear If a dog is a man’s best friend, why shouldn’t he or she get a gi as well? Los Angeles-based Lena Pavia creates Chanukah hats to get your beloved pooch (or pussycat) in the holiday spirit and sells them on Etsy.com. Pavia’s kippot are handcraed with a Star of David and peyot that are suited for any “teacup, small, and medium” sized pet. Make sure your pet doesn’t look like the next goy while supporting an awesome independent artisan. Kitsch for the kitchen Are you jealous of bubbe’s latkes, sufganiyot and kugel? Strive to make grandma proud with your own cooking this year, using the help of some of this year’s newest Chanukahthemed cookbooks. Many traditional foods are heavy-handed on the oil to assure that we don’t forget what this holiday is really about. For those looking for a fresh and healthy alternative, Barbara Lori oﬀers the Healthy Hanukkah Cookbook: Savory Jewish Holiday Recipes, available on Kindle. Amateurs and

Los Angeles-based Lena Pavia creates Chanukah hats to get your beloved pooch (or pussycat) in the holiday spirit. Photo by Lena Pavia

kids alike are sure to ﬁnd something that hits the sweet spot in Ronne Randall’s Hanukkah Sweets and Treats. Even a seasoned pro in the kitchen can cook up some Chanukah spirit with an “Oy to the World” apron from Cafepress.com, plates and serving platters from WilliamsSonoma.com, or a seven-piece cookie-cutter set from Kitchenworksinc.com including shofar, dreidel, and kiddush cup shapes — for the kids.

Chanukah Gift Guide

Hands-on Chanukah Use old family recipes or new reinterpretations to treat the family every night. Rather than buy gis, why not whip up a diﬀerent dessert for every night and package it nicely with some blue and white ribbon? A lot of party stores also oﬀer Star of David confetti and stickers to accent your DIY gi as well. Not only will it be delicious, but your own masterpiece is oen more meaningful than anything you could buy.

ChanukahGiftGuide

e perfect gi for a history buﬀ M

ichael I. Meyerson considers himself a practicing Jew who is a fervent believer in freedom of religion. e University of Baltimore law professor and member of Beth Shalom Congregation in Columbia said he has become concerned over how heated and divisive the debate over the concept of religious freedom has evolved. It was the belief of the Founding Fathers that religion was something that should unite, not divide the nation, he said. To prove that point, Meyerson, a Wilson H. Elkins Professor of Law and Piper & Marbury Faculty Fellow, recently published his book, Endowed by Our Creator: e Birth of Religious Freedom in America (Yale University Press, 2012). He spoke with WJW: WJW: How did the Founding Fathers envision the role of freedom of religion? Meyerson: ey believed that religion could be both good and evil. e question is “How can you use religion to unite but not divide the nation.” ey basically struck a balance, where government would not fund religion, would not give land to religious organizations, and government would have a total freedom of liberty of conscious. In other words, no one would be deprived of rights in the national government because of their faith. However, they did not desire to cleanse the public dialogue of all religious references. Our earliest literature has many religious references. [e Founding Fathers] were nonsectarian in their works, but they still used religious references. ey were indeed willing to use religious language but in a way so that everybody would feel like they were full Americans. ey were aware that any discussion of religion was dangerous, where there could be the tendency for the faith of the majority to dominate. at is why they made sure all their religious references were as nondenominational as possible. How has the interpretation of the First Amendment evolved since the country’s founding? e reality is the leaders of our nation in its earliest days had a vision of where the balance between religion and government should be struck. But I think the population as a whole never reached that same consensus. Almost from the beginning, you can see there was a battle about what type of country the U.S. should be. Is it a religious country? Is it Christian or is it secular? What has happened today is that [reli-

gious debate] has become so blended in our partisan political debate that people seem to refuse to acknowledge the strength and wisdom of opposing arguments. e framers really wanted to separate church and state but not necessarily God and state. Michael I. Meyerson, a professor of law at the University of Baltimore, has written Endowed by Our Creator: e Birth of Religious Freedom in America.

Does today’s society understand where the Founding Fathers stood in terms of religious freedom? e political divide has mirrored the divide over the debate of the role of religion in government. Sadly, it doesn’t have to be that way. ere’s no question the framers did not understand racial equality or even equality for women. However, the framers understood religious freedom, religious pluralism and freedom to think as you will better than not only those during their time, but arguably any time, including today. … To not take advantage of their wisdom from that time is a tremendous mistake. What do you hope the Jewish community will take out of your book? e leaders of the new nation embraced religious pluralism and viewed Jews as members of the national community. Early in our history, the individual states tended to discriminate against Jews, including in Maryland, where they couldn’t serve in the legislature until the 1820s. However, that wasn’t the case in the national government. While there were individuals who could easily display anti-Semitism, those that created the country welcomed the Jewish community and the faith and decried any attempt to discriminate. e Jewish community should embrace this part of the nation’s history because it’s part of the Jewish history as well. What can everyone learn? I want people to [learn to] show more respect for those who disagree with them. Just as we respect people of different faiths, we need to respect people with different ideas and views. … People need the courage to admit they don’t know something and that possibly … the other side may be right. Ron Snyder is a Baltimore Jewish Times staff reporter.

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Chanukah Gift Guide

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Washington Jewish Week • November 29, 2012

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Linking to Lincoln on Chanukah in which some Jewish and other traders were engaged. As researched in the engaging new book When General Grant Expelled the Jews by the prominent historian Jonathan D. Sarna, we ďŹ nd that Grantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s order was enforced in several towns in Union hands, including Paducah, Ky.; Holly Springs, Miss.; and Trenton, Tenn., among others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Only a few Jews were seriously aďŹ&#x20AC;ected by General Orders 11,â&#x20AC;? perhaps fewer than 100, according to Sarna, but news of the order and the resulting outrage was quickly spread by î ˘e Associated Press. î ˘e Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nai Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;rith sent a petition to Washington calling upon President Lincoln to â&#x20AC;&#x153;annulâ&#x20AC;? the order. Other Jewish leaders moved to organize delegations to meet with Lincoln. A Jewish merchant from Paducah named Cesar Kaskel traveled to Washington on a mission to have the order overturned. Upon arrival he was able to arrange through an Ohio congressman a meeting with the president. According to an account of the meeting that Sarna says is oî&#x201A;?en quoted but most likely embellished, Lincoln, using biblical imagery, asked Kaskel, â&#x20AC;&#x153;And so the children of Israel were driven from the happy land of Canaan?â&#x20AC;? In response, Kaskel asks for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Father Abrahamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;? protection, to which Lincoln replies,

by Edmon J. Rodman JTA News and Features LOS ANGELES â&#x20AC;&#x201D; We need to celebrate a Lincoln Chanukah this year. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not because of the new Spielberg movie â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that gives us something to do on Christmas Day â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but because of the 150th anniversary of a little-known event in American history that threatened to expel a portion of the Civil War-era Jewish population from their homes on the Festival of Lights. On Dec. 17, 1862, during the height of the war, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant issued General Orders 11 expelling â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jews as a classâ&#x20AC;? from a war zone that included areas of Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky within a 24-hour period. It was the ďŹ rst day of Chanukah. At the time, Chanukah was not the major holiday it is now. But Grantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s order, if carried out, meant that entire families would be uprooted during the holiday and beyond, and exiled from their communities. Today, relaxing in our home with family on Chanukah, retelling the Maccabee story that takes place in a far-oďŹ&#x20AC; time and land, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uncomfortable to imagine a diďŹ&#x20AC;erent story about our freedom that hits much closer to home. On that day, Grant was attempting to cut oďŹ&#x20AC; the black market sale of Southern cotton,

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With this Chanukah season calling for a Lincoln connection, why not light a Lincoln menorah? Photo by Edmon J. Rodman

â&#x20AC;&#x153;And this protection they shall have at once.â&#x20AC;? î ˘e reality seems to have been that when Lincoln ďŹ nally heard of Grantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s order, he ordered the general in chief of the Army to countermand it. An account by the prominent Cincinnati Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, who also had met with the president about the issue, provides Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rationale: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do not like to hear a class or nationality condemned on account of a few sinners.â&#x20AC;? î ˘is Chanukah, then, with Lincoln on our minds, how should we commemorate Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s action to rescind what Sarna cites as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the most sweeping anti-Jewish regulation in all American History?â&#x20AC;? Should we devise a stovepipe hat menorah? Fry up four score latkes or change the lyrics of the modern classic Peter Paul & Mary Chanukah song to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Light one candle for the Tennessee Children?â&#x20AC;? Not necessary. Jews going back to Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidency

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November 29, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ Washington Jewish Week

Chanukah Gift Guide

have found ways to connect before. Aî&#x201A;?er his assassination, expressing their sorrow, many rabbis delivered sermons that were collected in a book by Emanuel Hertz titled Abraham Lincoln: î&#x201A;ťe Tribute of the Synagogue. î ˘e basis for the Library of Congressâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana was donated by Alfred Stern, a Chicago businessman. î ˘ereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even a Lincoln Street in Jerusalem. Continuing the connection is this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steven Spielberg ďŹ lm about Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in the passage of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that abolished slavery. Watching the ďŹ lm, I found it to be an excellent way at Chanukah time to rededicate an interest in Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart, humor and wisdom. Another ďŹ lm, Saving Lincoln by director Salvador Litvak, approaches the Lincoln story See LINCOLN, next page

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ChanukahGiftGuide LINCOLN from previous page through the eyes of his bodyguard. It might prove another way to light up a Chanukah night. Sarna’s book would be good for any night of the holiday, which many see as a struggle for freedom. For me it was a reminder that the dreidel’s message — “a great miracle happened here” — can apply to the U.S. as well. “In the end, General Orders 11 greatly strengthened America’s Jewish community,” Sarna writes. “e successful campaign to overturn the order made Jews more conﬁdent.” And Grant, to “repent” and to “rehabilitate himself with the Jewish community” during his two terms as president Lincoln “appointed more Jews to oﬃce than had any of his predecessors.” is Chanukah, when we stand before our lit chanukiyot reciting Hanerot Halalu, “ese lights which we kindle recall the wondrous triumphs and the miraculous victories,” perhaps we can also recall the victories here of Cesar Kaskel, Rabbi Wise and ultimately Abraham Lincoln, who protected our freedom. So maybe they weren’t exactly American Maccabees — but Maccabee style for sure. Edmon J. Rodman is a JTA columnist who writes on Jewish life from Los Angeles. Contact him at edmojace@gmail.com.

Bananot grams

racticing your Hebrew has never been so much fun. From the Nathanson family that brought you the 2009 Toy Fair “Game of the Year,” Bananagrams, comes Hebrew Bananagrams (or, should we say, “Bananot” grams). A fast and fun anagram game that’s perfect for anyone who loves Scrabble or Words with Friends. Packed into a banana-shaped pouch, it’s ready to go to that Chanukah party to be

Creating eight crazy nights

played when you grow weary of spinning dreidels. It is recommended for age 7 and older. And, since you compete against time, you can build any level of Hebrew word — from basic to advanced, making it suitable for beginners to ﬂuent speakers. To learn more about the game and a list of local retailers, go to bananagrams.com.

Chanukah Gift Guide

1. Heroes — have a super time by asking every member of your family to come to the menorah dressed like a superhero. Give a special prize to the most creative. 2. Make your own sufganiyot — buy or make plain donuts and set up a station of toppings. We’re thinking hot fudge, marshmallow fluff and sprinkles. 3. Spin yourself silly — see who can keep the most dreidels spinning the longest. Extra gelt for the winner. 4. Create your own candles — take a tea light, add a wick (available at a local craft store). Fill the tea light glass 1/3 with water. Add food coloring and top with olive oil. Watch how the oil separates from the water to a beautiful effect. 5. Iron Chef latke — challenge guests to make latkes with a surprise ingredient. 6. Tzedakah night — ask your guests to bring gifts to donate. 7. Chanukah Idol — rewrite “I had a little dreidel” and take turns judging the performances. 8. Have a chocolate gelt eating contest — no explanations needed.

Washington Jewish Week • November 29, 2012

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ChanukahGiftGuide

Dear Chanukah Hannah...

Q: My kids are asking for a puppy for Chanukah, but I’m not sure they’re

Q: My besties and I have all agreed to get each other gis for Chanukah. I’m on a budget and can’t aﬀord to buy all eight of them super nice gis. What is a nice Chanukah present that won’t break the bank but is still cute and shows how much I care about them?

What this requires is a little creativity. A homemade item, that takes thought and time to make, truly shows how much you care. Take a favorite photo of you and your bﬀs and print out eight copies, one for each friend. Head to your local cra store and pick up a pack of wooden frames that you can personalize. Grab an old magazine and cut out words that have special meaning. Glue these, along with buttons and sequins and other decorative elements to make your frame truly special.

ready for the responsibility. What should I do?

Here’s the deal. As much as your children will swear that they will walk and feed the dog, they won’t. is dog will be your responsibility, so determine if you have time to add a dog to your day. But, I will say this, a family pet is a wonderful addition. You will ﬁnd time for a family walk aer dinner. ere will be sweet moments when your child is crying and the dog licks the tears away. Your children will gain much in learning to care for and about another living thing. But, you do need to think through the cost and time required for a pet.

Q: My son just graduated college and is in his first apartment. What can I give him that’s fun but also practical? A:

A friend of mine has a son who eats oﬀ an ironing board. He and his roommates actually have to stand around the ironing board while they eat. So think about this while you shop. A good idea may be a chair or other furniture item that can be used for many purposes. Perhaps a chair that can be used for dining, gaming, and company would ﬁt the bill.

Q: My teen daughter wants for nothing. But I still want to celebrate the holiday with presents. What can I get her that’s small but fun?

Have a day with mom or dad. Schedule a special outing for just the two of you. Perhaps a movie you’ve been wanting to see or a concert or a play or mother-daughter manicures followed by lunch — they all sound great. Or bundle up for a hike in the Sugarloaf Mountains followed by hot chocolate.

E X C L U S I V E

S H O P S

F A B U L O U S

See HANNAH, next page

D I N I N G

F A M I L Y

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November 29, 2012 • Washington Jewish Week

Chanukah Gift Guide

ChanukahGiftGuide HANNAH from previous page

Q: I have a very picky relative who never likes what I give her no matter how hard I try. I still have to get her a present. What can I do? And don’t say gi card. A:

Go for an assortment hoping she’ll like at least one thing. Fill a basket with candy, popcorn, movie tickets and a wonderful DVD. Wrap the basket in a throw blanket — perfect for snuggling while watching a movie.

Q: My mom always says “don’t get me anything,” but I really want to. What can I do? A:

What your mom is really telling you is not to spend a lot of money on her. So, let’s go back to that gi of time. It works for moms, even better than it does for children. Give her a coupon for a day with you — she can pick the activity. As a bonus, this gives Dad a day to himself.

Q: My friend just had a baby, what can I give her for Chanukah? A: I received one of my favorite all-time gis when my son was born. A friend gave me a

collection of classic boys’ books — books I could read to him and books he would one day read himself. So, perhaps your friend would love a selection of your favorite children’s books for her new child. Don’t forget to include a baby book that your friend can ﬁll with memories.

Q: My kids want to buy us presents. ey don’t have their own money, but

we still want to encourage their generosity. What should we do?

If you don’t want to go the macaroni necklace route, take them to an inexpensive store, like the Dollar Store, Five Below or Walmart. Give them each a little money so they can pick out gis for everybody in the family (don’t forget the little sister). You’ll be surprised at how well they do.

Chanukah Gift Guide

Washington Jewish Week • November 29, 2012

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Get cooking (and singing ... and dancing) by Meredith Jacobs Managing Editor

ama Doni (Doni Zasloff Thomas) has done it again. The adorable singer of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chanukah Feverâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Funky Gold Menorahâ&#x20AC;? has teamed up with Recipe Rachel (food writer and cooking teacher, Rachel Harkham) to create a holiday cookbook. Published by Jewish textbook publishers, Behrman House, Get Cooking! A Jewish American Family Cookbook ... and Rockinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mama Doni Celebration ($19.95) offers meals you can make with your children for every holiday. Additional family and American holidays are included in the mix of Sukkot and Purim. Check out Shwarma Wings for football Sundays and Holy Moly Guacamole for Fourth of July. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve even put a Jewish spin on Thanksgiving with Mini Sweet Potato Knishes. We couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t resist these Judah Macâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;cheese Squares and Chocomallow Dreidels for Chanukah. And, with the Mama Doni CD of songs included with each book, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be dancing while we cook!

Judah macâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;cheese squares. Photo by Dan Engongoro, Studio E Imaging

Judah Macâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;cheese Squares Judah Maccabee was awesome, like a superhero! He led the Jewish revolt against the ancient Greeks and recaptured the Temple.

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On Chanukah we celebrate this victory and the puriďŹ cation of the Temple. Judah was mighty and good â&#x20AC;&#x201D; much like these mightygood crisp-fried macâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;cheese squares! makes 12-15 squares (dairy) Ingredients 1 9 x 13 pan of macaroni and cheese, chilled overnight, and cut into 12-15 squares 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

his Chanukah, our own â&#x20AC;&#x153;Modern Jewish Mom,â&#x20AC;? WJW managing editor Meredith Jacobs is teaming up with Mama Doni to host â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chanukah Rocks!â&#x20AC;? on XM Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Place Live. Airing on XM 78 throughout Chanukah, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chanukah Rocks!â&#x20AC;? will feature the best in childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chanukah music. So tune in and be prepared to rock like a Maccabee.

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November 29, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ Washington Jewish Week

See COOKING, next page

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Chanukah Rocks!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; T

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1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon oregano (optional) 1 1/2 cups crushed cornflakes 2 cups vegetable oil, for frying 1. Lightly coat the macâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;cheese squares in flour, dip them in the egg mixture, and then coat them in the cornflake crumbs, salt, and oregano, if using. 2. Heat the oil in a large skillet. (The oil is ready when a shred of bread tossed in turns golden brown in 15 seconds or less.) Carefully slip the coated squares into the hot oil (do not overcrowd them), and fry them on each side for about 1 minute until golden brown. 3. Drain the squares on paper towels and serve immediately.

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Chocomallow Dreidels. Photo by Cosi Neumann, cosicakes.com

COOKING from previous page

Chocomallow Dreidels Make these yummy chocomallow dreidels, and then get yourself some real spinning dreidels and see how many chocomallows you can win. Be a mensch (a good, kind person), and be sure to share. makes 2-25 dreidels (dairy) Ingredients 20-25 pretzel sticks 20-25 marshmallows 2 cups chocolate chips; milk, dark, semisweet, or a combination 20-25 chocolate Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped 1 teaspoon vegetable oil powdered sugar or sprinkles 1. Pierce the center of each marshmallow with a pretzel stick so that the pretzel

lodges securely inside but doesn’t stick out the other end. 2. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl on high for about 2 minutes. Remove and stir until the chocolate is completely melted. 3. With a knife or a metal spatula, smear the bottom of each marshmallow with melted chocolate, which will serve as a sort of choco-paste. Stick the chocolate kiss to the marshmallow, making a dreidel shape. 4. Set the dreidels on a tray lined with wax paper and allow them to harden in the refrigerator until firm, about 30-45 minutes. 5. Pick up a dreidel carefully by the pretzel stem and spread the melted chocolate over it until it is covered. (If the bowl of melted chocolate has hardened, mix in 1 teaspoon oil and microwave it for 30-45 seconds to soften it up first.) Place the finished dreidels on wax paper and sprinkle with powdered sugar, sprinkles, or whatever decorative flourish you fancy.

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Chanukah: e untold story by Binyamin Kagedan JNS.org

uring the eight days of Chanukah, traditional Jews add the following to their daily prayers: “In the days of Mattathias the son of Johanan the High Priest, the Hasmonean and his sons, when the evil kingdom of Greece set upon your nation Israel to make them forget your teachings, and to remove them from the laws you desire, you in your great mercy … gave the mighty into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure.” Sound familiar? The little history lesson in this prayer is probably very close to the story of Judah Maccabee and King Antiochus you remember from Hebrew school: The underdog heroes attain a miraculous victory over the powerful villains against all odds, winning back their religious freedom and purifying the defiled temple in Jerusalem. That’s the short story. The longer version is not quite as heartwarming or morally clear-cut. Ancient historical records, especially the little known Book

of Maccabees, actually tell of a bitter and bloody internal conflict that pitted Jew against Jew in a fight for political and religious domination. Towards the end of the fourth century BCE, Greek Hellenistic culture had spread to every part of Alexander the Great’s massive empire, and Judea was no exception. Certain Jews, mainly those belonging to the wealthy elite of Jerusalem, enthusiastically embraced the offerings of this culture — Greek names and dress, the gymnasium, even the Greek gods — and

ple. the high priesthood, which at Now the growing rift in the time was the most powerJudean society blew wide ful office in the land. Tenopen. Hellenized Jews not sions boiled over when only supported the repressive Hellenized Jews paid Seleucid policy, but also helped Antiking Antiochus Epiphanes ochus’ men violently enforce (the famous Antiochus of the it in the traditional Judean vilChanukah story), to replace lages. In response, when the the reigning high priest with traditionalists rose up under a Hellenist sympathizer who Mattathias, who led the the leadership of Mattathias, was not born of the priestly Maccabees in revolt. Photo by PD their fury was directed at their line. At the time, explains Hellenized countrymen. The famed Jewish historian First book of Maccabees reports that MatSolomon Grayzel, Antiochus’ actions were tathias’ followers, called chasidim, or economically and politically motivated “pious ones,” slaughtered assimilated Jews and had nothing to do with suppressing

“Ancient historical records, especially the little known Book of Maccabees, actually tell of a bitter and bloody internal conflict that pitted Jew against Jew in a fight for political and religious domination.” curried the favor of Alexander’s heirs, the ruling Seleucids, in return for their cooperation. The poorer farming communities of the rural Judean countryside, however, resisted the changes that were sweeping the ancient world, unwilling to give up the traditional Jewish beliefs and customs of their ancestors. The focal point of the conflict was often

Jewish religion. After all, there is no record of him imposing anti-Jewish policies on the many Diaspora Jewish communities under his rule. However, when Antiochus’ power play sparked an uprising in and around Jerusalem, he reacted harshly by banning circumcision and observance of dietary laws within Judea, and erecting a statue of Zeus in the Holy Tem-

and circumcised male children by force. Fearing for their lives, well-connected Hellenists called upon the Seleucid armies for protection, and it is with the ensuing battle that the well-known version of the Chanukah story begins. Binyamin Kagedan has an MA in Jewish Thought from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

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November 29, 2012 • Washington Jewish Week

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YearEndGiving

Everything you always wanted to know about giving by William Treger Staff Writer

he calls from charities and philanthropic organizations come in a rapid-fire sequence from Thanksgiving through the end of December: can you please give? You wish you could give something to almost everyone, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible. With so many competing personal needs in individual and family lives â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from everyday expenses, to retirement and college savings, to income taxes (considered by many to be another form of giving), itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no wonder itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to channel those additional funds where they are most needed. That said, the end-of-the-year call for charitable contributions is, in fact, a great time to get in some last minute giving, or tzedakah. It can be a great time to stay on the line and hear what your favorite charities have planned for the coming year. Alternatively, it might also be time to put down the phone and get on the Internet, begin your due diligence and really determine what charities are out there, doing â&#x20AC;&#x153;the most good.â&#x20AC;? According to charitable giving statistics published in Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy, researched and written by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and published by Giving USA Foundation, total charitable contributions by individuals, corporations, and foundations was approximately $300 billion in 2011. These figures are based on estimated charitable deductions on tax returns filed for 2011. The same Center on Philanthropy has also determined that the average person makes 24 percent of their annual donations between Thanksgiving and New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and then, according to the website Charity Navigator, which provides information and ratings on thousands of nonprofits, the average American gives 4.7 percent of their income to charities.

Earn Generous Life Income & Support Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bright Future That number is a far cry from that 10-20 percent giving recommendation prescribed by tzedakah and ancient tithing rules. In an essay entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Jewish Philosophy of Philanthropy,â&#x20AC;? Daniel Rothner, founder and director of Areyvut, an organization that enables Jewish youth to infuse their lives with tzedakah, writes that â&#x20AC;&#x153;According to Judaism, philanthropy is not an option but a duty â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a duty to God and to oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community. It is forbidden to avert oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes from someone in need. â&#x20AC;Ś Philanthropy is not only an obligation of the rich who can afford to give millions, but even one who receives tzedakah himself should still try to give anything that he can.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a hard requirement, but perhaps smarter, full-year giving strategies built into individual and family short- and longterm financial plans are a way to get more people giving. How much can you afford to give? Determining how much you can afford to give is a matter of planning. Steve Jacobson is a partner at the Bethesda law firm West and Feinberg, specializing in tax and estate planning. Jacobson is a long-time volunteer with the

In these challenging economic times, some things never change. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, founded in 1918 by Albert Einstein, Chaim Weizmann and Sigmund Freud, continues to be Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s #1 institution for comprehensive higher education and research, forging vital advances in fields ranging from biomedicine to environmental studies.

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See GIVING, next page Chanukah Gift Guide

Washington Jewish Week â&#x20AC;˘ November 29, 2012

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YearEndGiving GIVING B EH I N D E V ERY

from previous page

FAC E

Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and currently serves as the co-chair for its Create a Jewish Legacy program. According to Jacobson, determining what you can give is a “very complex issue with no stock answer.” There are so many variables including a person’s other obligations and commitments, and how long he or she will live. Everyone’s individual, family and financial situation is different, so individual giving will be self-driven and in some respects arbitrary, so individuals need to best determine if and where their resources will be most ethically and effectively utilized. For those who wish to give in a specific year, the easy calculation is to determine your budgeted amount of discretionary income, earmark a part of that income for “giving” and divide those dollars between the charities you have researched, value and want to “invest in.” The same goes for those in their 30s, 40s or 50s. You need to take a look at your standard of living, and at your income and

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above); Charitywatch.org, a charity rating and evaluation service designed to help donors perform due diligence on charities; Guidestar.org, a database of 1.8 million nonprofit organizations; Justgive.org, where you can choose from 1,000 recommended charities in 19 cause-related categories; and NetworkforGood.org, a giving

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November 29, 2012 • Washington Jewish Week

expenses. Then you need to figure out how much you want to save for kids, college, retirement, etc. Only after you have a good sense of what your disposable income is, can you make decisions regarding giving. You need to determine, alone, with an accountant or with a financial planner the level of giving where you feel comfortable. What resources can help you figure out places to give? There are numerous resources available online to help donors identify high-performing charities and nonprofits. Some of these include CharityNavigator.org (cited

Chanukah Gift Guide

platform to “unleash generosity.” Many of these sites offer tip sheets targeted to different user groups. For instance, in its “Tips for Older Donors,” Charity Navigator advises donors to “Hang up the phone” when a fundraiser calls after asking them to send written information. The site advises that only once they’ve done some research on their own should they put a check directly in the mail, assuring that it goes straight to the charity, withSee GIVING, next page

YearEndGiving GIVING from previous page out the fundraiser taking a cut. If you want to donate funds through the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, there are a several resources on JFGW’s website, www.shalomdc.org, that help take donors through the year-end giving process. On the home page scrolling banner, you can click on the “Year End Giving Tips” for more information. en, the “Make a Gi” link at the top of that Web page also gives potential donors diﬀerent vehicle options and opportunities to make a gi. There are several types of vehicles for giving through the JFGW — gifts of cash or appreciated assets to the United Jewish Endowment Fund; charitable bequests; a key donor life insurance program, retirement plan assets, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, donor advised funds, private equity or real estate, to name but a handful. Another Jewish giving site to review when considering giving to Jewish organizations is the Bethesda-based Just Tzedakah (just-tzedakah.org), designed to “assist donors to give tzedakah with care, thought, knowledge, and an overall strat-

egy, not impulsively.” According to Jacobson, follow your interests when it comes to giving. Are you interested in education, health care, social services or a specific disease? Be selective about your cause or causes and perform due diligence on exempt organizations. Research the IRS’ searchable database of exempt organizations and look at the 510(c)(3)’s tax returns. “Look at this like it’s a business investment,” he says. Look at financial data, where the organization is spending its money — on programs and services or administrative fees and fundraising. You need to know if the charity you choose is committed to reporting results, how it reports those results, and how it evaluates and responds to outcomes as they are measured. Why is the end of year an advantageous time of year to give? Why wait until December? The well-known answer to these questions is that contributions are tax deductible and increasing them, at any time, is a great way to move funds to your targeted charities in a timely and efficient manner. Further, according to one Bethesdabased wealth adviser, “A lot of people wait

to do tax planning at the end of the year. The reason for this is so they have a better sense of what kind of deductions they want to take and how the charitable deductions will affect their overall liability.” That said, whether you donate to a charity in January or wait to the last minute in December, you will still get the same deduction. Either way, make sure you itemize your deductions, as claiming a standard deduction will not yield any tax savings. Also, make sure you’re donating to a 501 (c)(3) organization, and get your donations in on time — on or before Dec. 31.

Tpnf!cvtft!svo!po!hbtpmjof-!tpnf!po!ejftfm-!tpnf!po!obuvsbm!hbt/ Tpnf!cvtft!svo!po!hbtpmjof-!tpnf!po!ejftfm-!tpnf!po!obuvsbm!hbt/ Uif!KDB!FmefsCvtft!svo!po!dpnqbttjpo/!ZPVST/ Uif!KDB!FmefsCvtft!svo!po!dpnqbttjpo/!ZPVST/ Please by Please support support our vulnerable vulnerable seniors b y ® your to the United United W Way, ay, our gift gift to remembering remembering JCA JCA in y Combined Federal Federal C ampaign,, or JC A itself Combined Campaign, JCA itself..

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Chanukah Gift Guide

Washington Jewish Week • November 29, 2012

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YearEndGiving

1. White House executive pastry chef Roland Mesnier serves delicious treats and stories of five presidents on Nov. 11 at the Hebrew Home President’s Circle Dinner at the Anderson House, home of the Society of the Cincinnati. Hosts for the evening were Bruce and Paula Robinson (le) and Howard Sollins (right) of Ober Kaler Attorneys at Law; 2. Chef Mesnier, the longest-tenured chef to have served at the White House, speaks to donors; 3. e dessert served to donors attending the event was prepared according to Chef Mesnier’s specifications. It included chocolate souffle cake from the Reagan administration and pear and cranberry crumble from the Clinton years. Photos by Richard Greenhouse

ank you T

he President’s Circle Dinner is a thank you to the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington’s most generous annual campaign donors as well as major gift contributors. This year’s event, “Backstairs at the White House with Chef Roland Mesnier” was held at The Society of the Cincinnati, Anderson House on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C. The Hebrew Home of Greater Wash-

ington is home to more than 500 frail elderly residents, the majority of whom have exhausted their financial resources. Over 70 percent of the Home’s residents depend on Medicaid to cover the cost of their care. Yet, Medicaid reimbursement currently falls short by $51 per day per resident. The Hebrew Home relies on the support of the community, through the annual Guardian Campaign, to raise unrestricted dollars that help to bridge this funding gap and provide the additional resources the Home needs to continue to provide all of its residents with the

thoughtful, personalized care they deserve. In addition to unrestricted annual support, single- or multi-year contributions of $10,000 or more received this year and during the recently concluded Centennial Campaign, are enabling them to respond effectively to emerging community needs. This year alone the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington: • Completed construction of the CohenRosen House for memory care assisted living (Grand opening Dec. 17). • Completed a major expansion of phys-

ical therapy facilities, now renamed the Dekelboum Therapy Center. • Completely renovated the lobby level of the Wasserman Residence incorporating a fresh, new look including a new WiFi cafe, welcoming lobby and beauty salon. Community support is especially appreciated as the Hebrew Home is not a recipient of funding from the Jewish Federation. There are many opportunities to contribute to endowment, capital improvements or to provide ongoing support for programs and services for the residents.

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November 29, 2012 • Washington Jewish Week

Chanukah Gift Guide

YearEndGiving

Bittersweet charity by Suzanne Garment

n a recent issue of Nashim: A Journal of Jewish Women’s Studies and Gender Issues, Debra Mesch, director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy, together with colleagues, has published an article called, “Does Jewish Philanthropy Differ by Sex and Type of Giving?” is kind of title tends to turn potential readers into pillars of salt — but if you are serious about the future of American Jews and their values, you’ll want to look at Mesch’s findings about intermarriage and generosity. e epistemologist Will Rogers observed that “it isn’t what we don’t know that gives us trouble, it’s what we know that ain’t so.” is is the principle behind modern survey research, which probes human opinions and behaviors that most people think are just common sense. When survey researchers want to explain why this sort of thing is useful, they point to Samuel Stouffer. During World War II, Stouffer surveyed American servicemen about everything from class and racial attitudes to their levels of fear under enemy fire. His findings became a massive work called e American Soldier. People like historian Arthur Schlesinger dismissed it as a bunch of “ponderous demonstrations” of the obvious. For example, the more educated the soldier, the more difficult his adjustment to military life. Southern soldiers coped better than Northerners with Pacific island heat. Southern black enlistees preferred Southern white officers to Northern whites. ese were obvious social facts — but they weren’t true. As sociologist Paul Lazarsfeld noted in a famous review of Stouffer’s study, the surveys actually found the opposite. Poorly educated soldiers had more, not fewer, adjustment problems. Southerners hated the heat as much as Northerners. Black soldiers, in rating officers, had no use for white Southern charm. Garbage in, garbage out: Before you try to explain something, make sure you know the facts about what the “something” is. We do know certain things about the “something” that constitutes Jewish philanthropy: American Jews give proportionately more than other Americans. Almost threequarters of Jewish contributions go to nonreligious causes. Jews disproportionately give to meet basic human needs like food and shelter. But we don’t know much about the role of gender in Jewish philanthropy. Indeed, the most comprehensive study of American Jewish philanthropy found that gender did not make much of a difference. Dr. Mesch and her colleagues went consid-

erably farther. In a sophisticated survey, they divided a sample into various types of household groups — Jewish couples, non-Jewish couples, Jewish man and non-Jewish woman, Jewish woman and non-Jewish man, and singles — Jewish and non-Jewish, male and female. e researchers managed to create groups large enough to make some statistically signiﬁcant distinctions. When the researchers asked each house-

separated from Jewish fundraising networks, which traditionally rely on male-to-male connections? Are Jewish women who marry non-Jewish men particularly prone to adopt non-Jewish norms, which may be less charitable than Jewish norms? One thing the researchers know is that more research is needed. One thing the rest of us should face is that the Jewish charitable impulse, of which we are so

“We do know certain things about the ‘something’ that constitutes Jewish philanthropy: American Jews give proportionately more than other Americans. Almost three-quarters of Jewish contributions go to nonreligious causes. Jews disproportionately give to meet basic human needs like food and shelter.” hold about its giving over the years, they found some things that were consistent with previous studies. For example, couples with at least one Jewish member were about as likely as non-Jewish couples to give to religious causes; but the Jewish-member couples were 20 percent more likely to give to secular causes. en the researchers looked at giving through a finer lens, controlling for just about every plausible demographic variable — income, wealth, education, age, children, employment, geographic, region, even health. e results on religious giving were not very interesting: Intermarried couples give less than either Jewish or non-Jewish households to religious causes. (Any other result would have suggested something screwy about the data.) More interesting was secular giving. In this area, there would be no reason to expect intermarried couples to give less. But the researchers found that intermarried couples consisting of a Jewish wife and a non-Jewish husband were less likely to give than any other kind of household except for non-Jewish single males. As for the amounts of the gis that the households made, couples made up of Jewish husbands and non-Jewish wives gave 118 percent more than the Jewish wives and nonJewish husbands. Jewish couples gave 76 percent more. Non-Jewish couples gave 52 percent more. Singles gave more, by 30 to 167 percent. e researchers analyzed the types of giving along different lines, but the findings remained: Jewish women married to nonJewish men gave less than any other type of household. is is a new fact that raises new questions. Does it happen because these couples become

proud and which we take so much for granted, may be more tenuous than we have recognized. Bonds can be broken. The connections that underlie charity may be among them. This article was first published by Jewish Ideas Daily (www.jewishideasdaily.com) and is reprinted with permission.

Please remember JFGH...

Chanukah Gift Guide

When making your charitable gifts this year For more information: 240-283-6000 or visit www.jfgh.org

Washington Jewish Week • November 29, 2012

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IN A WORLD OF HATE ... CREATE A LEGACY OF HOPE

When you create a legacy gift you can strengthen the Anti-Defamation League’s global fight against anti-Semitism, prejudice and hatred, its award winning education programs that cultivate respect for others, and its civil rights initiatives that ensure justice for all people. Many legacy gift options may also provide you and your loved ones with attractive benefits such as tax savings and fixed lifetime payments. Some of the flexible ways to give include bequests, cash, appreciated securities, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, retirement assets, life insurance and more. CREATE A LEGACY OF HOPE. For more information on which legacy gifts may be best suited for your goals or to receive our complimentary “Charitable Planning Guide” and “Create a Legacy of Hope” brochure please contact: Lisa B. Lager Director, National Planned Giving, Legacy and Endowments Anti-Defamation League Foundation, 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-3560 1-888-235-9710 | plannedgiving@adl.org | www.adl.org/gift

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November 29, 2012 • Washington Jewish Week

Chanukah Gift Guide