Lifestyles - Heritage Florida Jewish News
Transcription
Lifestyles - Heritage Florida Jewish News
Section B Lifestyles 2016 PAGE 2B HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 Good reads What to do with all the books that remained? ‘Stolen Words: The Nazi Plunder of Jewish Books,’ by Mark Glickman, University of Nebraska Press “Stolen Word s” is a n epic story about the largest collection of Jewish books in the world—tens of millions of books that the Nazis looted from European Jewish families and institutions. Nazi soldiers and civilians emptied Jew- ish communal libraries, confiscated volumes from government collections, and stole from Jewish individuals, schools, and synagogues. Early in their regime the Nazis burned some books in spectacular bonfires, but most they saved, stashing the literary loot in castles, abandoned mine shafts, and warehouses throughout Europe. It was the largest and most extensive book-looting campaign in history. After the war, Allied forces discovered these troves of stolen books but quickly found themselves facing a barrage of questions. How could the books be identified? Where should they go? Who had the authority to make such decisions? Eventually the military turned the books over to an organization of leading Jewish scholars called Jewish Cultural Reconstruction, Inc.— whose chairman was the acclaimed historian Salo Baron and whose on-the-ground director was the philosopher Hannah Arendt—with the charge to establish restitution protocols. “Stolen Words” is the story of how a free civilization decides what to do with the material remains of a world torn asunder, and how those remains connect survivors with their past. It is the story of Jews struggling to understand the new realities of their post-Holocaust world and of Western society’s gradual realization of the magnitude of devastation wrought by World War II. Most of all, it is the story of people—of Nazi leaders, ideologues, and Judaica experts; of Allied soldiers, scholars, and scoundrels; and of Jewish communities, librarians, and readers around the world. Rabbi Mark Glickman has served at congregations in Ohio, Washington State, and Colorado. He is the author of Sacred Treasure—The Cairo Genizah: The Amazing Discoveries of Forgotten Jewish History in an Egyptian Synagogue Attic. A historical cliffhanger... on Masada “The Scroll,” by Miriam Feinberg Vamosh, Menorah Books A sensational but little known archaeological find, the divorce document of a woman named Miriam issued at the desert fortress of Masada is the basis for this new historical page turner. Beginning with a fateful decision by Miriam, a strongwilled survivor on Masada s final, horrific day, the tale spans three generations of her descendants. This saga extends from the depths of her despair on a barren desert plateau to the glittering city of Alexandria where Miriam sought love and a future, and back to the Holy Land, where, amid the clashing cultures at Beit Guvrin, the storied city of Zippori and, finally, at the emerald oasis of Ein Gedi, the past continues to stalk her, threatening to devour her children. “The Scroll” is an adventure-rich voyage through the ancient customs and beliefs of Judaism and early Christianity and the challenges both faced in a hostile world. Readers are transported to the very roads and markets, palaces and hovels, synagogues and village squares of ancient Judea, where the book’s characters choose between nation and family, and finally, between life and death. Will Miriam s descendants learn the lessons of her life, or will enemies within and without rob those lessons from them? Although “The Scroll” deals with events that took place two millennia ago, it sheds light which helps make sense of the complexities of today’s Israel and the choices its leaders make. Miriam Feinberg Vamosh was born in Trenton, N.J., and has lived in Israel since 1970. Her love for the Bible and ancient texts deepened over many years working as a tour educator. Miriam’s interest in the New Testament led her to weave together Jewish literary sources, traditions and beliefs with the origins of Christianity, and teach about them onsite throughout Israel. Miriam has published a number of books, including “Teach it to Your Children: How Kids Lived in Bible Days,” “Daily Life at the Time of Jesus,” which has been translated into 32 languages, “Food at the Time of the Bible,” “Women at the Time of the Bible,” the award winning “Reflections of God’s Holy Land: a Personal Journey Through Israel,” which she co-authored, and hundreds of articles about Israel’s history, archaeology and tour sites. Miriam translates and edits the works of scholars and has worked as a translator for the Ha’aretz news desk for over a decade. “The Scroll” will be available on Amazon.com April 1, 2016. Israel National Trail now on Google Maps The Israel National Trail is the longest trail (1,100 km) to be photographed in its entirety for Street View on Google Maps, and the first that stretches across the length of an entire country. The trail was mapped by volunteers from the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) and Google Israel who spent more than 10 weeks hiking the trail while carrying the Google Street View ‘Trekker’ cameras. From today, the Israel National Trail will be available on Google Maps Street View so that nature lovers and hikers can virtually explore every foot of the trail through panoramic images. For three months last summer, 250 volunteers from SPNI and Google Israel hiked the trail to capture panoramic imagery, to make it accessible to anyone, anywhere and from any device. The 1,100 km trail (683 miles)—selected by National Geographic as one of the world’s 20 most epic trails,—was documented by two Google Street View Trekker cameras carried on the hikers’ backs. While mapping the trail, volunteers carried 50 kilos of food and supplies, went through 1,200 liters of water, while the temperature never dipped below 30 degrees Celsius. (86 degrees Fahrenheit) They trekked from 1,208 meters (3,963feet) above sea level at Mount Meron down to 195 meters(640 feet) below sea level at the Sea of Galilee—and met 48 camels along the way. The Israel National Trail was inaugurated by SPNI in 1995, blazing a hiking track across the entire country. The trail begins in Kibbutz Dan in northern Israel and ends at SPNI’s Eilat Field School on the Red Sea. It passes through the Galilee, the Carmel region, along the Mediterranean coastline, Tel Aviv, Rosh Ha’ayin, El’ad, the Modi’in area, the Judean lowlands, archaeological sites at Bet Guvrin, the Negev wildernesses, the limestone and sandstone of the Ramon Crater, and through the Eilat Mountains. The Israel National Trail embodies the nature, landscape, heritage, tradition, Your in Orlando Real Estate!!!! Over 25+ years Residential Real Estate Sales experience Over $200 Million+ Lifetime Sales GALE MILGRIM, P.A., Realtor Gale.Milgrim@FloridaMoves.com 407-443-9832 Visit www.OrlandoJewishRealtor.com To read my Glowing Client Testimonials and my BIO!!!!! Member Congregation Ohev Shalom • Parent of 2 Jewish Academy Alumni Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando Supporter Menachem Reiss Israel National Trail on Google trekker checking out the trail on a map. religions and cultures that make up the kaleidoscope of modern Israeli society, making the trail an unforgettable experience. Google’s Street View project was launched in May 2007 and is currently available in 66 countries on all seven continents. It allows users to explore virtually and navigate neighborhoods, historical areas and cultural sites through panoramic street-level images. Since this project began, photographs have been taken over 9 million km of roads. The project began with pick-up trucks loaded with cameras, laser devices and GPS travelling throughout the world and has since expanded to include a large number of specially designed devices that can capture 360 degree views under diverse conditions. Besides the designated Street View Car, the Street View team has used snowmobiles, tricycles, trolleys and backpacks. More about the photography and technology behind Google Street View can be found here. The Israel National Trail joins a long list of treks, nature and heritage sites that you can explore in Google Maps, including Khumbu Valleys at the foot of Mount Everest, the Colorado River, the Amazon, the Taj Mahal, and the Ancient Pyramids at Giza. Google Israel Managing Director, Meir Brand: “We are proud that after much hard work, the Israel National Trail is joining some of the world’s greatest heritage and nature sites on Google Maps, like Petra, Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal and Loch Ness. This project brings the trail to anyone who wishes to explore it, from anywhere and on any device. In making this unique trail available to anyone to explore virtually, we hope many more people will discover the trail’s beauty and story.” SPNI’s CEO, Kosha (Moshe) Pakman: “as of today, the Israel National Trail will be available to every citizen of Israel and the world. Everyone will be able to enjoy and appreciate Israel’s landscape and nature. There is no doubt that Google Street View will encourage hikers, both local and from overseas, to experience the trail not only through the screen but on foot as well. This will provide a firsthand impression of the natural vistas and cultural diversity the Israel National Trail offers to those who walk along it, and as a result fall in love with it and take an active role in protecting it.” HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 PAGE 3B For Orlando vacations, kosher food easy to find at Disney Uriel Heilman Michael McMullen, executive chef of the Rosen Plaza, explaining the special kosher safeguards at the hotel’s new $2 million kosher kitchen. By Uriel Heilman ORLANDO (JTA)—As any religiously observant Jew knows, going on vacation can take a lot of work. Aside from the customary preparations, there are the added complications of organizing kosher food and Shabbat logistics. Many kosher tourists spend days before trips precooking meals to freeze and bring along, to say nothing of figuring out once at their destination how to heat food on Shabbat and avoid using electronic hotel key cards. So when my editor heard about a new kosher kitchen opening at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in this central Florida city, and asked me if I’d be willing to fly to the warmer climes in mid-January to write about doing a kosher vacation in Disney town—sans precooking—it didn’t take much persuading. I had gone on assignment to Gaza, rural Ethiopia and eastern Ukraine. Yeah, I figured I could handle Orlando with the kids in tow. Here’s what I found: Zayde’s Kosher Kitchen at the Rosen Plaza Hotel T he ne w $2 million, 5,000-square-foot kosher kitchen that opened in midJanuary at the Rosen Plaza Hotel is the first of its kind in America, according to Rabbi Leonard Steinberg of the Orthodox Union’s kosher division. A few other U.S. hotels have kosher kitchens, but they are typically used only for special events or Jewish holidays. In fact, most hotels that host kosher events don’t have a kosher kitchen at all. Instead, they temporarily kosherize their regular kitchens, which afterward revert to non-kosher. That’s what the Rosen Plaza Hotel here used to do until its founder and president, Harris Rosen, decided a year ago he wanted a permanent kosher kitchen. After months of construction a nd consulting on kosher specifications with the O.U. and the Rabbinate of Central Florida, the hotel technically has three: meat, dair y and pareve. Open all year, Zayde’s Kosher Kitchen allows guests to order even a single meal to eat in any of the hotel’s restaurants or their room. The hotel also offers freshly made $10 packaged meals in the lobby mini-market, such as pastrami, egg salad sandwiches and tuna wraps. “Our main and primary goal was to open up the door for the kosher traveler so they did not have to eat out of their suitcase anymore,” said Keith Keiser, director of sales and catering at Rosen Plaza. “Our goal is to have a luxury kosher product.” When I dialed room service on a recent Thursday to put in my Shabbat order (Sabbath meals require 24-hour advance notice), I was the hotel’s first kosher roomservice order. The food wasn’t just fresh and good—we had the Asian chicken salad ($22), pan-seared chicken breast wrapped in turkey pastrami ($35) and roast beef in Cabernet reduction with potatoes ($45)—but super convenient. Instead of spending Friday afternoon at the supermarket and trying to make a salad with plastic utensils to serve in the ice bucket, we hung out poolside. On Saturday, there was a prayer minyan in the hotel, and that evening we joined some Israelis we had met for light kosher fare at Café Matisse, the groundfloor restaurant with kosher options. When my kids got hungry on Shabbat afternoon, I was able to grab some kosher grub at the quick mart in the lobby without using cash. Rosen Plaza hopes to make its money not just from kosher travelers like me (full disclosure: the hotel hosted me, so I didn’t pay anything), but from Jewish conventions and events. The hotel is connected by sky bridge to the Orange County Convention Center. (Although the kosher kitch- en is already open at the Rosen Plaza, Keith Keiser, director of catering, told The Heritage that there will be a grand opening of Zayde’s Kosher Kitchen catering service in March. Watch for that story soon in The Heritage.) Kosher at the parks Kosher travelers going to most of Orlando’s theme parks—isn’t that why you’re here?—are going to have to pack a lunch. One notable exception is Disney World, where you can order kosher food at most of the entertainment complex’s on-site restaurants. There are, however, a couple of catches. One, you need to order meals at least 48 hours in advance (Disney’s website wrongly suggests 24 hours is sufficient). Two, if you want a reservation around dinnertime rather than 4 p.m. or 10 p.m. (the slots I was offered), you’re best off reserving weeks in advance—Disney takes reservations as early as 180 days out; call (407) 939-3463. Finally, kosher menu options will be limited. Depending on where you snag a spot, some restaurants may have more dishes than others. When we made reservations at the Liberty Tree Tavern at Magic Kingdom, for example, the kosher menu included a variety of dairy or meat entrees, including glazed chicken breast, salmon, lasagna or pizza. The kids menu had mac & cheese, chicken nuggets and hot dogs. At fixed-price eateries, the price for dinner was $35 for adults and $19 for children. At restaurants with a la carte menus, entrees ranged from $20 to $25 for adults and $8.50 to $11 for children. Kosher desserts such as apple strudel and chocolate layer cake can be ordered, but no need to waste your money: Disney’s own snacks and candy will do just fine. Don’t be worried by the side-by-side dairy and meat (a kosher no-no). Everything comes prepackaged like air- Cover artwork The painting on the cover of the Lifestyles section is by local artist Perola (Pearl) Halikman, who has only been painting for a few years. Read her story titled “Local, late blooming, prolific artist sparkles through her paintings” and see more of her paintings on page 4B. Uriel Heilman Restaurants at Disney World in Orlando serve kosher meals by special request, but 48hour advance notice is required. line meals, prepared outside the park by Webermans Traditional Foods, a glatt kosher caterer with OK Kosher certification. Quality aside, it’s a real treat having a hot kosher meal at Disney. Plus, if you play your cards right, you can dine at the very spot where (I’m told) Lady and the Tramp shared their first kiss. Kosher outside the parks If you’re like most kosher travelers and plan to fend for yourself when it comes to lunch at the theme parks, chances are you’ll have quite an appetite worked up come dinnertime. You could just go to the Winn-Dixie supermarket 2 miles from Disney at 11957 S. Apopka Vineland Road, which carries a variety of kosher cold cuts, hot dogs, poultry, fresh chopped beef and meat and dry goods (including delicious challahs). Or you could try one of Orlando’s two kosher restaurants. Kosher Grill, an Israeli bistro at 5615 International Drive, near Universal Studios, is definitely the superior one. The Israeli fare—hummus, shwarma, kufta kebabs, schnitzel, falafel—is fresh, fast and reasonably priced, with entrees under $20. The burgers and fries are good, too. When I visited, the local kosher agency had pulled its certification, but Kosher Grill’s proprietor told me it had to do with the separation of meat and fish utensils and was being resolved. The alternative, Kosher Gourmet, is definitely kosher HEALTHY EYES but hardly gourmet. The food isn’t bad—I liked the burgers and barbecue wings—but the ambiance is a reminder of how some kosher establishments behave—like they don’t have to compete for customers. You’ll sit at cafeteria-style tables surrounded by refrigerated cases storing the restaurant’s aging raw ingredients. (There’s also a dairy side that sells pizza, which was closed when we visited for dinner.) Our waitress wore a ratty T-shirt more appropriate for janitorial tasks than food service, and our request for water was treated as if it were exotic. “Well, we don’t have ice,” I was told. Really? Kosher Gourmet also does catering, which is good news. You’re better off taking your food to go. WEAR SUNGLASSES Every day that you’re outside, you’re exposed to dangerous, but invisible, ultraviolet (UV) sunlight. Left unprotected, prolonged exposure to UV radiation can seriously damage the eye, leading to cataracts, skin cancer around the eyelid and other eye disorders. Protecting your eyes is important to maintaining eye health now and in the future. Shield your eyes (and your family’s eyes) from harmful UV rays. Wear sunglasses with maximum UV protection. For more information, visit www.thevisioncouncil.org/consumers/sunglasses. A public service message from The Vision Council. PAGE 4B HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 Local, late blooming, prolific artist sparkles through her paintings Christine DeSouza Pearl Halikman in her art room, surrounded by her paintings. By Christine DeSouza “Creativity is my business” says the motto on Pearl Halikman’s Copacabana Hair Designers business card. She no longer has her hair salon in Cocoa Beach, but the creativity is still going strong. Standing in Halikman’s art room (a guest bedroom that contains her many pieces of artwork), is a visual feast for an art lover’s eyes. To hear Halikman describe her artwork is art in itself. Each piece is unique and has a special meaning to her and to the person who purchases a painting—like the man who saw her art and had to have this one painting because he had dreamed about that very scene. “I told him I’d seen it in my mind,” she said with awe. Another piece called “Peace and Harmony” is of a dove in a circle of people of all races holding hands. The background is comprised of “drops” in colors of the rainbow, however there is no rainbow, “because the peace isn’t here yet, but the colors are like tears from heaven,” she explained. This piece is so popular that she has had prints made of it. She described a painting of two circles on a deep blue background as the moon and Mars, then laughed and said, “Or whatever you want it to be!” That is the uniqueness of her works. There are ocean scenes, Florida landscapes, Judaica, abstract, and now 3-dimensional pieces. Her latest piece is of a seascape in which she used flour mixed with her oils to create the illusion of rocks. The water actually looks like it is flowing (it is this writer’s favorite piece). Another 3-D piece that she calls her crazy painting is chalk full of different items—plastic gem stones, lace woven through Paula Kotzin “Honestly...Better” For all your Real Estate needs. 35 year resident of Southwest Orlando. Specializing in Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Winter Garden, and more. Work with someone you know and trust. Paula Kotzin Realtor Coldwell Banker 7626 Sand Lake Rd. Orlando,Fl. 32819 Cell: 407 468-2686 Web Site: www.paulakotzin.com Email: paulakotzinrealtor@gmail.com Christine DeSouza Pearl Halikman’s paintings of her grandchildren, ‘My heart in Bloom,’ (left) and ‘Cape of Good Hope.’ the oil paint and collage pictures. The piece thrills her because every time she looks at it, she sees something different. She plans to enter this painting into the Orlando Museum of Art’s 1st Thursday event titled “One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure” on April 7. The first time she entered a painting in the Orlando Museum of Art’s 1st Thursday, she received the People’s Choice Award. That painting is called “My Heart in Bloom” and has nine flowers blooming within a box containing a heart and/or vase. It is a creation for her nine grandchildren, each flower represents a different grandchild. Another one of Halikman’s paintings is also for her grandchildren. Titled “Cape of Good Hope,” she explained that she is the lighthouse perched at the end of the thin strip of land and her nine grandchildren are the sailboats, sailing out into the ocean—into their own life adventures. After hearing her description, the painting took on a whole different meaning to this writer. Halikman grew up in Brazil. She met her husband, King William (yes, that is his name, it is on his drivers license), and came with him to Cocoa Beach where she became a hair dresser to the astronauts and even some celebrities: Barbara Eden (of “I Dream of Jeanie” fame) and Joan Kennedy, to name two of them. King William had a pretty exciting life as well working on several space programs. But as Pearl said, “This article is about me!” She got into painting late in life—she is a young 76-yearold—because she had other obligations. She helped raise six of her grandchildren, and she is very proud of all nine of them, now grown into adulthood. She took an art class by a student of the Highway Painter while she was in Cocoa and another one in Maitland at the Roth Family JCC. But she is happy to be on her own. “When you go to classes, you are not yourself. You copy somebody else’s creation,” she explained. “But when you do your own art, you are sucked into the canvas. It’s different.” And this charismatic woman, who is full of life and imagination, is having the time of her life. “When I finish a painting, Christine DeSouza Pearl holding her 3-dimensional ocean scene in which she mixed flour with her oils. I can’t go to sleep because my whole being is excited!” she exclaimed. “I feel the power of creation! You are close to G-d, because G-d is the creator and when you create, you are very close to G-d! So your soul that comes from G-d sparkles! I feel connected.” Halikman does sparkle as she expresses her feelings while creating her artwork. And she is surprised that other people like what she does. “I was so surprised, I screamed when my art was chosen for the Orlando Museum of Art,” she said, bursting with pride. Halikman’s artwork will be on display and for sale at the Orlando Chapter of Hadassah’s Bunny Rosen Women’s Heart Health Luncheon and Fashion Show at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28 at the Alfond Inn in Winter Park. She will offer her paintings at a discount, donating a portion of each sale to Hadassah. For more information about the luncheon, call 407-3330204. If you miss the Hadassah luncheon, she will have her works displayed at the Jewish Heritage Festival in Brevard County on March 13. Christine DeSouza Pearl holding the piece she plans to enter into the Orlando Museum of Art’s 1st Thursday exhibit on April 7. HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 PAGE 5B Oscars red carpet preview: Is modesty the new sexy? Scott Gries/ImageDirect/Getty Images Jennifer Lopez backstage at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Feb. 23, 2000. 䘀刀䔀䔀 䰀䄀夀䄀圀䄀夀 䘀䤀一䄀一䌀䤀一䜀 䄀嘀䄀䤀䰀䄀䈀䰀䔀 Jason Merritt/Getty Images Julianne Moore at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Jan. 10, 2016. 匀 漀 甀 琀 栀 攀 愀 猀 琀 匀 琀攀 攀 氀 ⸀ 渀 攀琀 Jason Merritt/Getty Images Cate Blanchett at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Jan. 10, 2016. By Lucy Cohen Blatter (JTA)—Pity Jennifer Lopez. As far as memorable red carpet moments go, she set such a high bar at the 2000 Grammys with her now-legendary plunging green Versace dress that she seemed destined to never top it. But many fashion insiders (and followers) have been buzzing about the actresssinger’s Golden Globes gown earlier this month. That’s not because of how much of her body she showed off, but precisely the opposite: The caped, marigold-colored Giambattista Valli dress covered her shoulders, most of her arms and even much of her legs. J.Lo was hardly the only celeb on the red carpet taking a (relatively) modest turn. Cate Blanchett rocked an elbow- and knee-covering flapper-inspired fringe dress from Givenchy, while Julianne Moore wore a long-sleeved blue sequin Tom Ford gown that would have been appropriately gorgeous attire for a black-tie synagogue event. Jason Merritt/Getty Images Mayim Bialik at the 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California, Jan. 17, 2016. And all three women landed on many a best-dressed list. “Modesty has very much found its niche within the fashion world, and not just for religious women,” says Adi Heyman, founder of the Jewish fashion blog Fabologie. “There’s an empowerment to owning your look and not having to put everything out there.” Granted, only a few of these red carpet gowns actually adhere to Orthodox rules of modesty—varying among communities, that typically means covering necklines, backs, elbows and knees. Blanchett’s Golden Globes dress had an open back, after all, and J.Lo’s frock had a slit up to her thigh (and she seemingly spared no opportunity to flaunt said thigh). But compared to the typical trajectory of ever more revealing designs—after all, 2015 showcased the super-bare “naked dress” favored by La Lopez herself—this year’s red carpet represented a shift toward a more covered-up kind of chic. “You’re not seeing that same in-your-face sex appeal you saw in the late 1990s and early 2000s,” Heyman says. “Even when a dress is sleeveless, you’re often getting a cape or a higher neckline. Modern fashion is taking a modest spin.” As such, many fashion in siders a re predict ing the chaste leanings on display at the Globes are just a taste of what’s to come at the upcoming Academy Awards and eventually, in true trickledown “fashionomics,” a highstreet shop near you. Esti Burton, owner of Esti’s, a boutique specializing in modest couture with locations on Long Island and in Brooklyn, New York, says she wouldn’t be surprised to see more modesty at the Oscars, which will be held Feb. 28. While her team is often asked to build sleeves and higher necklines onto more revealing dresses, she says her stores also carry dresses from couture designers like Lan- Modesty on page 7B We are your source for: • • • • • Brochures • Letterheads • Envelopes Business Cards • Programs • Flyers Post Cards • Forms • Invitations Digital Photography • Labels Direct Mail • Menus & More 407.767.7110 www.elegantprinting.net 205 North Street • Longwood, FL 32750 Mention This Ad and Receive an 18% Discount PAGE 6B HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 Sprucing up the modern simcha By Diana Burmistrovich JNS.org If the words “kosher catering” conjure up visions of bland and unhealthy food, and memories of bar and bat mitzvahs past still haunt you, remember that planning your upcoming simcha doesn’t have to be a monotonous process full of seen-it-befores or tried-that-onces. With the help of creative kosher catering professionals—or by simply looking within yourself—your special day can be one of a kind. By including yourself in the process of creating (not just planning) your simcha, the event itself automatically creates a more personal feeling. One way to do this is by making invitations by hand, which allows control over color scheme, font, and design; you can make the invitation an extension of your celebration’s theme or personal interests. Imbuing the invitation with your personal style makes the atmosphere both more memorable and more meaningful. Rebecca Friedman of Asheville, NC-based Farmer’s Daughter Catering suggests crafting your own table centerpieces as a way to infuse personality into the event’s ambiance. She also mentions that many clients want to work with the party planner, rather than allowing the planner to have total control. Others may break from the traditional style of first having a cocktail hour and then a formal dinner for weddings, or from having separate meals for adults and kids. “When working with a client, I always ask them what they’re envisioning with regards to the flow of the celebration,” Ellen Vaknine, vice president of sales & marketing for New York City’s Espirit Events kosher caterer, tells JNS.org. Vaknine notes that for simchas being planned for 2014, she is seeing more people “opt for the extended cocktail [hour] with passed hors d’oeuvres and stations,” without having a formal sit-down dinner. That way, children, young adults, and adults have the option of spending more time together, and kids don’t have to face the ubiquitous schnitzel and pigs-in-a-blanket offered at so many simchas. Even for the parents who do choose to have “kid food,” Vaknine suggests updating the presentation with funky touches. Soup can be served in eggshell bowls, and kebob skewers can be made from bamboo. Customizing menus to include today’s culinary trends is another way to modernize an event. Friedman—who specializes in catering us- Farmer’s Daughter Catering Tiny ice cream sundaes make for passable treats to save sit-down time at your simcha. ing only organic and local ingredients, and typically provides farm-to-table food options—notes the growing trend in using vegan, glutenfree, soy-free, and dairy-free foods as part of the simcha menu. “Although kosher food is usually unhealthy, it is slowly getting on board with foods that are more environmentally friendly and healthier,” says Friedman. “I’ve had a bride who grew her own herbs and greens to incorporate into my catering menu. It took a year in advance [to plan], but everyone remembered that part.” Friedman suggests looking into old family recipes that can be used as part of the catering menu. That will create a catering menu that many guests haven’t seen before, and relatives will enjoy the sentiment. Whether it is through personalizing decorations or bypassing traditional kosher fare, party planning doesn’t Ellen Vaknine Soup shooters in egg shells from New York City kosher caterer Espirit Events. have to be dreaded and stressful. With just a little bit of creativity, and by recognizing exactly what you want for your special day, you can make your dream simcha a reality. Make entertaining better with easy appetizers (StatePoint) Love to entertain but maybe not so much to cook? Like to have a houseful of guests but not a sinkful of pots and pans? Small, easy to prepare appetizers can make parties a snap. Called “small plates” on restaurant menus, flavorful Mediterranean-inspired appetizers are simple and tasty combinations of bold flavors. Here are some savory tips to make beautiful, no-fuss party fare: Stock the pantry: Prep pantry shelves by stocking up on assorted jarred items like roasted red peppers, capers, pickles, pickled vegetables, sliced and whole pitted olives as well as tasty premade pestos or tomato based dips. Make olives a centerpiece ingredient: Olives have the power to double as an essential part of the healthful Mediterranean diet, and be a party centerpiece. With pitted, seasoned, stuffed and jarred varieties, you have the makings of a festive, readyto-serve party plate. For a fast option, serve an assortment in a colorful bowl or small Mason jar. For guests’ ease, serve pitted olives, so they won’t have to worry about disposing the pits. For example, those from Pearls Specialties are available at Walmart, Target, Kroger and other grocery stores nationwide. Say cheese: Pick up a selection of cheeses, choosing hard classic cheddars, feta, fresh mozzarella, soft aged cheeses such brie, as well as cream cheese. Support your baker: Take the time to seek out a great local artisan baker for a wonderful crusty Italian ciabatta loaf, a seeded baguette, a whole grain dark rye or a tangy sourdough. Use slices as a base to emulate trendy restaurants and cafes that serve toasts topped with flavorful combinations. In a pinch? Crackers work great too. Go nuts: Combinations of crunchy pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts and cashews are delicious with everything. For a shortcut, get packaged candied or spiced blends. Veg out: A trip to the produce aisle provides colorful inspiration and loads of tasty choices for an elegant veggie platter. Add fruits too. Sweet grapes and apples are a perfect complement to salty items. Combine wit h dips, spreads, cheeses and olives. Dark, flavorful Kalamata olives are delicious combined this way and make the great base for a tapenade. Just sticks, no stones: Use bamboo skewers for excellent presentation and make snacking easy on guests. Layer on whole, pitted olives, such as the large and meaty Pearls Garlic Stuffed Queen Olives, slices of mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, colorful bell pepper strips and chunks of your favorite salami. Drizzle a bit of balsamic vinegar onto your skewers before serving. If you prep them ahead of time, wrap them tightly and refrigerate. Great drinks: On bartending duty? Garnish spicy or unusual gin or vodka martinis with Pearls Jalapeno Stuffed or Blue Cheese stuffed olives for a rich, surprising twist. Instead of a plain cocktail pick, use a sprig of fresh rosemary to skewer those olives. For more great entertaining ideas, visit www.olives. com and www.facebook.com/ pearlsolives. Tips to make family road trips smooth sailing (StatePoint) Hitting the road with the family? Experts say there’s no reason to view the journey itself as a prevacation chore. “Travel doesn’t just have to be about getting to where you’re going,” says Tara Trompeter, managing editor at Autotrader. “Family time in the car can be a great oppor tunit y for ma king memories and a little bit of planning before you get on the road will go a long way toward filling the experience with more fun and laughter for everyone involved.” To keep road warriors comfortable and content on their drives, Autotrader editors are offering some of their top travel tips: • Prepare your vehicle. Do a quick check on the essentials before you head out. Check the wear and pressure on your tires, and be sure your fluids (oil, coolant and wiper fluid) are topped off. • Make it an adventure. Just because you have an ultimate destination doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy fun stuff in between. Check your route for family-friendly stops along the way, such as a zoo, park or even toy store to give kids something to look forward to while breaking the trip into manageable pieces. • Keep little ones engaged. Technology features like built-in screens and DVD players can be saviors on the road. If your car doesn’t come equipped with these, consider bringing along a handheld device on which little ones can play games or watch videos. A nd if technology isn’t your thing, remember that magnetized board games and word games can work just as well. • Bring snacks. Greasy food isn’t the best for staying alert -- or feeling good -- while road tripping. Instead of relying on fast food, bring along lots of small, healthy snacks to keep kids (and adults) content. Great options include fruits and vegetables that are easy to eat and fuss-free, like carrot sticks, bananas and apples. • Have patience! Between road congestion, frequent stops and bad weather, travel time can take longer than anticipated. Allow and plan for extra travel time, and you’ll have a better chance of arriving safely and stress-free. • Consider an upgrade. Before setting off, consider upgrading your old gasguzzler to a new one that’s energy efficient and comfortable enough to make the long journey with the family in tow. To help, Autotrader rounded up a list of 10 fuelefficient family cars that boast affordability, roomy interiors and a fuel-efficient, 30-miles-per-gallon on the highway. Among their picks are the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Jeep Cherokee, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Optima, Mazda CX5, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Outback and the Toyota Camry. To learn more, visit autotrader.com. With the right strategies for happy travels, you can begin your vacation the second you hit the road. HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 PAGE 7B Five hacks to travel smart with your smartphone (BPT)—Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple or with your entire extended family, there’s one thing you likely won’t forget to bring on your trip: your smartphone or tablet. Nearly two-thirds of Americans are now smartphone owners, according to the Pew Research Center, and almost half own a tablet. Right next to socks and a toothbrush, your mobile device is one of the most important and useful items you’ll bring with you. These devices are meant to be mobile and while on the road, our mobile devices help us navigate new places, entertain us during long flights and keep us connected to back home. However, what might throw your trip into a tailspin is the amount of data these devices can consume. Streaming video, photo sharing, travel apps and Internet browsing can eat up data fast and if you don’t have the right data plan you could end up having your trip cost a lot more in overage fees. And trends show our need for data is growing exponentially. In fact, individual data usage will increase from almost 2 GB used per month in 2014 in North America to almost 11 GB in 2019, according to Cisco’s Mobile Visual Networking Index. The last thing you want to come home to is a huge bill of data overages because you or your child used too much data. To get the most out of your smartphone and tablet without the headaches of low batteries and data charges, consider these expert travel tech tips: Connect to Wi-Fi whenever possible One simple proactive step can dramatically decrease your data usage: connect to Wi-Fi. While not always possible, Wi-Fi is widely available at airports, train stations, restaurants and many other public places. If you’re dealing with a delay, connect to the local Wi-Fi network and you can check email, surf the web or shop online until your heart’s content. Download playlists and movies Taking a long plane trip or heading out on an epic road trip? Traveling to another country? Download playlists and movies before you leave so your content is ready to go when you’re not able to be connected to a network. You’ll enjoy immediate access to what you want even in airplane mode or without network coverage. Stream smart Streaming video and music can use a ton of data so be careful what you choose to watch. T-Mobile recently launched “Binge On” which lets customers enjoy video streaming from top select partners like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Showtime, ESPN and more without using their high-speed data bucket. That means watching the game, catching up on your favorite series or movies for the kids won’t cost you any data on T-Mobile. And the best part is, it’s automatically included in qualifying plans. T-Mobile also offers a similar program for music streaming as well. Learn more at www.T-Mobile. com. Ready devices for travel abroad It’s important to know your plan and ready your devices for traveling to other countries. Call your carrier to make sure you’re covered and avoid outrageous international roaming fees. If you are constant international traveler, check out T-Mobile’s Simple Choice plan, you get LTE data and texting at no extra charge in more than 140 countries. And, as an added bonus, T-Mobile customers traveling to Canada or Mexico, can use their phone just like the US. The company’s Simple Choice plan is one of the best in wireless for people that travel a lot. Stay charged Nothing is worse than running out of battery while traveling. Your directions, your entertainment, and some argue, your sanity, are gone! If you’re road tripping, remember to pack a car charger. If you plan to be away from a charging port, an extra battery or portable charger can be a lifesaver. Only have a few minutes to charge before takeoff? Charge devices faster by switching to “airplane mode” before plugging in. Why winter is one of the best times to buy a boat (BPT)—Post-holiday sales aren’t the only deals to be found this winter. Winter boat shows offer some of the best pricing and incentives of the year—a major draw for the estimated 87 million Americans who take to the water each year, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. For those ready to plan summer fun, boat shows can be a good place to start. Unlike auto shows, boat shows are the place to buy. They create a unique shopping experience since hundreds of boats of all types are under one roof ready to board, browse and buy. Consider it a quick and convenient way to get familiar with manufacturers and your local dealers as you compare their products. Boat shows also offer the chance to shop the latest gadgets for your boat, and attend an array of boating educational seminars for all levels of interest. Discover Boating, the national awareness program to help get people on the water, offers the following tips for navigating buying a boat at a boat show: • Do your homework. Before attending a local boat show, a little research can go a long way. Spend time on DiscoverBoating.com to identify the different types of boats that fit your budget and lifestyle—try the boat selector and loan calculator tools. There’s even a boat show finder to locate a boat show in your area. • Warm up with hot deals. Hundreds of new models are available to buy on the show floor at some of the best prices of the year. Exhibitors generally offer special show pricing or other incentives at shows. Plus, it’s the perfect time to order a new boat to ensure it arrives ready to launch in spring. • Develop your nautical know-how. Boat shows are a great place for beginners to learn about the boat buying process as well as the boating lifestyle. Many provide boater education seminars and hands-on training, as well as displays of boats that can be financed for $250 a month or less. • Get your feet wet. Boat shows bring the great outdoors indoors in the middle of winter. Participate in an array of activities (often at no additional cost) including fishing for kids, paddlesports, seminars, antique boats and more. Take the opportunity to meet other boaters, as many make their local boat show a winter rendezvous. • Look for the seal of approval. Look for boats marked NMMA Certified, as they have met strict industry product quality standards. Also look for Marine Industry Certified Dealers—boat retailers who have made a commitment to top-quality buying and maintenance experiences. Winter boat shows are an easy way to learn how to get on the water, plus a chance to enjoy a taste of summer during the coldest months of the year. Visit DiscoverBoating.com to find a boat show near you, a list of certified dealers and manufacturers, and unbiased advice. EL AL receives top international airline ranking EL AL Israel Airlines has been recognized in four prestigious award competitions. The national airline of Israel was honored for its Matmid Frequent Flyer Club by The Freddie Awards, the most prestigious awards in the travel industry. In addition, EL AL received the top award in the “Best Airline Security” category by Global Traveler Magazine for the ninth consecutive year and was selected as one of the Best International Airlines by Conde Nast Traveler in their 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards. Earlier in the year, the airline received top recognition for its wine list in the ‘Cellars in the Sky’ competition by Business Traveller Magazine. • The “Freddies” allow travelers to voice t heir opinion on which frequent travel programs offer the best value. The EL AL Matmid Frequent Flyer Club took home the top prize for “Best Promotion” by offering economy class award tickets at notably reduced fares. EL AL was also honored for “up and coming frequent flyer program of the year.” • Offering a wine list exclusively featuring Israeli vineyards, EL AL received a gold medal for “Best Presented Wine List” in the Business Traveller Magazine ‘Cellars in the Sky’ competition. The annual awards, which recognize the finest business and first class wines served by airlines worldwide, also honored EL AL with a bronze medal for serving Galil Mountain Vineyard’s Ela 2012 red wine in Business Class. The award winning EL AL wine list is curated by the renowned sommelier Yair Haidu, who strives to present passengers with a taste of exceptional Israeli wines. • For the ninth consecutive year, the 2015 Global Traveler Magazine tested reader survey ranked Israel’s national airline number one for its prestigious security. Earlier in the year, EL AL scored among the Top Five International Business Class airlines. In the magazine’s annual “Wine on the Wing” competition, Yarden Blanc de Blancs 2008 finished among the Top Five sparkling wines, and the Top Five Red Wines served in International Business Class include both Petit Castel 2013 and Teperberg Reserve Merlot 2011. • More t ha n 129,0 0 0 readers took part in Conde Nast Traveler’s 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards survey, whereby EL AL was named one of the world’s top 20 Best International Airlines. The award recognized EL AL’s gourmet-level kosher meals, notable wine list and an innovative entrepreneurship program called “Cockpit.” sized casual clothing, but Hecht says they have plans to roll out some eveningwear in response to requests from religious Jews and Muslims. “Fashion is always about rebelling, and younger women are now rebelling against the idea that they have to show their skin to be sexy,” Hecht says. “It used to be empowering to show what you have, but now more is more.” Plus, at the biggest-ticket events in the celebrity circuit, it makes sense that women would want to wear more material, says Heyman—after all, the gowns are works of art. “When you’re talking in terms of design aesthetic, I say the more the merrier,” she says. “It’s always best when there’s more to look at.” Heyman credits actresses like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Michelle Williams and Emma Stone—as well as fashionistas like Olivia Palermo and Alexa Chung—for giving a fresher, cutting-edge feel to a more traditional style of dress, both on and off the red carpet. In some ways, the Olsen twins have become the patron saints of high-end modest fashion. The two women, who are often photographed in layers of voluminous, flowing clothes, have their own high-end line of ready-to-wear clothing with ankle-length skirts, long-sleeve shirts and coats as staples. Called The Row. the line is described by The Council of Fashion Designers of America as “simplistic shapes that speak to discretion.” “I’ve always been obsessed with them,” Hecht says of the star siblings. “It’s simplicity done so regally and luxuriously. People always talk really highly about their clothes without talking about how modest they are, which just shows you that you can have clothes that are completely fashionable without the modesty aspect being so obvious.” But when it comes to red carpet designers that really nail the look, “Valentino is the epitome of modern modesty,” Heyman says. Even labels like Dolce & Gabanna—known for some outrageous, showstopping looks—have more conservative dresses, she says. (In fact, D & G recently launched its very own line of high-end hijabs and abayas.) Mayim Bialik, an Emmy nominee for “The Big Bang Theory” and an observant Jew, says her self-imposed red carpet dress code (nothing too short, nothing sleeveless) is a mix of social and religious modesty —and a way to demonstrate her “second-wave feminist side.” The thinking, according to Bialik, is that she doesn’t need to show everything—that keeping parts of your body private is empowering. “There’s a resurgence of younger women who are rebelling against the idea that they have to show skin to be sexy,” she says. “In fact, the more you’re covered up, the more you can show your attitude. It used to be just older women or larger-sized women who dressed modestly, but even the most petite actresses are doing it.” Bialik has also perfected the art of covered-up chic, such as the green Oliver Tolentino dress she wore on Sunday to accept her Critics’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She’s learned some tricks over the years, too. “When you dress modestly, you need to keep jewelry, makeup and hair sleek, modern and sexy, or risk looking matronly,” Bialik says. It’s a lesson that some stars will likely put into practice at the upcoming Oscars. Heyman, for one, predicts that we’ll see stars wearing more covered-up, sparkly frocks, like what Moore wore to the Globes. And while there will undoubtedly be lots of “strapless and low-cut looks” at the Academy Awards, Hecht expects to see a good showing of modest dresses, too. “Modesty isn’t considered a matronly, archaic, biblical way of dressing anymore,” she says. “And that creates an opening for a lot of designers.” Modesty From page 5B vin, Valentino and Carolina Herrera that meet religious clients’ needs. Even Alexander McQueen, a design house known for outrageous style, has “covered-up dresses,” she says. “The red carpet fashions tend to come in cycles,” Burton says. Now there’s a “been there, done that” feel when it comes to the completely bare look, she says. “The red carpet will always reflect what’s happening in fashion, and over the past two years or so we’ve seen a definite increase in looks that feature more material and more draping,” says Mimi Hecht, a Hasidic designer who with sister-in-law Mushky Notik runs Mimu Maxi, which has been featured in Vogue. The line specializes in over- PAGE 8B HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 Turkish Pizza with Chopped Salad and Herb Tahini By Samantha Ferraro (JTA via The Nosher)—Two years ago, my husband and I went on a food tour across Istanbul, and our guide was boasting about lahmacun, Turkish-style pizza, and how we can’t leave Turkey without trying it. I remember watching the Turks walk around the cobbled old streets, bustling from the street food vendors with lahmacun in hand. Rolled up tightly and easy to eat on the go, from afar it kind of looks like a burrito. As tradition states, lahmacun is most commonly eaten with a sampling of toppings, including sliced raw onion, fresh herbs and a healthy splash of squeezed lemon. Well, I’m sorry to say we never did try it in Istanbul, but I hope the locals appreciate my humble take on lahmacun. I have to admit, I decided to modernize the recipe a bit. Instead of flatbread dough made from scratch, I took a simpler approach and used store-bought pizza dough, which worked beautifully! And to add a bit more texture and contrast, my modern lahmacun is generously topped with chopped salad, a bright herb tahini dressing and an extra pinch of sumac and spicy red pepper. Because there is no such thing as too much spice, am I right? Ingredients: 1/2 pound pizza dough, at room temperature 3/4 pound ground beef or lamb (or mixture of both) 1 teaspoon turmeric 1/2 teaspoon cumin 1/2 teaspoon sumac 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon dried mint Pinch of cayenne 1 tomato, roughly chopped and seeds removed 1 shallot, roughly chopped Small bunch of fresh parsley and cilantro 1 bell pepper 2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped Salt and pepper, to taste For the chopped salad: 2 Persian cucumbers, peeled 1 large tomato, seeded and chopped a few fresh mint leaves, chopped the juice of 1 lemon Olive oil, for drizzling Salt and pepper, to taste For the herb tahini dressing: 1/2 cup tahini Small bunch of fresh parsley and cilantro 1 garlic clove, roughly chopped 1/2 teaspoon cumin Pinch of cayenne (optional) 1 lemon, juiced Salt and pepper, to taste Water, for thinning out dressing Additional toppings: Sliced onion Sumac Lemon wedges Directions: First make the chopped salad. Chop tomato and cucumber to 1/2-inch pieces and add to bowl. Add the chopped mint, olive oil and spices and toss together. Set aside. To make the tahini herb dressing, add ever yt hing except t he water to a food proce s sor a nd pulse to combine. Then add about Samantha Ferraro 1/4 cup of water to t hin Turkish Pizza With Chopped Salad out consistency. It should On the stovetop: Preheat a large nonstick skillet over be t he sa me t hick ness a s syr up a nd be pourable. Continue blending until ever yt hing is smoot h a nd medium heat and drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Place add more water if necessar y. Ta ste for sea soning lahmacun in skillet and cover with a lid. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the meat mixture and dough is cooked a nd set a side. To make the lahmacun, in a large bowl, add the chopped through. Once done, top with chopped salad, sliced onions, herb meat and spices and mix together well. Then in a food processor, add the tomato, bell pepper, shallot, garlic and tahini dressing and serve with additional sumac and herbs, and pulse until blended well and it looks like a salsa. lemon wedges. Samantha Ferraro is the food blogger and photograRemove and drain any excess moisture. Add the tomato mixture to the meat and mix well to combine. Season with pher for The Little Ferraro Kitchen. Samantha comes from a diverse background and is originally from salt and pepper, to taste. Next, divide pizza dough into 4 equal pieces, about 2 Brooklyn, N.Y., until she turned to the island life and ounces each and roll out on a very floured surface with a moved to Hawaii. Now Samantha blogs about world rolling pin. Roll dough as thin as you can, or to about 8-9 cuisine recipes made easy in Southern California with her Italian husband and their dog Hula. When she’s inches in diameter. Then take some of the meat mixture and use your hands not blogging or making a mess in the kitchen, you can to gently press the meat mixture evenly into the dough, find her traveling the world for recipe inspiration. For more world cuisine recipes, follow Samantha at http:// leaving a shallow border. The beautiful thing about this dish is that you can either littleferrarokitchen.com The Nosher food blog offers a dazzling array of new bake it in the oven, or cook it on the stovetop. To bake: Place lahmacun on baking sheet or pizza stone and classic Jewish recipes and food news, from Europe and bake at 450 degrees F for about 5-7 minutes or until to Yemen, from challah to shakshuka and beyond. Check it out at www.TheNosher.com. meat and dough is fully cooked.