The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

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Why We Kvell* About Living Here

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scrollCelebrating the Jewish New Year and Religious Tolerance

By Deborah Notis

For many, fall is a time of renewal. This is certainly true for Jewish people, as they welcome the New Year, celebrate the harvest, and begin a new cycle of reading the sacred Torah in the fall. It’s also a time to recognize and appreciate the town of Chappaqua, where everyone can worship as they please without great prejudice.

Ten days after Rosh Hashanah is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and the most somber day on the Jewish calendar. Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, the new senior Rabbi of Temple Beth El in Chappaqua, emphasizes that religious tolerance is something that’s inherent in Judaism. “The Torah does not begin with the story of the Jewish people but rather with all humanity.” Judaism, at its roots, teaches religious tolerance and

Rabbi Mark Sameth of Pleasantville Community Synagogue offers a broad perspective too regarding our community’s tolerant attitude about religion, stating, “Maybe it has to do with that fact that people…wherever they are in terms of religion, they still have spiritual longings, a need for community, a sense of purpose.” Ultimately, whatever the motivation for this spirit of acceptance, it’s another reason to feel fortunate and count our blessings this holiday season.

The Jewish “Reset Button”

The Jewish Holidays season is “like a reset button that gives us a new chance to access a renewed sense of hope and a way to deepen one’s gratitude,” states Rav Shoshana Mitrani-Knapp, who offers High Holiday services to Jews without shuls. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, marks a time of renewal and is considered a symbol of hope within the Jewish community.

With the blowing of the Shofar at the end of the holiday, Jewish people are calling the Messiah, hoping that he will arrive in the New Year.

Sukkot, which follows Yom Kippur and lasts seven days, is one of the most festive Jewish holidays. With large feasts and celebrations under the traditional ‘Sukkah,’ or shelter, built and decorated with poles, tree branches, and bamboo reeds, dried corn and gourds, Jewish people pray for a bountiful harvest.

(L-R) Rabbi Mark Sameth, Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, Rabbi Aaron Brusso and Rav Shoshanna Mitrani-Knapp.
(L-R) Rabbi Mark Sameth, Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, Rabbi Aaron Brusso and Rav Shoshanna Mitrani-Knapp.

Sukkot is followed by Simchat Torah, during which Jewish people rejoice in completing another year reading the Torah. Simchat Torah celebrations are like a huge, celebratory party, complete with singing, dancing and bountiful feasts. All in all, these holidays “provide the Jewish people with an opportunity to reconnect with one another and as a community with G-d,” notes Rabbi Jaffe.

While Jews in our area can celebrate the holidays in relative peace, nationwide anti-Semitism is still an all-to-frequent occurrence. The Anti-Defamation League noted that incidents of violent anti-Semitic assaults increased in 2013. In April 2014, before the Jewish holiday of Passover, a 73-year-old white supremacist with a long resume of anti-Semitic acts opened fire outside Jewish centers around Kansas City. Closer to home, Greenburgh Fire Chief Anthony LoGiudice was accused of making anti-Semitic slurs about the town supervisor, Paul J. Feiner.

And while Chappaqua has not been immune to acts of anti-Semitism (an incident at Seven Bridges gave us all pause), it still remains largely safe for practicing Jews. As Rabbi Jason Nevarez of Bedford Temple Shaaray Tefilah tells us, “This area is a wonderful place to raise a Jewish family.”

Part of what makes this area such a great place to practice Judaism is the openness and respect that our community has for all religions. Many houses of worship team together for interfaith events and open their doors to the community as a whole. Temple Beth El takes part in numerous interfaith activities throughout the year, including an annual interfaith Thanksgiving dinner so popular throughout the community. This year, Rabbi Nevarez leads the Northern Westchester Interfaith Council.

Bearing Witness

Rabbi Aaron Brusso of Mt. Kisco’s Bet Torah Synagogue teams up with Catholic leaders every summer to participate in the Anti-Defamation League’s Bearing Witness program. According to Rabbi Brusso, this program has helped him to develop an even deeper “respect for and understanding of Catholicism.” Ultimately, an increasing familiarity with different religions enables people to achieve a greater level of respect for diverse religious and spiritual beliefs.

Overall, Americans are “benefitting from a marked increase in religious tolerance,” says Rabbi Sameth. He cites a 2013 study by Rice University that “showed a ‘substantial jump in the proportion of Americans who view all religions with equal respect.’” Plus, as Rabbi Nevarez and Rabbi Sameth point out, in our communities, Jews live in proximity to others with similar identities, and many non-Jews have ties to Judaism through friends, neighbors, and relatives. These factors contribute to making this a safe place for people to practice Judaism.

Religious tolerance is very much about looking inside too; that looking and “checking” are what reside at the heart of New Year services.

According to Rabbi Maura Linzer of Temple Beth El, from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur “the Jewish people are obligated to engage in the process of Chesbon Nefesh, which literally translates as a checking of the soul or self. We look back upon our thoughts and deeds, asking where we missed the mark of being our best self.”

Deborah Notis is a writer and a co-founder of gamechanger, LLC. She lives in Westchester with her husband and four sons.

*to be extraordinarily proud; to rejoice

The Bus Stops Here!

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All aboard after a day of Kindergarten at Roaring Brook School.
All aboard after a day of Kindergarten at Roaring Brook School.

Or how I Learned to Just Say Go

By Dan Levitz

I remember driving my son, our first-born child, home from the hospital.  My wife and I were a nervous parental cliché personified–hazards on the whole way, our usual five minute drive across East 86th Street took 20 instead.

Old habits die hard. Charlie was starting first grade when we moved here, and my wife and I were far more nervous than he was about taking the bus to school. My recollection of the bus at his age was something akin to Lord of the Flies; complete anarchy, survival of the strongest. Charlie was a robust little snapper but, at six, did he have the stuff to weather this oncoming daily storm?

Of course, to our extreme relief, it was obvious that my boy felt safe. And, in the rare case where there was a behavior issue on the bus, we learned that Roaring Brook School had (and has) an effective response. Bus Safety Coordinator Bill Woolard is a well-liked and respected Physical Education teacher who has been the bus safety czar at RBS for 12 years. I asked him about his training for this role and he cited his decade’s long experience with at-risk youths, special needs kids and here in Chappaqua. Bill describes himself as “large, ugly and loud” which may be needlessly self-deprecating but certainly gets the kids’ attention. Bill sits when talking to a student about RBS’s “three strike” bus safety policy so his formidable stature isn’t overly intimidating; first strike is a conversation with Bill, second a Bus Behavior Worksheet and third is a suspension for repeated disallowed behavior. Notably, three strike offenders are extremely rare.

Our bus transport nervousness only re-emerged in rare instances like the mini-rogue-tornado we had one spring. Long story short, headed home, the bus couldn’t proceed due a sudden and intense storm which brought trees down on 120. The bus driver wisely pulled over, kids exited safely and kind neighbors harbored our children until the storm, literally, passed. School was canceled the next day and Charlie was interviewed on News 12. Perhaps the greatest day of his life to that point.

As Charlie moved on to Bell, and now Greeley, it occurs to me that we rarely ever think about the details of his daily bus rides. It’s just a fact of his routine. This confidence comes from knowing that Chappaqua Transportation Company operates with our children’s safety as priority number one.

I met with longtime CTC owner Joan Corwin who emphasized, “We are doing all we can to insure the children’s safety.” She pointed out that drivers and monitors are extensively trained in bus safety, taking both required courses and physical performance tests. This passionate woman noted that, early on, her authoritative command garnered the nickname The Godmother. Now, however, she’s mostly called Mom by bus drivers, monitors and employees who have worked for her as long as 30 years. Joan told me that she’d be unable to count the number of hugs she’s given nervous Moms over the years because there’ve just been so many. The message I received from our conversation was a strong feeling of empathy with the parents and a professionalism that never strays from the bottom line of safety ahead everything else.

My daughter Bella came along five years after Charlie, and was a baby when we moved here. Bella, a Special Ed student, has generally traveled on the smaller van-type buses. I’ll never forget when, as a 2 1/2 year old, Bella got on one of those little busses, with its wonderful mix of children, and headed away from us for the first time. It was difficult for us as parents but Bella seemed happy to be leaving her nervous folks behind. Since then, she’s studied at several schools in Westchester, riding as far as Bronxville on a daily basis. The thought of this long trip, on highways, was nervous-making. However, once we met the wonderful bus driver and monitor we felt confident and relieved that she was in good hands.

I sat down at Lange’s Deli with Tiffany Thomas who has been my daughter’s Bus Monitor going back at least five years. The distinct message that came across from our conversation is that the children’s safety is the number one concern for these professionals. They are required to take two safety classes per year and, in working with Special Needs children, go out of their way to make the bus feel safe and friendly. Tiffany noted, “On the bus I treat Bella and the other kids as if they are my own.” Tiffany also described situations where her bus role requires flexibility, saying, “some kids you sit with if they need it,” which she is happy to provide.

Both of my kids have had very positive experiences taking the bus to school mostly due to the fine professionals who transport them every day. 
I wish I could say that all school transport nervousness has been eliminated, but I don’t see any way a bus-driver or monitor can help with the next parental anxiety filled milestone.

Charlie will be driving himself to school next year. Yikes!

Dan has lived in Chappaqua for 10 years and is an art dealer and writer with a blog on The Huffington Post.

Chappaqua Camping 101

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joe-camp-4By Joe Giannettino

I know what you’re thinking…the only thing Chappaqua and camping have in common is that they both begin with the letter “C.” Well, that doesn’t have to be the case.

I remember sitting around a fire pit with a few of my high-powered New Castle neighbors, cigars and scotches in-hand. One of them said (with a surprised tone in his voice), “This is really nice.” Everyone nodded their heads in agreement. Now, I’ve been an outdoorsman my whole life, so the joy of hanging with friends around a fire wasn’t new to me at all.

I asked a simple question which set an entire chain of events in motion. “Have you guys ever gone camping?” Silence. Then came the jokes. “I only camp at the Four Seasons.” “Is there room service?” and, “do they have wifi?” After a few more drinks, I convinced this group of CEOs, lawyers and captains of industry to give camping the old college try.

These guys were total rookies, so I suggested Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Gardiner, New York. It’s about as intimidating as it sounds. Yogi’s is a family friendly campground about an hour away; complete with a swimming pool, general store and even an arcade. Hardly the rugged outdoors, but it was a start.

joe-camp-oneAs the date approached, the frantic emails intensified. Panicked fathers scrambled to figure out what they needed. I wish I could’ve have seen the salesman at Target as, one by one, the dads cleaned out their inventory of tents, sleeping bags, gadgets and fishing equipment. At this point, the Four Seasons would’ve been less expensive.The cars were packed, leaving barely enough room for the kids. Good thing it was only a short drive. We arrived at the campground, checked in and headed to our sites. A numbered stake divided each spot, which came outfitted with an old truck rim (for the campfire) and a faded picnic table. The task of unpacking began.

Fear set in as my fellow Chappaquans struggled to figure out which tent pole went where and how they were going to blow up a queen size air mattress using only their lungs. One of the guys brought a tent that rivalled the houses in Random Farms, complete with three bedrooms and a vestibule. My eight-year-old son became an entrepreneur that day, as each of the fathers gave him $10 to complete their tasks. It may have cost Mr. Random Farms $15.

With the tents finally set up, the next project was to collect firewood for our campfire. This was a necessity if we wanted to eat. The kids scattered like worker bees, each time bringing back twigs barely big enough to support a Barbie campfire. After about 15 minutes, one of the dads showed up with three perfectly bundled stacks of seasoned firewood he purchased from the general store. Not exactly living off the land, but effective.

One dad produced a cooler full of sausages and steaks purchased that morning from the Village Market. We were camping in style! Well, Chappaqua style anyway. Each link and steak sizzled as it hit the grill. The scent wafted. The kids were off riding bikes, fishing and playing wiffle ball. All was good in the world. Like our night around the fire pit, we enjoyed the warmth of the flames…and our friendships.

That camping trip became an annual tradition for all us dads and created lifelong memories.

joe-camp-3There are dozens of local campgrounds to suit every level. For beginners, I recommend Ward Pound Ridge, where rustic lean-to’s are available, or Croton Point Park with views of the Hudson. Both are within a 15-minute drive, and if all’s not going to plan (or it rains), it’s an easy trip back home. For more adventurous beginners, there are several Yogi Bear Campgrounds and KOA’s within a two-hour drive. They have all the amenities described above. New York also has many state campgrounds which are easy to enjoy.

Visit www.nysparks.com/parks/ for more info.

In today’s world of facebooking, tweeting and i-things, the great outdoors offers a rare opportunity to get back to basics, slow down and reconnect. If you haven’t slept under the stars, it’s never too late to start. Just make sure you give Target a heads-up that you’re coming.

Joe Giannettino is a life long resident of northern Westchester. He has two sons, Daniel and Michael. He enjoys fishing, softball and any other sport in which you can exaggerate your abilities.

You Can’t Spell Chappaqua without “Q”

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ManBarbequeBy Stephen Barron

There is nothing like a perfectly cooked spare or baby back rib.   Smoky meat, perfectly seasoned and combined with the right sauce makes our mouths water. Winter is behind us, and it’s time to start firing up your BBQ grill.

I’m an East Coast native, but developed a passion for BBQ after moving to Texas in the mid 90’s. In Texas, brisket is king, but ribs were always my favorite. I became obsessed with learning how to cook them so the meat easily falls from the bone without being dry or fatty. And with the right mix of seasoning applied before cooking (Rub), you can enjoy them even without sauce.

For me, picking out a good rack of ribs involves going to a good local butcher, or believe it or not, Costco. Look for whole racks that are meaty. Both baby back and spare ribs have a membrane on the bone side that should be removed. This can be a tricky process, and I suggest watching an online video to learn the proper technique.

“Chappaqua is a long way from the South, but did you know we have BBQ royalty in our midst? Christiaan Lorson from Le Jardin du Roi, heads up a well-respected team called “Q Haven” on the 
BBQ circuit.”

After the membrane has been removed, begin layering your flavors. Start with a light slather to hold the rub (see recipe below, but the fun is in the experimenting). Apply your rub immediately before cooking so the salt does not pull moisture from the meat. I’ve made rubs that have Asian, Indian, spicy, and sweet flavor profiles. The key to great rubs is keeping your spice blends even. Experiment and have fun.

Cooking a perfect rib starts with a little knowledge, passion and perseverance. Whether you use chips, chunks, or logs, it is important to only use hard woods. Oak, apple, and maple are local woods that provide great flavor for ribs. When grilling with charcoal or gas, tossing a simple aluminum foil pack containing soaked wood chips or chunks will give you smoke to enhance the flavor.

Without a doubt, proper temperature is critical to a successful outcome. Ideally, I will cook on an indirect 225-250 degree heat for around four hours. Offset your heat source from where the ribs are positioned to help even out the cooking temperature. Covering your charcoal or gas grill racks with sheets of aluminum foil will aid in dispersing heat. You can also place a small aluminum pan filled with apple juice over the heat source to create steam for keeping your ribs moist.

To avoid losing a constant grill temperature, check on how your ribs are cooking only once per hour. Do not peek! Optimal internal rib temperature is 170-175 degrees. Move the ribs around to even out hot spots. If your rib meat is shrinking slightly where the rib bone becomes exposed, immediately test internal temperature.

Chappaqua is a long way from the South, but did you know we have BBQ royalty in our midst? Christiaan Lorson from Le Jardin du Roi, heads up a well-respected team called “Q Haven” on the BBQ circuit.

Christiaan taught me a new twist on infusing more flavor into our ribs. After reaching 175 degrees internal temperature, wrap your ribs in foil, meat side down. He likes to line the foil with brown sugar, honey, rib rub, and maybe a little chipotle for added heat. When the ribs are wrapped tightly in foil, the heat molecules will turn your spices into a braising liquid. Forty five minutes of meat side down cooking should be more than enough to reach a final internal temperature of 195-200 degrees.

Christiaan says “Rest your meat!” Just like a good steak, your ribs should be out of the foil for a few minutes before cutting into your masterpiece. Spraying on a little apple juice to the rib will help stop the cooking process. I slice my ribs with the meat side facing down. Just cut between the bones. If you like, add sauce on top, or to the side (sauce suggestions below). 
Dig in!

When not conquering the world of finance, Stephen Barron can be found smoking his own ribs and spending quality time with his wife, Michelle, and sons, Max and Jack.

Christiann’s Slather Recipe
Even parts mustard, agave syrup, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce.
Maybe a tad less vinegar.
Sauce Suggestions: Stubbs, Austin Texas, Arthur Bryant’s, a spicy Kansas City classic, McClards, Hot Springs AK (a former favorite of President Clinton when he ate BBQ), Sweet Baby Rays for the kids, The Shed, (all flavors).

The Chappaqua Gauntlet

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gauntlet-2By Dan Levitz

The house is quiet. The only sound is a pleasing “whoosh, whoosh” from the little device that whips & heats the milk for the coffee. The kids have left for school and my wife for work. I’ll be the last one out the door and this…this is good. It’s a short ride to my job and, if all goes smoothly, it should be pleasant on this beautiful spring day.

Not long ago, I would have been the first of my family out the door and I’d be rushing to get an early express train to the City. When we moved here from Manhattan, my intention was a daily walk to and from the Chappaqua train station where I could clear my head and get a little exercise while keeping my Big Apple pedestrian mojo intact. I would reject the car-culture and remain true to my downtown urban roots.

“…if things go smoothly, it’s a great little drive. Our town is scenic, quaint, historic and 
bucolic.”

In my early days in Chappaqua, you might have found me on a Saturday walking to town to buy milk with my little daughter in a Baby Bjorn as cars flew by on 120.

I mean, this is how I carried my older son when he was a baby in the City, and I’d be damned if I would deny my daughter the same nurturing and effective mode of transport. I think we did that walk maybe two times in total. My naive idealism about relying on my own two feet proved to be fleeting.

We moved here in autumn and by winter I was driving everywhere including to the train in the morning. My vision of the daily walk to the station gone, I rationalized that the distance from my spot at the edge of the train parking lot, essentially located in Pleasantville, was roughly equivalent to my now dormant walk from home.

My daily train commute into the city has since been replaced by a short drive to my office in a neighboring town. I joke with my wife that the 1.3 miles of the commute that takes me through Chappaqua can only be referred to as…The Gauntlet! She says I can be overly dramatic, but I think as a term of action, it is spot on. As I mentioned, if things go smoothly, it’s a great little drive. Our town is scenic, quaint, historic and bucolic. These are highly appealing adjectives. However, if I’m to best The Gauntlet, a number of challenges must be overcome with honor and determination (I have no idea why she says I over dramatize things)!

My journey begins with The Audacious Left Turn of Departure! All that’s involved here is gently navigating the car past the children at the bus stop in front of my house and making the left onto Quaker towards town safely. I’ve mastered the repetitive left/right, right/left head-turn and, both directions clear, I make the turn and head towards town and The Infamous Bridge of Sighs!

Pausing at the red light by Hunts Place, I sip my coffee and feel the caffeine begin to percolate just a little in my brain. The newly renovated bridge can be challenging in a myriad of ways. Too many times, I’ve found myself sitting there unsure if it was my right of way or the giant Escalade’s coming from town. My awkwardness in these moments is punctuated by indecision: Brake…gas…lurch…peer…gas… brake!

Today however, the sun is shining on me as I traverse the bridge effortlessly and in good rhythm. As I pull up, about to turn left onto S. Greeley, I get the bluetooth going and start digging on a good driving song (Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things”). I sip my coffee and breathe deeply as I look ahead towards The Great Intersection of Indecision! It may be a confusing traffic pattern with the two-way stop, but folks here can be quite neighborly, and most drivers seem to approach it as cautiously as do I on this gorgeous Chappaqua morn.

As I continue forward, surrounded by picturesque Chappaqua in full spring bloom, it does feel natural to wax a bit poetic with my daily driving challenges happily in my rear view. I must admit that I feel privileged to be conducting my commute through such a lovely setting.

The ride up King is sweet. I turn the music up and reach for my faded Café Du Monde coffee mug. I make the right turn past Lange’s and the quick left by the Mobil station. I drive respectfully slow past Grafflin Elementary, now confident that the challenging part of the commute is over. As I bring the mug to my lips, I violently hit a pothole the size of Rhode Island. The hot coffee splashes all over my chest, and as I shriek, I notice the “check engine” light pop on. Sometimes you ride The Gauntlet, sometimes The Gauntlet rides you.

Dan Levitz is an art dealer & writer who has lived in Chappaqua for 10 years.