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Jewish

My Travels Started In The Chappaqua Library

October 24, 2018 by Ben G. Frank

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEN G. FRANK

“I travel the world.”

It’s now the summer of 2018, and I hold the copy of my fourth edition of A Travel Guide to Jewish Europe (Pelican Publishing), 752 pages, with photos, maps, a bibliography and index and say to myself:

“And to think it all began in the Chappaqua Library.”

I picture driving down Quaker Road on Saturday mornings to the library. That’s the day many fellow residents did their chores, such as ferry their kids to soccer, basketball, and other sport games; while others play tennis, golf, enjoy the pool clubs or sleigh riding in Gedney Park, depending on the season.

I spent my Saturdays in the library: First, doing research to prepare myself for forthcoming trips to exotic lands such as Tahiti, India, Morocco, Cuba, Monaco, and Peru. And then, once I landed in Europe, for instance, I people-watched on the Champs-Elysees and the Via Veneto; I stared at stately statues in London; I danced at a bar mitzvah party in Marseille; I prayed in the oldest functioning synagogue in the world, the Atlneuschul in Prague; and I spent hours at the Shoah Memorial and Holocaust Center in Paris.

In Tudela, Spain, I wrote in the new edition of my travel guide: “There are no Jews in Tudela. But I went anyway. You see, Tudela is the birthplace of my namesake, Rabbi Benjamin of Tudela. In the 12th century, he became the first Jewish travel writer, pioneering an entire branch of writing.

Like that travel writer: I chronicle the Jewish world of Europe; I record the Jewish population and describe the people; relate their history; comment on their rulers and define the Jewish Community.”

I also made sure that my travel book would be a practical, anecdotal, and adventurous journey through Jewish Europe, including in the text: kosher restaurants, cafes, synagogues, and museums, plus cultural and heritage sites.

Years after the first edition of A Travel Guide to Jewish Europe came out in 1992, a Florida woman reminded me of a phrase I used in my first travel guide. Like most authors, I felt good when a reader of one’s work, recalls a specific quote. The saying in question dates back to early 1930s-Poland, a decade later the site of the Nazi death camps. Then, Alfred Doblin, writer and novelist, wrote: “I realized I didn’t know any Jews, So, I asked myself and I asked others: ‘Where do Jews exist?’ I was told: ‘Poland.’ And so I went to Poland.”

This writer also went to Poland. Only my comment after the Holocaust was: ‘Someplace along the Polish road, you will shed a tear.’ It’s true, said the woman who remembered my quote.

After sojourning to those far off lands–24 countries in Europe alone, I would return to Chappaqua and, yes, spend Saturdays in the library, checking observations against fact. And so it went for the better part of the wonderful 37 years that my wife, Riva, resided in the hamlet including the years our two sons, Marty and Monte, were at home, until they left the nest.

What, therefore, is the essence of  A Travel Guide to Jewish Europe? My publisher put it succinctly: “This newly updated handbook from travel historian, Ben G. Frank, guides travelers through Jewish customs, neighborhoods, and historical sites in Europe. From kosher dining in France to memorials in Scandinavia, Frank combines practical information, intriguing stories, and an enlightening investigation into the Jewish contributions to European history.”

Not only did I include travel information for the tourist, I always wanted to update the political and social conditions, as well as historical information on Jewish life in Europe. Country by country, I discussed the rise of anti-Semitism, hate speech and hate crimes, especially in East Europe, as well as the rising nationalism in nations such as, Hungary, Poland and Austria.

I uncovered an interesting phenomenon:  European Jews are not only immigrating to Israel but many are relocating within Europe. In fact, Jews are moving from France to the UK, from the UK to Germany, and from Turkey to Spain and Portugal.

Thinking about my new work, I believe this new edition of A Travel Guide to Jewish Europe will help the reader understand the past history of Jews in Europe, as well as the present and the future.

So, let’s travel. As the Chinese say: “the journey of a 1,000 miles begins with the first step.”

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Ben Frank, book, Europe, Jewish, Jewish community, Jewish Europe, Poland, Travel, travel book, travel guide

High Holiday Recipes Featuring the Best of Fall’s Bounty

August 25, 2017 by The Inside Press

COMPILED BY AREA SYNAGOGUES

Fall ushers in the high holidays of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year 5778 and Yom Kippur known as the Day of Atonement when many Jews typically fast. But the Jewish New Year is a time of sweet holiday recipes featuring all the best of fall’s produce for families to eat together. Whether you are Jewish or not, these recipes are easy to make and are sure to delight the senses.

Classic Noodle Kugel

 Ingredients  Directions

4 eggs

½ cup sugar

¾ stick butter

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 cup sour cream

1 cup whipped cottage cheese

2 cups apples, chopped

½ cup raisins (optional)

1 tsp. cinnamon

12 oz. wide egg noodles

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the noodles until tender according to package directions. Drain and set aside. In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, and lemon juice together. Stir in the cooked noodles and combine until noodles are thoroughly coated. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour mixture into greased 11×7 inch baking pan. Bake until firm and golden on top, about 50 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of Temple Shaaray Tefila

 

 

Morah Mindy’s Chocolate Chip Applesauce Cake

 Ingredients  Directions

2 cups flour

1 stick of margarine

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. baking soda

1 egg

15 oz. applesauce

1 cup mini chocolate chips

Mix all these ingredients together and bake in a lightly greased square pan at 350 degrees for one hour.

Recipe courtesy of Mindy Citera, Director of Early Childhood Education at Bet Torah

 

 

Holiday Chicken

 Ingredients  Directions

4 tsp. butter, melted

¼ cup honey

¼ cup Saucy Susan or apricot jam

4 tbsp. Dijon mustard

2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

2 tbsp. white wine

2 tbsp. soy sauce

12 chicken pieces (bone in)

Paprika

In a large baking pan, mix together the first seven ingredients to prepare the marinade. Coat the chicken well; cover with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Turn the chicken pieces skin side up; baste with sauce, sprinkle with paprika, and bake 1½ hours, basting occasionally, until brown and cooked through.

Recipe courtesy of Congregation B’nai Yisrael

 

 

Honey Cake

 Ingredients  Directions

3½ cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. kosher salt

4 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. ground cloves

½ tsp. ground allspice

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup honey

1½ cups granulated sugar

½ cup brown sugar

3 large eggs at room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup warm coffee or strong tea

½ cup fresh orange juice

¼ cup rye or whiskey

½ cup slivered or sliced almonds (optional)

Note: This recipe fits in three loaf pans, two 9-inch square or round cake pans, one 9 or 10 inch tube or bundt cake pan, or one 9 by 13 inch sheet cake.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Make a well in the center, and add oil, honey, white sugar, brown sugars, eggs, vanilla, coffee or tea, orange juice and rye or whiskey, if using. (If you measure your oil before the honey, it will be easier to get all of the honey out.)

Using a strong wire whisk or in an electric mixer on slow speed, stir together well to make a thick, well-blended batter, making sure that no ingredients are stuck to the bottom.

Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). Sprinkle top of cake(s) evenly with almonds, if using. Place cake pan(s) on two baking sheets, stacked together (this will ensure the cakes bake properly with the bottom baking faster than the cake interior and top).

Bake until cake tests done, that is, it springs back when you gently touch the cake center. For angel and tube cake pans, this will take 60 to 75 minutes, loaf cakes, about 45 to 55 minutes. For sheet style cakes, baking time is 40 to 45 minutes.

Let cake stand 15 minutes before removing from pan.

Recipe courtesy of Temple Beth El and adapted from Smitten Kitchen

 

 

 

Filed Under: Armonk Cover Stories Tagged With: Bet Torah Synagogue, Congregation B'nai Yisrael, Cooking, High Holiday Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Jewish, Jewish Holidays, meal, prep, Synagogues, Temple Beth El, Temple Shaaray Tefila

Yom Hashoah Event on May 5 at Garden of Remembrance

April 11, 2016 by The Inside Press

garden of remembrance

Yom Hashoah Ad 2016Full Page 3.7.16-page-001 (1)

Date: May 5, 2016Time: 12:00 pm

Location:  Garden of Remembrance
148 Martine Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601

Contact: Millie Jasper

Phone: 914.696.0738

Email: mjasper@hhrecny.org

Filed Under: Happenings Tagged With: Event, hhrec, holocaust, Jewish, Westchester, Yom Hashoah

New Rabbi Appointed at Pleasantville Community Synagogue

September 1, 2015 by The Inside Press

image001Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan succeeded Rabbi Sameth this summer as the new Rabbi for Pleasantville Community Synagogue, a trans-denominational synagogue known for Joyful Judaism serving 20 Westchester towns over the last 18 years. Rabbi Danan received rabbinic ordination after five years in the ALEPH Rabbinic Program. She was a student of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi of blessed memory, the founder of the Jewish Renewal movement.

Since then, she successfully led two congregations: Congregation Beth Am (Reconstructionist) in San Antonio, Texas; and Congregation Beth Israel, in Chico, California.

She has extensive experience in Jewish Education at all levels, as well as leadership in interfaith work and dialogue, including the Celebration of Abraham in Chico, bringing together hundreds of Muslims, Christians, and Jews to learn about one another’s faith and also to get to know one another as neighbors.

In addition to her rabbinical studies, Rabbi Danan earned a Ph.D. in Hebrew Studies, specializing in Rabbinic Literature and Culture, from the University of Texas at Austin. Rabbi Danan grew up in Texas, lived for several years in Israel and for 12 years in Northern California.

Based on her love of nature and the outdoors, she recently started a creative website: Wellsprings of Wisdom, www.wellspringsofwisdom.com, designed as a virtual retreat center built around Jewish symbols from nature.

Rabbi Danan is also the author of The Jewish Parents’ Almanac, reflecting her experience as the mother of five children.

Rabbi Danan is married to Avraham Danan, a Moroccan-Israeli who loves and teaches Piyut (traditional Moroccan Jewish liturgical song). They are delighted to be closer to most of their five grown children and two young grandsons on the East Coast and Midwest.

Visit shalomPCS.com for more info about Rabbi Danan, the Hebrew school, Shabbat services and adult programming at PCS.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: inside chappaqua, Inside Chappaqua (Sept 2015), Jewish, New, Rabbi

Down-to-Earth JCC Programs

October 23, 2012 by The Inside Press

GLOBAL WISDOM FROM OUR SPONSORS

Todah Raba: I’m Thankful For… an early childhood program on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 10 a.m-11:30 a.m. at the Rosenthal JCC (600 Bear Ridge Road in Pleasantville) that engages children in the business of being thoughtful to others through “filling buckets” with good thoughts and good deeds. A concurrent program for parents offers down-to-earth suggestions and tips on raising thankful kids based on the values in the book The Blessing of a Skinned Knee. Entertaining for kids, educational for parents, and just in time for Thanksgiving!
Global Connections at the Rosenthal JCC is an education and exchange program for 7th and 12th graders in Northern Westchester and their peers in our sister city of Shoham, Israel. Teens meet monthly and connect with each other through social media to build bonds that culminate in spring and summer exchanges. Families host the international students so that they gain a real understanding of what life is like for each other. This cultural learning experience is hands-on and truly personal.

For more information, call 741-0333 x25 or look online at www.rosenthaljcc.org.

Filed Under: Words & Wisdoms From Our Sponsors Tagged With: children, israel, Jewish, Parents, religion

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