Seven Reasons To Love Cholent

Article courtesy of: http://www.buzztorah.com/

Cholent is easily one of my favorite parts of Shabbat. Especially during the cold winter months, I wake up Shabbat morning and the whole house smells of the warm, comforting stew. I can scarcely wait until lunch to have my fill. Maybe that’s why in many yeshivot people eat chulent Friday night. They just can’t wait till lunch. (My cousins actually eat chulent for breakfast, but that’s another story). Whether you call it chulent, cholent, or hamin, this hearty dish will no doubt warm up your heart and delight your taste buds. Here’s some interesting facts about cholent:

1. It’s a argument where the word originates from. Some claim that it derives from Old French, “chald” meaning hot and “lent” meaning slow. Combining the two created cholent. A more popular myth claims that the word cholent comes from “shul-end,” when cholent was traditionally served.

2. Jews all around the world eat cholent, with the basic ingredients being potatoes, beans, barley, and a fatty piece of meat. Some people even put beer inside for some extra flavor.

3. Sefardim include chickpeas and eggs in their cholent and often use honey or harissa to flavor the dish.

 

4. The Italian variety includes chicken meatballs, swiss chard, and sage.

 

5. In the United States, many add hot dogs and even Coca- Cola to the chulent to add a special flavor. At Yeshiva University’s annual cholent competition, creative chefs add anything from pastrami to pineapples, marshmallows, and canned pumpkin to wow the judges.

 

6. Everyone knows that the longer cholent cooks, the better it gets. While lazy [read: harried] cooks tend to put up their cholents just before Shabbat, the more dedicated let it cook from Thursday night or even earlier.

7. Cholent is having its moment of fame in non- kosher restaurants. Some use pig knuckle and spareribs for a decidedly non-kosher dish. Fulemule in Budapest offers six kinds of chulent, including one with foie gras and sautéed onions.

However you make it, cholent will be a tasty addition to your Shabbat meal and will make Shabbat come alive!

Article courtesy of: http://www.buzztorah.com/

 

What is the Shabbat Project?

Sydney joins 170 cities across the globe to keep Shabbat on October 24-25

The idea is simple and powerful: For the entire community to keep one Shabbat. At its core, this is a grassroots initiative – coloured by the imaginations, passions and ingenuities of the individuals and independent organisations that make up our Jewish extended family.

This is year one for Sydney. To tackle this massive task, we have divided the city into three major geographical hubs (North, East and South-East). Members in all of these respective areas have already started planning unique events for their communities.

In the South-East hub, the theme of relationships will be central on The Shabbat Project weekend. Talks about strengthening ones relationships ones parents, children, spouse and self, will culminate on Shabbat afternoon in the Amazing Chase. Families will storm the streets of Randwick, Coogee and Maroubra completing tasks at each station. Hub co-organizer Shirley Snoyman described the event as, “all inclusive from young kids to grandparents.”

Barbara Linz speaks on behalf of her team in the East Hub that are arranging Shabbat afternoon activities in private homes in Dover Heights, Vaucluse, Queens Park, amongst others, “Do you want to be amused, enlightened, entertained and educated on Saturday 25th October? Come join us at the hub in the Eastern Suburbs nearest your home from 3.30pm-5.30pm where you can listen to an array of fabulous speakers on various topics —and you’re welcome to add your opinion and your knowledge to the conversations,” she says.

Another inspired volunteer has organized a team to deliver challot to Jewish patients in hospitals across Sydney. She is determined to ensure everyone gets a taste of this beautiful Shabbat, no matter where they are. 

At Masada College, no student or their family will go hungry on the Shabbat, thanks to the school’s Calling Tree initiative. A grade representative will call and organize meals for every family over the Shabbat. “The table decked with a white cloth, delicious food, singing, chatting and exploring together are a conduit for connectivity,” enabling,  “every Masada College family to feel connected to Shabbat in a sincere and meaningful way.” Says Head of Jewish Life, Lisa Cohen. 

From school students to senior citizens everyone will partake in the Shabbat festivities! To ensure accessibility for all, the residents of the all The Montefiore Home campuses and The Burger Centre will have a joint rooftop challah-baking afternoon in Randwick on Friday 24th.

Be part of something big this weekend: A great adventure, so big that it encompasses our very extended Jewish family and builds on 3,500 years of ritual and precious heritage.

All your important Shabbat Project questions. Answered here!

The Shabbat Project – FAQs

Q: What is it?
The Shabbat Project is an international grassroots Jewish identity initiative that unites Jews to keep one Shabbat together.

Q: When is it?
The Shabbat of 24/25 October, 2014… but… in the 10 weeks leading up everyone is starting to prepare – their knowledge, their homes, their guest lists.

Q: Who is involved?
Almost the whole world! 170 cities, 11 time zones, 30 countries, dozens of languages. Observant to first-timers, young and old – the real question is… “who isn’t involved?”

Q: What do I need to do?
If you want to be counted in, sign up for updates and information on our website
shabbatprojectsydney.com.au. Pledge to Keep it Together.

Tell your friends about it, like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram with our hashtags #keepingittogether and #shabbosproject

When you register, be sure to encourage every member of your family to do the same.

Q. Who is in charge?
We all are! This is a grassroots initiative – shules, schools and communal organisations are all participating; each in their own way.

There are hundreds of volunteers already hard at work in various committees from Challah Baking to Education to Home Hospitality.

Q. What is being organised?
The Shabbat Project organising team are offering four things:
1. Massive Community Challah Bake – Thursday Oct 23 @7.30pm
2. Shabbat Afternoon Activities – from 3.30pm – 6.30pm across Sydney
3. Havdallah Celebration – Saturday Oct 24 @ 8.45pm
4. Shabbat Showbags – with items on how to keep Shabbat, games to play with the whole family and ideas on how to enrich your experience. (limited numbers)

Shules are organising extra things on top of their usual services such as meals, guest speakers, tishes and fabregens.

Jewish day school teachers are collaborating to produce the best and most exciting Shabbat programs.

Community organisations are planning meals, functions, extra newsletters and special children’s programs.

Individuals have already begun planning big dinners and lunches for their friends, changed arrangements so that they are free on the Shabbat Project weekend and generally started to share their enthusiasm.

Q: Why do it?
By experiencing the magic of Shabbat, we give ourselves an opportunity to disconnect from the routine and challenge of daily live, focus on family and relationships and be part of a really extended Jewish family!

Q: Does it cost to participate?
There are only two ticketed events that have a nominal fee – the Massive Community Challah Bake and Havdallah Celebration.

This is not a fundraising project, it’s all about each of us connecting with the nearly 10,000 other Sydney-siders who will be Keeping It Together on 24/25 October.

shabbatprojectsydney.com.au

Can we count you in?

What’s going on in…The North Shore!

North Shore Synagogue are planning a full Shabbat experience with chazzan and choir, children’s service, “lunch and learn” as well as a neighbourhood walk followed by Seudah Shlishit and Maariv. 

North Shore Temple Emanuel is “rockin” with excitement. There will be a special Kabbalat Shabbat in the Park together with a Shabbat hosting program we call, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” On Shabbat morning our members will be greeted with a “synaplex” – an assortment of programs including prayer, learning and much else. We are seeking a partner shule or community group to share a Seudah Shlishit and learning on Shabbat afternoon.

 

What’s going on in…Maroubra!

Maroubra Shule is organising a community day on Sunday 19 October  to prepare beautiful candle holders, challah covers and shule decorations. The candle holders will be used at a communal candle lighting ceremony on the Friday evening. The Shule is also hosting a communal lunch on the Saturday.

5 Answers to Shabbat’s Whys

Article courtesy of: http://www.buzztorah.com/

Have you ever been curious about why we give extra charity before Shabbat, the reason for eating gefilte fish, or just how cholent became so popular? Well, wonder no longer, for here are the answers to your burning questions.

1. Kindle Candles with Kindness

Shabbat is a special day that many reserve for spending time with family,and taking the time to appreciate the good in their lives. Of course, whenever celebrate our good fortune, it is always proper to remember those in need. Therefore, before lighting the Shabbat candles, many people have a custom to give a little extra money, even a few pennies, to charity.

2. United We… Braid

Much of Shabbat is focused on the idea of unity and togetherness. That is one of the reasons why challah, perhaps the most important Shabbat food, comes in the form of a braid, which represents the physical of three separate entities.

3. Fishy Facts

There are several reasons for eating fish on Shabbat. One explanation is in the Torah’s description of the 6 Days of Creation, the word blessing is used three times: at the creation of fish, at the creation of man, and when mentioning Shabbat. From this, we have the tradition that when man eats fish on Shabbat, he draws down a triple blessing.

4. Cholent Time!

Everyone knows it just wouldn’t be Shabbat without cholent, but not everyone knows why. The tradition of eating cholent dates way back in the Temple times, when there was a sect of Jews called the Sadducees who rejected the oral interpretation of the Torah. One of their deliberate misinterpretations of Jewish Law involved them taking the prohibition against cooking on Shabbat to extend to having any fire burning at all, even one set before Shabbat, causing them to spend Shabbat in the dark, eating cold food. Seeing this, the rest of the Jews decided to declare their allegiance to the oral interpretation of Torah by making it a point to eat something hot on Shabbat day… and so, cholent was born.

5. Shalom, Shabbat

Just as we light candles at the beginning of Shabbat to welcome in the special day, it is customary to light candles at the conclusion of Shabbat, during the Havdallah ceremony. When making the blessing over the candle, it is customary to look at one’s fingernails by the light of the candle. One reason for this is that nails are a sign of blessing, for unlike the rest of the body, they are constantly growing, and we would like to begin our week by looking at a good omen.

Article courtesy of: http://www.buzztorah.com/