Ma Nishtana Ha’Layla Ha’Ze ? מה נשתנה הלילה הזה

MA NISHTANA HA'LAYLA HA'ZE ? מה נשתנה הלילה הזה

~THE FREEDOM HAGGADAH~

A STORY OF PROTEST AND HOPE

click here for English version

~הגדת החירות~

סיור של מאבק ותקווה

לחצו כאן להגדה בעברית

~סדר פסח ברוח מגילת העצמאות~

הוספת סדר היום הדמוקרטי לסדר הפסח, תשפ”ג –

לחצו כאן להורדת ההגדה

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Antisematism, hate crimes, and an apology – emailד sent at Rutgers university

 Wendsday, May 26, 17:36

Dear Rutgers–New Brunswick Community, We are saddened by and greatly concerned about the sharp rise in hostile sentiments and anti-Semitic violence in the United States.  Recent incidents of hate directed toward Jewish members of our community again remind us of what history has to teach us.  Tragically, in the last century alone, acts of prejudice and hatred left unaddressed have served as the foundation for many atrocities against targeted groups around the world.    Last year’s murder of George Floyd brought into sharp focus the racial injustices that continue to plague our country, and over the past year there has been attacks on our Asian American Pacific Islander citizens, the spaces of Indigenous peoples defiled, and targeted oppression and other assaults against Hindus and Muslims. Although it has been nearly two decades since the U.S. Congress approved the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act, the upward trend of anti-Semitism continues.  We have also been witnesses to the increasing violence between Israeli forces and Hamas in the Middle East leading to the deaths of children and adults and mass displacement of citizens in the Gaza region and the loss of lives in Israel.  At a time when the ravages of the pandemic and the proliferation of global conflict are leading to death, destruction, and ethnic strife, the university stands as a beacon of hope for our community.  We have the opportunity amidst the turmoil to serve as a model for institutions that respect and value the dignity of every human being. This recent resurgence of anti-Semitism demands that we again call out and denounce acts of hate and prejudice against members of the Jewish community and any other targeted and oppressed groups on our campus and in our community.  Our commitment to creating a safe learning environment that is inclusive of difference requires that we hold ourselves and each other accountable for our behaviors.  Therefore:We call out all forms of bigotry, prejudice, discrimination, xenophobia, and oppression, in whatever ways they may be expressed.We condemn any vile acts of hate against members of our community designed to generate fear, devalue, demonize, or dehumanize. We embrace and affirm the value and dignity of each member of our Rutgers community regardless of religion, race, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender, and ability.  If you have been adversely impacted by anti-Semitic or any other discriminatory incidents in our community, please do not hesitate to reach out to our counseling and other support services on campus.  Our behavioral health team stands ready to support you through these challenging times.  In addition, our Student Affairs Office is already working in close partnership with leaders of the Rutgers Jewish community, and meetings have been held with students to assess and respond to their needs. If you are aware of hate incidents on campuses or places that have been made unsafe due to expressed bigotry and other unacceptable and insensitive acts, please report them using the bias reporting system.   Although we face many challenges and may have differing perspectives, we must condemn acts of violence and all forms of bigotry.  We will continually strive to realize the aspiration embodied in President Holloway’s articulation of a vision for Rutgers as a ‘beloved community’—a community where we welcome and affirm humanity and find strength in our diversity.

 Sincerely, Christopher J. MolloyChancellor Francine ConwayProvost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Research and Academic Affairs 

Thursday, May 27, 18:50
Dear Rutgers–New Brunswick Community,
 
We are writing today as a follow-up to the message sent on Wednesday, May 26th to the university community. We understand that intent and impact are two different things, and while the intent of our message was to affirm that Rutgers-New Brunswick is a place where all identities can feel validated and supported, the impact of the message fell short of that intention. In hindsight, it is clear to us that the message failed to communicate support for our Palestinian community members. We sincerely apologize for the hurt that this message has caused.  
 
Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a community that is enriched by our vibrant diversity. However, our diversity must be supported by equity, inclusion, antiracism, and the condemnation of all forms of bigotry and hatred, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. As we grow in our personal and intuitional understanding, we will take the lesson learned here to heart, and pledge our commitment to doing better. We will work to regain your trust, and make sure that our communications going forward are much more sensitive and balanced. 
 
Our goal of creating a beloved community will not be easy, and while we may make mistakes along the way; we hope we can all learn from them as we continue this vital work together. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Christopher J. Molloy
Chancellor, Rutgers University­­­-New Brunswick
 
Francine Conway
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Research and Academic Affairs
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
 
Tuesday, May 29, 2021, 12:43
 
Rutgers deplores hatred and bigotry in all forms. We have not, nor would we ever, apologize for standing against anti-Semitism.
 
Neither hatred nor bigotry has a place at Rutgers, nor should they have a place anywhere in the world. At Rutgers we believe that anti-Semitism, anti-Hinduism, Islamophobia, and all forms of racism, intolerance, and xenophobia are unacceptable wherever and whenever they occur. 
 
Jonathan Holloway
President and University Professor

Fake Chopped Liver

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium eggplant
  • 1 large onion – diced
  • 3 hard boiled eggs
  • Oil (Vegetable or Olive)
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Parsley or cilantro / optional

How to:

  • Cut the eggplant to 1″ cubes. Place in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for at least 30 minutes.
  • Heat about 1/4 cup oil in a deep skillet, add the onions and saute until light brown.
  • Add the drained eggplant cubes to the skillet and continue sauteing until the the onion are dark brown and the eggplant is soft.
  • Peel the eggs.

Now you have a few options:

  • Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender. Run until it is all mashed and mixed.
  • Use a potato masher to mix and blend.
  • My favorite: A pastry blender! use to mash and mix all ingredients. Chunks are good!
  • Sprinkle chopped parsley or cilantro on top.

Chocolate bars

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup (100gr) buckwheat
  • 1 cup (200gr) dark chocolate
  • 1 cup (200gr) tahini
  • pinch salt
  • up to 1/2 cup nuts and/or seeds (hazelnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds….)

How to:

  • Soak buckwheat for 2 dry hours.
    • Drain and dry buckwheat in a pan, low heat
  • Melt chocolate and tahini in a bain marie
    • add salt
  • Mix dried, roasted buckwheat with chocolate/tahini mix
  • Add nuts (optional)
  • Spread mix in a small baking pan.
  • Place in freezer for at least 2 hours
  • Cut to squares

Sourdough Bread

Short version of the NY Times Cooking App “How to Make Sourdough Bread, A guide by Clair Saffitz

Link: the whole guide and how to maintain the starter

  • 350 gr White Flour
  • 150 gr Rye or Whole Wheat or Spelt four (or a combination)
    • mix together
  • 375 gr water
    • mix
    • cover with a damp towel, let sit 30 min

Check sourdough started by dropping a teaspoon into a cup of water, it should float

  • 100 gr bubbly sourdough started
    • mix into flour/water mix
  • 10 gr salt + 10 gr water
    • mix. cover with a damp towel and let sit 10 min.
  • Kneed the dough for 10-20 min.
  • Cover with damp towel and let rise for 60 min (Temp should be 76-80F)
  • Fold the dough gently, let rise for additional 60 min. Repeat 3-7 times until dough is fluffy.
  • Mix 50/50 white flour and rice flour
    • Line a mixing bowl with dish towel. dust with 50/50 mix
    • Dust the flour with 50/50 mix, flip so dusted side is down.
    • Fold the left side of the dough inward toward the center, then fold the right side inward and overtop of the left fold. Starting at the end closest to you, roll the dough away from you into a bulky spiral.
    • let sit for 1-2 min
    • lift up the dough and place it seam-side up in the prepared basket. Lightly dust the exposed part of the dough with more of the 50/50 flour mixture, and cover with a kitchen towel.
    • Let rise in room temparture 1-2 hours.
    • cover the dough with plastic wrap and leave in fridge over night.

  • NEXT DAY:
    • heat over to 500F, place uncovered dutch oven on lower rack.
    • remove dough from fridge.
    • dust the exposed dough with the 50/50 flour mixture, massaging it into the surface. Place a piece of parchment paper over the basket, making sure the parchment is longer and wider than the basket by several inches. Invert the loaf onto the parchment paper. Remove the basket, then slowly peel away the towel. Dust the rounded side of the dough with more of the 50/50 flour mixture, rubbing it into the surface to coat evenly.
    • Use a a knife to make a long, slightly off-center slash about 1/4-inch deep
    • place the heated Dutch oven on the stovetop. use the parchment paper to lower the loaf into the Dutch oven. Cover and return it to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes.
    • remove the lid and reduce the oven temperature to 450F. Continue to bake the loaf uncovered until the surface is deeply browned all over, another 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the Dutch oven from the oven, pull out the loaf.

Buckwheat mini burgers

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup buckwheat (a,k.a kasha)
  • 3 chopped scallions
  • chopped parsley (~1/2 cup)
  • 2 TBS miso or Tahini + 1 tsp soy souce (see notes)
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • oil for frying

How to:

Cook the buckwheat in 2 cups of water. After it comes to a boil simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool.

Mix with all other ingredients (see notes)

With we hands, shape to size and fry about 5 minutes on each side.

Notes:

  • I used tahini and soy sauce
  • I added 1 egg to the mix

https://veg.co.il/art272.html

MEJADRA – Middle Eastern Rice and Lentils

Ingredients:

  • 1 large onion, diced (or cut to very thin rings)
  • Oil (I use canola, olive oil is OK)
  • 1 cup green lentils
  • 1 cup rice (white or brown)
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

How to:

Fry the diced onion in the oil, on low heat until it’s beautifully caramelized to a beautiful brown color. It may take 1-15 minutes, don’t rush it, keep the heat low, stir every few minutes.

When the onions are ready, remove half of them to a bowl. To the pot add the rice and the lentils and salt. Add water (see note below) and cook for until ready (see note below). Add black pepper, mix. Serve with the reserved onions on top.

Serve as is as a side dish. Can top with yogurt for extra deliciousness.

Notes:

  • You can, but don’t have to, soak the lentils for a few hours before cooking. I always do*.
  • If lentils are soaked – add 2 cups water. If lentils are dry – use 2 3/4 cups water.
  • If using white rice – cook for 20 minutes.
  • If using brown rice cook for 40 minutes.
  • You can continue cooking for another 15-20 on very low heat and hope the bottom turns crispy delicious.
  • You can also add cumin and/or allspcie.
  • You can a diced tomato or a tablespoon of tomato paste.

Never forget your reusable shopping bags again – How to.

Beach art made of plastic debris (Bonaire, 2013)

I am, and many of my friends are, thinking about plastic pollution and the cost to the environment of one-time-use plastic shopping bags and what we can do to reduce their use. So we have reusable bags, and we keep them in the car… but when we go to the store we forget to take them with us… Many times I walked back to the car to fetch the bags I forgot… And I know I am not alone. In a recent survey about plastic use in my town (East Brunswick NJ) 85% of those who are concerned about plastic pollution use disposable plastic bags because they forget to take the reusable bags with them to the store.

.

——————————

My solution – reminders on the phone. Reminders to remember the bags, reminders that go off at a location such as the supermarket’s parking lot.

Here is how: Set up a reminder on your phone ‘DON’T FORGET SHOPPING BAGS’ and chose the option ‘remind me at a location‘. Chose your favorite food store as the first location. Duplicate this reminder for other stores – Target, Walmart, Costco, etc. – you shop at. Voila! your phone will alert you when you approach the store and remind you to take shopping bags with you.

Let me know in a comment if this works for you!