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The Charlotte Jewish News - December 1998 - Page 2 In My Opinion... By Amy Krakovitz Montoni I recently read somewhere that of all five senses, the one that is most connected to our memory center is the sense of smell. Just lately I truly believe this. >\^le I was putting together the Chanukah section found on pages IS through 21,1 noticed my mem ory and my sense of smell inter acting. This was while looking through and entering in the page of recipes for latkes. Just the thought of potato latkes and Chanukah brought back memo ries. There were snippets of visual memories: the Happy Chanukah sign hanging in the living room and the old silver Menorah on the dining room table. There were brief auditory memories as well; singing the brachot and Ma'oz Tsur, as well as happy laughter during a game of dreidel. I even felt a brief sense of warmth, with the stove going in the kitchen, keeping out the cold E)ecember night. But the strongest memory really was the aroma; of melting wax from the candles; of milk choco late gelt', and of course the heavy, greasy odor of frying potatoes. Oh, I can almost taste them! They were best with sour cream, but sometimes we had to have only applesauce. And the taste!!! We often made them with schmaltz back then for a flavor no other cooking medium can compare to. We also all ended up with cholesterol levels no other cooking medium could produce. Nowadays our latkes are mostly convenience products. used the mixes that come in the lx)x and they’re pretty good. LasC: year I tried a frozen brand and ttmey were less greasy, but more like French fries than latkes. So, this year try an scratch recipe and make an olfactory memory for your family. XTiere’s a traditional potato latke recipe on page 20, as well as some more eclectic versions. And if you’re going to take some latkes to your cftiildren’s school, try this tip from Ellen Martin to keep them from getting too cold and therefore too greasy: as soon as you drain Chem on paper towels and whil& they’re still hot, put them in a pan and cover it well with tin foil. Then wrap the pan with two lavge tow els. No kidding. It works. Happy Chanukah!! ^ Volunteer Opportunities at Crisis *Tis the Season to be Busyl Crisis Assistance Ministry needs volunteers to work regular daytime shifts (9:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM) in the front office. Tasks include answer ing the appointment phone, retrieving files for interviews, making new files, logging clients in on a daily register, refiling, making copies, serving as a couri er to staff members. Orientation is Tuesday, December 1 at 9:30 AM. To register or for more informa tion, contact Anne Davant at 371- 3001, ext. 114. Come Help Crisis Assistance Ministry Sort through its Holiday Madness! November and December are hectic months for donations of clothing and household items at Crisis Assistance. Many hands are needed from November 15 to January 15 to get these donations into the hands of the needy. Individuals, couples, families. HI AS Offers Effective Low Cost Employment Strategies Seminar for Professionals in Refugee Settlement HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, will offer a one day seminar on effective low cost employment strategies for profes sionals in refugee resettlement in mid-December in Charlotte, North Carolina. The program, to be held for the south and southeast region, will focus on how to develop, implement and run specialized employment progFams for newly- arrived and hard-to-place refugees (e.g., older workers or those with poor English skills). It was made possible by a grant from the Baron de Hirsch Fund. “We’re delighted to be offering this program in Charlotte, the home of one of our successful free case placement projects,” said Leonard Glickman, HIAS’s Executive Vice President. He continued, “Achieving self- sufficiency, building job skills and finding employment opportunities for our clients continues to be a priority for our post-migration effort. We can better help refugees, especially those not eas ily placed, get the training and job prospects to help build a better life through sharing best pra.ctices.” Sessions will include a look at assisted employment ancd develop ing low cost employmesit training programs. For more information on the date, location an i program registration, please contact Norman Levine, HIAS *s Oirector of Community Services at 212/967-4100. Article deadline for January issue is December 1 The Charlotte Jewish News 5007 Providence Road - Charlotte, NC 28226 Office Hours Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Phone (voice man alter office hours) Office 366-5007 ext 268 FAX 704 365-4507 A Publication of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte Marvin Goldberg-Executive Director Amy Krakovitz Montoni-Editor Dana Goftheim-Youth Page Edttor Advertising Coordinator/Sales Rep: Rita Mond, 366-6632 Advertising Sales Rap: Shari Neman, 841-1674 CJN Executive Board Co-ChairB - Bob Abel • Bob Davis IMemtMrs: Evelyn Berger. Ann Langman, Linda Levy Th* CJN (tow not aMum* rMpomMMy tor qually or kMfiMh of any preduol or Mr- «to* adwKaMd. PubiiMng of a paid poiwal ad¥wleemer« tfoaa not oonaSMa an andowewwnt of any canrtMala. poWieal party or poaHon by Ma nawwpapir. tw FadanMton or any amptoyaaa. Layout Design by Crfci K Bronkar Pu!:!lsh9d nftontftly azcepi Jti!y Co|>y daecfflne la tfie 1st of Ifia praoading mofmi of laaua Point of View Each issue of the CJN features an article vvi itten by one of three rabbis active in the Charlotte Community. This Month: k;il)l)i \ ossi (Iloiit I of Liiha\iti'h of North ( ;ii'olin:i Why an Outdoor Chanukah? and “best buddies” are i nvited to participate in this great O])portuni- ty to give time in the season of giving. Flexible schecLules are available. Volunteers receive: • gratification • healthy benefits of physical activity • fellowship to the tune of upbeat music • a wealth of appreciatioai For details, call Larryr Long at 371-3001, ext. 139. « Why is the night of Chanukah different from £dl other holiday nights of the year? On all other holiday nights we celebrate indoors with curtains drawn, on the night of Chanukah we light the Menorah near a window or a door. When the Maccabees estab lished the festival of Chanukah, some twenty-three centuries ago, as a conmiemoration to the great miracle that happened in Jerusalem, they stipulated that the miracle must be publicized. Thus came the tradition to light the Menorah towards the street, so people passing recognize the jubi lant celebrations and the joyous thanksgiving of the Jews. There is a mystical explanation to the outdoor lighting as well. The ultimate goal of the Syrian Greeks in their battle against the Jews was to weaken the commit ment of the Jews to God by conta minating the purity of the Torah, diluting it with Greek culture and immodest behavior. Jews were forced to worship idols and engage in activity that was forbid den by God. Symbolically the oils in the Temple were contaminated by the Greeks and unworthy of use in the service of the Menorah. It was the intent of the Greeks to have the Jews use the impure oil in the Menorah, thus removing the divine holiness from the Temple. Only one protected flask of oil hidden beneath the floor of the Temple, bearing the seal of the High Priest was found and used after the miraculous victory. The pure flask of oil represented the pure uncontaminated light of the Torah. When lit, the candles shone brightly and miraculously for eight nights. The miracle of the lights captured the essence of the Chanukaih holiday. That holiness will prevail over the profane, qual ity reigns over quantity, righteous ness over evil, spirit over matter and light over darkness. The purpose of the battle of the Maccabees, which led to the even tual miracle of Chanukah, was to reclaim the spirit of Judaism and bring it back to people who had assimilated under Greek influ ence. It would be of little value if the celebrations were held private ly in the comfort of one’s home. By going public and announcing the miracle to everyone the cele brants shared the message of God and spirituality with all Jews even with those who had abandoned Judaism or simply ignored it. It is a misconception to say that Chanukah has become more sig nificant recently because of the other holiday that falls about the same time of year. The truth is that Chanukah has always been signif icant and important. However, in the old era, when Jews lived in an oppressed society it was difficult to share the warmth of Chanukah with their tormentors. Today when we live in an open and Mendly society it is imperative to publi cize the Chanukah miracle to all and illuminate the darkness of the night with the lights of the Menorah. Some of us even go to the extent of lighting the Menorah in public places like shopping centers, malls or City-Centers where Chanukah receives increased attention and publicity. The events attract large crowds and give us the opportuni ty to explain Chanukah and its observance in a meaningful and exciting way. In recent years Chabad- Lubavitch hosted the program Chanukah Live! on PBS Television, where through satellite transmission thousands of Jews were connected in various capitals of the world with their Chanukah celebrations. Huge Menorahs were kindled in front of an audi ence of millions. Most touching was the Menorah ceremony at Red Square in Moscow where members of the Red Army military band played Jewish music with the large Menorah in the background. Thousand of Russian Jews were seen dancing to the lively music in the bitter cold Russian winter. To think that just a few years earlier this sort of activity would bring arrest and exile to those par ticipants in Moscow underscores the victory of Chanukah in our day and age. The dramatic change of free dom and the outpouring of pure Jewish spirituality are the real message of Chanukah. The Maccabees stood proud with God and his Torah and fought the enemy to Ihe bitter end. Eventually their struggle for free dom paved the way for their descendants in generations to come to hold the torch of Judaism with pride under other difficult circumstances. Today when we light the Menorah each night of Chanukah, we remember the martyrs of Judaism in all generations. If not {Continued on page 10) I would like to make a contribution to demonstrate my sup port of The ^artotte Jewish News. I I I I Address. I City Name. Phone ( .) .State. .2\p Enclosed in n^ctiack for $ sia.oo S2S.OO $50.(0 $1W.OO Basic Annual Subscription Friend Patron Grand Patron Other to: The Charlotte Jewish Nsws Voluntary Svt>scfpllon Appsal 5007 Providence Road Charictte.Nc 2^26
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