Beth Haverim Shir Shalom's Kadima Program
"Its program includes the unique Family School alternative, as well as the Kadimah ('moving forward') program for Grades Seven through Twelve. In Kadimah the
teens discuss hot topics, argue moral issues, cook Jewish foods,
dance, sing, meditate, and learn conversational Hebrew, to name a few
of the Monday night options. During their tenth grade year, they have
the opportunity to travel with their peers to Washington, D.C. to put
their social action knowledge to use at the Religious Action Center.
For more about the program (as well as other religious school programs
at BHSS), please click here."
This semester, Kadima students engaged in the intensive study of Jewish communities worldwide, through the unique culinary traditions of each one. In preparing food from these communities, students learned about the cultural, social, religious, and historical elements that have impacted them -- and made them unique within our increasingly interconnected tradition.
Until the Ethiopian Airlift to Israel, many Western Jews did not realize the presence of such a sizable Jewish community outside of North Africa. But the 1991 operation (and those preceding it), brought significant attention to the customs of this singular Jewish community. Of significance, many Ethiopian Jews maintained very different customs, based on pre-Talmudic understandings of Jewish law. However, they have over time become more integrated into Israeli society -- as has their delicious cooking. On November 19 we made as a class traditional Ethiopian Honey Bread, which is often associated with Rosh Hashanah celebrations -- when we look to the sweetness of the New Year. (And yes, we did have fun shaping the bread!)
One of the wonderful ways to study Jewish communities around the world is through food. On November 26, our class learned about Argentina's Jewish community, the largest in Latin America. Initially founded by Sephardic Jews (and crypto-Jews from Spain), it is now comprised largely of Ashkenazi Jews, whose ancestry stems from Eastern Europe. The community has in many ways been a beacon to other Latin American communities, but has also suffered in recent years. Most traumatic was a terrorist attack on a Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital, which itself followed not long on the heals of an attack against Israel's embassy there. Many Argentinian Jews also fell on hard times during a time of economic turmoil in Argentina during the 1990's, leading to widespread emigration to the United States and Israel.
However, Argentina remains a vibrant center of Jewish life and, as we learned on November 26, cuisine. The class had the opportunity to create Hamentaschen with Dulce de Leche, a delicious combination of a traditional Ashkenazi recipe and local Argentinian ingredient. We hope that you'll try it too!
When France granted independence to its colonies in North Africa, many North African Jews left their homes and emigrated to France. They added greatly to the cultural and religious diversity within the French Jewish community, which is now over half a million strong. So, too, did they contribute to its diversity of cuisine. On December 3, in honor of Chanukah, we as a class endeavored to make Algerian doughnuts, following this traditional Jewish recipe. While they were a bit chewier than American-style doughnuts, they proved delectable nonetheless -- and lots of fun to make.
