Blogroll | Congregation Darchei Noam

Answering the questions,

Sitting down face to face, acknowledging a shared humanity and finding common ground are important steps in the road to peace. What happens when the common ground is oppression?

Can proxy wars come to a resolution?  

Fear is the ultimate cause of hatred, violence and war.  Fear of losing power, status and a sense of superiority.  For those being ruled, the motivation is loss of identity, language and culture and a desire for equality. 

Jews and Arabs have experienced millennia of oppression by outside empires desiring the strategic land that is their ancestral home. With the current blockage of the Suez Canal, this little strip of land’s importance is highlighted.  Archeology can’t tell us if they lived peacefully together as the only thing that differs their sites is the absence of pork bones. Even that is problematic as some coastal sites settled by Philistines in about 1174 BCE also lack their bones. 

Rather than feeling a sense of unity, Israelis and Palestinians see themselves as victims of the other’s oppression.  Clashing stories and claims of historical lands add fuel to the wish that the other disappear.  They fear the other and more so if a two state solutions were implemented. 

A survey studying why some people who oppose or welcome liberal actions on abortion, same sex marriage, and human rights for marginalized found that conservatives have a heightened fear of change and the unknown.   That fear would apply to extreme right wing Israeli militants and settlers.  Not far removed from the Shoah and the previous Arab attacks after fleeing European pogroms they are very distrustful of Arabs.  Similarly, Palestinians having experienced Jewish violence during before and after WWII, and the difficulty, inequality and lack of justice living under Israel’s control, are not ready to trust Israelis.  

The survey showed that those who support progressive, liberal laws, need the stimulation of new ideas and change and maybe even physical danger. They are risk takers and peace makers.                 

When each the majority in both parties is able see their shared humanity and the cruelty they inflect on the other, a road to peace can begin. Israel must demonstrate its sincerity by extending social and legal justice to the Palestians in the West Bank, stop the continuing Jewish settlements, and punish violence taken by Jewish settlers.  Outside Nations forcing an imposed a peace settlement results in a temporary one.  Sitting face to face to work out the path together with a mediator is of utmost importance.

What about Gaza, the source of most violence? 

Once voted in by showing kindness they proceeded with their agenda to make the region an extreme Islamic state.  Europe allowed aid to be directed by Hamas towards building military capability instead to helping the Palestinian residents.  Whenever Palestinians protested in large numbers, war has been directed towards Israel.  After the April 2021 attack on Israsel, Israeli peace groups carried again building bridges with those in Gazas, and even now, after the death of Vivian Silver on October 7^th, who brought |Gazians to Israeli hospitals, Jewish and Arab Palestinians living in Israel say will try to again  establish good relationships between Israelis and Gazians.  

What’s the solution here? When those in Gaza experienced better living conditions, Hamas recruitment declined.

To complicate the possibility of peace, the tensions between Sunni and Shia Arab states lead them to support Israel or Hamas.  Thanks to Meir Bester at a previous Ma Nishma session for this insight.

https://www.cfr.org/article/sunni-shia-divide  2016, archived “Two countries that compete for the leadership of Islam, Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran, have used the sectarian divide to further their ambitions.”

Save Our Planet Tips

The little things add up and can result in a collective community action to save the planet.  Act with joy and spread the word indirectly with conversations of what you are doing that saves money, helps your health e.g. biking, and personal stories of how you or acquaintances have been affected by flooding or fire. Perhaps you or someone you know had to stay indoors because of the smoke from wild fires.

 

Some start a conversation to find a common connection with neighbours, strangers or anti-climate by talking about their favourite activities.   What on Earth, Saturday, Dec 16 and Monday, Dec 18, 2023.  https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-429-what-on-earth/clip/16030394-yes-chat-climate-change-buzzkill

Seasonal and Latke Recipes

File recipes away for your later use.  Latkes are often eaten in the last meal preceding the First Seder. 

Joel Troster’s Latka recipe with a glutin-free variation

Joel has modified the latke recipe from “A Treasure for my Daughter.”

He recommends using russet potatoes. They hold up well in frying and come out crispy. Yes, you can use regular and other potato varieties such as the gold flesh ones like Yukon Gold. They produce less moisture and rarely turn brown on grating.

5 Russet Potatoes or enough to fill the food processor bowl.

1 medium onion

2 eggs

2 Tbsp flour or Matzoh meal (Quinoa or rice flour can be used for a gluten-free latka)

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

Oil for frying

Grate the onion and potatoes in a food processor. Mix the shreds together and then process about one quarter of them with until finely chopped. Mix all together and put into a tea towel over a bowl. Squeeze out as much water as possible. Let the water in the bowl sit for a while to let the starch settle. Pour off the water keeping the starch.

Add the potato mixture, eggs, flour, salt and baking powder. Panfry spoonfuls in hot oil until brown and crispy on both sides.

Spiced Cauliflower latkes with Cilantro and Mint Chutney

Samantha Ferraro is an American with family in India.

Consider the spices used in this latke for other fried savory dishes.

 https://littleferrarokitchen.com/wprm_print/28155

Samantha Ferraro’s pictures and comments

https://littleferrarokitchen.com/indian-spiced-cauliflower-latkes-with-cilantro-chutney/

Sweet Potato Latkes

Local sweet potatoes are in season now. Check your Ontario Foodland Calendar for the chart showing the seasonal availability of fruit and vegetables or go to https://www.ontario.ca/foodland/page/availability-guide for the digital version.

First, here are some ideas for sweet potatoes.

Roast Sweet Potatoes

Jeremy’s gas oven method of preparing roast sweet potatoes

He wraps the sweet potatoes individually in aluminum foil and bakes them at 375 F for 1 hour or till soft. For a more environmentally friendly method, simply bake in a covered oven dish. No foil needed.

Gloria’s electric oven method for roasting

Her stove is a convection one but she rarely uses the convection feature. Oven temperatures are set by about 10F lower than for a conventional oven (and even lower when using the convection feature.) For example for roasting at 325F, the temperature is set at 315 F and for 330F, lowered to 320F.

Sweet potatoes are cut crosswise in half and again lengthwise unless the sweet potatoes are small. Roast side down in a glass 9”x 13” cooking pan, the type you would use for your large kugels. Roast for 1 hour at 330F [320C]. Turn heat down to 325F [315C] and 10 minutes later check the sweet potatoes. Add about 1/8” of water to the bottom of the pan. Depending on doneness, check again in about 45-60 minutes for softness. If more baking time is needed, add water again. Sweet potatoes are done when soft and the bottom of the pan has started to brown showing evidence of the beginning of carmelization. Serve as is.

Roast sweet potatoes can be added to soups and stews. Some sweet potatoes are good for eating straight out of the fridge or packed for lunch. 

More on seasonal vegetables

Roast acorn squash can be added in small amounts to butternut squash soups. The acorn squash is sweeter than the butternut one.

Gloria and Jeremy’s baked sweet potato methods can be used for roasting beets.

Leeks are a tasty as potato leek soups, quiches and in other mildly flavoured dishes.  The green tops are usually discarded, but are suitable for a lentil soup and other cooked dishes.

Sweet Potato Latkes

Makes about 24 latkes

Jonathan has made these sweet potato latkes, a variation of Bonnie Stern’s Middle Eastern recipe. https://nationalpost.com/appetizer/bonnie-stern-its-oil-good-when-it-comes-to-frying-up-a-batch-of-latkes

Stern suggests making large ones for a meal, topped with shredded leftover brisket for dinner or poached or fried eggs for brunch. Her recipe makes 20 latkes.

Jonathan’s Sweet potato latkes recipe

Make it spicy or make it mild.

Ingredients

2 eggs

½ tsp pureed chipotle chilies, chipotle sauce, or preferred hot sauce, (optional)

2 green onions, finally chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or flat leaf parsley.

1/3 cup all-purpose-flour flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground cumin (optional)

1 1/4 lb sweet potatoes

¼ cup vegetable oil

Preparation

1. Beat the eggs in a large bowl with chipotles, green onions and cilantro. In another bowl combine the flour, salt, baking powder and cumin.

2. Grate sweet potatoes. There is usually little liquid from them. With no cooking onions, there is no worry about any excess liquid.

3. Combine dry ingredients with wet ingredients. Stir in sweet potatoes.
4. Heat oil in a large heavy skillet. Drop batter by tablespoons and flatten with the back of the spoon. Cook one to two minutes per side or until browned and crispy. Add more oil in between batches as necessary. Drain on paper towels.
Makes 20 pancakes

Suggested toppings any type of latkes

Sour cream or thick yoghurt

Pure tahini or homemade tahini sauce

Herbed guacamole

Ilana’s Apple and Pear Sauce, any type of latke see below

Ilana’s Apple and Pear Sauce

Submitted by Gloria Boxen

Use it to top latkes, ice cream and other desserts or by itself.

Ingredients, Preparation and Comments

Use 4 Gala apples or more for a large crowd; Ilana says you can use your favourite apple. Only use Macs if you wish a smoother result.    

4 Bartlett pears, an equal amount or less; Bosc and other pears can be used.

The recipe with 4 medium sized apples and one large pear makes about 4-5 servings.

4 large apples and 4 pears make about 10-12 servings

Wash and peel the fruit

Cut the fruit into chunks and place into a pot.

Add date syrup, honey, maple syrup, or preferred sweetening according to taste (notes: 1. Sweetening is optional; the pears might add enough sweetness. 2. Date syrup has a lower glycemic index compared to other sweeteners.)

Flavour with a dash of cloves.

Other flavour options with or by themselves

1. Spices: cinnamon, allspice, or cardamom.. Go lightly on the spices to avoid overpowering the sauce.

2. Other options are vanilla, or lemon juice.

You can add sultana or golden raisins to cook with the fruit

Add about a ¼” of water to the pot. Cover. Add more water as it cooks if necessary.

Cook until fruit has reached desired tenderness and the sauce is still chunky. Cook for 20-30 minutes.

Enjoy it as is, or as a latke topping.  For latkes it should be thick.  As a dessert topping that pours, use more water. 

B'tayavon, Bon Appétit 

May the Miracle of Hanukkah stay with you as thanksgiving, loving kindness, and hope.

Next: The Rocky Road to Peace and Justice (Part Two)