Springtime, the Jewish Passover Seder, and the Catholic Passover Seder

Photo by revenante on Flickr

SPRING IS IN THE AIR!!

As you know from my previous blog posts, I love spring and all the new life, new hope, and warmth this season ushers in.  My daughter was born in April and we look forward to celebrating her birthday in the spring.  Special holidays like Passover and Easter take place and this always gets me thinking about family and tradition.  This year, Passover begins at sunset on April 18^th and Easter falls on Sunday, April 24^th.   Even Earth day takes place on April 22^nd, which makes me think about this ever-shrinking planet and the people who dwell on it.

The Internet has brought the world closer than ever.  There are pluses and minuses to this, but for me, the advent of the Internet has been mostly positive.  I love to learn about different cultures and people and languages and the Internet has made that more possible than I could have ever dreamed or imagined.  Personally, I think it is great, because the more knowledge we gain about other people and cultures, the more informed and tolerant our children and we will become.   Living in New York, my family and I are blessed to be surrounded by people from all walks of life.  Nothing is better than when different cultures can strive to live together and to respect each other’s beliefs.

THE CATHOLIC PASSOVER

For the past few years, my daughter has participated in a very interesting and special service in the Catholic school that she attends – a Christian Seder.   Although, of course, theirs differs  from the traditional Jewish Seder, there are many similarities and the children are taught facts from the Jewish Passover.  The idea is to get Catholics to understand, appreciate, and respect the Jewish roots of Christianity, since Jesus was born a Jew.

A CHRISTIAN SEDER MEAL

At the Christian Seder meal, the children learn what matzah is – the unleavened bread the Hebrews took with them from Egypt since there was no time to wait for the dough to rise.  They also learn how this is similar to the unleavened bread the Catholics eat when they receive the Eucharist.  This matzah is placed on a “Seder Plate,” and everyone who participates receives one.  Also on the plate is radish, a reminder of the bitterness of slavery, and lettuce, which is dipped into salt water to remind us of the salty tears the Jews shed while they were slaves and the green shoots of hope they felt as they were freed.

A DISCUSSION OF THE LAST SUPPER

It is important to note that this special Catholic Seder begins with learning the history of Passover and it is a somber and reverent occasion.  The main difference is in how the Seder ends – the Catholic Seder ends with the Last Supper, which actually was prepared by the Apostles as a Seder meal.  During the Seder, the children learn about the Jewish Passover – the night the Israelite first born children were “passed over,” and how our forefathers were brought out of Egypt and freed from slavery.  Half the matzah is eaten to represent the fleeing from Egypt.  The other half is eaten later to represent the Eucharist, as this is when it was first instituted.  One of the most important facts the children and all those who attend learn is that the Passover Seder is a special and traditional meal, marking the Jewish feast of freedom, and how it connects and relates to their lives today.

If you’d like to learn more about the Catholic Passover, Dr. Meredith Gould has written a book, Come to the Table, which discusses the Catholic Seder.  Dr. Gould was inspired to write the book when she converted to Catholicism and saw this as an opportunity to teach Catholics about the origins and connections between the two religions, and foster an understanding between the Jewish Passover Seder and the Last Supper and Holy Communion.

Best Hamentashen Recipe in New York!

Growing up in New York, I have high standards for Jewish hamentashen! For those of you who are unfamiliar with these delicious cookies, a hamentashen (also spelled hamentaschen and hamantaschan) is a traditional triangular cookie with fillings such as apricot, raspberry, prune, chocolate, etc. Popular during Purim, the perfect hamentashen has just the right dough consistency and just the perfect amount of filling.

Growing up on the Lower East Side as a teenager, I worked at Moishe’s Bakery on Second Avenue in New York City.  Those of you who know the area, know that Moishe’s makes some killer hamentashen! Unfortunately, I haven’t had one in a while. That’s why, when I saw our Facebook friend, Shana Gluck, had posted a picture of her beautiful homemade hamentashen, I had to ask her to write about them! Shana made her hamentashen with her adorable children (pictured below) as a way of passing on the importance of Jewish traditions and making special memories with them that will last a lifetime! Thank you, Shana, for taking the time to share this with us at Jewish Gift Place!

Shana’s Mom’s Purim Hamentashen

As a young girl Purim for me would mean one of a the few times that my mom would let us kids in the kitchen. She loves to cook but didn’t love us kids meddling around in her kitchen. It was a huge treat for us that she “let” us rule the kitchen to bake hamantashen for Purim. Baking with my children brings back those wonderful memories that I have as a child with my amazing #1 Mom. May she live and be well.

Here is a fabulous recipe from my Mom

2/3 C. Margarine
1/2 C. Sugar
1 egg
3 T. Water
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 C. Flour
Choice of filling:
Prune
Apricot jam
Raspberry or strawberry jam, chocolate spread or chips–my favorite!

Blend margarine and sugar. Add the rest of ingredients and mix to make a nice dough. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350′. Roll out dough to 1/8′ thick take a glass to cut circles in the dough. Put whatever filling you would like in the center. Pinch the corners to form a triangle. Put on parchment lined paper. Bake for 20 minutes. Enjoy them fresh out of the oven ! Keep fresh in air tight container!!

The Andy Cohen Mazel of the Week: Jewish Gift Place Loves It!

Background…I’ve been working for the owner of Jewish Gift Place, Risa Borsykowsky, for several years now and I am always inspired by her! One day we were talking about being a nice person. She said that it was very important to her to be a nice person and that she hoped that, if nothing else, her three young sons would grow up to be nice people. She said that she always told them, it doesn’t matter if you are rich or powerful, it is more important to be a good, nice person. I was very struck by this and thought, wow, what a special person!

On To Andy…What does this have to do with Andy Cohen you might ask? Each week I watch Andy Cohen’s show, Watch What Happens Live. The host of the show is…Andy Cohen! I love Andy -  he is such a sweetheart! With a positive and lively disposition and an enormous grin on his face, he just exudes a good aura. He surrounds himself on his set with all these kitschy and kooky artifacts ranging from a statue of Scooby Doo cartoon legend, Shaggy, to a framed picture of Real Housewife, Lisa Vanderpump’s dog, Jiggy, wearing a bedazzled top hat. (I’m pretty sure that photo is from when Andy decided to perform a wedding between Jiggy and Real Housewives of New Jersey, Dina Manzo’s, cat, Grandma Wrinkles.) Andy is adorably offbeat.

Andy’s relaxed talk show has guests which range from mega-celebrities like comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, to people like Ben Weiner, a 13-year old Real Housewives superfan from the Upper East Side who was planning his Bar Mitzvah! (Andy ran contests on the show where his guests played games to raise money for Ben Weiner’s Bar Mitzvah gift.) You never know what to expect on the show, but, you can expect to laugh. This clip from an episode with Jerry Seinfeld is hilarious as Jerry calls out Andy’s show as a “Jewish curse.”

I also love Andy Cohen’s Mazel of the Week! I look forward to it regularly. Each week he picks one topic or person that he feels deserves his mazel. As he explains in this interview with the JewishExponent.com, “I wanted to do something, say something, on the show for when somebody does something nice.”

Andy comes across on the show as somewhat naughty, but, still, someone who places a high value on being a nice person. At Jewish Gift Place we also value the importance of being nice! So, Andy Cohen, I’d like to award you with our very first (and probably only!) Jewish Gift Place Mazel of the Week!  And, Andy, if you contact me at lana at jewishgiftplace.com, I’ll give you a special handmade Jewish mazel gift as an award (after you pick me up off the floor!)

Lindsay Lohan and the Evil Eye – Evil Eyes are HOT this Week!

Evil Eye jewelry is in the spotlight this week!  Hot on the tail of Lana’s blog post, Real Housewives of Orange County Love the Evil Eye, page 3 of today’s New York Post has an article about the evil eye necklace that Lindsay Lohan wore to court yesterday.  The gorgeous evil eye necklace designed by Judith Ripka is 18-karat gold and is worth $2,200.  It was given to her by Big Apple entrepreneur Eric Freiberg.  Freiberg said, “I thought she needed some help to ward off bad spirits.”

Although $2,200 is a stretch for most people to get the protection of the Evil Eye, at Jewish Gift Place, we too sell incredibly gorgeous evil eye jewelry like the Michal Golan Blue Stone and Red Evil Eye Wrap Bracelet for $45 .  One of our most popular artists is Michal Golan, an Israeli born, New York City based designer.  Her pieces are inspired by Byzantine jewelry, with its generous use of gemstones, jewelry from the regime of Queen Victoria, and Middle Eastern art.

Evil Eye Jewelry by Michal Golan

The Evil Eye is an amulet, or talisman,  of protection against evil forces in almost every culture of the world  – Judaism, Islam, Hindu, Buddhism and Christianity.  In different languages, it is known as:

• Hebrew Evil Eye – Ayin Ha’ra
• Turkish Evil Eye – Nazar Boncugu
• Italian Evil Eye – Mal Occhio
• Farsi – Bla Band
• Arabic – Ayin Harsha
• Scotland – Droch Shuil
• Spanish – Mal Ojo or El Oja
• France – Mauvais Oeil
• Germany – Busen Blick
• Romans – Oculus Malus

In Turkey, the Evil Eye is ingrained in every day life and has deep symbolism throughout the culture.  The Evil Eye pendant is affixed to anything that is perceived to attract greed, envy, or ill-will.  In Turkey, you will find the Evil Eye symbol on currency, in homes and offices, hanging from the necks of newborn children and farm animals, and in the foundations of buildings.

The belief in the Evil Eye goes back almost 3,000 years in cultures and countries such as Armenia, Assyrians, Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Afghanistan, Islam, Judaism, Latin America,  Papua and New Guinea, Roma, Tibet, Turkey, and the United States.

The history of the Evil Eye in these cultures is fascinating!  I think I see another blog post or article coming to talk more about this!

Real Housewives of Orange County Love The Evil Eye!

If you were lucky enough to catch last night’s season premiere episode of the Real Housewives of Orange County, entitled “Amped Blondes and Evil Eyes”, you saw that the Evil Eye symbol has made it to high fashion! (And, if you know these catty ladies, you know that it’s not a moment too soon!)

In this episode, Tamra Barney had a house party where she was selling Evil Eye apparel and it was certainly a hit with the ladies! Then, in true Real Housewives fashion, the evil eye was brought to center stage when Gretchen Rossi stated that she could use the evil eye to protect herself from her host, Tamra! That didn’t go over well! A fight, with name calling, ensued! Lots of fun for the fans!

What is the Evil Eye?

The term evil eye refers to a power that some are said to possess that can inflict injury or bad luck on others. This harm is said to be directed by an envious look or a look of ill-will. The evil eye symbol on evil eye jewelry is said to protect the wearer from this form of negative energy.

The Jewish Evil Eye

The symbolism of the evil eye is found in many faiths and many cultures. The Jewish evil eye has a strong history. Dating back to Talmudic times, Jews have been wearing charms around their neck to guard from the Evil Eye. In some cases, the evil eye is defined as envy. In traditional Judaism, the one who casts an evil eye may not actually be at fault, but may suffer from an extra level of envy that only God may recognize. It has also been suggested that belief in the evil eye may be alluded to in Moses’ 10th Commandment, which states, “You shall not covet anything that is your neighbor’s…[his] house, field, manservant, maidservant, his ox, ass, or anything [else]…”

Evil Eye Jewelry

Jewish Gift Place is proud to carry a stunning line of evil eye jewelry. Our Michal Golan evil eye bracelets are hot! Reasonably priced at $45.00, they make the perfect gift for yourself or those you want to protect! If you plan on taking a trip to the OC in the near future, I’d recommend one!!

Check out a video of one of our evil eye bracelets below!

Passover Recipes: Vegetarians, Vegan, Celiac, Dairy-Free and More!

It seems like not a day goes by that I don’t hear about someone who is dealing with a newly diagnosed food allergy, food intolerance, or auto-immune reaction to food. With this in mind, and with Passover only a little over a month away, I thought it would be a great time to do a little research on vegan Passover recipes, gluten-free Passover recipes, vegetarian Passover recipes, and dairy-free Passover recipes. So often, we have dinner guests who are dealing with food intolerances, or, we are invited to the home of someone who has a food allergy or whose guests may suffer from an auto-immune food reaction. I thought, with a little planning, anyone can make a thoughtful contribution to the Passover Seder.

Gluten-Free Passover Recipes For Celiacs: A Cause For Celebration!

My niece, Rachel, has celiac disease, which is an intolerance to anything containing glutens, a protein found in barley, oats, wheat or rye. (You can read about her Bat Mitzvah on the blog ~ remember her gorgeous gluten-free cake?) Because the basic rule for Passover is no leavened foods, the holiday is actually fantastic for those with celiac disease. Many, though not all, Passover foods are gluten free, with potato flour and nut flours used in place of the usual wheat flours. At Passover, supermarkets and bakeries have a much wider selection of celiac friendly foods than usual. This can be a good time to stock up on gluten- free cakes and mixes, cookies, macaroons, “bread” crumbs, and supplies like potato starch. Look for food labels indicating “Kosher For Passover”, “non-gebrok” (or “non-gebroktz” or “non-grebrochts”) — this means that the foods do not contain grains and, therefore, have no gluten containing ingredients.

My sister, Sandy, (Rachel’s mom), was kind of enough to refer me to this recipe on the Living Without magazine website. She has made these gluten free (and dairy free!) mock matzos and she tells me they are definitely worth a try! (With this and all recipes mentioned in this blog post, make sure your ingredients are Kosher!)

Gluten Free Mock Matzos

⅔ cup potato starch
⅔ cup almond meal or brown rice flour
2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup butter, margarine or vegetable
shortening*
6 tablespoons warm water

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. Combine the dry ingredients. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal.
3. Add water, a little bit at a time, combining until dough forms a ball. (Add additional 1 to 2 tablespoons water if using brown rice flour.) Knead well. If dough is sticky, sprinkle with a little more potato starch while kneading.
4. Break off small pieces and place on a sheet of lightly oiled plastic wrap or parchment paper. Press with your fingers or roll until flat and thin. Prick rows of holes in each matzo with a fork.
5. Place matzo on prepared cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Thinner matzo can over-bake quickly so keep an eye on it.

Vegetarian Passover Recipes ~ Is Your Passover A Festival of Meats?

With all the restrictions around Passover regarding eating any bread, cake, muffins, etc., many people turn Passover into a festival of meats and this can be a little tricky for those who are entertaining a vegetarian – someone who does not consume animal flesh. There are so many wonderful vegetarian entrees that would be great for Passover – ones that focus on eggplant or squash come to mind. The recipe I would like to share is one that is inspired by my personal favorite chef, Nigella Lawson, and happens to be gluten-free as well!  The recipe is called Eggplant Involtini with Feta. Translated from Italian, the word ‘involtini’ means “wrapped around something else” and this dish wraps eggplant around a delicious cheese filling. It is great as a Passover leftover the next day too!

Eggplant Involtini with Feta

2-3 large eggplants, cut lengthwise in thin slices
3 cups (about 1 jar) tomato sauce
2 cups crumbled feta cheese plus extra for topping
1 cup grated parmesan plus extra for topping
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1/2 cup raisins, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes (optional)
1/2 cup black or kalamata olives, sliced
4 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed or finely chopped
zest from 1 lemon
a good pinch of dried mint
2 Tbsp parsley
1 egg

Brush the eggplant slices on both sides with olive oil and grill or roast them in a 400-degree oven until soft, about 10 minutes per side.

Mix all filling ingredients in a large bowl and stir to combine. Put about a tablespoon of filling on each eggplant slice and roll it up firmly. Use a toothpick to hold in place, or just ensure that the edge is tucked underneath the roll to prevent it from coming undone.

Layer the slices in a 9×13 dish, and cover with tomato sauce. Top with any remaining filling, or extra cheese if you have. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes. The involtini should be served warm.

Dairy-Free Passover Recipes

My niece, Amy, just had her first baby, Avery, and Amy has adopted a dairy-free diet due to Avery’s issues with dairy being passed through the breast-milk.

Amy’s friend told her about this delicious dairy-free (and gluten-free!) recipe for a  flourless chocolate cake she traditionally serves at Passover. Amy decided to try it out and posted about it on her blog, On Three. Take a look, it’s a beautiful presentation! Thanks Amy!

Flourless Chocolate Cake

1 stick Earth Balance butter replacer (100% vegan, gluten free and certified Kosher)
6 oz unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped (Kosher)
3 oz semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (Kosher)
1/4 cup water
1 cup egg whites (appx 5-7 eggs) and their yolks
1 1/4 cups sugar, divided

Bake cake for 1 hour at 350 degrees in a 9 inch springform, using a bain marie with water about halfway up (this basically means that you put your cake pan in a larger baking pan – like the kind you’d use to roast a turkey – filled with hot water. It’s supposed to distribute the heat better during baking).

Method:
1) Spray your pan and dust it with cocoa and preheat the oven to 350.

2) Pour water and 1 cup of sugar in heavy saucepan, bring to a boil. If you have a candy thermometer, it should get to about 220 degrees. If not, just let it boil and give it a mix until it’s pretty clear.

3) Remove pan from heat and stir in chocolate. When it is combined, start to add butter, 1 tbsp at a time, stir until combined.  Set aside.

4) Beat egg whites, then add their yolks and 1/4 cup of sugar, beat on high until tripled in volume.

5) Turn to low and continue to beat. Add chocolate mixture (which will be a little cool by now). Don’t overbeat.

6) Pour into springform pan, place into larger baking pan, surrounded halfway up with boiling water. Bake for one hour at 350. Top of cake should be firm to back of spoon, toothpick should come out clean. Cool completely on a rack.

7) Coat cake top with chocolate ganache (see recipe below) or dust top with powdered sugar, decorate with raspberries or any fruit you choose!

Chocolate Ganache Icing:

4 oz semisweet chocolate (Kosher)
3 tbsp Earth Balance butter replacer
1 tbsp milk (I used soymilk)
1 tbsp honey
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Method:
Melt chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and add milk, honey, and vanilla. Set aside to cool slightly.

When cake has cooled, pour glaze into center. Using a spatula, gently smooth the glaze along the top and sides of the cake. Chill cake, uncovered, for 30 to 60 minutes before serving to set the glaze and make cake easier to slice.

Vegan Passover Recipes ~ Vegetarian Plus A Whole Lot Less!

Vegan foods are those that do not contain animal products. While vegetarians choose not to eat flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs. So basically, vegans are vegetarians who take it to a whole other level!

On Passover, there are certain requisite dishes that might leave a vegan feeling left out. One of these is definitely matzo ball soup! After a lot of research, I found a recipe for vegan matzo ball soup that is highly praised online and, they say, comes closest to tasting like real matzo ball soup! Here is the recipe reprinted exactly from the site:

Vegan Matzo Ball Soup

Start with a box of Streits’ or Manischewitz matzo ball mix. For eggs – use egg replacer powder. The matzo ball box comes with two envelopes. For each envelope they ask for 2 eggs however this needs to be tripled….the equivalent egg replacer for 6 eggs per individual package. Whisk the mixture. Add the oil as directed. (do not increase amt. ) Whisk again. Then add the contents of one envelope of matzo ball mix. If the batter seems to be a bit loose, add 1-2 tablespoons of matzo meal. Combine well. Leave the bowl in the fridge for about 15 minutes. Remove – roll into 12-15 balls. Reduce your large pot of boiling water to a simmer. Gently place balls in water and cover tightly. (there must be no rolling boil). Remove with a slotted spoon and let cool. Refrigerate. Reheat in the soup.

The author recommends using vegan chicken soup powder that can be found at Whole Foods or similar stores.

So Much To Know About Passover For Those With Dietary Restrictions!

Of course this little blog post is not comprehensive since many people who are making a Passover Seder are also dealing with other restrictions, such as wheat, lactose, caseine, corn, soy, nuts ~ the list goes on! We can all learn so much by speaking to our doctors or a nutritionist, doing some online research, and, most importantly, by reading food labels! Learn what it means to be Kosher for Passover and how many of these foods may fall in line with a dietary restriction you are dealing with. I suggest a visit to OurKosher.org. It is an amazing resource of information on the meaning of the Kosher certification, as well as its distinction from those foods that are certified as Kosher for Passover. For example, did you know that as an added bonus for people with multiple restrictions, most Kosher for Passover products contain no corn or soy products either? Great to know!

This Passover, you can be prepared in case you are entertaining a loved one who has a restricted diet. Try one or two of these delicious Passover recipes and, just to make it extra special, set a beautiful table or bring a lovely hostess gift! Perhaps you can showcase your traditional Passover foods on a gorgeous Tamara Baskin Seder Plate. Or, fill these gorgeous goblets, the Emily Rosenfeld Miriam’s Cup and the Gary Rosenthal Elijah’s Cup with water and wine. Are you a guest at a special Passover Seder and want to bring a thoughtful meal for the host? There is no doubt that they will appreciate your research and efforts. Pairing it with a lovely bottle of wine and maybe a handmade Jewish wine bottle stopper will make it extra special.

Happy Passover and Bon Appetit!

A Look to the Past and New Beginnings

I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break.  With all this miserable weather the whole country seems to be having, it was well-deserved and much needed!  Perhaps you went somewhere warm and relaxing or maybe you decided to just enjoy the snow and went skiing.  But now it is time to look toward Spring (hooray!) and celebrate the new life this season symbolizes. 

For my family, this past break was difficult, with the passing of my husband’s grandmother.  She would have turned 104 on March 31st.  Yes, 104 years old!  Nana Mary was an incredible woman who saw two sons go off to war, lived through the Great Depression, the first man on the moon, the assassination of President Kennedy, the baby boom, the radio, the telephone, television, cell phones, computers, the internet, the list goes on and on.  She lived a remarkable and full life and enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren immensely.  She danced in the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and was a Scrabble champion.  She loved to write and draw and was creative and kind. Most of all, Nana loved the spring. 

She would write notes and letters and would draw little flowers and pictures depicting the sun and birds next to her signature.  She was born in the springtime and she passed away just as winter was winding down.  I think she was telling us all something…the timing of her death was part of the natural course of things.  She would want us to let go of Winter and look toward the coming of the buds, the flowers, the birds, and the sun.  She would remind us that there is beauty in everything.  Nana loved colors and loved to dress up.  Her clothes, hair, and jewelry always matched and was always meticulous.  Her outer sparkle reflected what was on the inside.  She was so excited to learn that I get to write about beautiful works of art and pieces of jewelry.

This year, with the coming of Spring and Passover, we are reminded to look back at Winter and its necessary place in the cycle of life, but also toward the new life ahead of us.  The passing of Nana reminded me that we should celebrate those we have lost and also cherish our friends, loved ones, and families who are with us now.  In addition to Passover, there are so many holidays that Spring ushers in and so many reasons to celebrate -  Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, weddings, engagements, showers.  Whatever the occasion, make sure you cherish the time with your friends and family.  Make each moment count and mark these special times with meaningful symbols, traditions, and gifts which represent what is in your heart.

With this in mind, I plan on purchasing a special piece of jewelry for myself and my daughter, whose birthday is in April, in honor of Nana Mary.  Every time we wear it we will be reminded of her love of beautiful things.  We will pick something colorful and vibrant so it will remind us of her always and it will be like wearing a little piece of spring every day.