november 19, 2010 • 12 kislev • volume 86, no.

24 • $2

Just in time
for Hanukkah!
Special bookS,
muSic and giftS iSSue
find Hanukkah puzzles and
other kids’ books on page 14

www.facebook.com/jtnews professionalwashington.com
@jew_ish or @jewish_dot_com connecting our local Jewish community
2 books, music & gifts JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 19, 2010
Gifts for the Jewish digerati
Joel Magalnick Editor, JTNews
Stick it in your pocket
Just arriving on U.S. shores this month,
the PocketBook e-reader hopes to be a
low-cost, feature-packed addition to the
electronic book reading market.
This reader is being introduced to the
U.S. by a local Jewish man, Leon Sheiman,
an engineer and business-
man who landed in Belle-
vue from Russia by way of
Israel. So with several dif-
ferent e-readers emerging
on the market in the past
two years, all with simi-
lar e-ink capabilities and
readability, where does
the PocketBook differ?
First is in its compat-
ibility: The operating system can natively
read a ton of different formats, including
.pdf, .epub and .doc, meaning files saved in
Microsoft Word are viewable on this. The
second is in its multi-language functional-
ity. The PocketBook has 20 languages built
in, including Hebrew, Russian, and most
European languages.
“It’s a multi-format and multi-lin-
gual device,” Sheiman says, and with
Google’s Android operating system built
in, he adds, “It’s a very user-friendly
interface.”
Help sustain others like Sophie at www.JewishInSeattle.org/Overseas
Also on several models
is its text-to-speech function
that can actually read the book
to you. We weren’t able to get
our hands on a device before
press time, so we’re not sure
if the voice is more James Earl
Jones or United Airlines cus-
tomer service, but you can head down to
the kiosk at the Westfield South Center
Mall, by H&M, where its second U.S. loca-
tion opened this week.
Prices range from $139 to $279,
depending upon size and connection.
A full-color version is expected to be
released by the end of the year.
The online bookstore, including a catalog
of 30,000 free public domain e-books, can be
found at www.bookland.net. Find more
information at www.pocketbook-usa.com.
I depend on your
food packages.
They are my lifeline
to Judaism and the
outside world.
-Sophie
There’s an app for this
For the person who has
everything, chances are he or
she hasn’t had dinner. Which
is why one-time JTNews writer
Deborah Ashin, now the Seat-
tle restaurant reviewer for the
high-end online site gayot.
com, just released a new
iPhone app, Seattle’s Best
Dining. The app is a com-
pendium of long-form fine
dining reviews that covers
more than 140 restaurants all
over the Puget Sound.
When traveling, “I’d try
to find an app that was
specific to that city that was
written by someone who
at least pretended to have
credentials as a restaurant
reviewer instead of Yelp or
Urban Spoon,” two popular
user-reviewed sites, Ashin
says. “I’ve always been sort of
amused by the fact that people will read
strangers’ reviews.”
Seeing an unfilled niche, Ashin part-
nered with a Silicon Valley tech company
to create an app with Ashin’s reviews for
a city that has come into its own, gastro-
nomically speaking.
You can search by restaurant type, cost
and neighborhood, with a mapping fea-
ture to find the restaurant. For several years,
Ashin has volunteered at the women’s shel-
ter housed at Temple De Hirsch Sinai, and as
such, wanted to give back something to the
community that has allowed her to be able to
do this work, but relate it to food as well.
“I decided, I already eat so well because
of Gayot, what am I going to do with my
royalties?” she said.
So Ashin is giving half of the pro-
ceeds of sales from the app to
FareStart, the restaurant and
nonprofit organization that
trains homeless and disad-
vantaged people to work in
the restaurant business.
$1.99 at the iTunes store.
And there’s an
app for that
Tacoma native Alex Sein-
feld wanted to be able to
carry his Jewish calendar with
him. But he also didn’t want to give up
on those fact-a-day paper calendars that
have brought laughs, wisdom and trivia
to so many people for so many years. So
he did what any self-respecting Jewish boy
XXPage 22
 3
friday, november 19, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews inside

Looking for ways to give back on inside this issue

Thanksgiving Day?
• Serve meals for the homeless and needy at Amoré restaurant’s third annual Thanksgiv-
ing feast. Chef/owner Sean Langan prepares the food as he would for his customers. Vol-
unteers needed to serve the meals. Call 206-770-0606 or visit www.tasteofamore.com. At
2301 5th Ave., Seattle.
• Serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal for Gethsemane Lutheran Church. Volunteers come
around 7:30 a.m. to help set-up and prepare food. Serving starts at 11 a.m., and following
cleanup, will end by 3 p.m. Families are especially welcome (minimum age 8 years old). Visit
www.urbanfaith.org to reserve a spot. At Denny Park Lutheran Church, 766 John St., Seattle.
• Atlantic Street Center needs help with a family-style Thanksgiving dinner for youth par-
ticipants of this teen center and their families. Adult assistance needed to help with check-
ing people in, serving and cleanup. At 7050 32nd Ave. S, Seattle. Contact Teresa Everett at
206-329-2050, ext. 124.
For more Thanksgiving Day volunteer opportunities, visit the King County United Way
Web site at uwkc.org.
Ladino Lesson
By Isaac Azose
La djoya es una koza, ke mizmo a la fea la aze ermoza.
Jewelry is something which can make even an ugly one beautiful.
Welcome to our special Hanukkah books, music and gifts edition of JTNews. Find great ideas for gift giving
for family and friends throughout.
Party music and tracks to groove to 5
Our resident music critic Lillian Cohen-Moore unwraps a few different Jewish CDs, including some rip-
roaring Klezmer and jazz from musician Matt Herskowitz.
Back to camp 6
Nothing brightens up a kid’s spirit on a cold, wintry day like memories of summer camp. That’s what
makes this new CD from the local creators of OyBaby so fun.
A little local music, with a taste of Cuba 7
Eli Rosenblatt has been burning up the stages in Seattle with his Jewish-tinged Afro-Cuban music. Eric
Nusbaum just reviewed Eli’s new album, and he digs it.
The donkey and the chimp 8
Yann Martel, best known for his novel Life of Pi, winner of the Man Booker Award, recently published
Beatrice and Virgil, an allegory for the Holocaust, but featuring animals. Writer Author Wolak caught up with
Martel during a recent visit to Vancouver.
Winter books 11
This winter we focus on books for kids, from cradle to college, including Hanukkah stories and a guide to
Jewish living at dozens of universities across the country.
Books in brief 12

Remember when And for Thanksgiving this year… 18

Nov. 15, 1929, front page.
Jewish comedian Eddie Cantor stands
outside the New Amsterdam Theatre in
New York, signing a registration card for
the National Zionist Roll Call.
Taking a break from the gifts to talk turkey, writer Linda Morel takes hearty Jewish fare and sets them a
place at the Thanksgiving table.
Grover does Jerusalem 23
The popular “Shalom Sesame” series from Israel is back, with a new set of DVDs and all of your favorite
Muppets’ Jewish cousins.

MORE
A conversation with builder and author Mark Schuster 9
The Arts 16
M.O.T.: Special authors’ edition 17
The Shouk Classifieds 21
Community Calendar 22
the voice of j e w i s h washington
Corrections
JTNews is the Voice of Jewish Washington. Our mission is to A note about writer Jacob Goren in his story about the the Alexander Muss High School in Israel program in
meet the interests of our Jewish community through fair and the J.Teen Magazine (“Twenty-four hours on the kibbutz,” Nov. 12) stated he had graduated from Interlake
accurate coverage of local, national and international news, High School. Jacob is actually a senior at the school.
opinion and information. We seek to expose our readers to In the story about eating disorders, (“Fighting eating disorders within the Jewish community,” Nov. 12), Harriet
diverse viewpoints and vibrant debate on many fronts, includ- Staff Brown’s daughter’s recover was not fleeting. She had successful treatment and relapsed several years later.
ing the news and events in Israel. We strive to contribute to Reach us directly at 206-441-4553 + ext. Also, the full title of Shani Raviv’s book is being Ana: a memoir of anorexia nervosa.
Publisher *Karen Chachkes 267
the continued growth of our local Jewish community as we JTNews regrets the errors.
Editor *§Joel Magalnick 233
carry out our mission.
Assistant Editor Eric Nusbaum 240
Account Executive Lynn Feldhammer 264
2041 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121 Account Executive David Stahl 235 We’re looking for a few good women
206-441-4553 • editor@jtnews.net Account Executive Stacy Schill 292
Classifieds Manager Rebecca Minsky 238
www.jtnews.net In our December 5 issue, JTNews will be profiling Five Women to Watch. If you
Art Director Susan Beardsley 239
Intern Lillian Cohen-Moore
know of someone in our local Jewish community doing amazing things — in Juda-
JTNews (ISSN0021-678X) is published biweekly by The Seattle Jewish ism, medicine, politics, social services, you name it — we would like to hear about
Transcript, a nonprofit corporation owned by the Jewish Federation of Board of Directors her. Please e-mail editor@jtnews.net with this person’s name and contact information
Greater Seattle, 2041 3rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98121. Subscriptions are Peter Horvitz, Chair*; Robin Boehler; Andrew Cohen§; and a few sentences on why you think she qualifies as one of the five. We look for-
Cynthia Flash Hemphill*; Nancy Greer§; Aimee Johnson; Stan Mark;
$56.50 for one year, $96.50 for two years. Periodicals postage paid ward to hearing from you!
Daniel Mayer; Cantor David Serkin-Poole*; Leland Rockoff
at Seattle, WA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to JTNews,
Richard Fruchter, CEO and President,
2041 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98121. Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
Ron Leibsohn, Federation Board Chair Look for
NOV. 26
*Member, JTNews Editorial Board
The opinions of our columnists and advertisers do not necessarily §Ex-Officio
Member
reflect the views of JTNews. Kosher Gourmet

Dec. 10
Holiday Celebrations
published by j e w i s h transcript media
4 JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 19, 2010

CONNECTOR 2 0 3 1 T h i r d Av e n u e | S e a t t l e , WA | 9 8 1 2 1 - 2 4 1 2 | p : 2 0 6 4 4 3 - 5 4 0 0 | I n f o @ J ew i s h I n S e a t t l e . o r g | w w w. J ew i s h I n S e a t t l e . o r g

The Impact YOUR Dollars Make Teaching Our Teachers:

Our 2011 Jewish Community Campaign is underway, with a focus on impact – and enhancing the
impact of your donations on our extended Jewish family in Seattle and around the world.
Learning, Laughing & Discovery
Over 100 teachers from 15 schools in the Puget Sound region
came together for the first time in three years on Sunday,
This month the Jewish Federation held a local “Mini-Mission,” visiting several of our Partner Agencies October 24 at the Education Services Supplementary
to learn more about the work they do and how the Jewish Federation’s work assists them in achieving School Conference. These teachers touch the lives of more
their goals. than 1,500 Jewish students every week.

The tour began with a fantastic lecture at the Stroum Jewish Community Center with Akiva Tor, While attending the
the Consul General to Israel, followed by a meeting with David Brumer from Kline Galland and lunch conference, teachers
with the Jewish Day School student council. The day concluded with a tour of the food bank at Jewish had a unique chance
Family Service and a discussion on emergent service needs in Seattle. The day, highlighted some of to network with their
the important work of our partner agencies – and the impact made on our local community colleagues and learn
through the Jewish Federation’s Community Campaign. about brain science
and gender in the
Each visit demonstrated how important communal tzedakah is for a thriving community, but there was Jewish classroom. Teachers learned how to adapt lesson plans
one specific visit that exemplified how so many needs and challenges for our community lie below the to better meet the needs of both the boys and girls in
surface and out of the public eye. At the Kline Galland Home we learned about the efforts to open their classrooms. Boys and girls learn very differently and
the much needed Kline Galland Hospice program. This is a little-known need in our community, and teachers were given practical tips on how to teach every
was something of an uphill battle in the Legislature, but thanks to the Government Affairs activities of student effectively.
the Jewish Federation, a Jewish hospice is now available to the Seattle community. The end of life is a
sacred time most often filled with anxiety for the dying and the living around them, and this program Participants feedback about the conference:
is already making a crucial difference to many families in Seattle. “I learned great practical techniques
for working with the variety of needs in
Another example of the impact our Community Campaign has was demonstrated my classroom…”
by the recent Ethnic Flavors of Israel program. Several new “chefs” visited from “I gained a lot of new skills and insight…”
our partnership community of Kiryat Malachi in southern Israel. These women, To learn more about upcoming Education Services courses and
all from new immigrant families, often fled persecution in their home countries, programs, please visit www.JewishInSeattle.org/Educators
and we helped them resettle and build a life in Israel. Today, we are helping
them become self-sufficient and build catering businesses in their communities – exemplifying
the highest form of tzedakah, where we help people help themselves and others. We were fortunate
to hear their inspiring stories and sample some amazing Jewish cuisine from around the world.

There is still time to take advantage of a challenge grant generously offered by some supporters in Sunday,
our community. Every new or increased dollar you give right now, up to $10,000, will be doubled. December 5
Visit www.JewishInSeattle.org/DonateNow to make your contribution or call 206 443-5400 to 11am-2pm
pledge over the phone.
Bring your family and friends for a fun, interactive
Your support is greatly appreciated! Festival of Lights celebration and an entertaining
and heartwarming Hanukkah experience at the
Visit www.JewishInSeattle.org/IsraelArts Stroum Jewish Community Center on Mercer Island.

This interactive afternoon will engage the young

and old family in a home-inspired community
celebration. There will be unique art activities for
kids, entertainment and food, fun and games, PJ
December 7: Hannukah concert featuring Israeli jazz flutist
flut
utistt Mattan
Matta
M tan Klein Library Bedtime Stories for Children, Center Stage
®

7pm at Temple B’nai Torah Teen Theatre Company Performance, art activities,
February 26: Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performs
rmss at 8pm at Benaroya
roya Hall
H family mitzvah project, and a Community Candle
Lighting Ceremony.
March 2011: AJC Seattle Jewish Film Festival (tentative
ntative dates: March
ch 10-20)
10-20
Official website to launch February 2011 For more information, contact RoniA@SJCC.org
May 22: Community-Wide Israel Celebration or KimG@JewishInSeattle.org or visit
Join us as we celebrate Israel in honor of Lag B’Omer and Yom Ha’atzmaut! www.JewishInSeattle.org/HomeForHanukkah
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is proud to partner with the following organizations on this very special series: American Jewish Committee, Presented By: Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle,
Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest, Herzl-Ner Tamid, Hillel UW, Jconnect Seattle, Seattle AJC Jewish Film Festival, Stroum Jewish Stroum Jewish Community Center Lead Sponsors: The PJ Library®,
Community Center, Temple B’nai Torah and Temple Beth Am. This program has also been made possible by the support of private donors.
SJCC Center Stage, SAMIS Foundation, JTNews, J.Team

The Jewish Federation is now accepting grant proposals for the Long Term Community Impact Grants. The application deadline is
Monday, December 27 by 5pm. For application guidelines and more information, please visit www.JewishInSeattle/Grants.
friday, november 19, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews books, music & gifts 5
Music for the holidays:
Party music and some tracks to groove to
Lillian Cohen-Moore JTNews Intern
We’ve been getting some pretty good
music in the mail these days, so we’ve given
a few a listen so you can post them on the
tunes section of your Hanukkah list.
’Til Chelm Freezes Over
What The Chelm
What The Chelm, Inc.
What The Chelm, the nine-mem-
ber klezmer band from the college
town of Belling-
ham, a couple
hours north of
Seattle, has been
performing since
1993, making
it the Energizer
Bunny of the local
Klezmer scene. The players have the musi-
cal training, practice, and years as a band
to make their newest effort, ’Til Chelm
Freezes Over, a solid effort on their part.
“Sisu” in particular is a stand-out track
for the energy and passion put into it.
What The Chelm is a decidedly Ameri-
can Klezmer, evocative of East Coast Yid-
dish theater while still paying tribute to
the European heritage that forms the
canonical sounds of the genre. The band
Activities for all generations, please visit our website for more information and to
Temple B’nai Torah @ 15727 NE 4th Street @ Bellevue, WA 98008
For more information please visit: www.TempleBnaiTorah.org
has always been family friendly, album
to album, and ’Til Chelm Freezes Over
is no exception. If your synagogue had
a klezmer band, or your neighborhood
JCC was throwing a party, this is the affa-
ble, wholesome Klezmer music you might
hear. Hear samples and purchase at www.
whatthechelm.com.
Oy Yeah
Klezwoods
Accurate Records
The Klezwoods’ album Oy Yeah is
Klezmer for people who want their music in
fast, intense doses.
Due to the brief
lengths of songs,
modern microb-
loggers might
consider them to
be “Tweets” of
Klezmer music.
The 11-piece Boston-based band’s album
serves as an example of one of my favorite
genres, “bar band” music. At once homey
and familiar, while avoiding the stodginess
of some of the Klezmer genre, the album
straddles a comfortable divide where hon-
esty to the genre allows for the openness to
Events happening from the 3rd night all the way through the last day!
make your reservation today!
425.603.9677
the influences of the time —  in this case,
ska — to make for a unique, yet familiar
sound. The album doesn’t have any tracks
that stand out, but this acts as a rare advan-
tage instead of a detriment. While each
composition is unique, they flow seam-
lessly into each other, making for a modern
Klezmer playlist that will neither bore nor
distract. This is not an album for an his-
torical purist, but it’s a fantastic album for
someone new to Klezmer and unafraid
of mixing genres. Available online at
barnesandnoble.com, www.allegro-music.
com, and amazon.com.
Jerusalem Trilogy
Matt Herskowitz
2010 Justin Time Records
Matt Herskowitz’s Jerusalem Trilogy
is not for the faint of heart. From riffs on
pieces of classical music by Chopin and
Prokofiev, to the
three-fisted grab
of jazz, European
and Middle East-
ern musical com-
ponents, it’s an
album that goes
beyond “incred-
Celebrate Chanukah with Temple B’nai Torah!
ible technical proficiency.” Herskowitz’s
album is an elegant, sharp collection of
music that interrelates and connects to
the other pieces and their source materials
of inspiration. The title collection, “Jeru-
salem Trilogy,” was written for the Lyric
Chamber Music Society of New York.
“Andante Moderato” is a moving piece
in a rather classical style, and my favor-
ite of the trilogy. Among the other tracks,
“Gottingen” comes across as an evoca-
tive tango, but “Duologue” on Under Your
White Starry Heaven may outshine it.
The WWII-era song “Unter Dayne Vayse
Shtern” is where it takes its melody and
mood, using the English translation of
the name in the title. The instrumenta-
tion of the piece takes the familiar, emo-
tional melody, and sets it apart from the
rest of the versions I’ve heard as two string
players hold a conversation through the
composition together, one version of the
melody speaking to the other, only joined
briefly by other instruments at the end.
The entire album from start to finish is
a brief but skillfully filled hour of music.
Available at www.justin-time.com.
XXPage 6
6 books, music & gifts JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 19, 2010

The Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle Hey kids, wanna get rid of
By David Benkof those late-fall blues?
Go back to camp!
Joel Magalnick Editor, JTNews
November is a cruel month. The weather song one of my own camp music direc-
starts to turn from the charming autumn tors would bang out on his beat-up guitar.
to downright chilly. All those gorgeous red Younger kids (probably preteen) giving
and gold leaves on the trees have turned this album a listen will love it. Older teens
brown and become a nuisance to be raked might not find enough bubble gum, and
up. And like the second quarter of a mar- Dylan and Van Morrison fans might
athon, the school year is well under- cringe at the sanitized reinterpreta-
way, but the specter of summer tions of “Blowin’ in the Wind”
is still so far away. So what’s and “Into the Mystic,” but
a despondent kid to do? the kiddies are proba-
What gets you through bly too young to get
these early dark eve- the nuance at this
nings and dissipating point, anyway.
dreams of a report As the product of
card full of A’s? many years of Jewish
Why, memories summer camp, I have
of camp, of course! fond memories of
And what better way my bunkmates bang-
to do that than to get ing on the tables and
your camp friends together singing at the tops of our
for a sing-a-long? That’s the lungs after Shabbat dinner,
basis of the CD released this year or sitting on the grass and hang-
by the folks who brought your little brother ing out with the song leaders for music
Across Down or sister OyBaby, the Jewish music CD and time. To me, if there’s anything missing
1. Humorous 1. Org. for shuls with pools series from local couple Rob and Lisi Wolf. from this album (aside from today’s new
6. Talmudist Steinsaltz 2. ___ transmission of Jewish law “Songs like ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ to standards, i.e., anything by Adam San-
10. Kinsler and Ziering 3. Observed, as commandments this day conjure memories of my years as a dler), it’s the kids.
14. The “Ani Maamin” (I believe), e.g. 4. First family’s location camper, then counselor at Jewish summer Which is why I think that while We Sang
15. Just 5. Sephardi authority on Jewish law camp,” says Michelle Koplan, executive That At Camp is an album that can be lis-
16. Faux pas Ovadia
17. Clothes for Superman
director of B’nai B’rith Camp in Lincoln tened to alone upstairs in the bedroom, or
6. Enemy of the Jewish people
18. Soothing plant 7. Late
City, along the Oregon Coast. with Mom and Dad in the car, or on the
19. Helper 8. “___ Man” (Robert Downey, Jr., Based on songs that Lisi herself sung as iPod, for it to truly feel like camp — to
20. Theodor Herzl’s 1902 utopian novel film) a camper at B’nai B’rith Camp, We Sang get that awesome, soul-raising, eardrum-
22. Akko by another name 9. Required That At Camp is an album of songs, both in smashing, huge-smile-inducing experience
23. “Fiddler” actor Leonard (“Motel”) 10. Noted 16th century Kabbalist of English and Hebrew, sung by OyBaby vet- — you need to make some hot chocolate
24. Hosted Safed erans (and sisters) Kim Palumbis, Stepha- and popcorn, invite over your camp bud-
26. Bass ___ 11. Role for Linda Lavin nie Schneiderman and Lisa Schneiderman, dies, and sit in the family room and belt out
30. Nickname for Isaac 12. Kol ___ (literally, “all vows”) joined for the first time by Portland-based these songs at the top of your lungs. You’ll
31. Marina ___ Rey 13. Hurry musician Justin Jude. be smelling the cedars and feeling the grass
32. Leopold Bloom’s land 21. ___ P. Levy (first Jewish U.S. The musicians put together a strong under your bare feet in no time at all.
33. Major disease in Africa Navy Commodore)
35. Estimate
album of old camp standards with some Then again, when I put on my head-
25. Start of something big?
39. Problem in Canaan in Joseph’s day 26. Give up territory
of the daily prayers mixed in. The Schnei- phones and gave the album a listen earlier
41. He wouldn’t let the Jews go 27. Israel’s first currency dermans and Jude have a nice chemistry this month, the heavy winds outside died
43. Roy Lichtenstein’s tool 28. Term Freud used for the love that sounds good on a kids’ album. “Erev down and the sun came out. That has to
44. It’s used in a duel instinct Shel Shoshanim” in particular is haunt- say something.
46. Cyprus, e.g. 29. Actor Mark (“Royal Pains”) ingly beautiful. And “BaShanah Haba’ah” We Sang That At Camp is available at
47. Yiddish honorific meaning “mister” 34. Aaron and Tori feels like that classic style of Israeli folk www.oybaby.com/jewishcampsongs.
49. Add-on 36. Literal meaning of “Kedem”
50. Einstein studied it 37. Not part of a minyan
51. It split 38. Noah’s son WWmusic Page 5
54. Tzedakah 40. Lea Michele’s TV show you. Four of the nine
56. Much 42. Directs
57. Warsaw Ghetto uprising quality
Celebrations tracks are devoted
45. Small-scale agricultural worker
63. ___ Yerushalayim women’s college 48. “Yentl” director Streisand
Eugene Marlowe’s Heritage Ensemble to Hanukkah, and
64. Breakfast staple 51. Whooshed through interprets festive melodies from the Hebrew as sick as I am of
65. Run ___ of 52. She sits near Ruth and Stephen songbook uninspired takes on “I
66. ___ Akiva 53. Delaware capital MEII Enterprises/BMI Have a Little Dreidel,”
67. Wedding thing 55. “The Jewish ___” (Herzl 1896 Eugene Marlowe, East Coast-based jazz the rest of the music is
68. Some desserts work) composer and bandleader at private parties, just as uninspired. If “smooth jazz” makes
69. Material for some knit yarmulkes 58. Congressman Cantor (R-Va.) has mastered his genre. My first thought you want to run, not walk, from the vicin-
70. “All My Sons” has three 59. Off yonder upon putting this CD in was: If my parents ity of the CD player, then this is a CD you
71. Wipe out 60. Director Ephron (“Julie & Julia”) threw jazz–music-fueled Hanukkah parties, will happily miss out on. This album is
61. Butcher’s pride this CD would totally work. However, upon as uninspired as it is technically proficient,
62. “Or ___!”
painstaking perusal of the rest of the tracks, in addition to being utterly unremark-
I can say that if you are over the age of 40 able and lacking a single memorable out-
and prefer your “holiday” music as the staid track. This includes the ninth, a six-minute
Answers on page 22 and conservative backdrop for a party that history of the band. Available at www.
ends before 10 p.m., this is the album for meiienterprises.com.
friday, november 19, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews books, music & gifts 7

Eli Rosenblatt
melds unlikely
traditions on
new album.
Eric Nusbaum Assistant Editor, JTNews
Enter the
Eli Rosenblatt is a unique musical fix-
ture in Seattle — a feat that’s a direct result

contest!
of the nature of Rosenblatt’s music, which
is poignantly and accurately described on
his MySpace page as “eclectic.” Indeed,
Rosenblatt’s new self-titled album kicks off
with consecutive songs in Hebrew, Eng-
lish, then Spanish. All, improbably, sung in
pitch perfect accents.
The fact that Rosenblatt can sing com-
fortably in all three languages — his is not
the parody Spanish of, say, Joe Strummer
on “Spanish Bombs” or “Should I Stay or
Should I Go” — and play comfortably in a
variety of styles, holds the album together.
It’s a credit to his vocals and his band that
should-be stark transitions like the one
between “Devil’s Back,” an Appalachian-
sounding horror tale and “La Sirena,” a
languid Spanish-language salsa number,
feel seamless.
“The Devil’s Back” is a representative
example of the way Rosenblatt treats Juda-
ism on the record — present, but in a mat-
ter-of-fact way. Rosenblatt’s Jewish images
feel like tropes, much the way Christian
images appear in blues songs, for instance. How should you decorate a Tiny Tzedakah Box?
“Stones and bones and alcohol/the higher Family pictures, markers, stickers, paint, glitter, beads,
you get, the further you fall/Moshiach will ribbon, collage, found objects … you name it.
TOP: coin slot

come and save us all,” Rosenblatt sings.
One could substitute Moshiach for
Jesus and it wouldn’t matter much.
It wouldn’t matter because Rosenblatt’s is
not Jewish music — rather it is Jewish-influ-
enced music. In fact, it feels Afro-Cuban as
much as anything else. The Spanish tracks
would fit right in during a Buena Vista
Social Club performance, for example. And
the Hebrew songs, “Yisemechu” and “Biglal
Avot,” play more like Latin-fusion explora-
tions than liturgical statements.
The English-language tracks are clearly
influenced by the storytelling and musical
styles of Eastern European Jewry — one
can tell that Rosenblatt has read his Bashe-
vis Singer, or something similar. “Shmuli’s
Dream” is a song as fantastical as its title —
and “Outerspace” has a classically off-kil-
ter, klezmer-tinged melody.
I have a very limited history of Jewish
music consumption — so limited, in fact,
that when I think Jewish music, it’s along
the lines of Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, and
the Beastie Boys. But I found Rosenblatt’s
album extremely appealing. It had just the
right amount of Jew-ish sensibility, just the
right amount of American rock and blues
structural familiarity, and wore the pleas-
ant melodic brightness of Rosenblatt’s
Afro-Cuban influences with aplomb.
Needless to say, if you’re going to buy one
Jewish-Seattleite, Afro-Cuban-influenced
record this year, make it Eli Rosenblatt’s.
Once you’ve decorated your Tiny Tzedakah Box, send in
a photo of yourself holding it, and at least one close-up Visit
picture of the Box. E-mail the pictures with your name, www.jtnews.net to
age, and home town no later than December 1, 2010 to download a copy of the
tzedakah@jtnews.net. 2010 Tzedakah Book,
filled with inspiring giving
profiles that will help you
and your family celebrate
the joy of tzedakah.
Print one out at home, or
call 206-441-4553 if you
Here’s how would like us to send you
a printed copy.
Everyone can enter the
Tiny Tzedakah Box contest!
Every entry will be featured
online at www.jtnews.net, and
three winners will appear in
the December 10 edition of
JTNews, the voice of Jewish
Washington.
1 Cut out the Tiny Tzedakah
Box template on this page.
Trace around it on card stock
to make your own box form.
2. Cut out the form.
3. Cut out the coin slot.
4. Fold at all dashed lines.
5. Tape or glue tabs on the
inside of the box.
6. Decorate!
8 books, music & gifts JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 19, 2010

Yann Martel’s Beatrice and Virgil an allegory

for the Holocaust
Arthur Wolak Special to JTNews
It took seven years for Yann Martel to
write his most recent book, Beatrice and
Virgil: A Novel (Spiegel & Grau, 2010). The
story began as a two-act play that served as
an allegory to the Holocaust, from which he
took fragments to use in his novel. It eventu-
ally evolved from the interplay between the
two animals for which the book is named
into a story featuring a mysterious taxider-
mist — because taxidermists attempt to give
the appearance of “life” to deceased animals
— and a character named Henry.
On tour promoting his latest book,
Martel, whose bestselling Life of Pi earned
him the 2002 Man Booker Prize for Fic-
tion, shared Beatrice and Virgil at an inti-
mate writer’s salon last month in support
of the upcoming 26th Annual Cherie Smith
Jewish Community Centre of Greater Van-
couver Jewish Book Festival — taking place
Nov. 20-25 — and The Vancouver Holo-
caust Education Center.
Martel went into extensive detail about
his process of writing the book, defending
the use of fiction as a lasting and moving
testimony to relating the
horrors of the Holocaust.
Playing on positive
Jewish stereotypes, Martel
explained that Henry rep-
resents Jewish life in Ger-
many. He plays the clarinet,
considered a “very Jewish
instrument” because of its
use in Klezmer music. He
also drew upon a 125-page
essay he wrote on represen-
tations of the Holocaust that
feature at the beginning of Author Yann Martel
the book.
Beatrice and Virgil is a story about a
writer who meets a taxidermist and together,
in a sense, they meet the Holocaust. Martel
deals with the Holocaust in a non-literal and
non-historical fashion, compared to other
books that express the tragedy, like Anne
Frank, among so many others.
Just as in Life of Pi, Martel features ani- intentions.
mals as metaphors. In Beatrice and Virgil,
a story far darker in tone and storyline, the
significant difference is Mar-
tel’s application of his met-
aphors to the Holocaust, in
this case, two stuffed animals
— Beatrice, a donkey, and
Virgil, a monkey. According
to Martel, the main charac-
ters are named in reference
to Dante’s Divine Comedy,
an allegory on 14th-century
Italy, in which Virgil and
Beatrice served as guides to
Arthur Wolak help Dante find his way back
from moral confusion by
travelling through hell, pur-
gatory, and heaven.
For Martel, animals operate outside
of a moral framework, which inspires
sympathy. Since animals have the effect
of drawing people in, he anthropomor-
phized the animals in the play within
the novel, and signal Martel’s allegorical
Martel explained how he used the liter-
ary technique of animal allegory to signal
to readers that the book was not a histori-
cal analysis, but a fictional method of relat-
ing the true horrors of the Holocaust.
“I’m not Jewish and I’m not Euro-
pean,” Martel says, though he spent his
formative years attending a British school
in France. “My link to the Holocaust is as
a complete outsider.”
A descendant of a Canadian family
rooted in Quebec, his parents briefly
moved to Spain, where he was born.
“I have no personal experience, no
familial experience, no genetic experience
at all with the great tragedy [of the Holo-
caust], the greatest tragedy of the 20th cen-
tury,” he says.
Yet Martel says he has been profoundly
affected by the Holocaust and the suffering
of the Jewish people.
While a child studying history in
school, he found the study of war to be
comprehensible, whereas to him the
Holocaust was not. Though war is violent
XXPage 16

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friday, november 19, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews books, music & gifts 9

A story worth telling, one building at a time

Eric Nusbaum Assistant Editor, JTNews
Mark Richard Schuster did not set out
to become an author. But after the Seat-
tle entrepreneur completed development
on Mosler Lofts, the Belltown condo proj-
ect that has become his signature achieve-
ment, he felt he had a story worth telling.
Schuster’s book, Lofty Pursuits: Repair-
ing the World One Building at a Time, was
published in September.
“I’m a big reader but I didn’t really
have a goal to write a book,” Schuster told
JTNews. “What happened was the story
of this building. Mosler Lofts was the cat-
alyst.”
Mosler Lofts, finished in 2007, was
the first high-rise condo in Seattle to be
certified LEED Silver. The Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design green-
building rating system sets benchmarks
for environmentally friendly design and
materials.
“When Mosler Lofts was done, the
reason it became the catalyst was that it
became the most nationally acclaimed and
awarded project of its kind in the coun-
try in 2008,” Schuster said. “It became a
landmark expression of sustainability and
design.”
In Lofty Pursuits, Schuster uses the
story of Mosler Lofts as the centerpiece
for a book about his personal history, his
family, and his community. The book is
also a plea for ethical business practices.
Schuster uses Mosler Lofts to demonstrate
how a business can balance profit seeking
and principles.
Lofty Pursuits strikes an informal tone.
Schuster’s prose is direct in a casual, face-
to-face sort of way; the book reads as if
the author was sitting across a table and
simply telling his story. His tone, perhaps,
is the result of Schuster’s method in com-
posing the book.
“I spent a year writing down my thoughts
on sticky notes, napkins at restaurants,
pieces of paper, you name it,” Schuster said.
Mark Schuster at the Mosler Lofts construction site.
“I had a drawer in my office and I threw
all those ideas in that drawer. Eventually I
started to consolidate them and organize
them into 875 pages of transcription.”
Finally, with an editor, Schuster
trimmed his thoughts down to a work-
able manuscript. In its published form,
Lofty Pursuits is a manageable 215 pages
— not quite as ambitious in scope, as say,
the condo project that inspired it. But the
book is as much about family and commu-
nity as it is about business.
“I wanted to share that story [Mosler
Lofts] and in doing so, it gave me an
opportunity to share my own personal
story as a businessman and a member of
the community,” Schuster said. “As in,
how did I go from my first business at age
16 to developing this $80 million award-
winning project? And what happened in
between — not only in my business but
my personal life and involvement in com-
munity and philanthropy.”
Tikkun olam, repair of the world, is
Schuster’s guiding principle. In Lofty
Pursuits, Schuster outlines the influence
of his family on his approach to busi-
ness. The building itself is named for his
maternal grandfather, George Mosler,
who encouraged Schuster to pursue his
dreams in business and reminded him of
the importance of an ethical approach.
The book presents family, Judaism, phi-
lanthropy, community, and business as
intertwined means to make the world a
better place.
To communicate this message, Schus-
ter turns to different anecdotes from
his life. As the book follows the concep-
tion and eventual construction of Mosler
Lofts, it turns also to stories of failed busi-
ness ventures, to a trip to Israel Schuster
took with the Anti-Defamation League,
of which he is a big supporter, to recollec-
tions of Schuster’s days as a Boy Scout.
Now, Schuster says, he hopes read-
ers will realize that the message applies
beyond real estate development.
“I think it’s bigger than one product
type,” he said. “I think it’s a philosophy of
doing business and leading your life. What
I try to do is take tikkun olam outside of
what I learned at home, outside of syna-
gogue, outside of temple youth camp.”
Lofty Pursuits is on sale at Elliott Bay
Book Co. and both Third Place Books
locations, with availability soon at Barnes
and Noble in downtown Seattle and Uni-
versity Village. Schuster hopes people read
it, but he isn’t too concerned about sales.
“I didn’t write the book to become
a New York Times bestseller,” he said.
“I wrote the book because I had a story I
wanted to share.”

Temple De Hirsch Sinai

JUDAICA GIFT SHOP

Get all your Driedles, Hanukkiahs and yummy Gelt!
Special Hanukkah Hours!
BELLEVUE SEATTLE
Sunday mornings, 10AM - noon Sunday mornings, 10AM - noon
Mondays: 11AM – 1PM Wednesdays 11AM - 1PM
Tuesday mornings, 10AM - 12:30pm Thursday afternoons, 4:15pm - 6pm
Wednesday afternoons, 4:30 - 6PM
Friday mornings, 10AM - 12:15pm

Call to confirm hours or to make an appointment 206-323-8486

Happy Hanukkah from

Temple De Hirsch Sinai!
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check us out at www.tdhs-nw.org
Seattle Sanctuary
1441 - 16th Avenue
(206) 323-8486
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3850 - 156th SE
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10 books, music & gifts JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 19, 2010

Good for a Yiddish groaner or a quick giggle

Rabbi Rachel Esserman The Reporter (Vestal, NY)
Jewish humor, particularly Yiddish
humor, has its own sense of rhythm. It’s
not just the language used, although that
plays a large part, but the inflection and
timing that helps create a unique sense
of comedy. Two recent novels — The
Frumkiss Family Business by Michael
Wex (Alfred A. Knopf Canada) and The
Book of Murray: The Life, Teachings, and
Kvetching of the Lost Prophet edited with
an introduction by David M. Bader (Har-
mony Books) — take advantage of this
Yiddish slant on life and wit.
Wex, best known for his nonfiction
Born to Kvetch about Yiddish language
and culture, looks at three generations of a
Jewish Canadian family. The most interest-
ing character, and the one who sets the plot
in motion, is Elyokim Faktor, who “grew
up in the very bosom of early-20th century
Polish-Jewish luxury, all velvets and tutors,
music lessons and Hebrew grammar.”
Although his Orthodox father wants
him to join the family business, in addi-
tion to becoming a rabbi, Faktor prefers
writing, particularly Yiddish poetry and
plays, to dealing with more serious aspects
of life. He has similar feelings about busi-
ness and religion: “[Faktor] was as ambiv-
alent about God as he was about work: he
knew they existed, but could see no reason
to bother with either.”
Part one of The Frumkiss Family Busi-
ness opens with Faktor’s death at age 103,
and then continues with in-depth looks at
the remaining members of his extended
family: His second wife, Chana Manisch-
ewitz, who made a living selling fine china
by pretending to be British; his son-in-law,
Earl Frumkiss, whose advertising theme
song for his chain of podiatrist offices
caused great embarrassment to his chil-
dren; his grandson Randall, who works as
a comic host at stag parties in Jewish nurs-
ing homes; and his granddaughters, Van-
essa, a heartless beauty who has become
ultra-Orthodox, and Rachel, an eccen-
tric scientist who gave up her career for a
hockey-obsessed husband she now hates.
The first section is really an extended setup
for part two, when a revelation about Fak-
tor’s early European years turns the novel
from a rollicking comedy to a profane, but
very funny, farce about identity and per-
sonal fulfillment.
In addition to satirizing the lives of the
extended Faktor and Frumkiss families,
Wex also sets his gaze on the members of
the North American Yiddish literati, who
hated Faktor for his successful Canadian
career, much as they hated I. B. Singer:
“He had got too much attention, too.”
The delegation from the Yiddish literary
world that attends Faktor’s funeral does so
not to mourn the writer, but for “proof that
Faktor was dead... [since] Faktor was like a
tree standing by the water or 10 last pounds
of a diet-proof fat on the cusp of a swimsuit
season: they really believed he’d always be
here. All they could do now was complain
that there was no one left for them to hate.”
For Wex, nothing is sacred; even the love of
Yiddish culture is open to ridicule.
While The Frumkiss Family Business is
a fully realized novel with a convoluted,
but exciting, plot, The Book of Murray is
more of a one-note joke. Fortunately for
Bader, best-known for his Haikus for Jews,
it’s a very funny one. The scroll of Murray, forcing him to
which was found on the 14th hole of a golf invent prophecies, statutes and judg-
course in Boca Raton, is filled with one-lin- ments, including “Thou shalt not put any-
ers, puns and sly asides. In his introduction, thing in writing,” “Thou shalt get everything
Bader notes this 3,000-year-old look at the in writing” and “Of the sandwiches, ye may
promised land “offers a unique perspective eat of the cold cuts on rye with mustard or
on the past that explains much about the Russian dressing. But of the Potato-Chips-
present,” which is certainly true, but not in With-Miracle-Whip-on-Wonderbread
the way traditionalists would expect. sandwich, ye shall not eat. For it is an abom-
Murray is called to the service of the ination. And ye shall not eat it.”
Lord when he sees a sheep on fire, yet Although the humor in this short (166
“though it burned brightly, the sheep was pages) work is predictable and filled with
not consumed nor was there even the groan-inducing wordplay and anachro-
slightest aroma of lamb kebabs.” nisms, at times I found myself laughing
Unfortunately, after the Lord speaks to so hard I had to stop reading to regain my
him through the “flame-resistant sheep,” composure. Even when thinking, “This
telling him to be a messenger to the Israel- really isn’t that funny,” the book made me
ites, Murray receives no further revelation, laugh so hard my eyes teared.

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for the Summer
of 2011!

Honoring Lisa and Norman Behar

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Seattle Sheraton Hotel registration
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open
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Gala Co-Chairs
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Call (206) 323-5750, ext. 301
Email rsixbey@sha613.org
Check us out…
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Info@campschechter.org
206-447-1967
friday, november 19, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews books, music & gifts 11

New Jewish books for and

about children —
and into their emerging adulthood
Diana Brement JTNews Columnist
I was delighted to receive a review copy
of Scott Simon’s Baby, We Were Meant
for Each Other: In Praise of Adoption
(Random House, cloth, $22), since I have
already been intrigued by his radio essays
on the subject. Simon is the host of NPR’s
“Weekend Edition Saturday,” and he and
his wife adopted two girls from China.
Now he can expand on his personal expe-
riences and reflect on adoption in general,
Chinese adoption in particular, and the
negative impact of that country’s one-child
policy on the human rights of women.
Simon masterfully captures the poig-
nant process of “falling in love” with his
daughters and also shares the stories of
other adoptive families. Most have happy
endings, including some reunions with
birth parents, but he doesn’t shy away from
a few bad endings. Raising an adopted
child, we see, is just as satisfying and
fraught with peril as raising a birth child.
The book moves along at a good clip
and Simon gets us laughing and crying as
he explains how families really are made.
No matter how your family was made,
here are a number of books for the chil-
dren in your life.
old man bests them with his simple wisdom
in this story of what it really means to be a
human being, or, if you will, a mensch. The
author learned this story from her grand-
mother, who came “from an impoverished
village in eastern Europe.”
In Nathan’s Hanukkah Bargain by
Jacqueline Dembar Greene (Pelican,
cloth, $15.95), a boy who badly wants his
own menorah and doesn’t have enough
money, is subtly helped by an understand-
ing grandfather to find a real treasure. The
illustrations are by Judith Hierstein.
For older readers (9 and up) comes
the engaging and exciting graphic novel
Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword
by Portland graphic artist Barry Deutsch
(Abrams, cloth, $15.95). While it fea-
tures Orthodox characters in an Orthodox
Jewish town, this book does not belong
to the sub-genre of books aimed at only
Orthodox readers. Featuring “yet another
troll-fighting 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish
girl,” Deutsch appeals to almost any reader
with his heroine Mirka. She just wants to
do something a little different, but ends up
involved with a witch and a talking pig.
The author cleverly incorporates expla-
nations of cultural and religious values,
along with a little Yiddish, in this clever
blend of fantasy and reality.
Now parents, take note: in a mere blink
of an eye, the adorable preschooler you are
reading these books to will transform into
a much larger child who will need to be
sent off to college.
To the myriad of college guides already
available, you might add Oy Vey, It’s Time
to Apply: A Cultural Guide to Colleges
for Jewish Parents by Jerome Ostrov (self-
published, paper, $17.95 Amazon.com).
The author is not a college advisor, but an
attorney with a passion for colleges who
wants to share information he’s gathered
over many years. He admits his subjec-
tivity, “both unscientific and time hon-
ored,” and stresses that it’s no “shanda”
(shame) if your brilliant Jewish daughter
or son attends a college that is not one of
the country’s top-ranked.
Providing an historical overview of
American Jews and higher education,
he profiles the attitudes of today’s aver-
age Jewish parent. Ostrov then summa-
rizes 100 colleges of interest from a Jewish
perspective ranging from best-known to
almost unknown (Richard Stockton Col-
lege of New Jersey, anyone?). He con-
cludes with chapters on getting in, paying
for it, and coping with college life.
Oy Vey reads well, but suffers from a lack
of proofreading common in self-publishing.
For your son or daughter already in
college, the little College Knowledge for
the Jewish Student: 101 Tips by David
Schoem (U. of Michigan, paper, $20.95)
is a handy four-year survival guide full
of encouragement and wisdom for the
student in your life.

Give the Gift of Music

A clever book, and a clear tribute to Dr.

wi a Seattle Symphony Gift Certificate

Seuss, The Kvetch Who Stole Hanukkah
(Pelican, cloth, $16.99), by Bill Berlin and
Susan Isakoff Berlin, with illustrations by
Peter Welling, sends us on a rhyming romp
through the town of Oyville. There, a kvetch
has decided to turn Hanukkah upside down,
disappointing the local children. (“‘Hanuk-
kah, shmanukkah—it’s all about gifts,’/
Shouted the kvetch, and he sounded quite
GIFT THIS
miffed.”) It is the children’s efforts, though, THE PERFECT
SON!
that create a true Hanukkah miracle. HOLIDAY SEA
Ann Redisch Stampler re-tells a Chas-
sidic tale in The Rooster Prince of Breslov
(Clarion, cloth, $16.99) with illustrations
by Eugene Yelchin. An overindulged young
prince, fed up with his life of leisure, acts out
by pretending to be a rooster. Doctors and
magicians fail to cure him, but an ordinary
206.215.4747 | www.seattlesymphony.org
12 books, music & gifts JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 19, 2010
What is Seattle
Books in brief:
Books for gift giving and more
Limited Tickets Really Missing?
Available; Diana Brement JTNews Columnist
Buy Yours Food
Online Today! Simply Southern With a Dash of
Kosher Soul, from the Margolin Hebrew
Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva of the South
(cloth, $34.99 plus shipping). The Jewish
community of Memphis gained
some notoriety with the pub-
lication of Tova Mirvis’ novel
The Ladies Auxiliary, but they
make up for it with this big book
of scrumptious recipes rang-
One throw-down, blow out
HANUKKAH PARTY!
ing from down-home “Dixie Caviar”
(black bean salad) to gourmet “Rasp-
berry–Pecan-Crusted Lamb Chops.” Fea-
benefiting uncompensated care at turing color photos and readable recipes,
Join us
this large-format book is a fundraiser for
After
the school. This reviewer took the liberty
Sunday
of making “real” southern fried chicken
School! from the book — yum! Order it at www.
simplysoutherncookbook.net, or call the
school at 866-715-7667.
Sunday, December 12th Encyclopedia of Jewish Food by Gil
Marks, (Wiley, cloth, $40). These 656 amaz-
ing pages will steal the breath of every seri-
2pm - 5pm at MOHAI ous foodie on your list with a jam-packed
compendium of Jewish food history, trivia
and recipes. The author, a founding editor
Museum of History and Industry in the of Kosher Gourmet magazine, author of five
Montlake neighborhood cookbooks and James Beard winner, is also
a rabbi. Marks covers food from Adafina
(Sephardic Shabbat stew) to Zwetschgen-
kuchen (plum cake)with Kubaneh (Yemeni
Incredible Kindie Music Concert bread) in the middle and includes a time-
line of Jewish history. (Author’s note: I’ve
with Caspar Babypants, been trying for years to work “zwetschgen-
Recess Monkey, and The Not-Its! kuchen” into this column.)
and more... Art
500 Judaica: Innovative Contempo-
• Amazing Snack Packs • Face Painting rary Ritual Art, by Ray Hemachandra and
• Booths of Fun • Arts & Crafts
Daniel Belasco (Lark Crafts, paper, $24.95).
• A chance to spin the Giant Dreidel for prizes!
Log on to jtnews.net
and enter your e-mail
www.thebigspin.org address in the “join
Fueling local Jewish families with our mailing list” box.
➚
Hanukkah thrills since December 2009 Do it right now!
Join us!
Another big book jammed with interesting
Jewish items, but this time they are stun-
ning ritual objects selected by a curator
from The Jewish Museum. The creativity
and variety that these artists and artisans
have brought to ritual objects is wonderful
to see. Works include
the usual hanukkiot
(menorahs) and mez-
zuzot along with hand-
washing vessels, Torah
embellishments and a
striking variety of spice
and tzedakah boxes. A
few featured artisans
with local connections
are Seth Rolland,
Gabriel Bass and Nancy Meagan Corwin.
Judaism
The Golden Age of Jewish Achievement,
by Steven L. Pease (Deucalion, paper,
$19.95). This comprehensive examination
(topping more than 600 pages) of Jewish
accomplishment focuses on the period
from Enlightenment on. Remarkably, the
author is not Jewish. But he admits to a
life-long fascination with Jewish success in
a variety of fields from academia to enter-
tainment, where Jews are represented dis-
proportionately to their numbers in the
general population. This essential refer-
ence for any Jewish library includes his-
tory, profiles, factual tables and thorough
footnotes. Is the author (a Spokane native)
displaying some bias by selecting Noam
Chomsky as his representative social activ-
ist? On the whole, though, the book is bal-
anced and extremely informative.
Back to the Beginning, by Mark Hoenig
(Xlibris, paper, $19.99). The author, an
attorney by training, joined with his sib-
lings in paying tribute to their late father
by studying every Torah portion for a year.
Hoenig wrote responses to each one and
on conclusion realized he had a book. This
personable approach by a Modern Ortho-
dox lay scholar allows readers to feel as if
they’ve joined him in weekly study.
This is an example of a well-done self-
published book. It is well written and,
more importantly, well edited, and even
footnoted. If Hoenig produces another
edition, I would only recommend he add
a glossary for Hebrew terms that may be
unfamiliar to some readers.
Join us to be automatically entered
in our drawing to win a gorgeous
mezuzah created by Seattle artist Al
Benoliel. Plus, joining means you’ll
receive our e-newsletter headlining
new content online at jtnews.net
and jew-ish.com. Simple as that.
One winner will be announced in
the December 10 issue of JTNews.
Deadline to enter December 3, 2010.
friday, november 19, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews books, music & gifts 13
Exodus and Emancipation: Biblical and
African-American Slavery, by Kenneth
Chelst (Urim, cloth, $34.95). An interesting
and unusual take on a familiar idea from an
equally interesting author — a professor of
industrial and manufacturing engineering
at Wayne State University and an ordained
rabbi. Chelst delves into the story of Bibli-
cal slavery — using a variety of sources and
commentary — and compares and contrasts
it with the historically documented experi-
ences of African-American slaves in a way
that enriches the reader’s understanding of
both. He explores social, psychological, reli-
gious and philosophical dimensions in a
dense, but readable tome, and his passion
shines through. With illustrations, footnotes
and glossary.
Hillel: If Not Now, When? by
Joseph Telushkin (Schocken, cloth,
$24). Hillel is the latest addition to
Nextbook’s “Jewish Encounters”
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nent Jewish scholars. We know so
little about Hillel outside of limited
Talmudic commentaries, yet the
author cleverly brings those resources
forward into the 21st
century, presenting
2,000-year-old teachings
in a positive, current, and
perhaps even radical way.
Telushkin wastes no time
in letting us know that
he thinks we should
take the most famous
Hillel story — “what
is hateful to you do not do
to your fellow…the rest is
commentary” — as instruction to be more
welcoming to potential converts, but there’s
more here than that.
Land of Blood and Honey, by Martin
Van Creveld (St. Martins, cloth, $26.99).
This unfortunately titled book is actually a
concise and1:23 PM
readable history of Israel writ-
ten by someone who has lived a better part
of it. The author, a leading Israeli military
historian and theorist, has been on the fac-
ulty of Hebrew University since 1971. He
falls on the conservative side of the fence —
or the wall, actually — but offers a good
summation of Israel since its founding,
including some current analysis of the
country’s economy.
Literature
Saul Bellow:
Letters, edited by
Benjamin Taylor
(Viking, cloth, $35).
Another big book
(558 pages), this one
is stuffed with the
celebrated 20th-cen-
tury novelist’s missives to a wide
variety of recipients. These never-
before-seen letters add a personal
dimension to other biographical
information available, and since
Bellow corresponded with many
other significant literary fig-
ures of the time, also serves as a
“who’s who” of American letters, as
well as providing glimpses into the author’s
personal life and dry wit.
Humor/Poetry
Unexpectedly Eighty and Other Adap-
tations, by Judith Viorst (Free Press, cloth,
$17). When she was dealing with the vaga-
ries of child rearing, Judith Viorst turned
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her sardonic eye to the life of a child in
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No
Good, Very Bad Day. Now that she is about
to turn 80, the author turns the same eye to
the vagaries of aging in this highly enter-
taining and funny little book of verse. “My
scalp is now showing./My moles keep on
growing./My waistline and breasts have
converged./My teeth resist brightening./
I’m in decline./It’s positively frightening.”
Fiction
The Stormchasers, by Jenna Blum
(Dutton, cloth, $25.95). In the bestselling
Those Who Save Us, the author paid fictional
tribute to her Jewish
ancestors. In her new
page-turning novel of
twins separated and
united, Blum turns
to her non-Jewish
Midwestern roots,
set in the drama of
Tornado Alley. Kar-
enna George des-
perately misses her
twin brother, whose erratic behavior tore
their family apart. He has disappeared into
the strange subculture of storm chasers, but
when she learns he’s nearby she tries to find
him again. Joining a storm-chasing tour
as a journalist, she begins her complicated
adventure of reunion. Blum has a gift for
rendering contemporary dialog into read-
able form. Learn more about the author and
her Jewish roots at www.jennablum.com.
ata,
h fritt
c
in a
by
r o v i ded
nt p
r t a inme mble
Ente m Ense
o
Shal
14 books, music & gifts JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 19, 2010

By the books:
Blue trikes, pickle-eating pigs on the Hanukkah reading menu
Penny Schwartz JTA World News Service
BOSTON (JTA) — Rhyming verse,
lively family scenes, a cute pig who eats
kosher pickles — and yes, menorahs,
latkes and the Maccabees — are fea-
tured in a new crop of Hanukkah books
for children written by some of the
country’s most popular award-winning
writers.
Eight Winter Nights
Laura Krauss Melmed, illustrated by
Elisabeth Schlossberg
Chronicle Books, $16.99; ages 3-8
Laura Krauss Melmed, the award-win-
ning author of an earlier Hanukkah book,
Moishe’s Miracle, shines with her lifelong
love of rhyme in this delightful family
story set in verse. Krauss Melmed captures
the warmth of the holiday with a poetic
celebration that evokes ritual as well as
whimsy.
With each night and new candle,
there’s something new to celebrate. On the
fifth night, the doorbell rings and in rush
the cousins.
“Wild ones, noisy ones/There must be
dozens!/
What a commotion, what a delight/
when cousins come calling this/
Hanukkah night!”
An ode to applesauce that accompanies
the latkes has a contagious beat that will
entertain and engage young kids.
Schlossberg’s gloriously colored illus-
trations bring life to the lively verse. Her
depiction of a simple arc-shaped meno-
rah with a rainbow of glowing candles are
almost luminous on the page.
Krauss Melmed, a former teacher who
holds a master’s degree in early childhood
education, said she wanted to write a book
for younger kids that captures the feeling
of a family celebrating Hanukkah, a home-
based holiday.
The Hanukkah Trike
Michelle Edwards, illustrated by
Kathryn Mitter
Albert Whitman, $15.99; ages 4-8
In this simple, heartfelt story that
offers a good introduction to the holi-
day, Gabi lights the menorah, eats latkes,
helps her father retell the victorious story
of the Maccabees, and is surprised with
the gift of a shiny new blue tricycle she
names Hanukkah. When she has a hard
time learning to push the pedals and
falls off, the trike gets dirty and Gabi gets
bruised.
With encouragement from her mother,
and remembering the determination and
courage of the Maccabees, they clean the
trike, and Gabi gets back on and learns to
ride.
Edwards captures the small details
that resonate with young kids, such as
giving the trike a name and placing her
blankie in the trike basket. A winner of
the National Jewish Book Award for her
first picture book, Chicken Man, Edwards
was inspired to create the spunky Gabi
Greenberg from years of reading with
her own daughters such children’s clas-
sics as Madeline, Babar and even Harry
Potter, who all celebrated Christmas.

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any amount that suits your family’s budget.

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els good
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Visit www.jtnews.net and click on The
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t of Hanukkah to
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 Hyatt
friday, november 19, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews books, music & gifts 15

“Being Jewish, we didn’t,” she told me via
first and foremost. So who is taking care of them?
e-mail. “Our years of reading together made
me want a spirited character like them.”
Kathryn Mitter’s illustrations are play-
ful and appealing for young kids, who will
enjoy Gabi’s friendly puppy appearing in
almost every scene.
Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to
Be Kosher
Laurel Snyder, illustrations by
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pickles, loaves of challah and even tries
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An author’s note describes the custom
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Jewish words and expressions.
XXPage 22

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16 the arts JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 19, 2010

arts
Nov 19 – January 16
Harry Shearer: The Silent Echo Chamber
Video Art Exhibition
The former “Saturday Night Live” cast mem-
ber, Spinal Tap bassist, Simpsons voiceover
star, and son of Jewish immigrants curated
this silent video collection that reveals the
humanity of politicians and newscasters in
the moments before they appear on camera.
These awkward moments lead to consid-
eration of authenticity, of power, and the
nature of media. At the Henry Art Gallery
lobby, 15th Ave. NE and NE 41st St., Seattle.
November 20-25
Vancouver Jewish Book Festival
The Jewish Community Center of
Greater Vancouver brings 40 writers
and hosts from Canada, the United
States, the United Kingdom, and Israel
to share their work over a full week of
programming. Readers include Yann
Martel, Gary Shteyngart, Myla Gold-
berg and more. Purchase tickets at
www.jewishbookfestival.ca. At the JCC
of Greater Vancouver, 950 West 41st Myla Goldberg
Ave., Vancouver, B.C.

WWmartel Page 8
and tragic, “the idea of having an enemy
whom you must fight makes sense,” sug-
gests Martel. However, the dynamics of
the Holocaust — equally as violent as war
— did not make sense to him.
“In war you have an enemy and you go
to war against your enemy,” Martel says.
“The Holocaust seemed to be, you take
your friend and you shoot him.”
The Jews of Europe were fully inte-
grated in society, contributing greatly
to each society in which they lived. So
why were Jews suddenly targeted by
the Nazis for murder? Martel could not
come to terms with this historical fact
compared to the dynamics of war, which
he feels is much more easily understood
by children.
The Holocaust, relates Martel, “stayed
in my memory as a historical oddity.”
Later, Martel studied the Holocaust in
greater depth, first reading historical
works and then literature, watched Hol-
lywood films and European documenta-
ries, and, as an adult, visited Auschwitz
and Yad Vashem. He did all of this
because, he says, the Holocaust “always
startled me and horrified me.” Eventu-
ally, after the success of The Life of Pi,
he decided he wanted to write about the
Holocaust, but in his own way – through
the lens of fiction.
Martel admits that Holocaust survivors
will likely hate his use of metaphor and
allegory, but he maintains the technique
is needed by those who did not experience
the Holocaust themselves.
In writing his work of fiction, Martel
insists the Holocaust needs to be seen
through art as well as history because, in
his view, works of art last longer than works
of history, and there is a timelessness to art
and fiction absent in non-fiction.
When challenged about the relevance
of fiction if readers lack understanding of
the actual events, Martel conceded that
knowledge of history is a prerequisite to
reading such fictional works as Beatrice
and Virgil.
Like Orwell’s Animal Farm being an
allegory of Stalin’s Russia, Martel uses
animals to describe Hitler’s horrors per-
petrated against the Jews. But in a book
on the Holocaust, the reader essentially
knows the tragic conclusion. Art is an
interpretation, but one must first know
the history.
If one wants to know about Russian
history, suggests Martel, one should not
start by reading Orwell’s Animal Farm.
Teach history, then literature.
Arthur Wolak is a freelance writer in
Vancouver. A version of this article first
appeared in the Jerusalem Post.

A Seattle tradition
for over 20 years Join us for Best wishes for
upcoming special events
at Kaspars a Happy Hanukkah!
Thursday, December 2 Holiday Tasting Dinner:
Sparkling Wine and Champagne Cynthia Williams
Friday, December 24 Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner Managing Broker, Realtor n Quorum—Laurelhurst, Inc.
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Be our facebook
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friend @ /jtnews
@jew_ish for jtnews & Mercer Island High School Grad
& jew-ish
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friday, november 19, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews m.o.t.: member of the tribe 17
M.O.T.’s special all-books edition
Diana Brement JTNews Columnist
1
There’s little that’s more
entertaining than talk-
ing to David Volk,
unless it’s reading some-
thing he’s written. Now David
brings his brand of humor to
his new book, The Cheap Bas-
tard’s Guide to Seattle, part
of a travel series from Globe
Pequot Press.
David hopes readers won’t
take offense.
“It can be a good thing to be a cheap bas-
tard,” he says, especially in this economy.
After getting the assignment for the
book about a year ago, David ham-
mered out 60,000 words between January
and March, bal-
ancing writing
with his other job
as professional
dad to two pre-
school-age kids.
This required a
lot of getting up
at 4 a.m., writing
during nap time
and again in eve- Author David Volk
nings, when Mom
took over, until midnight or one o’clock.
Designed for visitors and residents
alike, the book features “a lot of stuff out-
of-towners can’t do,” he says.
Volunteer ushering, for
example, which may allow
you to see plays or SIFF films
for little or nothing. “There’s
no adventure” in buying tick-
ets at the box office.
But meeting a celebrity
while ushering at the Para-
mount?
“You can dine out on that
tribe for days,” he quips.
David continues freelanc-
ing “as fatherhood allows,”
and hopes to publish a humor collection
tentatively titled, “As I Die Laughing…
about funerals, death rites and rituals gone
horribly wrong.”
Cheap Bastard will be released Dec. 7,
but locally it’s already available at Island
Books on Mercer Island. David will read at
Seattle’s University Bookstore on Dec. 6.
Become a fan of the cheap bastard on
Facebook and get more cheap ideas, and
read more of David at www.davidvolk.com.
2
The prolific Michael Druxman,
who was raised in Seattle and stud-
ied drama at the University of
Washington, but fled for Hollywood at the
tender age of 20, is also fun to talk to.
The veteran publicist, screenwriter,
as boxing organizers and fight-fixers. For
others there are lots of stories of hobnob-
bing with and working for Hollywood’s
elite, illustrating how a “kid from Seattle”
can make it with no contacts.
He reminisced fondly about shopping
for Sunday brunch with his dad at the
Jewish delis on Cherry Street.
“Some of them were in garages!”
Courtesy Michael Druxman Michael recalls. “We’d get kippered
A ’70s-era Michael Druxman with Fish, otherwise salmon and chopped liver…great memo-
known as actor Abe Vigoda. ries of that.”
I learned from Michael about our
playwright, director and author has now state’s “Palm Springs” at Soap Lake in
turned his pen to memoir in My Forty- Eastern Washington, where his family,
Five Years in Hollywood…and How I and many other Jewish families, had
Escaped Alive from Bear Manor Media. summer homes.
Enthusiasts of local history will enjoy Michael and his wife escaped Holly-
Michael’s stories of growing up in Seat- wood for Austin a few years ago, where
tle, including stories of his father and
uncle’s (Harry and Nate Druxman) work XXPage 19
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18 thanksgiving JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 19, 2010

At Thanksgiving, a cornucopia of Jewish sides

Linda Morel JTA World News Service
NEW YORK (JTA) — The best thing
about Thanksgiving is that it invites Amer-
icans of all religions and ethnic back-
grounds. On the same autumn Thursday,
most American families eat turkey and a
cornucopia of side dishes.
No country has been more welcoming
to the Jews than the United States. Thanks-
giving is a metaphor for the opportunities
this country offers Jewish people.
While turkey is the centerpiece of the
harvest table, I’ve seen people of vari-
ous ethnic groups put their own spin on
the side dishes they serve. I grew up with
an Italian friend whose mother always
made two lasagnas — for either side of
the turkey. An Indian woman who used
to babysit for my daughter prepared veg-
etable curry every year. The family of
a Cuban friend offered up black beans
and rice.
Recently I started thinking, why can’t
foods from the canon of Jewish cuisine
accompany the Thanksgiving turkey?
After all, most traditional Thanksgiving
foods, such as sweet potatoes, string beans
and dried fruit, are parve and were readily
available in many of the countries where
Jews have lived. Surely there must be many
recipes to tap.
The first that came to mind was a basic
sweet potato tzimmes, a wildly popu-
lar dish throughout the Ashkenazi world.
Loaded with carrots and dried fruit sur-
rounded by a sweetened sauce, tzimmes
would be perfect to serve with turkey. I add
a generous amount of ginger to my recipe,
giving this traditional dish a sassy air.
Many recipes from Sephardic countries
start with instructions to sauté onions in
olive oil. Add a vegetable, such as green
beans or Brussels sprouts, before simmer-
ing in tomato sauce for an easy dish that’s
always delicious.
Perusing Jewish cookbooks, I found
a medley of recipes, including cranberry
rice from Iran, a luscious Moroccan cous-
cous stuffing, Indian curries, and stuffed
pumpkin dishes from Bukhara to Iraq.
If your family adores a particular Jewish
delicacy from its country of origin, serve
it this Thanksgiving. There’s no reason
why you can’t celebrate being Jewish and
American at the same time.
I’m always a bit dashed when I hear
people say they take a pass on Thanksgiv-
ing because it’s not a Jewish holiday. With
its inclusiveness, Thanksgiving not only
reflects the principles for which this coun-
try stands, but also Jewish values.
The holiday’s name encourages us to be
thankful for the food on our table and for
living in a land of plenty. I find it poignant
that the concept of plenty has diminished
during our current economic downturn.
The fourth Thursday in November is
all about celebrating the end of the grow-
ing season and getting together with family
and friends to share warm feelings and a
nice meal.
If the November issues of food maga-
zines prove anything, it’s that people are
always searching for exotic side dishes to
adorn the Thanksgiving turkey. Why not
dip into the archives of Jewish cuisine to
dazzle your guests with foods that our
people have been savoring for centuries?
Tangy Tzimmes
(Parve)
1 4” finger-shaped piece of ginger root
4 medium-sized sweet potatoes
6 medium-sized carrots
1 9-oz. can, about 1 cup, pitted prunes
2/3 cup dried apricots
1/4 cup apricot jam
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. allspice
Juice of 1 lemon
Zest of 1 orange, plus the juice
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup white wine
Scrape the peel from the ginger. Dice ginger and
then chop it fine. Peel the sweet potatoes and
carrots. Cut them into 1-inch chunks. Place all
ingredients in a large pot. Cover and simmer on a
medium-low flame for 45 minutes, or until pota-
toes and carrots soften. Serve immediately or cool
to room temperature and refrigerate in a covered
container. Recipe can be made up to 3 days in
advance. Reheat on a low flame before serving.
Yield: 8-10 servings.
Sephardic String Beans in Tomato Sauce
(Parve)
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 medium-sized onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound string beans, rinsed in cold water, tips
and ends snipped
Kosher salt to taste
1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
In a large pot, heat olive oil on a medium flame.
Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until softened
but not burned, about 2 minutes. Add the string
beans to the pot. Sprinkle with salt and stir.
Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring. Pour the tomato

Hanukkah happy *
* I *
* I I*
I I

{
* *
I I

{
* *

{
I I

{ We at QFC would like to wish

you a Happy Hanukkah. In
addition to our regular Kosher
MEAT

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$ 49
ea.
Kosher Products visit
Manischewitz Pancake Mix
Osem Mini Mandel
Streit's Matzo Leeks University Village QFC
Streit's Pancake Mix
2746 NE 45th
Streit's Deluxe Seattle, WA 98105
Manischewitz
Noodles
$ 99
Selected Varieties 12 oz. 1 $ 99
2
Chanukah
Candles $ 49
Selected Varieties 44 ct. 2 1
$ 79
lb. Phone 206-523-5160
All Prices Good With Advantage Card, November 26, 2010 - December 9, 2010
friday, november 19, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews thanksgiving 19

sauce into the pot and stir to coat string beans 1/8 tsp. ground turmeric
evenly. Cover pot and simmer on a medium low 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
flame, until string beans are softened but not 1-1/2 tsp. ground curry
wilted, about 3-5 minutes. Serve immediately. 1-1/2 tsp. ground cumin
Yield: 6 servings. Dash of cayenne pepper, or more if you like hot food
1-1/2 cups frozen peas, defrosted
Indian Curried Cauliflower, 3 Tbs. fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
Potatoes and Peas Heat oil in a large pot on a medium flame. Sauté
(Parve) onions and garlic until transparent, about 2
minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes and sim-
2 Tbs. vegetable oil mer until they soften and give off a little sauce.
2 medium-sized onions, diced Add the cauliflower and potatoes, stirring.
6 garlic cloves, minced Place the tomato paste, kosher salt and spices into
3 tomatoes, chopped 1 cup of water. Stir to blend. Pour this mixture
1 cauliflower, broken into florets into the pot and stir. Cover the pot and simmer,
1-1/2 pounds baby white potatoes, cut in half or stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes, or until the
thirds, depending on size cauliflower and potatoes soften. Remove from
2 Tbs. tomato paste heat and cool to warm before adding the peas.
Kosher salt to taste Gently stir to blend. Heat on a low flame and
serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for
24 hours before reheating on a low flame. While
piping hot, sprinkle cilantro on top.
Yield: Serves 6.
Moroccan-Style Couscous (Parve)
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 2” finger-shaped piece of ginger root
1-1/2 tsp. margarine (preferably non-hydrogenated)
or butter to sauté, plus 1 Tbs. cut into quarters
1/8 tsp. turmeric
Dash of white pepper
Kosher salt to taste
1 cup uncooked plain couscous
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 Tbs. chopped cilantro, optional garnish
Spread almonds on a baking sheet and roast in a
350º oven for 2 minutes, or until almonds turn
golden brown. This can be done in a toaster
oven. Watch almonds carefully, as they burn
easily. Remove from oven and reserve.
Peel ginger. Dice, then chop it fine. In a medium-
sized saucepan, melt 1-1/2 teaspoons marga-
rine or butter on a medium flame. Add ginger
and sauté until tender, about 1 minute. Add tur-
meric, white pepper and salt. Quickly stir, then
pour in 2 cups of water. Cover saucepan and
bring this mixture to a boil.
Pour couscous into boiling water and quickly stir to
combine. Cover the pot and remove it from the
flame. Let stand 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with
a fork. Add the remaining tablespoon of marga-
rine or butter and dried cranberries. Stir to com-
bine. Cover the pot for 1 minute. Place couscous
in a serving bowl. Sprinkle almonds on top, and
cilantro, if using. Serve immediately.
Yield: Serves 6.

WWm.o.t. Page 17
Michael continues to write, to consult on
film scripts and mentor young writers.
(His advice: “Don’t write for nothing.”)
His new book of short stories, Dracula
Meets Jack the Ripper and Other Revisionist
History, is currently seeking a publisher.
generation of the demand item, but Carole rejected the idea. teach privately in Seattle. She has a short
deaf and CODA Reconsidering later, she contacted the story coming out in the journal Common
community with publisher to find that they had changed Knowledge next spring, designed to com-
its stories of their mind and were reissuing the book. plement essays on finance by Margaret
Ruthie, a hearing Only out for about a month, Carole has Atwood in the same issue. When she’s
child growing up already seen renewed attention. not writing, Carole enjoys ballet classes
with deaf-mute “When the book [first] came out, the and travel.
parents in upper deaf community wasn’t as organized,” “I love travel,” she says. “Every time I
Manhattan in the she says. get some money together, I travel.”

3
Carole Glickfeld is enjoying the
re-release of her 1989 collection of
connected short stories, Useful Gifts,
from the University of Georgia Press.
Carole, who is a CODA (child of deaf
adults), hopes the book will interest a new
1940s.
The book’s re- Carole Glickfeld
release evolved
over a couple of years, says Carole. The
University of Georgia first approached
her about making the book a print-on-
Now there are many online groups,
and groups of CODAs, too, who will be
interested in these stories, which are “not
autobiographical, but the neighborhood is
true and my parents were deaf.”
Carole continues to write and to
In the spring she’ll accompany some
deaf friends on a cruise from Shanghai to
Beijing.
You can find Carole at a book party at
5:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Arundel Books, First
and Madison in downtown Seattle.

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 professional directory
care Givers
HomeCare Associates
A program of Jewish Family Service
☎☎ 206-861-3193
 www.homecareassoc.org
Provides personal care, assistance with
daily activities, medication reminders,
light housekeeping, meal preparation and
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Hyatt Home Care Services
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 www.hyatthomecare.com
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Seniors Helping Seniors
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own home: transportation, errands and
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catering
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• Brit Milah • Special Occasions.
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Serving the community for over 25 years.
Full service catering and event planning
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miriam and Pip meyerson
Dr. Mindy Blaski MD retirement announcement
Following 30 years of practicing family medicine in the greater Seattle area, Mindy Blaski MD,
announces her retirement at the end of November from Lakeview Family Medicine.
The Polyclinic, with offices in the same building as Lakeview Family Medicine, will be acquiring
patient records. They can be reached at 206-525-4000.
(tweet) JEW-ISH.COM
Seriously. Follow along: @jewishdotcom.
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to jewish washington 2010
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Dennis B. Goldstein & Assoc., CPAs, PS Roy A. Hamrick, CFA Chuck Rubin, agent
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graduate school college selection, Certified Specialist in Prosthodontics: 50 116th Ave SE #201, Bellevue 98004
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place your service photographers
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counselors/therapists Martin A. Rabin, D.M.D., P.S. Dani Weiss Photography
see your service
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Jewish Family Service ☎☎ Seattle: 206-623-4031  www.daniweissphotography.com
Individual, couple, child and family therapy  www.rabinimplantperio.com Photographer Specializing in People.
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Expertise with life transitions, relationships Oral Conscious Sedation Digital or film
and personal challenges. Jewish knowledge Congregation Beth Shalom Cemetery
and sensitivity. Offices in Seattle and Michael Spektor, D.D.S. ☎☎ 206-524-0075 physician
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☎☎ 425-451-1655 Bellevue Hills of Eternity Cemetery 108 5th Avevue S, Suite C-1
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Specializing in couples and individuals. Wendy Shultz Spektor, D.D.S. ☎☎ 206-323-8486 Serving the Central District.
Facilitating better communication, more ☎☎ 425-454-1322 Serving the greater Seattle Jewish com- Vision improvement and rehabilitation.
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early eve hours available. Emphasis: Cosmetic and Preventive rates • Planning assistance.
1621 114th Ave. SE, #224, Bellevue 98004 Dentistry • Convenient location in Bellevue Queen Anne, Seattle Jewish Family Service
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Graphic Design  www.jfsseattle.org
Comprehensive geriatric care manage-
Spear Studios, Graphic Design ment and support services for seniors
Sandra Spear and their families. Expertise with in-home
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• Newsletters • Brochures • Logos ment. Jewish knowledge and sensitivity.
Mindy L. Blaski MD • Letterheads • Custom invitations
• Photo Editing for Genealogy Projects The Summit at First Hill
Lakeview Family Medicine
3216 NE 45th Pl, Ste 106, Seattle, WA 98105
☎☎ 206-652-4444
insurance  www.klinegallandcenter.org
Tel: 206-526-0210 The only Jewish retirement community in
Abolofia Insurance Agency the state of Washington offers transition
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 the
november 19, 2010
shouk @jtnews
help wanted help wanted home services training & instruction

temple b’nai torah early Childhood Center Coordinator get ready for the
temple b’nai torah seeks a dynamic candidate to develop overall program content, implement and
evaluate existing and prospective programs. Activities, programs and events will assist the overall mission holidayS!
of Temple B’nai Torah and the future of the SECC program, including perpetuating and strengthening Jewish handyman & home maintenance
identity, values, and family life. repair Services
Qualifications: Reliable, affordable,
• Understanding of child development, cognitive, social and emotional needs of children and their families.
• Ability to take initiative in developing programs related to the interests and needs of members and while maintaining with over 30 years in business
the overall mission of the program.
• Demonstrated knowledge and interest of Jewish life and learning.
Small jobs welcome as well as remodels, Horseback riding
• Proven experience with budgeting, purchasing, record-keeping and marketing. additions, handicap accessibility and Classical Training
• Proficient with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) seismic retrofits Rider, Horse & Pony
• Ability to set limits, creativity, flexibility, ability to handle complaints and emergencies.
Licensed • Bonded • Insured Ages 8 to 80 • Beginners welcome
The position is one of program management and planning including coordination of services and community needs as- Experienced trainer • Gift certificates available
sessment. Candidate will have a strong academic/vocational background in educational work with children and families, lba haugen homeS, inC. Colony Park Stables, Bothell, WA
successful track record of program management, awareness of current trends in the field, experience in fundraising and LBAHAH1945pw
grant reporting, strong interpersonal and community organizational skills. Rita Kapetansky • 425-232-7565
the Coordinator of early Childhood Center would be part of the Temple B’nai Torah professional team, expected 425-603-1492 ritakap@comcast.net
to attend staff meetings and events and, like all members of staff, be available to represent TBT at community events.
duration: Part-time - Exempt • Salary range: Based on Experience
preferred experience: 3–5 Years Experience tutoring
preferred degree: Masters Degree in Early Childhood, Masters Degree in Jewish Education or
equivalent experience required
Hebrew instruction
please send resume to jobs@templebnaitorah.org Beginners to advanced
Commercial & Residential Bar/B’nai Mitzvahs
college placement toRChdown/shingle speCialties Children & adults welcome
direCtor of development new • re-roofs Israeli instructor fluent in Hebrew
leaks • repairs 24 hours
temple beth am seeks FT Director of a college eDUcatIon lic. #roofM**961pD 206-232-2193 or
425-443-0766
Development to create and implement a Is a maJor 206-510-0490 esterne12@yahoo.com
comprehensive multi-year fundraising InVestment www.roofMex.coM
strategy. Previous non-profit develop- Sensitive professional senior services
ment experience and extensive knowl- assistance to ensure announcements
a succesful match
edge of Jewish traditions, history and between student AFH Options
observance required. and school Seeking writerS provides FREE Placement Assistance in
poems (3 max) and/or essays and adult family homes when the current residence
Salary DOE. Generous medical benefits linda Jacobs & associates of a loved one is no longer the safest option.
and flexible hours. Application deadline college Placement services fiction (under 5,000 words) on • Complimentary nursing assessments
December 17. Northwest and Jewish themes from
206/323-8902 established and emerging writers for
• Placements based on care needs, location & cost
• Comprehensive screening of care facilities
Résumé and cover letter to linjacobs@aol.com Spring 2011 issue of Drash. Include • Personalized tours available 7 days a week
esther@templebetham.org separate page with contact info and • Follow up calls and visits
funeral/burial services short bio. Serving families of King and Snohomish counties
Call us: 206-786-9124
entertainment deadline: december 15, 2010 Or visit us at: www.AFHoptions.com
complete funeral/burial services
Submit by snailmail only to:
Serving the needs of the greater Seattle community
Wendy Marcus, Music Director
Planning assistance • Affordable $2295.00 cleaning services
Temple Beth Am
miChael Howden-Kennedy funeral Home
2632 NE 80th St., Seattle 98115
bilavSky Dennis 206-799-3334 • Jack Barokas 206-725-0364
206-525-0915 Gift
musician & Singer Certificate
www.templebetham.org
One man band cemetery gan shalom Available!
Keyboard piano A Jewish cemetery that meets the needs of
the greater Seattle Jewish community.
Zero interest payments available.
plays & sings all types of music WE NEED CARS!
for any simcha For information, call temple Beth am at
206-525-0915. • Free Pick-up • No DOL filing a housecleaning service
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs • All your special events
• No smog certif. • Running or not Seattle Eastside
I do it all! From klezmer, Hassidic, Israeli to TeMple BeTH or CeMeTery 206/325-8902 425/454-1512
swing & rock & roll. Donate your used car to Chabad & www.renta-yenta.com
Beautiful location near Snohomish.
Customize the music to your taste. receive a tremendous tax write-off. • Licensed • Bonded • insured
Serving the burial needs of Reform Jews and
for more info, call their families. For information, please call • Any vehicle okay
206-528-4722 (425) 259-7125. • Plus RVs, boats, real estate, lots, etc. domestic angels
or michael_bilavsky@yahoo.com Clean your house and office
Traditional Jewish funeral services provided by the 206-527-1411

www
Reasonable rates • Licensed/Bonded
Seattle Jewish Chapel. For further information, please
call 206-725-3067. Responsible • References • Free estimate
next issue: november 12 Seattle/Eastside
ad deadline: november 3 Burial plots are available for purchase at Bikur Cholim Call Yolimar Perez or Maria Absalon
and Machzikay Hadath cemeteries. For further 206-356-2245 or 206-391-9792
call becky: 206-774-2238 information, please call 206-721-0970. ylmrprz@aol.com
www.jtnews.net
22 community calendar JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 19, 2010
cal
Candle Lighting Times
11/19/10............................4:11 p.m.
Irit Eliav at iriteliav@bethshalomseattle.org
Avital at vaadinfo@seattlevaad.org
11/26/10........................... 4:05 p.m.
12/3/10............................ 4:01 p.m.
Diana Black at sbholim@qwestoffice.net or
12/10/10.................................4 p.m.
Saturday 20 November
12 p.m. – Tots Thanksgiving Story Time
Carol Benedick at
Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg at
Gabrielle Azose at gazose@seattlejcs.org
rabbikinberg@templebnaitorah.org
Get ready for Thanksgiving the Jewish way. Learn
Jack DeLeon at jackdelman@hotmail.com
about Hoda’ah, gratitude while enjoying stories,
songs and snacks. The afternoon will end with a
Havdallah service. Free. At Temple B’nai Torah,
15727 NE 4th Ave., Bellevue.
WWelectronic gifts Page 2
with a thirst for Jewish factoids that tran-
scend denomination, level of observance
or political leaning would do: He created
an app. The Amazing Jewish Fact-a-Day
Calendar teaches you stuff that you should
have learned in Hebrew school but weren’t
paying attention, has quotes from historical
notables, and even keeps Shabbat.
Seinfeld says he wanted this to be accessible
for anyone with the desire to learn something
new and Jewish. So each day up pops a factoid,
a nugget of wisdom, a lesson in spirituality,
and plenty more. Not bad for only a buck!
99¢ at the iTunes store.
6:30–8:30 p.m. – Pajama Havdallah Under
the Sea
5–9 p.m. – Dinner Honoring Hazzan Rabbi
or 206-524-0075 or www.bethshalomseattle.org
Come in pajamas for a special Havdallah service,
Rabbi Jenkins, kashrut consultant to the Va’ad
followed by a dive into the world of marine life.
Arts and crafts, story time, snacks, and more.
Please RSVP. Free. At Congregation Beth Shalom,
6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle.
Sunday 21 November
School Open House
9 a.m.–12 p.m. – Hanukkah Kids’ Carnival
and Family Breakfast
The Puget Sound Blood Center will park their Blood
or 206-251-0210
Scrumptious breakfast featuring bumuelos, face
painting, juggling, cookie decorating, bouncy house
and more. Featuring Michael Bilavsky, the one-man
WWhanukkah books Page 15
Maccabee! The Story of Hanukkah
Tilda Balsley; illustrated by David
Harrington
Kar Ben, $17.95 hardcover, $7.95 paper-
back; ages 4-8
Here is an animated rhyming version
of the Hanukkah story of King Antiochus,
the Maccabees and religious freedom.
Young kids will enjoy the repeated refrain,
“Sometimes it only takes a few,/ Who
know what’s right, and do it, too.”  Kar-
Ben continues its devotion to producing
original, creative Jewish children’s books
with a wide appeal.
band! $20/family or $7/person. At Northwest Yeshiva 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – The Challenges of Certifying
High School. 5017 90th Ave. SE, Mercer Island. Kosher Restaurants in Seattle
Frank Varon or 206-760-0805 or seattlevaad.org
206-723-3028 HaRabanim of Greater Seattle, will teach a class
Sephardic Bikur Holim hosts this testimonial dinner on the challenges of certifying a kosher vegetarian
honoring Hazzan Rabbi Frank Varon. At Seattle restaurant, then keeping it certified. At the Seattle
Sheraton Hotel, 1400 6th Ave., Seattle. Kollel, 5305 52nd Ave. S, Seattle.
10 a.m.–3 p.m. – North End Blood Drive 2–3:30 p.m. – Seattle Jewish Community
carolbenedick@bethshalomseattle.org or
206-524-0075 or www.bethshalomseattle.org or 206-522-5212, ext. 202 or www.sjcs.net
Meet SJCS faculty and learn about their
Mobile across from Beth Shalom. To make an K-5 program of general and Judaic studies,
appointment, e-mail CBSblooddrive@gmail.com. admission, and tuition assistance. Free childcare
Volunteers needed. At Congregation Beth Shalom, available, but RSVP required. At SJCS, 12351 8th
6800 35th Ave. NE, Seattle. Ave. NE, Seattle.
Hanukkah Puzzles
Based on the book “Hanukkah Haiku”
by Karla Gudeon
Blue Apple Books, $15.99; ages 4-8
A two-sided, 36-piece puzzle featur-
ing two of the colorful, festive illustrations
by Karla Gudeon from her book Hanuk-
kah Haiku, a National Jewish Book Award
finalist. A menorah is featured on one side,
and the other is a family celebration of
dancing around the menorah. The puzzle
comes in its own carrying case box shaped
like the star of David and can be paired
with the book.
friday, november 19, 2010 . www.jtnews.net . JTNews books, music & gifts 23

Three thumbs up: Grover does Jerusalem

E. Kinney Zalesne Washington Jewish Week
A few years ago, my family stum-
bled onto the 1990 six-volume DVD-set
“Shalom Sesame,” a kitschy but completely
adorable romp through Israeli and Jewish
culture led by Oscar the Grouch’s Israeli
cousin, Moishe Ufnick; Kippi ben Kippod,
a large pink hedgehog, the Israeli counter-
part to Big Bird; young Israeli actors; and
a host of American Jewish celebrities that
included Mandy Patinkin, David Brenner
and a very young Sarah Jessica Parker.
On “Rehov Sumsum,” just as on the
original “Sesame Street,” people and pup-
pets convened in the neighborhood square,
celebrated letters and numbers, and
embraced the universal mitzvah of respect-
ing our fellow beings — no matter whether
they had splotchy skin, fuzzy fingers, purple
noses, or a crazy love of cookies.
Now, timed for Hanukkah 2010,
Sesame Workshop is releasing a new
12-volume “Shalom Sesame” — still
teaching the holidays, still making them
“brought to you by” the letter chet and the
number shmoneh — but this time updated
to reflect the 20 years of demographic and
cultural change that has taken place in
Israel and North America.
This time, the Israeli actors include
Russian and African immigrants; the pup-
pets include an Arab-Israeli character
named Mahboub; the American celeb-
rities are a little less Borscht Belt and a
little more Christina Applegate and Jake
Gyllenhaal, both of whom have a Jewish
parent and loosely affiliate with the Jewish
community, but hardly have the defining
ethnic identity of a Patinkin or a Brenner.
And, of course, in the 2010 version, the
pop culture references are updated: In
the Hanukkah episode, we get “Extreme
Makeover–The Temple Version.”
Overall, “Shalom Sesame 2010” embod-
ies the Jewish adaptation narrative —
infusing the richness of our old traditions
(the Hanukkah story, Ernie and Bert) with
the dynamism and variety of modern life.
My kids, ages 8, 5 and 3, gave the new
“Shalom Sesame” three thumbs up. Our
8-year-old said of Volume 1 (called “Wel-
come to Israel”), “This was a good intro-
duction to Israel.”
Our 5-year-old said,
“It’s a nice way to meet
a new country.” Our
3-year-old declared,
after back-to-back
viewings of the first
two 22-minute DVDs,
“This was kinda long.”
But all three have
returned to the videos
again and again, and
while they watch, there
is very little blinking
going on.
My own favorite
moment in “Shalom Sesame 2010” comes
in Volume 2, “Hanukkah: The Missing
Menorah,” when Baby Bear, the furry little whatever land — exactly as I was mesmer-
Sesame Street character whose speech ized by it some 40 years ago.
impediment makes him pronounce Rs L’dor v’dor, generation to generation,
like Ws, is teaching his buddy Telly Mon- and across the world — Jim Henson was
ster about Hanukkah. It’s “Hanukkah,” he onto something really good.
insists, demanding that his friend perfect
the guttural chet. “Now let’s play dweidel!” E. Kinney Zalesne is a consultant, an author, a
It is quite amazing to watch my kids Washington, D.C. mom and a lifelong fan of
so mesmerized by “Sesame Street” — in “Sesame Street.”

fect
The per ift! 2-for-1
ah g
Hanukk “ Happy Chanukah”
Cards
Mezzuzah
Al Benoliel When you let JFS “Tribute Cards”

Artist do the talking, you send your best

wishes and say you care about
funding vital JFS programs here at
home. Call Irene at (206) 861-3150
or, on the web, click on “Donations”
at www.jfsseattle.org. Use Visa or
MasterCard. It’s the most gratifying
2-for-1 in town.

Think for a moment of some of the food items you and your family
can’t do without around the holidays. Now consider how you can
brighten someone else’s holiday by simply donating to Food Lifeline albenoliel@comcast.net
to help provide some of these items for families in need. www.albenoliel.com

DONATE FOOD
Use our Virtual Food Drive online or bring food to our warehouse DISCOVER
DONATE FUNDS
Donate online or mail-in your contribution c/o JTNews.

VOLUNTEER
We can accommodate groups of up to 50 people
Three
A yearsmiddle
powerful
owerful of vigorous education
sschool experience
moves
meansstudents
the worldahead forchild.
life.
www.foodlifeline.org/give to your
your

206-545-6600 • Culture of collaboration & respect

1702 NE 150th Street., Shoreline, WA 98155 • Average class size of 15 students
• Located at Green Lake in Seattle

Be our facebook
Visit us at an Open House, 7 p.m., Nov. 9 or Dec. 8.
friend @ /jtnews follow us
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& jew-ish @jew_ish for jtnews &
jewishdotcom for jew-ish.com Billings admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin.
24 JTNews . www.jtnews.net . friday, november 19, 2010
Our Family Matters,
Now More Than Ever.
While families count their blessings
as we light candles for eight nights
during Chanukah, Jewish Family
Service is counting more and more
community members who are in dire
need of immediate help.
We have designated december as
JFs Mitzvah Month. We urge you
to fulfill the mitzvah of tzedakah by
making a genuine difference in the
lives of community members who are
turning to us as never before. These
are people we all know: family, friends
and neighbors here at home.
Please consider one or all of the
following during JFS Mitzvah Month.
After all, at a time like this, Family
matters…always has, always will.
GivE HuNGEr
A HOlidAy
47% of JFS Polack Food
Bank clients must choose
between paying for food and
paying for utilities — the “Heat
or Eat” dilemma. Your Give
Hunger A Holiday donations,
now through December 31st, will
purchase grocery store gift cards
to ease the burden on clients facing
the cold winter months ahead.
TribuTEs TO HONOr
lOvEd ONEs
Send a JFS Tribute or two this
Chanukah that supports JFS
Emergency Services. (Over 400
people locally achieved housing
stability or avoided eviction last year
with financial assistance from JFS.)
yEAr-ENd GiviNG TO THE
Honor your children, grandchildren,
Family matters Campaign
parents, anyone you care about.
Your contribution helps transform the
lives of those challenged by poverty,
disability, aging, domestic violence,
addiction & recovery, failing health,
resettlement and so much more. If you
haven’t already made your annual gift
to JFS, please do so today. Contribu-
tions are tax-deductible.
To make your JFs Mitzvah
Month donations, please call
irene at (206) 861-3150 or go to
www jfsseattle.org and click
spONsOr THE JFs on “donations.”
Food Bank FOr A dAy
Your donation of $1,250 underwrites We know you are making choices,
the cost of operations and food, and we thank you for choosing JFs.
allowing us to more fully serve the
over 1,500 clients who shop the JFS
Polack Food Bank each month. Both
you and your loved ones receive
special recognition. It’s the perfect gift
for your special someone who has
almost everything.
(206) 461-3240 • www.jfsseattle.org
A commitment to community since 1892.