Hanukkah 2007

Bad Toys
By Annette van de kamp-Wright

(This column was previously published in The Jewish Press, November 2007)

 With Hanukkah just around the corner, it’s time for the December Dilemma.  I am not referring to any real or imaginary issues we have with the Christmas season; I am talking about the question of what appropriate Hanukkah presents look like. I know people who manage to make it through eight days with the help of Gelt and candles, and maybe a donut and a latke or two, and I admire them.  They avoid greedy behavior, spending too much money, and wasting hours wrapping every gift just so.  This is not the case at our house.

 

            Of course, my husband and I have set the precedent years ago, and now we are stuck: Hanukkah is here and presents are expected.  I think that’s okay; besides, I like buying and wrapping presents for my children.  Now that my daughter is in first grade, she plans ahead: as soon as the first toy catalog hits the mailbox, she buries her nose in it and sighs wistfully every five minutes or so.  I told her to make a list with things she would like; if she is expecting ridiculous things like ponies or a new house, I’d like to know about it.  We set rules: for each toy she has to write down a book; and my husband and I agree that only one Barbie is allowed. What’s more, nothing can be over fifteen dollars. That way we avoid unacceptable items like the “Barbie hot tub party bus” and the “Barbie gymnastic Divas playset”.  I am not making this up.

            When she presents me with her “Hnakah”-list, I am pleasantly surprised; there is not a single item over $15.   She wants a crown, a fake flower, and a new dress. As an extra reminder, she has drawn a picture of a present in the corner of the paper.  As far as books go, she casts her net a little wider: instead of specifics, she has written down categories, such as art-books, and ‘funny books’. This begs the question of what books are ‘funny’ to six year olds.  I’ve already bought her a ‘Shakespeare for Children’ book; would she consider that funny?  I doubt it.  All in all, this is not such a bad list.  Judging from the toy catalog, things could be much more grave.

            For instance, there is a dinosaur doll, that develops its own personality based on how much time you spend with it.  In other words, time you don’t spend reading, or being outside, or cleaning your room.  The cost is a mere $349.99.  I wonder, if you leave it lying around too much, does it develop a personality disorder? Does it become socio-pathic if you don’t cuddle it?  That’s a pretty big risk to take for a couple of hundred dollars. The toy that truly puzzles me is a doll by the name of ‘baby alive wets ‘n wiggles’.  Yes, it is exactly what you think it is.  Who comes up with that?  And who wants a doll in the house that pees and doesn’t lie still; didn’t we suffer enough when our own, very real, babies went through that phase?  Hm, maybe I can buy this for her when she turns 16, as a warning?

This year, there are some new toys inspired by the movie “Transformers”.  My husband liked the movie; I didn’t see it and plan to keep it that way.  “But it has Shia LaBeouf in it!” he’ll say, as if a Jewish actor in the lead role automatically makes a movie acceptable.  Even he has to admit, though, that the accompanying toys are questionable at best.  Take for example the ‘Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet’, or the ‘Optimus Prime Battle Rig Blaster’.  Who even knows what these things are?  The little boys that wish for them are probably also enchanted by the idea of owning the ‘Ben 10 Deluxe Ominitrix’, which is a kind of oversized wristwatch that apparently helps defeat evil.  Well, no ten year old can live without one of those, I guess. 

            I have to ask myself, am I going to be one of those parents that absolutely don’t understand what their children want?  Do I make fun of, and use sarcasm when confronted with the toy aisle, merely to mask the fact that I’m experiencing a disconnect?  Maybe.  When I am confronted with the picture of a tent shaped like a café, I enquire whether it comes with a real coffee maker. Now that would be handy.  My daughter doesn’t think I am funny and rolls her eyes; she’s probably worried sick about what I’m buying for her.

            Of course, the real question remains to be answered: what is Hanukkah really about?  Because we all know that it isn’t about presents, and it isn’t about how crisp the Latkes are, or whether that new dress matches your expectations.  I do believe that, although Hanukkah is one of the minor holidays, it can fulfill a major role in our Jewish life, if we let it.  It is about spending time with friends and family, and about togetherness; about forming strong bonds through traditions and beliefs. About believing that miracles continue to happen, every day. It is, in short, a holiday that reminds us that Judaism brings light to dispel the darkness that so often surrounds us.  And dispelling darkness is better for our children than any toys I can think of.  

Hanukkah 2006

Friedel Creates Latkemania

 

On December 20^th, it was once again time for staff and students at Friedel Jewish Academy to get their hands dirty.  The annual latke fry-and-sale was a big success. Parents and teachers started setting things up early in the morning, and at 9 am it was time for the students to jump in and help out. Spread out over several tables, The Kindergartners peeled, and the older students diced and sliced, while the adults made batter and controlled the fryers. The first band-aid was handed out at 9:05 am. This questionable honor went to Kindergartner Lily Goldberg, and she wasn’t the only one. It didn’t dampen anybody’s enthusiasm.

Many visitors came to either help out and fry latkes, or just to enjoy lunch and each other’s company. One of the visitors was Rabbi Yonathan Gross, who said that “it is wonderful to be here helping out, since together we are raising funds for the most important Jewish organization in Nebraska.”  Rabbi Gross is an experienced potato peeler, as he proved last year. This year he found himself packaging applesauce, accompanied by some members of the PTO.  When asked whether he had any experience in the food industry that would qualify him for such an important task, he mentioned that he had once worked as an industrial chef at a summer camp in the Catskills.  “ If you ever need me to cook for 700 people, I’m there”, he said.

Also helping out was Rabbi Seth Nadel, who went from table to table to chat with the students individually. “It is great to be here at the school”, Rabbi Nadel said, “Friedel and the Jewish Community in general have been very welcoming to my wife Na’ama and me. “ Rabbi Nadel has some culinary talents of his own, and told us that, had he not chosen to be a Rabbi, he could have been the next “Pickle King of New Jersey”, since his father is in the pickle industry.  Lucky for us, Rabbi Nadel was at Friedel cutting potatoes instead.

The success of Latke-day depends heavily on parents’ involvement.  Many fathers and mothers come and spend part of their day working with their children, and this shows the students exactly what working together can accomplish. One such parent is Sarah Teetzel, whose son Nathaniel and daughter Naomi both attend Friedel. “Any community involvement is good for the children”, Sarah said, “because it teaches them to focus on the needs of others, rather than themselves.  Helping out their school is also a great practice for them. It sets the standard by which they will hopefully live when they are adults.” Sarah also mentioned that this is a day for parents to get more involved, not only with the school, but with each other. “New relationships within the community are formed, and old ones are strengthened.” 

Students decorated the boxes that were used for take-out. Gabby Witkowski, who is a kindergartner, helped her mother Susan pack up the orders, and looked very proud of her contribution while making some nice memories with her mom.

Another enthusiastic parent is Dr. Michael Cohen. His face lights up when asked how he feels about Friedel. His daughter Lillian started Kindergarten in the Fall, and her progress, according to her father has “exceeded expectations. She has grown and blossomed so much, and we feel very blessed to be part of the Friedel Community”.

Everyone who helped out also learned that, in order to get something done, you sometimes have to get a little smelly.  Hopefully we’ll get the perfume-du-Latke out of our hair and clothes before 2007.  

Hanukkah 2007

What Do You Put on Your Latke?

By Annette van de Kamp-Wright

 

 

 

On December 6, 2007, it was time for Friedel Jewish Academy’s annual Hanukkah Play.  Visitors, who came out en masse in spite of the less than perfect weather, were treated to

“The Chefs and Saba’s Special Box”.  Hebrew and Judaic Studies teachers Na’ama Artzi and Eadie Tsabari wrote the play, and they should get a medal for getting all students involved.  Children from K through 6^th grade delivered their lines in Hebrew, while those in the audience that aren’t quite as fluent received an explanation in English.  The different acts centered on famous Jewish chefs, schoolchildren being visited by grandparents with a suitcase full of dreidels, and, of course, those nasty Greeks had to make an appearance.  The play also included a special visitor:  First grade teacher Angie Mass drew the short straw and was hoisted into a Curious George suit, which looked like very hard work: imagine a few miles of faux fur under the glare of the stage lights, and you can imagine that Angie’s dedication to the school was proven beyond a doubt.

            From the first Act until the very end, Latkes were the focus of everyone’s attention.  The great Latke debate occurs year after year, and the question of what the best topping is never gets a satisfactory answer. What do you put on them, the student-actors asked, Ketchup, or chocolate? Even the audience was asked to interact and many offered their favorite toppings, ranging from the classic applesauce or sour cream, to sugar and jelly.  The one thing everybody did agree on was the amazing talent displayed by the Friedel students; they can sing, they can dance, and they can act.  Audience member Rabbi Yonathan Gross enjoyed the show: “Friedel is the most important Jewish institution in the State of Nebraska”, he said. “Without a Jewish Day School, the community has no future”.

            The Latke dilemma sort of stayed with me all evening, and the next day, while visiting Friedel for the world famous Latke Day, I decided to ask a few more people about their preferences.  ‘Latke Day’ is Friedel’s annual chance to open its doors to the community; students, teachers and parents, community volunteers and, last but not least, board members, get together to cook and eat. Every year, the ingredients for the Friedel Latkes are donated by Bag ‘n Save.  Due to the school’s impressive growth, the actual cooking this year was done in the Blumkin kitchen, after which the Latkes were schlepped back to the school’s Commons.  Thanks to staff and parents things went smoothly, and many mouths were fed.  One of Friedel’s parents, Sarah Wiseman (an applesauce advocate) volunteered all day long. “To me, Latkes represent a lot of hard work”, she said, “but it also means bringing the whole family together.” Sarah has a daughter, Destiny, who attends Kindergarten at Friedel.  Also in Kindergarten is Zoë Berman, whose mother, Beth Cohen, helped out by frying Latkes.  Beth likes hers with apple sauce and sour cream: “It’s just one of those Jewish things that brings the family together”, she says, “and I love coming to the school.  It’s so fascinating to see how fast and how much Hebrew Zoë is learning.”

            Even Rabbi’s have their preferences when it comes to what to put on the Latke. Rabbi Gross’ vote goes to applesauce: “Choosing applesauce signifies that you are sturdy on the outside, like the apple, but also that you can be pressed down into something more soft, like applesauce.  At the same time, apples come in many different hues, but once pressed, you can’t tell the difference anymore. It’s what’s on the inside that counts.”  Rabbi Gross finished his argument by saying that “Apples have seeds, so they represent growth.”  This is true; one cannot grow a tree out of sour cream. 

            So far, applesauce seemed to be the favorite for most; I had to ask a few more people before I received any original answers.  However, when I spoke with Kim Goldberg, I hit the jackpot.  She likes hers with Grape Jelly. Kim is the mother of Lily Goldberg, who is a Friedel First Grader.  Teacher Na’ama Artzi likes her with Israeli salad, which my family immediately tried at home, and we can vouch for it.  Nancy Kutler is a PTO member and mother of Sarah, who reprised her role as Antiochus in the Hanukkah play.  Nancy has never tried anything ‘weird’ on her latkes.  Bev Fellman came to share lunch with her granddaughter Gabby Witkowski, who attends First grade. Bev has a son-in-law who once upon a time used ketchup, or so the legend goes. Gaston Bogomolni, father of Samuel, doesn’t put anything on his Latkes.  However, he does have a tip for the cooks among us: put some eggshell in the pan and the oil won’t soak your latkes.  Larry Novak, father of Sammy (K) and Rebecca (3^rd grade) likes honey on his Latkes, which begs the question: can you put applesauce on your apples for Rosh Hashanah?

            Naturally, it is principal Cookie Katskee who is the most opinionated: “I like my Latkes crisp and thin.  Then I want a smooth layer of sour cream, topped with applesauce.  The strangest thing I have ever heard someone put on their Latkes is mustard.”  According to Cookie, the Latke holds a special place among holiday foods: “When you compare the latke with, for instance, the Hamantaschen, the Latke wins hands down.  The Latke has a personality; take my husband Roy, for example. He eats them for breakfast with strawberry jam, weeks after Hanukkah is over and done with.  Latkes rock.”

            The many people who visited Friedel on Latke Day probably agree; hopefully it is a tradition we all get to enjoy for years to come.  With or without applesauce.