Food Photo Friday - Wimpel Cake

OK, now that you all know what a wimpel is, and much of the background surrounding the minhag, what would a family celebration be without a little CAKE?

After much deliberation as to what kind of special cake to bake (Torah Cake? Aleph Bais Cake?), it struck me (actually it struck Avram) that why not just make a WIMPEL cake?

I attempted to keep the colors and decoration of the fondant wimpel along the same theme as the actual wimpel, though my handiwork is far more rudimentary.

I must say that the cake - chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, topped with chocolate glaze - tasted as good as it looked, which to my mind is mandatory.

The Oldest Wimpel at Khal Adath Jeshurun / Breuer's

My recent post about my grandson's wimpel and explanation of the minhag in general, has generated a lot of interest both on and offline.

I thought that since I've presented the NEWEST wimpel in our shul's collection (hundreds, to be sure), it might be appropriate to show you the OLDEST one as well.

Following is an article that Avram wrote for the KAJ Newsletter approximately one year ago.

Our Oldest Wimpel

This past Shabbos, the oldest wimpel amongst our kehilla's large collection was once again wrapped around the sefer torah.

The wimpel was donated to our Bais Haknesses by its owner Mr. Hermann Loebenberg z"l. Mr. Loebenberg was born in Waechtersbach, Germany on December 24, 1877 / 18 Teves 5638. Waechtersbach, 35 miles northeast of Frankfurt am Main, was a small town with a population of approximately 1,200. The first mention of a Jewish community in Waechtersbach was in 1643. In the late 19th - early 20th century the Jews consisted of approximately 5% of the population. The last shul there was built in 1895 which also contained a mikveh and a school. Mr.Loebenberg was appointed chazan of the shul in 1924 as well as a trustee.

With the rise of antisemitism in the mid 1930's many of the Jews began to move from Waechtersbach. The Loebenbergs sent their two daughters and son to family in Paris and London. Finally, in August 1938, Mr. Loebenberg, being the last Jewish inhabitant of Waechtersbach, sold the shul building for 8,000 RM, which he donated to a nearby Jewish community and to a fund for the upkeep of the Jewish cemetery, and moved with his wife to Frankfurt am Main and then, via London, to New York in 1940 bringing his treasured wimpel with him.

Mr. Loebenberg was a member of our kehilla until his passing in 1969. His two daughters, Mrs. Dora Stern o"h and yb"l Mrs. Ann Baranker, with their husbands and children, also became members of the kehilla. Our beautiful green Shabbos poroches was donated in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Loebenberg by their son and daughters. Approximately five years ago the author was approached by Mr. Loebenberg's granddaughter, Ms. Jane Baranker, with the request that the wimpel be returned to the family as, she assumed, due to its age, that it was no longer usable. After discovering that the wimpel was actually in excellent condition, the family happily agreed to have the wimpel remain in circulation. A concerted effort has been made each year since, to use the wimpel on the Shabbos closest to Mr. Loebenberg's date of birth.

In addition, Mr. Loebenberg also brought to America his son’s wimpel. Leopold Loebenberg was born in 1920 and his wimpel is currently in circulation alongside his father’s.

A Tech Post For The Young At Heart

I love David Pogue.

For the uninitiated, he writes a technology column for the New York Times and this recent piece, entitled The Fading Sounds of Analog Technology, made me smile a bit wistfully, and a bit nostalgically.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and I'm interested in your thoughts on it.

"I’ve always loved the musical “Company,” a Broadway show by Stephen Sondheim that opened in 1970. It was about a 35-year-old Manhattan guy, still unmarried even though all of his best friends are married couples. The set, the tone and the score were all ultrachic, ultramodern, ultraurban. So urban and modern, in fact, that the first thing you hear as the show begins is a busy signal — in its day, the ultimate technological symbol of a fast-paced, full-up lifestyle.

But when I went to see the revival of the show in 2006, the busy signal was gone. Mr. Sondheim later told me that nobody knows what it is anymore.

I had to admit that he was right. When’s the last time you heard one? These days, voice mail (or just sending a text message) has almost completely eliminated the busy signal. Still, that left the opening number of “Company” stripped of the original idea — and a really clever one — that had inspired it!

Then there’s the record-scratch sound, still used frequently in ads and comic scenes to indicate someone’s train of thought going off the rails. Isn’t it weird that we still use that sound? For the most part, the last 20 years’ worth of viewers and listeners have never even heard that sound in real life! (In a 2008 NPR segment, the host asked some teenagers if they could identify the sound. They couldn’t. “I have no idea…. I know I saw it on TV.”)

And then there’s the rewind/fast-forward gibberish sounds — of TAPE. What will they do in the movies, now that random-access digital video formats deprive producers of that audience-cuing sound?

What about modem-dialing shrieks? Sure, we’re all thrilled to have always-on Internet connections. But wasn’t there something satisfying, something understandable, about that staticky call-and-response from our computers to the mother ship?

We’re losing the dial tone, too. Cellphones don’t have dial tones. Only landlines do, and those are rapidly disappearing. And without the dial tone, how will movie producers ever indicate that someone’s hung up on a character? (Even though that was an unrealistic depiction to begin with.)

Funny thing is, we’re replacing these sounds mainly with … nothing! What’s the sound of broadband? Of rewinding a CD?

The point, of course, is that as digital technology takes over, we’re losing the sounds of analog technologies. And sometimes that’s a real loss. Cash registers don’t go “ka-ching” anymore, either. But we still SAY “ka-ching,” and there’s your proof — sometimes, our culture simply cries out for a certain audio meme, a certain sonic cue that used to have real meaning.

Every now and then, in fact, you find a case where the old analog audio cue is so important, the manufacturer actually installs a recorded version of it — right into the otherwise silent digital device — because the sound has a purpose. Digital cameras, for example, play a digitized version of an analog shutter. I recently tested an electric motorcycle that plays a recording of a gas motorcycle, just so you don’t mow down unsuspecting citizens sharing the roadway with you.

I’m not going to play Andy Rooney here and bemoan the pace of technological progress. Something’s always lost when we move from one format to another; that’s just the way it goes.

At the same time, I’d like to commemorate the loss of those record scratches, busy signals, tape-rewinding chatters, and ka-chings. Maybe with a moment of silence."

The Minhag Of Bringing a Wimpel To Shul

(posted by Avram)

(Eliezer's Wimpel - click for detail)

This morning we had the zechus of seeing our grandson, Eliezer, bring his wimpel to shul. For those of you who are not familiar with this custom let me give you a brief definition of what a wimpel is. At the bris, a fabric, usually made of linen or cotton, is placed on the pillow underneath the baby. Afterwards it is cut and sewn into a long strip, approximately 9-10 feet in length . On this cloth is either painted or embroidered the name of the boy, his date of birth and the wish that he should grow to learn Torah, get married and do good deeds. Some wimpels are simple - with just the words - and others are more elaborate with various decorations and pictures included, which illustrate the text or are appropriate to that particular family or time of year when the child was born. Often the father or mother, if they are able to, will make the wimpel. Over the years KAJ has had a number of talented people who have produced some beautiful works of art. Two of them were Rev. Ruben Eschwege and Mr. Ernst Moller. Today many of the wimpels, as was my grandson’s, are made by Mrs. Annette Kirschner.

The wimpel is then brought by the child as a gift to the shul on his first visit and wrapped around the sefer torah for geliloh. The age at which the child brings the wimpel varies by individual custom. In the early years at KAJ almost all the boys brought their wimpels at around the age of one year old. It was arranged for a non-Jew to bring the boy to shul on Shabbos, as he usually was not able to walk yet. This seems to have been an old custom as the famous painting by Moritz Oppenheim of a child bringing a wimpel to shul depicts the father carrying a young child, hence the German expression for bringing the wimpel “Das Schultragen” (carrying to shul). Others have the custom of bringing the wimpel at age three when the boy can walk on his own. Beginning approximately thirty years ago, it was no longer permitted to have a non-Jew bring the child to shul on Shabbos so those who still want to keep the minhag of bringing the child at one year do so either on Yom Tov or on a weekday when there is kerias hatorah.

It is traditional that if the child has the privilege to have a grandfather or even great-grandfather present, they are given the kibbud of hagboh and geliloh and the young boy hands over the wimpel to be used. Afterwards the father takes the child over to the rav who benches him. On a personal note, I vividly recall that when the fathers would carry their sons over to my late grandfather, Rav Breuer zt”l , who was already over ninety years old at the time, he would never let them lower the child to him, but he would always stand up to bentch the child and wish the father mazel tov. A true example of kovod habrios.

Over the years KAJ has amassed a rather large collection of wimpels. Contrary to a popular misconception, the wimpels are rotated every Shabbos. Although it may take some time, each one is being used. Often, if possible, the wimpel of a bar mitzvah boy or chosson will be used on the Shabbos of the bar-mitvah or aufruf. From time to time we have had requests from people to have their wimpels returned. In most cases the requests are denied as these wimpels were given as gifts to the shul and no longer belong to the donors. Unless a specific stipulation is made at the time when the wimpel is donated, once a wimpel is brought to the shul it has the kedushah of any other of the klei kodesh and cannot be taken home to be put in a drawer or even hung up. Recently I have had a number of experiences where a child brings the wimpel to shul on Shabbos morning with great fanfare followed by an elaborate Kiddush. But what most people don’t know is that the wimpel was brought only on the condition that after Shabbos the wimpel is taken back to be kept at home for “safekeeping”. To me this just doesn’t make any sense.

I am proud that my grandson’s wimpel will join the collection, which already includes his father’s and grandfather’s wimpel. As the sixth generation of our family to be a part of our illustrious kehilla it is my fervent wish and prayer that this will be just the beginning of his participation in the many traditions both as an individual and a member of the tzibbur of which we are so proud.

(Eliezer's father's Wimpel)

(Eliezer's Grandfather's Wimpel {Avram's})

I am told that the light green was once copper ink - now verdigris

P.S. from G6 - Stay tuned for Food Photo Friday to see my Wimpel Cake Creation! Mmmmm, Mmmmm Chocolately Goodness.

UPDATE:

There has been so much interest in this post, and the minhag that inspired it, that I have added another post about wimpels above.

Food Photo Friday - What Kind Of Haman Men?!?!

You may recall my post and photograph of Haman Men Baking Results from last year.

Well, THIS is what happens when you let Joey help with the process....

There's "One Star General Alien" Haman Man, "Conehead" Haman Man, "Silently Judgmental" Haman Man, "Struck By Lightening" Haman Man and "Big Dipper Confused" Haman Man.

Apparently, I caught him and stopped him before he got to "Mildly Bemused" Haman Man.

So this year, if you stop by our home on Purim and see something odd swinging from our chandelier, or your child arrives home clutching a deformed confection, you know who to blame.......

Nobody Likes To See This On A Thursday Morning

First off let me tell you all that EVERYBODY'S FINE!

(When my kids were small and they would call me from school in seemingly urgent tones about such cataclysmal disasters as a forgotten lunchbox or a misplaced homework, they were well trained to begin the phone call with "everybody's fine", so I didn't have to spend even 30 heart-stopping seconds wondering which limb was fractured...)

But before I was even fortified with my morning coffee, I encountered this scene outside shul on my way to work today:

No less than five firetrucks with lights and sirens were pulling up outside our Beis Haknesses as the elementary school boys were being evacuated (to my place of business, I might add... and in a VERY ORDERLY FASHION).

Further disconcerting was this sight INSIDE the shul, accompanied by a very acrid smell of smoke.





It is a very unsettling and upsetting feeling to stand inside a shul and smell burning, I will tell you that!

There was much walking around with fancy thermal camera detectors, but time passed and though the smell was still as strong as ever, no heat sources were being picked up. In the end, the most low-tech device won out. "The nose knows", as they say, and one fireman just "followed his nose" until he isolated the strongest odor coming from a bookcase in the back of shul.

Some unloading, unscrewing and prying the bookshelf, followed the ultimate "sniff test", confirming that the smell was coming from a transformer in the floor under the bookcase. It could have been much worse and boruch Hashem everyone is fine.

We now return you your regular programming.

This has been G6 reporting.....

Wednesday's Wacky Signs - Google Knows Everything

Thanks to itsagift for sending this (not quite) sign in.

What Do I Know About Sacrifice?!?!

This morning our Tante Lotte joined our Uncle Marc in the Olam HoEmes after living a rich life spanning over 93 years.

When I think about Uncle Marc and Tante Lotte, I am humbled by the sacrifices that they made during the War to save themselves and preserve their mesorah. I am embarrassed by the little stresses that "throw me" day after day, when I think of the fact that one Shabbos morning, when the Nazis knocked on the door looking for Uncle Marc, they quickly picked up and LEFT EVERYTHING BEHIND.

EVERYTHING. In the blink of an eye. They just picked up and left. Though they never abandoned their commitment to Torah and Mitzvos. Posing as Gentiles in the farmlands of France, this was not easy, I assure you.

Do we know of such sacrifices today?

Speaking for myself, I get undone by far smaller things.

And yet - we can take away beauty from their nightmare as well. After the war, Uncle Marc and Tante Lotte rebuilt their family here in America and although they suffered through one of the darkest times in Jewish History, they did not let that define them. They raised a family in a home filled with Torah learning, acts of Chessed, Hachnosas Orchim and Avodas Hashem. They were HAPPY. They had NACHAS.

When we struggle through stormy times, it bears pondering that there will be light again. We should all weather our trials and tribulations with the same commitment and dignity as this couple did and merit the joys and happiness that await us at the other end of the tunnel, until we merit the ultimate joy - the Geulah.

Tehi Zichro Boruch

Food Photo Friday - Hamantaschen

Over the course of this week, I managed to bake over 8 dozen hamantaschen.

Though my family would be perfectly happy with the status quo, every year, to satisfy my own creative side, I always try to make one "something different" flavor, in addition to our traditional prune and apricot. There are no poppy seed ("mohn") hamantaschen in our house because if Avram's immune system even gets a whiff of them, he won't NEED a Purim costume ... his distorted features will easily qualify.

I've attempted raspberry (too runny).

I toyed with chocolate and chocolate nut (a combination I really wanted to make work, but nobody seemed to enjoy).

This year I chose lemon/lime.

Early indications seem to show that although they lack color contrast, the tangy flavor is a hit. In fact, there may be none left by Rosh Chodesh Adar II unless I rush them into the freezer PRONTO.

What did I miss most this year?

The fact that all the little ones are grown, or nearly so.

No more eager little tongues darting out to test if the filling had cooled down enough. (Though there were still plenty of fingers swiping the goods the minute my back was turned....)

Ah, but it seems like yesterday ......

(DD1 at just about the age that HER OWN DD1 is now...)

Wednesday's Wacky Signs - At The Bookstore

YRSRH Annual Dinner - My Post Mortem

There's got to be a better way.

Really.

Truly.

This is a WORTHY institution.

This institution needs money.

But that doesn't mean that we can't do things better.

I understand that in recent years we have had to do away with the sit down dinner in favor of buffet style in order to cut costs, but why not put the forks where the food is??? And don't tell me that it is to encourage the people to sit at their assigned tables once they have their food, because the spoons WERE at the buffet tables!! Consistency please, folks.

In addition, if you want to encourage people to sit down with their dinner, give them plates that hold more than two bites. Nobody likes to wend their way through an entire ballroom to arrive at their table and eat a morsel and then run back for more (unless they're going back for a spoon anyway).

And don't get me started on Viennese Tables. Some people I know refer to them as Vietnamese Tables because the way people rush the goods, you'd think they were at war. (Boy are you lucky I'm not posting pics of the people who got a head start on dessert during the speeches! But you know who you are.....)

But by far one of my biggest gripes was the dais. I feel that before putting people on the dais it is important to verify TWO things:

(a) That they are indeed showing up (this applies similarly for brochos under the chuppah by the way) and

(b) that they plan to stay for bentching (which took place at the completely reasonable hour of 8:30 pm, it should be noted.)

Why should guests feel that it is imperative to attend and/or stay at a fundraiser when those people that the institution honors the most, don't find it important enough to do the same?

A dais should DEFINITELY NOT look like this during bentching!

What I liked about the Dinner:

The Dinner was well timed and the program flowed and moved.

I liked the presentation to Rabbi A. Farber - a well deserved honor.

I liked the quote from a Yeshiva science teacher recounted by the Guest of Honor, KAJ President, Avram Cahn, who said at a parent's orientation, "If the children don't come out of this year saying Asher Yotzar with more kavanah, I have failed as their teacher". THAT'S Torah Im Derech Eretz!

There was a very nice presentation honoring the PTA.

A lot of people worked very hard on the event and deserve much gratitude.

It's Been A While Since The Last Table Photos

It's "Girls Night" at the Gs this week.

Poor Avram and Joey :D

Food Photo Friday - Tzipora's 1st Birthday

A recent issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine featured this lovely inspiration for my dear granddaughter Tzipora's first birthday cake.

I think DD1 outdid herself, thanks in part to FSIL/OSIL and his suggestion to add interest by laying the lentils on a diagonal.

This cake design is perfect for the busy mom, who may not have time to fuss with piping and icing and other fine work, but wants to create something special that makes a statement.

Pora sure liked it!!! :D

More On The Shmooze

Go check out Hadassah's Blog for her post-mortem of the Shmooze - WITH PHOTOS!

(One by me and one of me)

{ Though I'm not entirely sure that either one of those is an incentive...}

All Shmoozed Out

Tonight I attended the MetroImma Social Media Shmooze.

More precisely, this was a panel discussion on how kosher brands and the kosher food industry are using social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs, to market their products. and to connect with their customers.

The panel, was moderated by Corporate Communications Pro, Stephanie Grayson-Zane and featured Paula Shoyer, author of The Kosher Baker, Tamar Genger of Joyofkosher.com, Kim Amzallag from Kosher Inspired magazine and Yossie Horwitz of yossiescorkboard.com. The event was sponsored by MetroImma and its sister web site, jdeal.com, Kosher.com, Cherry Heering and U Café.

I came home completely energized with lots of new ideas and opportunities for this blog. Paula's new cookbook The Kosher Baker, is AMAZING (and all pareve!!)

I had a nice chat with Alison Nathan, wife of the well known Chef Jeff Nathan of Abigael's restaurant and I'm not saying anything, but we might have a few surprises in store for all you foodies out there.

I sampled some rich and creamy Coffee Heering. Did you know that a 100 year old bottle of Cherry Heering recently sold at Sotheby's for over $3,000!!! That's a lot of nostalgia right there!

Kim, from the brand new and highly acclaimed Kosher Inspired magazine, gave me several copies of their second issue to peruse and I'm trying to figure out just how to provide all my readers an opportunity to have a look at issue #3, which just came off the presses in Israel tonight. Do I smell a giveaway?

And the cherry on the sundae of this wonderful evening of networking and shmoozing? I finally at long last got to meet Hadassah in real life. Let me tell you that she's just as "real" in person as she is on her blog.

Stay tuned for more news about these and other brands!