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YOUR HOLIDAY GUIDE

’ – THE MONTH OF COMPASSION MONTREAL CENTER BAIS MENACHEM n the generation of the Exodus from Egypt, Moses What are the special ‘Elul’ LUBAVITCH Iascended Mount Sinai three times. The first was to Observances? receive the Torah. The second was to plead with G-d Joanne and Jonathan Gurman • The Shofar is sounded every week-day morning, Community Center for His forgiveness after the Jewish people sinned in except on the last day before Rosh Hashana. Lou Adler Shul worshiping the Golden Calf. Then, on the first day of Marcia Gillman & Michael Flinker Elul – the month immediately preceding – • Psalm 27 is added to the daily morning Early Childhood Center Moses ascended the mountain a third time, to invoke and afternoon prayers until the end of . The Kenny Chankowsky G-d’s mercy for our complete atonement. • It is customary to give additional charity Memorial Torah Library He remained there for forty days, each weekday. until , when G-d q Rabbi Moishe New cleansed us completely, • Beginning Saturday night, September 12 Rabbi Itchy Treitel as though we had never through Friday September 18, Selichot sinned. Since then, these (special penitential prayers) are recited. Executive Commitee Rabbis Yossi Kessler, Moishe New, last 40 days are marked • Elul is an appropriate time to reflect on Pesach Sperlin, Itchy Treitel as a special period of our actions and attitudes of the previous Nechama New Divine grace, during which year and resolve to correct our shortcomings. Pre-School / Day Camp our sincere prayers are sure Zeldie Treitel to find favor in the eyes of G-d. Program Director Rabbi Levi New Kollel / Youth Action Movement Rabbi Getzy Markowitz TFS Young Leadership Velvel Minkowitz 1 ROSH HASHANA Administrator Ita New ‘YOM HADIN’ – THE DAY OF JUDGMENT Bat Mitzvah Club Tzivia Treitel FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 18 THRU SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20 Youth Programming Chanie Teitlebaum Rochi Yarmush osh Hashana, which means ‘Head of the Year’, is At the first meal, on Friday night, September 18, Administration Rthe day on which G-d completed the creation of the challah is dipped in honey. Afterwards we dip a Yehuda Gottesman Shaya Zirkind world by creating Adam and Eve. Their very first act piece of apple in honey and recite the following Accounting was to proclaim the Al-mighty as King of the Universe. blessings: They called upon all the creatures: ‘Come let us Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Haolam worship, bow down, and kneel before G-d, our maker.’ Borai Pree Ha-aitz. Yehee Ratzon Milfanecho Publication Mail Agreement Each Rosh Hashana, we too proclaim the Kingship of She-te-chadesh Aleinu Shana Tova Um-tuka – No. #40030976 G-d, and reaffirm our commitment to serve Him well. (“May it be Your will to renew for us a good and Questions or return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Just as on the original Rosh Hashana, G-d created sweet year”.) The Montreal Torah Center the world for the first time, so each Rosh Hashana Other customs include eating the head of a fish (so that 28 Cleve Rd Hampstead PQ H3X 1A6 Tel. 514-739-0770 Fax 514-739-5925 He reconsiders and re-evaluates the quality of our we be a ‘head’ and not a ‘tail’), pomegranates (so that Email: [email protected] relationship with Him, judging man and all creation, our merits be as numerous as the seeds) and carrots www.themtc.com determining each indivi dual’s fate for the coming year. (‘meren’ in Yiddish, which means to multiply). This Holiday Edition of the MOSAIC is distributed to: Second night of Rosh Hashana Akiva School, Batshaw Foster Care What are the special Department, Batshaw Youth & Family Rosh Hashana • On the second night of Rosh Hashana, Saturday Services, Bialik High School, B'nai B'rith House, Free Hebrew for Juniors, Jewish foods and when September 19, it is customary to eat a ‘new’ fruit General Hospital, Jewish People’s & Peretz are they eaten? (i.e. a fruit that one has not partaken of this season) School, Maimonides Geriatric Centre, at the conclusion of the . When reciting Maimonides Hospital, Merton Jewish It is customary on the blessing '' in the Kiddush, we Studies Pelo Program, Residence Solomon, Rosh Hashana to eat Solomon Schecter, Sunshine Club, United have in mind the new fruit over which 'Borei Pree , Waldorf Residence Home foods symbolizing Ha-aitz' is said. Our thanks and appreciation to sweetness, blessings Ponctuation Grafix and abundance.

2 ROSH HASHANA – CONT.

The Shofar The ‘Tashlich’ custom – What is it • G-d commands us in the Torah to sound and when do we do it? the shofar on this day. Tashlich prayers which ‘cast away our sins’ are • The shofar proclaims the coronation of recited by a body of water or pond containing G-d as King of the Universe. live fish. As fish depend upon water, so do • It ‘awakens’ us to make amends and return to G-d. we depend upon G-d’s providence. Also, • It reminds us of the shofar heard at Mount Sinai a fish’s eyes never close, symbolizing at the giving of the Torah. G-d’s unceasing watchfulness over us. • It represents the simple, primal outcry from Tashlich prayers are recited this year on the depth of the soul. the second day of Rosh Hashana, Sunday • It presages the call of the “Great Shofar” September 20, following Mincha Services. described by the Prophets, which heralds the advent of the Redemption. ‘Ten Days of Teshuvah – Return’ The first ten days of the month of Tishrei – two days What Is The Shofar? of Rosh Hashana, the seven days following, and Yom Kippur – are an auspicious time in which to rectify The Shofar is made out of a kosher animal’s horn. Any horn may be used, except the horn of a cow or a bull, our shortcomings and draw closer to G-d. They are for their horns would be a reminder of the Golden Calf therefore known as the ‘Ten Days of Teshuvah’. which the children of had made in the desert, The Fast of Gedaliah coming out of Egypt. The common practice is to use a ram’s horn, which recalls the readiness of our Monday, September 21 is a fast day. The fast begins forefather Isaac to be sacrificed for G-d. At the last at 5:12 am and ends at 7:22 pm. It commemorates moment before Abraham was about to sacrifice his son the assassination of Gedaliah, a great Jewish leader Isaac, G-d instructed him to offer a ram instead. Thus during the Babylonian exile, and the end of Jewish we recall and invoke Isaac’s independence. great merit.The Shofar is bent to show that we have ' Shuvah' – Shabbat of to bow our hearts to Return / Repentance G-d. It is kept simple, From the evening of September 25 until nightfall of with no decorations. September 26 is called Shabbat Shuvah, so called after the Prophetic reading for that day: “Return When do we hear (Shuvah), O Israel unto G-d Thy L-rd”. Shabbat is a day the Shofar this year? of delight and celebration, thus this day imparts a This year the shofar is sense of joy and pleasure in our ‘Teshuvah’. sounded Sunday September 20.

TESHUVAH Teshuvah frequently translated as repentance, actually means returning. emphasizes that our essential nature – our soul – is pure, holy and innocent. True repentance is achieved not through harsh self-condemnation, but through the realization that our deepest desire is to do good. Teshuvah means to return to self, to be aligned with our inner G-dly consciousness. Thus, since our soul is a ‘part of G-d’ Who is infinite, so too our ‘return’ to G-d has no limits. This means that even the most righteous can and ought to do ‘Teshuva’, and that ‘Teshuva’ is not merely to amend wrongdoings, but to deepen and improve our good habits and practices as well.

3 YOUR HOLIDAY GUIDE

2 YOM KIPPUR SUNDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 27 – MONDAY SEPTEMBER 28 Can Yom Kippur be a happy day? forgiveness from friends, relatives, and acquaintances, to heal any ill feelings which may have arisen. hough these Days of Awe, as they are often Tcalled, are solemn, they are not sad. In fact, Yom Kippur is, in a subtle way, one of the happiest days Five Prohibitions of the year. For on Yom Kippur we receive what is On Yom Kippur in addition to the prohibition of work, perhaps G-d’s most sublime gift; His forgiveness and as on the Sabbath, there are five activities specifically the opportunity to deepen our relationship with Him. prohibited on Yom Kippur: When one person truly forgives another, it is because • eating and drinking of a deep sense of friendship and love that overrides • anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions the effect of whatever wrong was done. Similarly, • marital relations G-d’s forgiveness is an expression of His eternal, • washing (for pleasure) unconditional love. Though we may have trans- • wearing leather shoes. gressed His will, our essence – our soul – remains G-dly, and pure. Yom Kippur is the one Yom Kippur Service Highlights: day each year when G-d reveals most clearly During each main prayer throughout Yom Kippur, that our essence and His essence are one. we recite the ‘Viduy’ (confession), enumerating all Moreover, on the level of the soul, the the sins we may have committed, and asking G-d’s Jewish people are all truly equal and indi- forgiveness. visible. The more fully we demonstrate our essential unity by acting with love and friend- Kol Nidrei ship amongst ourselves, the more fully G-d’s love The evening service begins with the chanting of will be revealed to us. ‘Kol Nidrei’, recited three times by the chazzan. The origins of Kol Nidre date back to the period of the The Eve of Yom Kippur Festive Meals Spanish Inquisition. Amongst many layers of mean- On the day preceding Yom Kippur, Sunday September ing, it expresses the sentiment that at our core we 27, we eat two festive meals, one during the day, the are all pure, and we desire to be faithful to G-d and other just before the fast to demonstrate our faith and His commandments. confidence in G-d’s mercy. Morning Service Eating After the reading of the Torah, Yizkor, the memorial prayer for the deceased is recited. Many have the custom of eating kreplach (small pieces of ground meat enveloped in dough) in the Neilah meals before Yom Kippur. One reason for this custom is that the dark meat covered by the white dough sym- The final prayer of the day, as our judgement for the bolizes our sins becoming ‘whitened’ and cleansed. coming year is being sealed, is called ‘Neilah’. Neilah is the only service of the entire year during which the Blessing the Children doors of the Ark remain open from beginning to end. This signifies that the gates of prayer in Heaven are Another beautiful custom for this day is that of wide open to us at this time. Neilah culminates with parents blessing their children with the Priestly the ‘Shema Yisrael’ and other verses said in unison Benediction: “May G-d bless you and guard you... which express the essence of our faith and the May G-d shine His countenance upon you and be gra- essence of our Jewishness. The Shofar is then sound- cious to you... May G-d turn His face toward you, and ed and Yom Kippur is concluded with the prayer ‘Next grant you peace.” Year may we be in Jerusalem!’. Please Forgive Me... Yom Kippur atones for sins against G-d, but not for wrongdoing between man and man. It is therefore important, before Yom Kippur, to apologize and seek

4 2 • YOM KIPPUR – CONT. Jonah Swallowed By the Fish – A Yom Kippur Story The Haftorah that is read on the afternoon of Yom Beyond the obvious lesson about the power of Kippur tells the story of how G-d commanded the repentance, the story contains another lesson as prophet Jonah to go to the city of Ninveh and warn well. This lesson concerns the importance of loving the people there to repent lest G-d destroy their city. our fellow Jew: Jonah did not want to fulfill this mission and ran away Jonah knew that if he went to Ninveh the people on a ship. G-d caused a terrible storm to occur and would heed his words and repent. He also knew that eventually the sailors threw Jonah off the ship – as the the Jewish people had not repented in spite of all the only way to make the storm abate. G-d caused a great chastising the prophets had given them. Rather than fish to swallow up Jonah. Eventually Jonah was saved make his fellow appear bad in G-d’s eyes, from the fish and went to do G-d’s bidding in Ninveh. Jonah chose to ‘run away’ knowing that he would The people sincerely returned to G-d and were spared. personally have to suffer the consequences...

3 SUKKOT – FESTIVAL OF BOOTHS SEASON OF OUR REJOICING FRIDAY EVENING OCTOBER 2 THRU SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11 FIRST DAYS YOM TOV (HOLY DAYS) FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 2 THRU SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 Why do we sit in a ? When do we sit in the Sukkah? Immediately following the awesome days of Rosh From Friday evening, October 2, through sundown on Hashana through Yom Kippur, we pre pare for the Saturday October 10, all meals are eaten in the joyous exuberance of Sukkot, the ‘Season of our Sukkah. When partaking of a meal containing at least Rejoicing’. After leaving Egypt, during the forty years two ounces of bread or cake, we say the blessing of wandering in the wilderness, the Jewish people ‘Leyshev BaSukah’ (see page 7, blessing #8). On were surrounded by protective ‘clouds of glory’. In Friday evening, October 9 and the next day, Shabbat, commemoration, and to enhance our awareness of although we continue to eat in the Sukkah we no G-d’s all-embracing love and protection, we are longer recite this blessing. commanded, “In (booths) you shall dwell, seven days” (Lev. 23:42). Shake it up Another special mitzvah of Sukkot is the shaking together of the ‘’ – the Why is Sukkah such a unique (citron), (palm branch), three hadassim Mitzvah? (myrtle branches), and two arovot (willow branches). Eating festive meals and spending time in the Each day of Sukkot (except the Sabbath) we shake the outdoor Sukkah is a delightful and unique ‘four kinds’ during the daytime. We begin fulfilling the experience. Some have the custom of decor - mitzvah of the ‘Four Kinds’ Sunday, October 4 through ating the Sukkah with elaborate ornaments; Friday, October 9. During the prayer and the others prefer to preserve its unadorned special prayer of Hoshanot the ‘Four Kinds’ are held. sim plicity. But whatever one’s style, the Take the lulav (with haddasim and aravot attached) in Sukkah is the only Mitzvah in which we are the right hand, say the appropriate blessing(s). Then completely surrounded, from head to toe, by take the etrog in the left hand with the point, or pitom, the Mitzvah itself – enveloped, as it were, in up, (i.e. the stem is on the bottom) bring it together the Divine presence. with the other three kinds, and shake them. See blessings on page 7. October 4 blessings 9 & 7. On subsequent days blessing 9.

5 YOUR HOLIDAY GUIDE

3 • SUKKOT – CONT. United we stand Each of the four kinds represents a different type of Jew. The fact that the mitzvah requires all four kinds symbolizes our oneness as a people: we all need one another. The four species are waved in all four directions, and up and down, signifying that G-d is everywhere.

INTERMEDIATE DAYS OF SUKKOT – CHOL HAMOED MONDAY OCTOBER 5 THRU FRIDAY OCTOBER 9 Monday October 5 until Friday October 9 are called Chol Hamoed – the intermediate days. On these days, only necessary work should be done. Special prayers called hoshanot are said each morning. Throughout Sukkot (including Atzeret and Simchat Torah) tefilllin are not worn. Throughout the seven Why do we dance days of the Festival, we continue our cele bration in the Sukkah, in ever-increasing joy and happiness. rather than study? Why don’t we celebrate Simchat Torah by learning Torah? Would it not be more 4 HOSHANA RABBA – THE GREAT SALVATION appropriate to have learning FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 sessions in order to celebrate the completion of reading he seventh day of Sukkot, Friday, October 9, is called Hoshana Rabba. It is customary to stay awake the the Torah? Yet the Torah is Tnight before and recite the and the entire Book of Psalms. The six Hoshanot recited closed, tied up and covered on all the previous days of Sukkot are said while circling the bimah. Then the special prayer for Hoshana Rabba with its mantle. is said and the Bimah is circled for a 7th time. In an ancient rite of profound mystical significance, The reason is because the five bound willow branches are beaten on the floor with a special prayer – symbolically ‘sweetening’ G-d’s joy of Simchat Torah is far judgment. It is customary to eat a festive meal where the challah is dipped in honey and one of the dishes greater than any delight we includes kreplach – a meat filled dumpling. may derive from intellectual understanding. By dancing with the Torah we demon- strate the fact that Torah is 5 AND not merely profound and ‘’ ‘SIMCHAT TORAH’ deep wisdom. The Torah is LAST DAYS YOM TOV (HOLY DAYS) Divine and is therefore, in FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 9 THRU SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11 essence, beyond all under- standing and reason. Indeed, The Height of Simcha More Festive Meals... at this level all Jews relate to On the eve of Simchat Torah, Saturday, October 10, On the eighth day of Sukkot, Saturday, October 10, the Torah equally, for we are and in many communities on the previous eve of which is Shemini Atzeret, we continue to eat meals different only in terms of Shemini Atzeret as well, we make seven ‘’ in the Sukkah, but without reciting the blessing our intellec tual or emotional (circlings) around the Bimah, singing and dancing with ‘Leyshev BaSukah’. We resume eating meals indoors capa cities. At our core we the Torah scrolls. from Saturday night, October 10. are all equal. On Simchas Torah we express that as we On the morning of Simchat Torah, Sunday, October dance as one. 11, three and a half ‘hakafot’ are done around the Bimah. The final Torah portion is then read followed by the reading of the first section of Bereshis – the beginning of the Torah once again. The festival of Sukkot and especially Simchat Torah is the opportunity to ‘bring down’ simcha – joy and happiness into our lives for the whole year to come. The greater the joy and celebration that we experience and generate during this time, the greater our joy for the year to come.

6 CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES AND BLESSINGS

DATE TIME (for Montreal only)

Friday Sep 18 - Elul 29 Light candles*, blessings 1 & 7 ...... 6:40 pm Erev Rosh Hashana Eat special Rosh Hashana foods (see page 2)

Saturday Sep 19 - Tishrei 1 Light candles**, blessings 2 & 7 ...... after 7:41 pm Rosh Hashana Eat new fruit (see page 2)

Sunday Sep 20 - Tishrei 2 Hear the shofar Rosh Hashana Tashlich prayers after Mincha BLESSINGS Yom Tov ends ...... 7:39 pm Baruch Atah A-donai Monday Sep 21 - Tishrei 3 Fast begins ...... 5:12 am 1 El-oheinu Melech Haolam Fast of Gedaliah Fast ends ...... 7:22 pm Asher Kiddishanu Bemitzvotav Vetzivanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Friday Sep 25 - Tishrei 5 Light candles*, blessing 3 ...... 6:27 pm Shabbat Vishel Yom Hazikaron. Erev Shabbat Shuva 2 Baruch Atah A-donai Saturday Sep 26 - Tishrei 6 Shabbat ends ...... 7:27 pm El-oheinu Melech Haolam Shabbat Shuva Asher Kiddishanu Bemitzvotav Vetzivanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Sunday Sep 27 - Tishrei 9 Festive Meals Yom Hazikaron. Erev Yom Kippur Light candles*, blessings 4 & 7, fast begins ...... 6:23 pm Baruch Atah A-donai 3 El-oheinu Melech Haolam Monday Sep 28 - Tishrei 10 Yizkor Memorial prayers Asher Kiddishanu Bemitzvotav Yom Kippur Fast ends ...... 7:23 pm Vetzivanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Shabbat Kodesh. Friday Oct 2 - Tishrei 14 Light candles*, blessings 5 & 7 ...... 6:13 pm Erev Sukkot Recite blessing 8 at all meals in the Sukkah, from now Baruch Atah A-donai until Shmini Atzeret, Friday evening Oct 9. 4 El-oheinu Melech Haolam Asher Kiddishanu Bemitzvotav Saturday Oct 3 - Tishrei 15 Light candles**, blessings 6 & 7 ...... after 7:14 pm Vetizvanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Sukkot Yom Hakipurim.

Baruch Atah A-donai Sunday Oct 4 - Tishrei 16 Shake the ‘Four Kinds’, blessings 9 & 7 5 El-oheinu Melech Haolam Asher

Sukkot (On subsequent days only blessing 9) Kiddishanu Bemitzvotav Yom Tov ends ...... 7:12 pm Vetizvanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Shabbat Vishel Yom Tov. Friday Oct 9 - Tishrei 21 Light candles*, blessing 5 & 7 ...... 6:00 pm Hoshana Rabba (In some communities – Hakafot/Dancing with the Torah) 6 Baruch Atah A-donai Erev Shemini Atzeret El-oheinu Melech Haolam Asher Kiddishanu Bemitzvotav Saturday Oct 10 - Tishrei 22 Yizkor Memorial prayers Vetizvanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov. Shemini Atzeret Light candles**, blessings 6 & 7 ...... after 7:01 pm Erev Simchat Torah Hakafot/Dancing with the Torah Baruch Atah A-donai 7 El-oheinu Melech Haolam Sunday Oct 11 - Tishrei 23 Hakafot/Dancing with the Torah She-heh-cheh-yanu Simchat Torah Yom Tov ends ...... 6:59 pm Ve-key-manu Ve-hee-geeyanu Lizman Hazeh. Friday Oct 16 - Tishrei 26 Light candles*, blessing 3 ...... 5:48 pm Erev Shabbat Baruch Atah A-donai 8 El-oheinu Melech Haolam Saturday Oct 17 - Tishrei 27 Blessing of the new month of • Shabbat ends ...... 6:49 pm Asher Kiddishanu Bemitzvotav Shabbat Bereshit Vetizvanu Ley-shev Ba-su-kah. Baruch Atah A-donai 9 El-oheinu Melech Haolam Asher Kiddishanu Bemtizvotav * Do not light after sunset. Vetzivanu Al Ne-ti-lat Lulav. ** Light only from a pre-existing flame. A pre-existing flame can be a pilot light in a gas stove or a 25 hour candle lit before the onset of the festival.

7 from Reprinted withpermission Recipes bySusieFishbein MTC FAVORITES Artscroll/Mesorah Although itworksfineinadisposabletin,thisdishisworthyofbeautifulceramicbakingdish.Ibake rectangular oven-to-tableceramicdish,mygirlfriendShariAlter,who gavemetherecipeusesaverylarge round flutedone.Justmakesurethatwhateveryoubakeitinisbig enoughtoholdalloftheappleslices. 10-12 headgarlic 1 INGREDIENTS tablespoonsmargarine,melted 3 sprigsfreshrosemary 2 orange, unpeeled,sliced ½ whole(3-5pound)chickenor 1 cupshelled,rawpistachionuts ½ driedMissionfigs 5 (12-ounce) jarapricotpreserves 1 heapingtablespoonsvanillasugar 2 teaspoonbakingpowder 1 cup vegetableoilorcanola ¾ 3 large cupall-purposeflour eggs 1 cupsugar ½ GrannySmithapples,peeled, 9 INGREDIENTS Yields: on top.Bakeuncoveredforonehour. pan. Placethestuffedchickenpieces and sprigsofrosemaryinyourbaking parts aswell.Laytheorangeslices You canpreparethisdishwithchicken freshly groundblackpepper salt extra virginoliveoil kitchen twine pullet, washedandpatteddry (unsalted andnotroasted) dried apricots cinnamon or 2packagesvanillasugar halved, coredandthinlysliced • TriedandTrueRecipes 4servings

STUFFED WITHDRIEDFRUITSANDNUTS ROASTED GARLICCHICKEN APPLE KUGEL Yields: Bake uncoveredfor1hour. Sprinkle thetopwithcinnamon. a bit. Spread thebatteroverjelly,it willseepintotheapples an evenlayeroftheapricotpreservesoverapples. Place applesintothepreparedpan.Usingaspatula,spread powder, andvanillasugar.Whisktocombine. In amixingbowl,combinethesugar,flour,eggs,oil,baking Grease an8½by11-inchbakingdish.Setaside. Preheat theovento350°F. DIRECTIONS with thepanjuices. Bake uncoveredfor1½hours,basting2-3times letting itrundownthesides. Drizzle themargarineovertopofchicken, Rub itallovertheoutsideofchicken. the ovenandsqueezeroastedgarlicoutofskin. When thegarlicissoftandcaramelized,removeitfrom of thefruitandnutsdripoutintopan,theywillburn. chicken onarackinroastingpan;trynottolettoomuch the chicken.Tielegsclosedwithkitchentwine.Place Stuff theorangeslicesandrosemaryintocavityof the cavitieswhereskinwasloosened. Massage thefruitmixtureunderskin,gettinginto the breasts,thighsandlegs. With yourfinger,loosentheskinofchickengoingunder the apricots,driedfigs,andpistachiosintoverysmallpieces. Meanwhile, inafoodprocessorfittedwithmetalblade,chop Roast for45minutes–1hour. olive oilandseasonwithsaltpepper.Closethefoilpacket. center ofasquarefoil,onsmallbakingpan.Drizzlewith the topofbulbtoexposecloves.Placeheadin Holding theheadofgarliconitsside,cuttop1-2inchesoff Preheat theovento375°F. DIRECTIONS 8-10servings

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