Justice Brandeis of the Peace
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V OLUME I V, N UMBER V C ELEBRATING T HE P RE C IOUS H UMAN T A P ESTRY S E P TEMBER 2 5 , 2 0 0 9 Justice Brandeis of the Peace PHOTOS BY Max Shay/The Hoot MEDITATIONS: Members of Sangha, a non-denominational Buddhist club, discuss the Peace of Mind event, an activity for Monday’s International Day of Peace. BY MAXWELL PRICE Contributor addressed the group with san- nonviolence. This session includ- guine words on the power indi- ed breakout groups and hypo- Peace is a very Brandeisian viduals have in promoting peace, thetical scenarios to help students ideal. Founded in the aftermath and Alex Kern, Protestant chap- understand ways of tackling of and partially in response to the lain, led the assembled in a song. real-life campus issues. atrocities of World War II, the Professor Gordie Fellman, “The objective of this university had peacemaking on its head of the PAX Department, exercise was to provide mind from the outset. Over sixty shared some words about the participants perspec- “It is my hope that people years later, the university car- international and historical tive on how a com- took away from these events ries that torch proudly, through implications for this day, offer- munity can become such organizations as the Student ing Gen. MacChrystal’s plea for empowered to a different definition of peace. Peace Alliance (which two years more troops in Afghanistan as face conflict in a Peace as a practice. As some- ago hosted a national conference), an example of the challenges to constructive and STAND (anti-genocide coali- peace in our time. Yet the event nonviolent man- thing you do, not something tion), and the Peace, Conflict, maintained a decidedly apoliti- ner,” explained you believe in.” and Coexistence Studies (PAX) cal tone, emphasizing instead Ned Crowley - Jessica Stearns ‘10 program. On Monday, Brandeis the spiritual and interpersonal ’10. celebrated the International Day aspects of peacebuilding. The turnout of Peace, proving once again that “I hope that people don’t think for both events we don’t find anything particu- of International Day of Peace as was modest, but larly funny about peace, love, and some idealistic time for all the the general accep- understanding. hippies to come on stage and tance of and inter- The United Nations established preach peace,” explained Miriam est in peace sparked September 21 as the International von Guggenberg ’10, “but I hope by the day’s events Day of Peace in 1981 as a way of it is a day that triggered a compas- demonstrated that drawing attention to the need for sionate and/or thought of grati- Brandeis is still full of a concerted action in pursuit of tude in each person who walked bunch of peaceniks. And the elusive ideal. Brandeis latched through the bustling Shapiro that’s not such a bad thing. onto this commemoration and Campus Atrium." has celebrated it for several years. “It is my hope,” said Jessica Monday’s main events included Stearns ’10, one of the Peace of Mind, a gathering in the organizers of Peace Shapiro Campus Center Atrium of Mind, “that people to help develop inner peace, and took away from these Nonviolence Training, the first events a different in a series of sessions intended to definition of peace. teach Kingian non-violence strat- Peace as a practice. egies (as in Martin Luther King, As something you do, Jr.). Both events focused on prac- not something you tical, hands-on methods for pro- believe in.” moting harmony and compassion The Nonviolence in a time where such initiatives Training, organized are sorely needed. by the Student Peace Peace of Mind, put on by Alliance, took a dif- Sangha, a non-denomination- ferent approach in al Buddhist community and pursuit of the same the PAX program, gave stu- ends. Members of dents a forum to express their SPA attended a non- beliefs about how to transform violence certification the world by transforming our- program last year and selves. Students took turns shar- decided to use their ing inspiring quotes, personal skills to educate the reflections, and stories. Reverend Brandeis community Walter Cuenin, Coordinator about principles and of the Interfaith Chaplaincy, concrete methods of September 25, 2009 Diverse City 9 VOICES The Helmand Restaurant: Comfort cuisine with an Afghani flavor BY AMI SPIWAK Special to Diverse City Cuisine: Afghan Meals Served: Dinner Address: 143 First Street, Cambridge, MA Location: Minutes walking from CambridgeSide Galleria Mall Transportation: Take T Green line to Lechmere Station Reservations: Recommended Phone: 617-492-4646 Prices: $15-$25 Credit Cards: Accepts Major Credit Cards Conveniently located just a few blocks away from the CambridgeSide Galleria mall, The Helmand Restaurant serves Afghani food in an elegant atmosphere that conjures images of your grandmoth- er’s living room—if you’re grandmother PHOTO from Internet Source happens to be from Afghanistan. The moment you step in, you notice that wine list is extensive, and the bottles are the “Afghani raviolis”, and for those veg- for example, which consists of sautéed the dining area is laid out differently than kept in an exquisite dark-wood wine rack etarian diners out there, fear not because chunks of leg of lamb in a thick yogurt that of most other restaurants. All the tables that is both classy and unassuming. But Helmand has plenty of options. I also sauce that more closely resembles curry, are located in a single room that is free of my favorite part has to be the fireplace: highly suggest the eggplant dishes, and accompanied with sautéed spinach and columns, walls, or any other sort of spatial flaming wooden logs crackle and pop dur- make sure not to miss the mouthwatering seasoned rice. For dessert, definitely try the dividers—a feature that creates an intimate ing the winter, which adds coziness to an desserts. Afghan version of baklava. dining experience. With this unique lay- already warm ambience. To start, you might try the pan-fried Overall, Helmand serves Afghani com- out, every table has an unobstructed view The food, with its mix of Middle Eastern, spiced eggplant that’s baked with fresh fort food in what is by no means your of everyone else in the restaurant. Indian, and Afghani influences, is abso- tomatoes and then served on a garlic-and- typical mom-and-pop diner (although pop As for the decoration, the cheerful yel- lutely delicious. Relying heavily on typi- mint yogurt sauce, or Aushak, "Afghan is sometimes there). The service varies lowish walls are peppered with knick- cally Asian spices like cardamom, cumin, ravioli" filled with leeks or potatoes and considerably between visits and it could knacks and framed photographs that and a variety of curries, the seasonings are buried under a sauce of either meat or split be more attentive, but with food this good, evoke scenes and landscapes of traditional phenomenal. And although the menu is a peas and carrots. Main courses include that's a minor quibble. Afghani life. Large and strikingly beautiful bit limited in its variety, the relatively short grilled meats, poultry, and fish, plus sev- If you want to eat something different Persian rugs lay under most tables, and a list of plates means that each one has prac- eral versions of what Americans would this weekend and don’t want to put that wood-fired brick oven near the entrance tically become a specialty. call stew. deep of a dent in your wallet, head over to constantly churns out artisanal bread. The Customer favorites include the lamb and But lamb is king. Try the Lamb Lawand, The Helmand Restaurant in Cambridge. Be a doll, make some dal (and smoky tomato soup) BY ANNA JURSIK SIMPLE DAL AND RICE 1. Put onto boil: yellow split peas with 4 cups of water, Staff rice with 2 cups of water. Simmer the peas for 30 min- utes and the rice for about an hour. What do you do with excess tomatoes? 1 cup yellow split peas 2. While the dry ingredients are cooking, mince the They spoil so quickly, but this time of year 1 cup dry brown rice garlic and basil. Chop the onions, tomatoes, and it’s tempting to buy them in bulk. This 4 cloves garlic spinach. week’s meal is easy to throw together in 1 large or 2 small onions 3. As soon as the split peas are tender and the rice is an hour or two, and, more importantly, 3 large tomatoes fluffy, heat the olive oil and cumin seeds in a large, features fresh tomatoes. Even though the 1 tablespoon fresh basil non-stick pan. Let fry for about 30 seconds, then add soup and dal share a main ingredient, you 3 cups fresh spinach the onion and garlic. Cook over high heat until the can serve them together. They compliment 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon cumin seeds onions are brown and fragrant. each other nicely; the tomatoes take on a PHOTOS BY Anna Jursik/The Hoot 4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the tomatoes, distinct character in each dish. ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes basil, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, and curry powder. The soup doesn’t contain any dairy prod- 1 tablespoon soy sauce When the tomatoes are soft, usually after 4-5 minutes, ucts, but it’s still filling and full of flavor. It 2 teaspoons curry powder add the spinach. freezes nicely, but if you plan on storing it 5. After about a minute, the spinach should start to in a communal fridge, guard it well! The wilt.