March 2018 Volume XXIX, Issue 4 Jews, Irish Share Corned Beef Tradition As we inaugurate Temple Beth Or’s First Corned Beef Festival, let’s ponder the age-old question: is corned beef Irish or Jewish? To be sure, corned beef and cabbage are considered the traditional fare of St. Paddy’s Day. But this was not always the case! Pork had previously been the preferred menu item for the day. In Ireland, cattle were used for dairy production and were only slaughtered for food if necessary. Corned beef might not be the Jews’ only renowned col- Pigs were bred for meat. laboration with the Irish. In the early 20th century, Irish and But when the Irish immigrated in great numbers (in the Jewish immigrants collaborated on music for Tin Pan Alley, mid 19th century) to America, they faced discrimination and touching on themes dear to the hearts of immigrants in the poverty. They moved into the slums and tenements along- crowded tenements of New York City. There, Irish compos- side other immigrants such as the Jews and Italians. It was er William Jerome (originally Flannery) and Jean Schwartz at the Jewish delis and lunch carts that the Irish experienced wrote “If it wasn’t for the Irish and the Jews” about their Jewish corned beef and noted its similarity to the far more shared experiences. They wrote: expensive Irish bacon they loved. Jewish immigrants had perfected the brisket cut of meat “… I often sit and think what would this country be as their trademark. Brisket was an economical cut of meat If we hadn’t men like Rosenstein and Hughes. which comes from the lower chest of cattle. Since it does You’d surely have a kingdom there’d be no democracy. not touch the sciatic nerve or blood vessels, it is a kosher cut If it wasn’t for the Irish and the Jews: of meat. But the brisket is a tougher cut of meat filled with Chorus: What would this great Yankee nation fat and cartilage. Thus the salting (to remove the blood, a Really, really ever do requirement for Jewish dietary laws) and slow-cooking pro- If it wasn’t for a Levy cess transformed the brisket into an extremely tender and A Monahan or Donahue? flavorful delicacy! Where would we get our policemen? The Irish took the Jewish beef brisket and salt-cured it. Why Uncle Sam would have the blues. The term “corned” beef comes from the large grained rock Without the Pats and Isadores salt called “corns” used in the salting process. Cooking the You’d have no big department stores. beef with cabbage was also a cost efficiency. The entire meal If it wasn’t for the Irish and the Jews.” could be cooked up in one pot making the dish cheap, easy and delicious! No matter what your culture we hope to see you at our There are flavoring differences in two cultural recipes. The amazing Corned Beef Festival on Saturday, March 10. De- Irish brine is more aromatic with spices such as bay leaf and tails inside the Light. clove. Garlicky brine gives a more distinctly Jewish flavor. In any event, corned beef is beloved, and claimed, by both Shalom, cultures. Our Lives Do you have news or need prayers? Please contact the Temple office at 937-435-3400 to share a birth, marriage or seek get well wishes. Your congregation cares about you! Mazel Tov to Gary Holstine on the birth of a new grandson. Parents are Sarah and Jake Weissmann of Annapolis. Mazel Tov also to Wendy Rachlin THE LIGHT and Roger Pankake on the birth of their grandchild, Julia Paige Rachlin, Published monthly by born to Kevin and Jennifer Rachlin of Arlington, Virginia. Temple Beth Or 5275 Marshall Rd. Yahrzeit Remembrances Dayton OH 45429 Temple Beth Or remembers our loved ones on the Sabbath nearest the anniversary of their passing or yahrzeit. The following names will be read www.templebethor.com during services this month. Phone: (937) 435-3400 March 2 March 23 Francis A. Clair (2/28) Helaine Char (3/21) RABBI Sadye Nelson (2/28) Leo Finkelstein Sr. (3/22) Judy Chessin David Yates (2/28) Yetta Hecht Marks (3/22) ASSISTANT RABBI Dorothy Gutmann (3/1) Evelyn Rich (3/22) Ari Ballaban Judith Carsch (3/3) Samuel Stein (3/22) Andrew Todd Frisch (3/3) Edith Besser (3/24) ADMINISTRATOR Ida Plotkin (3/3) Hubert Jacobs (3/24) Donna Brodnick Maurice A. Cream (3/4) Rachel Ramsey (3/24) COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Eric Bruce Stein (3/24) Sharon Bengel March 9 Harold Dunn (3/25) Eunice Cauper (3/8) Max Gutmann (3/25) BOTY ADVISOR Robert Richman (3/8) Shirley C. Maharam (3/25) Gavi Douglass Else Heinze (3/9) Dr. Philip Klein (3/26) OFFICERS Philip E. Cohen (3/10) Paul Kruke (3/26) Jerry Weckstein, President Christina Crowley (3/10) Andrew R. Nathan (3/26) Micah Siegal, Vice President Shirley Rein (3/11) David M. Nathan (3/26) John Granby, Secretary Elaine Sachs Veta (3/11) Paul Nathan (3/26) Karen Lindsay, Treasurer Anna Shapiro Fishman (3/12) Sybil Sureck (3/26) MEMBERS AT LARGE Irene Jacoby (3/12) Bebe Char (3/27) Jane Briskin Sue Nelson Morris Sherman (3/12) Katie Steinberger (3/27) Marni Flagel Jessica Simpson Robert Dietz (3/13) Joan Greenfield Dan Sweeny Berta Sherman (3/13) March 30 Corky Katz Melville Granby (3/28) COMMITTEE CHAIRS March 16 Sylvia Gray (3/28) Administration: Ira Segalewitz Jacob Bettman (3/14) Julian Rochelle (3/28) Education: Jessica Simpson Isidore Farber (3/15) Florence Paull (3/30) Fund-raising: Karen Lindsay Leah Klein (3/15) Sarah Lauber (4/1) Member Services: Personnel: Micah Siegal Joan Chesler (3/16) Vernona Roberts (4/1) Religious: Joan Greenfield Cathy Michelson (3/17) Julius Stein (4/1) Volunteers: Paula Gessiness Arthur Liberty (3/18) Jackie Stone (4/1) Ray Cook (3/19) Arnold Adler (4/2) AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS Goldie Ennis (3/19) Charlotte Steinharter (4/2) Judaica Shop: Karen Lindsay BOTY President: Ben Guadalupe Ruth Crace (3/20) Celia Malbin Feinstein (4/3) Connections for Seniors: Hank Adler Ruth Zolot Goldberg (3/20) Harry Levy (4/3) Irving Troy (3/20) Catherine Wohlfrom Nieman (4/3) Hakarat Tovah: Hank Adler Passover Care Comedian Robert Orben remarked: Packages Offered “Here’s to all volunteers, those dedicated people who believe in all work and no pay.” Temple Beth Or would like to Our Hakarat Tovah column is our small to- send our college-age kids a Pass- ken of appreciation to you who work so hard over Care Package, so that they can have a Passover nosh while away to keep Temple Beth Or going and glowing. from home during the holiday. We are especially grateful for Hank Adler If you have a college-age kid who who is a founding member of our congrega- is away from home, please call the tion. Hank and his wife Helene raised their Temple office and give us their -ad children here at Temple Beth Or. In the early dress. We will make sure that they days of the Temple, he was exceedingly generous in financial and vol- don’t go hungry. unteer support. Hank was actively involved in our administrative com- mittee. As the years passed and his and Helene’s nest emptied, Hank observed Register Your a gap in our congregational efforts for our seniors. Hank single-handedly created Temple Beth Or’s Connections for Seniors program, honoring Shoppers Cards our seniors’ birthdays, arranging rides to Temple, coordinating monthly If you use your Kroger Plus or people and pet walks, and developing educational programs to encour- DLM Club Card to support Temple age successful aging and saging in our community. Beth Or, it’s time to reregister. These programs are all greatly appreciated but even more meaningful Visit www.krogercommunityre- because Hank surely “paid his dues” decades ago. He and Helene are wards.com and use our organization among those special members who have continued their volunteerism number: 81170. long after others had handed the jobs on to the next generation! For DLM, visit www.dorothylane. So “here’s to Hank for all your work!” While volunteerism doesn’t com/goodneighbor and use our draw a salary we pay you a double portion of thanks! Todah Rabbah! organization number: 1033. Jeans & Jewels Encore Saturday, April 14, 2018 Seven in the Evening Dinner & Dancing with Live Music Silent Auction & 50/50 Raffle Several Giving Levels Admission Includes One Free Drink Visit templebethor.com for details. Jewish Holidays Remember All Milestones Judaism teaches that certain times and seasons carry special, sacred sig- nificance. Of course, this is a familiar idea in our daily lives: Our weekly cel- ebration of Shabbat is meant to reen- act God’s mythic, post-Creation rest. However, we also regularly engage in such temporal symbolism in a larger sense. Most of our holidays, for instance, are meant to mark the specif- ic times in years past when important events occurred for our people. In experiencing the Jewish calendar, we are meant to reconnect with an ancient heritage and to re-experience the foundational moments of our history. The month of Adar invites all Jews to be joyful. Rabbi Samuel bar Sheilat) coined the more famous The occasions we mark in Judaism are as diverse as corollary to this phrase: Mi-she-nichnas adar, marbin they are numerous. They run the full emotional gamut, b’simchah; or: “Once Adar begins, we multiply cele- from the most extreme euphoria to the deepest despair. bration.” In the latter category, for instance, is Tisha b’Av (the Ninth of Av) which commemorates essentially every You might be wondering: Is this teaching meant to calamity we as Jews have suffered.