December 2016  /  Kislev 5777

Dear Friends,

Boas vindas! Bienvenida! Bienvenue! Benvenuto! Shalom shalom!  Following are some items we hope you will enjoy reading in advance of the Hanukkah holiday.

Best Wishes,

S&P Central
www.sandpcentral.org

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NEWS

Porto
Portuguese Community Welcomes First Kosher Store

In November, the first kosher store in Porto opened in response to an increased Jewish presence there. Last year alone, there were a reported 100,000 tourists in the city. The number of community members is also increasing, many establishing themselves in Portugal from other European countries either to work or study – and often mention that they feel well received. Learn more about the Porto Jewish Community here: www.sandpcentral.org/porto

You can read more about the store here:
http://www.tsf.pt/sociedade/interior/loja-kosher-para-judeus-abre-no-porto-5489471.html

 

Oxford
Special Collection of S&P Papers Launched at Oxford

The Bodleian Library at Oxford University has recently received an extensive collection from the Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation of London, donated by the Joir and Kato Weisz Foundation. It was assembled by the late Dr. Richard Barnett, Honorary Archivist of the congregation and contains over 500 items, including books, manuscripts, and sermons, in Hebrew, Spanish, and Portuguese. The materials were printed in Amsterdam, London, and other cities of the Sephardi diaspora. For further information:

http://blogs.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/mullerlibrary/2016/11/15/launch-of-the-weisz-western-sephardi-collection/

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RECENT EVENTS

Amsterdam
Symposium Held to Honor the Ets Haim Library

In November, a symposium was held celebrating 400 years of the oldest still-functioning Jewish library in the world, EtsHaim, located on the grounds of the Esnoga and founded as part of the Talmud Tora school in Amsterdam. Scholars from around the world examined the uniqueness, significance, and history of the library. Part of the symposium was held in the beautiful and monumental Wintersnoge, located adjacent to the library and formerly the school’s auditorium. For further information:

http://www.mbii.nl/index.php?id=51&nivo=detail&agendaid=189

 

Bordeaux
Synagogue President Participates in Medical Conference to Promote Peace

In December, a regional France-Israel friendship association (FIBSO), along with the humanitarian group A Heart for Peace, organized a conference to build bridges between Israelis and Palestinians by providing medical aid to Palestinian children with heart conditions. Among the participants was the president of the Grande Synagogue of Bordeaux, Erick Aouizerate, along with other doctors and organizations including the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem. More info here:

http://www.synagogue-bordeaux.com/index.php/agenda/

 

Montreal
The Spanish Hosts Talk on the Welcoming of North African Sephardim

In November, Professor Yolande Cohen presented a talk on the role of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal in the integration of Sephardi Jews from North Africa into the community. Many North African Jews were forced to flee their lands following the establishment of the State of Israel. For more on this and other events at The Spanish, please see here: http://thespanish.org/

 

New York
Evening Brings Together Hazanim from Four S&P Communities

In November, hazanim from several S&P communities gathered to share their traditions. Among the participants: Rabbi Ira Rohde and the Rev. Phil Sherman from Congregation Shearith Israel of New York; Peter Nahon from the S&P communities in Paris and Bordeaux; Adam Jackson, raised in the Lauderdale Road Congregation in London and now a member of Shearith Israel; and Rene Samson and Solomon Vaz Dias, both originally from the Esnoga in Amsterdam; and Prof. Hermann Salomon. Hosts Mark and Penny Aaron of Shearith Israel hope to organize future such gatherings.

 

Panama
Congregation Kol Shearith Israel Celebrates 140^th Anniversary

This year the Spanish & Portuguese congregation of Panama, Kol Shearith Israel, celebrates the 140^th anniversary of its founding. Among the events that have taken place so far was an overflow gathering in May that included Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela, Israel’s Ambassador to Panama Gil Artzyeli, as well as dignitaries and members of various religious groups in Panama. More here:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/212485

 

Philadelphia
Rabbi Soloveichik Leads Student Group to Mivkeh Israel Shabbaton

In early December, Shearith Israel Rabbi Meir Soloveichik led a select group of YU/Stern honors students to spend Shabbat with sister synagogue CongregationMikveh Israel in Philadelphia. The weekend featured a host of activities, including prayers, meals, lectures, and an opportunity to learn more about the mutual traditions and histories of the two communities. More information here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/731240223710537/

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Birmingham
Rabbi Berger and Rabbi Morris to Speak at Limmud UK Conference

At the Limmud UK conference in late December, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Rabbi Jeff Berger from the Rambam Sephardi Synagogue and Rabbi Shalom Morris of the historic Bevis Marks Synagogue — both in London. Rabbi Berger will give a talk on Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel of Amsterdam and a second talk on Biblical paintings of the Great Masters. Rabbi Morris will give two talks on the development of Anglo Jewry in the 17th Century as well as a third talk on rejuvenating London’s East End section. For more info:

http://limmud.org/conference/programme2016/#programmingnews

 

New York
Shearith Israel to Offer Monthly Class on Western Sephardi Traditions

Starting in December, Congregation Shearith Israel will offer a class titled, «Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Shearith Israel.» Led by Shamash Zachariah Edinger, the monthly session will give members, both old and new, the opportunity to better understand the ins and outs of Western Sephardi customs. Whether you can attend or not, you are welcome to email questions to: zedinger@shearithisrael.org. More information on this and other Shearith Israel events can be found here:

http://www.shearithisrael.org/content/events-calendar

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LEARNING

London

New Jewish Educational Video Series Launched

Senior Rabbi Joseph Dweck of the London Spanish & Portuguese Community has begun a video series, “Perspectives,” offering 1-3 minute meditations on fundamental concepts in Judaism. Themes include: faith, charity, sin, mitzvoth, God, man’s purpose, prayer, suffering, and Torah. The aim is to “offer unique approaches to familiar themes, to challenge preconceptions, and to deliver inspirational food for thought for everyday life.” You can view them here:

http://www.sephardi.org.uk/perspectives/

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HISTORY

Caribbean
New Book Published on Jewish Communities of the Caribbean

The award-winning photographer Wyatt Gallery has published a new and lavishly illustrated book on the Jewish communities of the Caribbean, including the oldest synagogues and cemeteries on Barbados, Curacao, Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. Eustatius, and Suriname. Historians Stanley Mirvis and Jonathan Sarna contributed essays to the book. For further information:

http://www.jewishtreasuresofthecaribbean.com/book

For book purchase:

https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Treasures-Caribbean-Legacy-Judaism/dp/0764350951

See a video preview of the project here:

https://vimeo.com/87747488

 

Suriname
Memorial Erected to Honor Victims of the Holocaust

A memorial has been erected in Suriname to honor its 105 victims of the Shoah. Though far from Nazi Europe, Suriname lost almost a fifth of its Jewish population as many from the community pursued their higher education or careers in Holland and were caught by the Nazis and murdered. Suriname’s Sephardic Jewish community dates back to the 17th Century when Spanish and Portuguese Jews moved to the area as they could own land and form their own militia. More here:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/70-years-after-the-holocaust-a-surinamese-memorial-for-caribbean-victims/

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MELODIES

Hanukkah Melodies

Many familiar and beloved melodies are associated with Hanukkah. This recording of the blessings over lighting the candles, followed by Psalm 30, “Mizmor Shir Hanukkat Ha-Bayit,” is sung by the late Rev. Eliezer Abinun of London:

http://www.londonsephardimusic.org/files/Music/Hannuka/AbinunHannukah.wma

 

This recording of the Psalm “Mizmor Shir Hanukkat Ha-Bayit” is of Dutch Hazzan Simon van David Duque (Amsterdam 1897-Dachau 1945), around 1938:

 

At Shearith Israel in New York, during morning services on the first Shabbat of Hanukkah, “Min Ha-Metsar,” part of the Hallel, is sung to a composition by operatic composer Jacques Francois Fromental Halevy, who was the son of a Sephardic hazzan:

http://www.shearithisrael.org/content/min-hametsar-section-hallel-jacques-francois-fromental-halevy

 

In some S&P congregations as well as many Ashkenazic congregations, the tune of the hymn “Ma’oz Tsur” is used for part of the Hanukkah service. The tune is adapted from a German folk song, but the London version is an elegant four-voice adaptation created by the famous English Jewish composer Julius Mombach (1813-1880), musical director of the Great Synagogue in Duke Street, London:

http://www.londonsephardimusic.org/files/Music/Hannuka/MaozTzur_Mombach.mp3

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RECIPES    

Bimuelos (with honey, orange & blossom water)

This issue’s recipe, in honor of Hanukkah, comes from Ph.D. candidate Hélène Jawhara Piñer of the European Institute for the History and Cultures of Food in Tours, France. Helen writes:

 

Bimuelos have different names as everybody knows (bimuelos, buñuelos, etc.), but this recipe here is directly related to the Sephardic cuisine and particularly the Sephardic Spanish cuisine. Nowadays, in the south of Spain, Spanish Andalusians (without knowing their Jewish roots perhaps) are used to preparing «borrachuelos» for the holiday winter season and they connect it to Christmas. However, I am almost sure that in fact «bimuelos» are the origin of the «borrachuelos.» The only difference is that borrachuelos do not have yeast and include white wine. Another reason could be that when the Jews had to hide, they modified their dishes so as not to arouse suspicion. Let’s investigate!”

If you are in the Bordeaux area and wish to hear Hélène in person, she will be giving a talk at the Grande Synagogue on January 17, entitled “Jewish Spanish Recipes of the 12th Century: A Hidden Heritage.”

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil (to fry)
• 20 g (0.8 oz) fresh yeast
• 177 ml (6.2 oz) warm water
• ½ orange (to make orange juice, with pulp and zest)
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp white sugar
• 170g honey
• 300 g (11 oz) all-purpose flour
• 3g (0.2 oz) anise seeds + 3 tbsp olive oil)
• 2 tsp blossom water

Preparation

1.  In a pan fry the anise seeds with the olive oil during 30 seconds (be careful, it burn very quickly)
2.  Then add the fresh orange juice with his zest and mix with a spoon during 1 minutes, and then wait until all is cold.
3.  Take ½ of the quantity of water and heat it at 95 °F (just a little hot), and add the yeast. Mix 10 seconds.
4.  In the KitchenAid, mix the flour and the sugar first. Then add the yeast in his water, the food preparation of anise, the blossom water, and the last ½ part of the hot water. Mix slowly 4 minutes.
5.  Let it rise the double (over 3 hours) covering with a kitchen towel. If you let it more (a night) it will be better.
6.  Finally, oil your hand and remove quickly the dough to get the air out. It is sticky.
7.  Heat vegetable oil like sunflower. It needs to but hot but not smoking.
8. With oiled hand take small piece of dough and make small balls and put them in the oil. Remove the balls all time during 3 minutes. They have to be like gold.
9. In another pan heat slowly the honey until hot and dip the bimuelos inside. Remove all. They have to be immersed. Then put them in a plate and eat !

Happy Hanukkah!
Hélène