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January 1
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NO LEV EISHA SERVICE
Enjoy the parade (all day on channel 5)
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January 8
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9:30 a.m. Lev Eisha Service at Vista Del Mar
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January 20
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Tu B'Shevat
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February 5
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8:30 a.m. Breakfast & Brucha with Rabbi August
9:30 a.m. Lev Eisha Service at Vista Del Mar
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No matter how immense one's vocabulary has become, one should learn a new word every year. This year, mine is "spatchcock". My friend uses it. It's an old word, apparently popularized recently by Martha Stewart. It doesn't mean anything more than butterfly a bird, but has such a nice mouth-feel while saying it, how can you resist? It's also really easy, and a nice way to prepare a chicken for brasing.
All you do is snip out the spine, using your poultry shears (or a knife if you prefer), turn it over, pull the cavity apart, a little, and press down on the breast bone. If you have a larger or older bird, you should also remove the breastbone, but for a tender chicken you can flatten it easily and leave it in. If you want to be fancy you can tuck under the wing tips, and turn the legs into the lotus position (so the ends point toward the tail, on top), but I haven't found it necessary for cooking, unless the pot isn't big enough.
Spatchcock with Peaches
Shallots, handful, 4-5
(small, 1-1.5" is better), sliced fine
Peaches, 1 large or 2 small
peeled and sliced
Fresh basil, handful, leaves only
Garlic Pepper or other seasoning blend
Korean Teriyaki sauce
or other sweet, fruity sauce
Whole chicken, small and tender
Scatter the shallot slices in the bottom of a heavy braiser, or other large baking dish that has a tight cover, or a large dutch oven. Add a few of the peach slices, about a quarter of the total, and a few of the basil leaves.
Clean, trim and spatchcock the chicken (see above)
Season the chicken with the garlic pepper. Shake it on liberally. Lay the chicken on the bed of shallots in a restful posture. That is, make sure it's flat, rather than curled up and cramped, and doesn't touch the sides. Pour a goodly dollop of the teriyaki sauce over the chicken, carefully so as not to dislodge the seasoning. Lay the rest of the peach slices on top of the chicken and scatter the basil leaves all over the dish.
Cook in a moderate oven (350) until done, about an hour and a half. Remove to serving platter, so the chicken won't overcook in the pot.
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Thanks to everyone who participated in our second annual SOVA drive! Your generosity filled our bin to overflowing, and your online donations have enabled SOVA to use their purchasing power to buy even more. It's not too late to show you care. Go to SOVA online to make a donation, or call them at (818)988-7682 to volunteer your time at the West L.A., Valley, or the new West Hollywood food pantry.
We have lots of new and rejoining members to welcome this month. Anna Alexis, Barbara Axelband, Barbara Haberman, Dr. Norman Mirman, Linda Ofer, Laurie Samson, Lynn Stevens. Thanks to all of them, as well as the following donors. Your continuing support keeps Lev Eisha going.
Tributes and Donations sent this month:
- In memory of Marv Grossman by Sherrill Kushner
- In Memory of Leon Firestone, father and Grandfather to Pam, Rebecca, Rachelle and Elena Neskes by Marla Osband
- In memory of Marvin Grossman by Pearl Councelbaum
- In honor of Myrna Kayton and Barbara Axelband's 75th Birthdays by Judy Maller
- From Ruth Belonsky " with gratitude for all Lev gives to her"
- Anna Alexis
What happens on Saturday morning when we gather together for prayer? I am so curious what this experience feels like for each of you! And I know that it is unique and different for each person.
When we celebrate Shabbat on January 8 (2nd Sat) I would like to share our experiences with "prayer".
To do so, let's first examine the origin of this word. Prayer comes from the classical Latin word "precari" which means: to entreat or request -- to ask earnestly for something. Prayer is a noun and is "a devout petition" to god or to an object of worship.
Are you "asking" for something when you pray? Perhaps you are sometimes, but not always. We know there are different types of "prayers" including those of petition. And there are prayers for Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Praise, Forgiveness, Remorse and Repentance. (To name just a few!)
Now, secondly, note the difference in the Hebrew word for prayer: Tefilah. To pray is in the reflexive form: - [lamed, he, tav, pe, lamed, lamed] L'hitpalel. The root is "ô.ì.ì- P.L.L" and means, "to judge oneself". This is a surprising word origin and provides insight into the purpose of Jewish prayer. The most important part of any prayer is the introspection. Praying is about spending time looking within. We can spend our time honestly evaluating how we are doing. Are we fulfilling our life's mission and are we current in our relationships?
Lastly, our prayers consist of the word: [bed, resh, vav, kaf sofit] -- "Baruch" which is usually translated as "Blessed art Thou..." and implies we are conferring a blessing on God! This is truly not the case. Baruch is not a noun but rather is an adjective and it describes the source of blessing, the Divine Reality of the universe. No matter how you understand the concept of God, blessing is about acknowledging the gift of our lives, our families and friends,
Lev Eisha -- our community, and all that we are grateful for.
Adonai Sefatai Tiftach: Dear One -- Open my lips that I can sing Your praise. Rabbi Lawrence Kushner teaches that God is not opening our lips literally, but that God is the ocean and we are the waves. Our praises are God's words, and through our actions, God prays through us! Let this be so, and we say, Amen.
You are invited to attend a Benefit Performance of a new play that features Rabbi August's words and stories.
Last fall, Rabbi August took part in a series of interviews, which resulted in her words and stories, along with those of 17 other dynamic LA women rabbis, being compiled in an extraordinary play, Stories From the Fringe: Women Rabbis, Revealed! Finding holy moments in love, G-d, and a fabulous pair of shoes.
There are only two performances: Saturday, Jan. 22nd and Sunday, Jan. 23rd.
At the Museum of Tolerance.
Rabbi August will be attending the Saturday show. Join her then!
Proceeds benefit
The Jewish Women's Theatre and the
Story Archive of Women Rabbis.
Find out more or buy tickets at:
www.jewishwomenstheatre.org
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HaMakom Yenachem (God will comfort) congregants Pam, Rebecca, Rachelle and Elena Neskes on the passing of their beloved father / grandfather Leon Firestone
If you have a milestone to share please send it to: editor@leveisha.org. Our
newsletter gets printed about a week before each service. Please send the info ASAP.
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MAP
Click Map for a larger image and directions
Many women have expressed an interest in carpooling to Lev Eisha services. If you need a ride, or can offer one (especially from distant neighborhoods), please contact us at info@leveisha.org or leave a message on our phone line, (310) 575-0985.
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