Lev Eisha   A joyous community of Jewish women engaged in prayer, study and spiritual growth

December Delights Begin at Lev Eisha
Song, dance and prayer at Lev Eisha will put you in the December spirit. Services conducted by Rabbi August begin at 9:30 am in the Adat Shalom Sanctuary on December 2, 2006 (10 Kislev, Parashat Vayetze).

Do you have a birthday or other simcha you wish to celebrate with us? You can sponsor or donate towards this Kiddush, or any future ones. Please contact catering@leveisha.org
  Calendar of Events
December 2      Lev Eisha Service 9:30 am in the Adat Shalom Sanctuary
December 15      First Night of Hanukah
January 6      Lev Eisha Service
9:30 am
 
  From Barbara's Kitchen

On Hanukah, oil plays a featured role in the preparation of the menu. The special foods eaten at this time are cooked in oil. The particular dish varies since Jews lived all over the world and adapt their own cuisine to that of the particular country they are residing in at the time.

Potato pancakes (latkes), symbolic of Hanukah, are popular among European Jews. Each cook has his or her own recipe. Most cooks don't use a written one. Latkes are usually served with applesauce and sour cream.

From the Middle East we have deep-fried pastry. The Sephardic Jews from Spain prepare bimuelos, similar to the Mexican favorite at Christmas.

American Jews have adopted all the traditions, adding the sugar cookie cut into Hanukah-related shapes and decorated.

HANUKAH SUGAR COOKIES
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup salad oil (not olive)
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream sugar and oil. Add eggs and beat well. Combine flour and baking powder and add to creamed mixture. Blend well. Add orange juice and vanilla. Beat until well mixed. If the dough is too wet and add more flour.

Roll out on a floured board. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare cookie sheet with a non-stick spray. Place shaped cookies on to cookie sheet and bake in a preheated oven for about 10 minutes. Cookies will not brown. Sprinkle with colored sugar or decorate with frosting.

In This Issue

“Got Candles?” Hanukah is Coming

Children look forward to the lights of Hanukah and the fun attached to the festivities. Meanwhile the adults, usually the women in the family, have the responsibility of making it all happen. So what’s new about that? Many holidays are celebrated with family traditions. Trying something new can be a pleasant surprise or a question on everyone’s mind, “Why are we doing that?”

Every year, Hanukah brings with it the lights of the candles, the dreidel game and everyone’s favorite, potato latkes. This year the first night of Hanukah comes on December 15.

As we light the first candle once again we can’t help thinking about that original Hanukah so long ago.

Remember to retell the story of those brave Maccabees who defeated the Greeks and won back our Temple. Remind the children of the miracle of the oil. Invite them to participate in the preparations. If you are going to bake Hanukah cookies, let the children help you. It can be lots of fun.

The first night of Hanukah falls on a Friday. Remember to light the Hanukah Candles before the Shabbat Candles.

Join Now! The New Lev Eisha Community Online Bulletin Board

Our quest to bring you new and better ways to enhance your Lev Eisha experience continues. Lev Eisha members are all invited to participate in our new Community Bulletin Board. There are forums for discussion of all aspects of Jewish life, as well as just plain chit chat.

Discuss the Parasha, or your favorite recipe for Hanukah cookies. Review the movie you've just seen. Did you attend the book group? Continue the discussion on the bulletin board. Or did you miss the book group and want to find out what went on? Post your latest writings and art. Talk about the issues that concern you. Make connections. Express yourself!

All Lev Eisha members are welcome (and it's never too late to join for the year.) To sign up for the bulletin board, follow the directions on the Lev Eisha homepage (www.leveisha.org). The instructions there will help you through the process of signing up with the bulletin board service and applying for entry to the Lev Eisha Community Bulletin Board.

If you need any additional help with the website e-mail webmistress@leveisha.org

Milestones

Nachas for Shoshi Wilchroft and mazel tov to her son and daughter-in-law, Rodney and Beth Freeman. The Freemans were honored as outgoing chairs of the Zimmer Children’s Museum. They were recognized for their leadership and contributions to further the Museum’s mission which is to educate children about Israel and Jewish Morals and Ethics.

Mazel Tov to Barbara Haberman who landed a role in the January-February theater production at Kentwood Players in Westchester. It’s the “The Wake” by Steve Allen and runs from January 12 to February 17.

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.

Lev Eisha Lev Eisha of Adat Shalom
3030 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
info@leveisha.org

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