Bagel Bash origins

We are writing this article to set the record straight, not to take away any kudos from the organizers or sponsoring organizations of Bagel Bash, which was featured in an article Dec. 15.

Bagel Bash was begun about 20 years ago, as they said, but it was first organized by Kehilath Israel Synagogue when Joyce Zeldin was president. We were asked to be advisers to a young adult board including Rusty Krakow, Jordan Zeldin, Nathaniel Pool, Debbie Wacjman and Marsha Friedman. Forgive us if we omitted any names. We planned several social events for young adults and the community was invited to attend. We had been in Denver and read that they had a Christmas Eve party for Jewish young adults that was well attended every years, so we suggested to our committee to try the event here for the greater Kansas City area. It was held at the Princess Garden restaurant on College Boulevard in their party room. Rabbi Herbert Mandl was the mashgiach for the event. We had dinner and one drink for $10 a person and a disc jockey. To our great amazement, 85 young adults came.

The program has evolved over the years with several different organizations and groups planning the event. We are so glad to see how big it has grown and how many organizations are funding it.

Joyce and Harold Koch
Leawood, Kan.

Anti-Semitism on Fox

I have enjoyed the television show House on the Fox Network for many years. I protest the portrayal of the character Chris Taub, a Jewish physician. He is a stereotype; smart, but ineffectual. He is often shown standing between two taller people or in profile, reinforcing the stereotype of little Jews with big noses. On the show, there have been many gibes about Taub’s nose. There is an anti-Taub website complaining about his nose and urging his elimination.

In the Nov. 28 episode, “Perils of Paranoia,” Taub said, “If anarchy breaks out, I plan to do what my ancestors have done throughout the ages: run.” The implication is that Jews are cowards.

Yes, sometimes Jews flee, and the flight may require courage. Sometimes Jews stay and fight, as we celebrate at Chanukah, when a small band of Jewish guerillas beat the most powerful army in the world. If you agree that anti-Semitic jokes are unfunny, send an email to Fox Network at .

Elizabeth Appelbaum, Ph.D.
Overland Park, Kan.

Actions louder than words

With reference to Stu Lewis’s response (Dec. 15) to Lee Levin’s article in the prior week’s (Dec. 8) Chronicle, I agree with Mr. Levin. Mr. Lewis seems to ignore the basic premise of Mr. Levin’s article that while President Obama’s speaks generally flowery words about support for Israel, (said in my opinion to retain Jewish votes and money), his actions demonstrate his and his administration’s absolute anti-Israel bias. Obama’s unrealistic demand that Israel return to “67” borders, (the Arabs hopped on this one with glee), the ongoing diatribes by his State Department, his Secretary of Defense Panetta, and now from his ambassador to Belgium are proof enough that Obama and his administration are basically anti-Israel. These refer only to Obama’s actions in the last few weeks. What will the next weeks, months and 2012 bring? Remember, these are first term actions when Jewish support is probably needed if he is to win re-election. What would be in store for Israel if he gained a second term and not require any further Jewish support? The results could truly be a disaster for Israel.

Mr. Lewis’s letter touches on the Torah (which can always be cherry picked for whatever thesis is being advocated), but he does not touch on the key question in Mr. Levin’s letter, in which he asks why anyone would support Obama based on what he has done. The question remains, “What has Obama actually done, and what does he specifically propose to do, that entitles him to four more years in office?”

Paul Wacknov
Leawood, Kansas

Obama’s values consistent with Judaism

I would like to respond to Lee Levin’s letter (Dec. 8) concerning President Obama. It is true that President Obama has been critical of the current Israeli administration, but so have many Israelis. This does not mean that he has abandoned the U.S.’s commitment to the security of Israel.

Levin asks why anyone would support the president’s re-election bid. Looking at the likely opposition, I can think of a number of factors based on Jewish values:

1. Protection of the environment is an important Torah value, as expressed in Deuteronomy. At least one Republican candidate has vowed to eliminate the EPA.

2. The Torah provides a number of mechanisms to prevent the permanent accumulation of wealth by a handful of people. The president’s opponents don’t seem to believe that this is a problem in the United States.

3. The current leading candidate for the Republican nomination has told unemployed protesters to take a bath and find a job, despite the lack of jobs in the current economy. Can you imagine those words in the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, who taught compassion for the poor and helpless?

4. While abortion-on-demand is not necessarily a Jewish value, our position is far more nuanced that that of the so-called “pro-life” movement that dominates the Republican Party. If any of the Republican candidates gets to make some appointments to the Supreme Court, even the right to abortion to save the mother’s life will not be guaranteed.

While I do not agree with all of President Obama’s positions, I find his values far more consistent with Jewish values than those of his opponents.

Stu Lewis
Prairie Village, Kan.

“I go to Grandma and Grandpa Brown’s for Christmas, help trim the tree, sing carols and then get a lot of presents. And then we go to Grandma and Grandpa Friedman’s to light the Chanukah candles, bake Chanukah cookies and get presents for eight nights,” bragged Josh Solomon, age 6, of New York City to one of his first-grade friends. “That’s not fair,” his friend responded, “I only get presents on one day.”

For Josh and other forward-thinking children, celebrating two holidays may simply seem more of a good thing. But for many parents and grandparents, the issue is more complicated. In fact, the question of how to integrate two religious traditions is likely to drive interfaith couples into counseling. They may minimize the problem when contemplating marriage, but when kids come along, the true emotions surface.

This can be especially tricky around the holidays, when thoughts turn to religion and family traditions. For grandparents of interfaith children, the December holidays can pose a special challenge. They are anxious to share their heritage. But how can they do so without alienating the children’s parents, confusing the kids or offending the other grandparents?

The main ingredient for a peaceful holiday is clear communication — first with your partner, then with your kids and both sets of grandparents. Before the season starts, set aside a time to discuss holiday plans. To what extent will you celebrate each holiday? Will you have a Christmas tree and a menorah? What traditions do you feel strongly about? Grandparents should let the parents know they will not try to convert or force their beliefs on the grandchildren. Sharing the grandchildren of two different religious cultures and visiting two different houses of worship is a tough balancing act for parents and grandparents.

You want your grandchildren to have a positive attitude toward the holidays. Have your grandchildren, step-grandchildren, your children’s in-laws and the parents over for a Chanukah party. Let them share the warmth and spirit in your home. You prepare the latkes, let the grandchildren make the Chanukah cookies. If you have the batter ready in the refrigerator, the children can roll it out and use cookie cutters with Chanukah symbols. Have some colored sugar and candies for decoration. It is satisfying for the child to find the one cookie he has made.

A family tree is another way of presenting Jewish heritage and history to a grandchild. Your history is one of the richest gifts you can give your grandchild. Make a picture album, adding new pictures each year. With younger children, tell the Chanukah story with stick puppets the children have made. Emphasize that Chanukah was the Jewish peoples’ first battle for religious freedom. When it’s time, light the candles in the menorah, say the blessing and sing songs. Don’t forget to have a rousing dreidel game; you can teach everyone how to play. You might have pennies or poker chips to play with and prizes for the winners. The message you’re transmitting is, we can all enjoy and share this holiday. At the same time you are passing down traditions of your Jewish heritage.

Don’t forget about equal time. If you are invited to a Christmas dinner at the other grandparents’ home or a Christmas play at school, make a special effort to go. Most important, don’t try to compete with the other grandparents at this time. This is their holiday, not yours.

Keep in mind that yours is not the only cultural heritage being passed down to your grandchildren.

Ideally, with a grandparent as a good role model, your Jewish heritage can help the child make a choice that will be a fulfilling identity.

Sunie Levin, MEd holds degrees in psychology and education. She has lectured and held workshops around the country, appeared on national T.V. and radio. Her book “Mingled Roots for Jewish Grandparents of Interfaith Grandchildren,” as well as her new book “Make New Friends Live Longer” are available at amazon.com and http://www.makenewfriendslivelonger.com.

Season of thanking and miracles

On Sunday, Nov. 11, more than 50 Jewish educators came together for lunch and a professional development session. The luncheon, provided by an anonymous donor, was designed to express appreciation for the good work of our Jewish school teachers, who devote time, energy and creativity to OUR Jewish children. The program was co-sponsored by Learning for Life and The PJ Library, two initiatives of the Jewish Federation, and the Jewish Family Service’s Family Life Education program.

Following lunch, the professional development session, facilitated by SuEllen Fried and Dr. Blanche Sosland, focused on “cyber-bullying” and peer abuse. Bullying has received a good deal of attention in recent months, and for good reason! It is a problem that parents, children, teachers and others need to tackle together. These two local women are recognized nationally for their work. Last month, the second edition of their landmark study, “Banishing Bullying Behavior: Transforming the Culture of Peer Abuse,” was released.

I want to take this opportunity to recognize all of OUR teachers who don’t always receive the credit they deserve. Since this is the season for thanking and miracles, please make sure that you thank your child/children’s or grandchild/children’s teachers. They change lives every day!

Karen B. Gerson
Director of Informal Jewish
Education — CAJE/Jewish
Federation

Appalling record toward Israel

Poor Alan Edelman! How totally embarrassing it must be for him to have the rug pulled from under his feet just one day after his tribute to President Barak Obama appeared in The Chronicle (Dec. 1. Letters to the Editor). On the very next day, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, on behalf of the Obama administration, ordered Israel to “just get back to the damned table” in regard to peace negotiations. Not the Palestinians, of course. Just the Israelis. Not very diplomatic words from the friendly administration Mr. Edelman would have us believe exist. In the very same statement, Panetta ordered that Israel “mend fences” with Turkey and Egypt. Just how Israel was to do this, he failed to say, nor did he mention that Israel would be thrilled to do precisely that if either or both of those countries was accommodating.

He castigates Shoula Romano-Horing for her article pointing out the facts of Obama’s bias against Israel. He offers no facts whatsoever in rebuttal, other than Obama’s demand for tougher sanctions on Iran, which is tangential to the question of Israel. What he does offer in support of Obama is nothing but Obama’s honeyed words, but obviously he cannot offer any deeds to prove his thesis or he would have done so.

Ms. Romano-Horing offered facts to show the indisputable — that Obama is no friend of Israel. There is no need to reiterate them. Facts are facts. On the other hand, Mr. Edelman obviously is a fan of Mary Poppins, believing that a spoonful of sugar will make the bitter pill of Obama’s hostility to Israel go down, but it won’t. We know better. We also know that between now and next election all we will hear from Obama is fulsome support for Israel. That is totally predictable. But they are just words.

Why anyone would vote to re-elect Obama given his appalling track record in office is difficult to understand. I have talked to many of his supporters and none has been able to offer an answer based on any of the things he has done. However, to those to whom Israel is a significant factor in their vote, keep closely in mind that this man, if re-elected, whose actions (not words) have been consistently hostile to Israel, will have absolutely no motive to rein in his animus toward Israel should he have another four years in office.

Lee Levin
Overland Park, Kan.

Obama truly supports Israel

President Barak Obama is a friend of Israel. His actions and his words demonstrate this support clearly. In an address to the United Nations, our president told the delegates of the world body that “Israel’s existence must not be a subject for debate” and that “efforts to chip away at Israel’s legitimacy will only be met by the unshakeable opposition of the United States.” The Obama administration succeeded in pushing through the toughest set of sanctions against Iran ever enacted by the U.N. Security Council and cast its only veto in the U.N. Security Council against the biased anti-Israel resolution on settlements. In a speech — described by the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot as the most pro-Israel speech ever given by an American President at the U.N. — President Obama told the world that “Israel deserves recognition and normal relations with its neighbors.” The Obama administration continues to support increasing levels of foreign aid to Israel, despite some Republicans supporting cuts in this funding. These are just a few examples that show President Obama is a supporter of Israel.

But you wouldn’t know it if you read Shoula Romano-Horing’s column in last week’s Jewish Chronicle entitled “Obama’s double talk about Israel.” She suggests people consider not voting for President Obama because he is not a friend of Israel. But the article ignores the President’s record on the Jewish state, demonstrated above.

The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is complicated. The Obama administration, as well as previous administrations, has tried to bring the two sides together, which often requires putting pressure on the two parties. For example, in 2004 the Bush administration neglected to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution calling on Israel to stop demolishing Palestinian homes. The Reagan administration supported a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israel for its 1981 attack on Iraq’s nuclear reactor.

A second article in the Nov. 24 issue of the Jewish Chronicle entitled “Jonathan Pollard enters 27th year in prison” focuses on a quote from Vice President Biden that discourages President Obama from considering clemency for Pollard. Once again, the article heaps a good deal of criticism on President Obama and his administration. But it fails to answer an obvious question: Why didn’t President George W. Bush pardon Pollard on his way out of office?

I believe that Jewish Chronicle readers are sophisticated enough to understand the complexity of Middle East politics. Most of us want to see peace between Israel and their neighbors. We know that President Obama and his administration support Israel. We also care about the many domestic issues that are important to members of our Jewish community: the economy, immigration reform and potential cuts in social services for our unemployed, seniors and disadvantaged citizens.

Alan Edelman
Leawood, Kan.

Kansas filled with unknown Jewish history

Thank you for picking up the Leavenworth story about the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation’s (Jashp) efforts to historically mark the site of the first permanent Jewish house of worship in Kansas. (Nov. 24 edition) http://www.kcjc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=799:listening-post&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=27

We have a small clarification to the article. The B’Nai Jeshurun building (1918) is an architectural gem and is still standing. (The first building was dedicated in 1864.) B’Nai Jeshurun was converted, pardon the pun, into the Temple Apartments in the 1970s after the synagogue community folded. The present owner went to great lengths to preserve the historical and architectural integrity of the structure.

We are working with the Leavenworth County Historical Society to place a historical interpretive marker at the site (6th and Osage Streets, Leavenworth). Jashp has completed Jewish historical marker projects in 23 states and in four countries. More than 5 million people a year see and learn a little bit about American Jewish historical legitimacy from the various markers.

We recently did a marker project in Kansas City at the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial. The effort, a simple brick in the Walk of Honor, is intended to bring visitor awareness to the Jewish American fighting man and Jewish American support for the WWI effort. We want the word “Jewish” to be very visible to help affirm in visitors’ minds that Jews fought in WWI as well. Too many anti-Semitic canards exist that we were shirkers, did not participate in the building of this great country or sacrifice for it.

We have purchased a brick in the Walk of Honor in the name of Nathan Golden, JWV, which will be dedicated next year. Nathan was a WWI Jewish American vet. He was also a friend. It would be great if more American Jews would add their family names with the designations, JWV-Jewish War Veteran to the Walk of Honor. Few people understand that almost 6 percent of the American Expeditionary Forces were Jews. We served at more than twice what our proportional representation of Jews was in the general population of America at the time. The Museum states clearly that Blacks served disproportionally, but does not give the same dignified representation to Jews. http://www.jewish-american-society-for-historic-preservation.org/completedprgms1/kansascitywwimuseum.html

You have quite an unknown and un-popularized Jewish history in Kansas. Jashp is looking into placing other Jewish historical markers in the state. We are also beginning to work on getting National Registry of Historical Places designations for the synagogue and the Jewish cemetery in Leavenworth — dating from 1860. In Salina, we are working with the Smoky Hills Museum to see about a historical interpretive marker, at or near, the home of August Bondi. Christians have been also been helpful, approaching me about forgotten Jewish cemeteries that need identification. For instance we now know of a Jewish cemetery located at Fort Scott, Kan.

Jerry Klinger
President
Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation
www.Jashp.org

In less than one year we will have elected a president and a congress. The results of that day will affect the future of our country.

But sadly, I predict that a large percentage of voting-age Americans will not cast a ballot. Not from fear. But most likely, out of apathy.

Only 57 percent voted in 2008. Those who couldn’t or wouldn’t accounted for a huge percentage ... enough that their votes would have most definitely made a difference in any number of elections and ballot initiatives on the local, state and federal levels.

As Jews, we understand the importance of having a voice, of not remaining the passive participant in society. In fact, our tradition teaches that it is better to act — and to act wrongly — than to not act at all.

Another time when we chose not to act, the results were disastrous. It was in the late 1930s, in Nazi Germany. Jews could not imagine that their lives were in danger. While some left following Kristallnacht (to learn more, go to http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/kristallnacht.html), so many didn’t. And when it was too late, the Jews were sent to camps and endured a random selection process, where those who went along one path survived and the others walked a path to their destruction.

This is NOT a condemnation of the Jews who died or those who left. Rather, it is a comment about apathy ... the apathy of all peoples during those years that led to the slaughter of so many innocents.

Apathy is the enemy. And it will be the Achilles’s heel of our country unless we stir ourselves into action.

The election in 49 weeks is an opportunity to change history, to help our country steer a course towards prosperity, healing and hope. While I have my own private opinions as to who and which political vision will allow us to achieve such a goal, what is most important is that (a) each of us acts according to our own beliefs and consciences; and (b) we get as many other Americans as possible to vote as well. Only when we all participate can our country be strong and a mandate be clear.

I write this now to encourage you to volunteer through whatever organization you want in order to help register voters in Kansas and Missouri (and other states, as well). If you haven’t registered, go to www.sos.ks.gov or www.sos.mo.gov for Kansas or Missouri registration forms.

It may seem like an unlikely stretch to connect the Holocaust with a failure to vote, but given the temporal proximity of Kristallnacht and Election Day 2012 (three days apart), the connection is there ... whether we like it or not. And let us remember the words of Pastor Martin Niemoller, who wrote:

They came for the Communists, and I didn’t object — For I wasn’t a Communist;
They came for the Socialists, and I didn’t object — For I wasn’t a Socialist;
They came for the labor leaders, and I didn’t object — For I wasn’t a labor leader;
They came for the Jews, and I didn’t object — For I wasn’t a Jew;
Then they came for me — And there was no one left to object.

May we encourage every American to register to vote; to learn about candidates and causes; and most importantly, to care enough to decide how our country will move forward in the coming years.

At the last shlichim (Israel emissary) convention, I was introduced to an amazing family, the Tzemachs. They are an Israeli family who decided to temporarily close their family business, take a year off and use their private money to go on a journey around the world. But it’s not just a family vacation they are taking. In each country they visit, they are meeting with people from every community — primarily non-Jewish — to talk about their lives in Israel.

The Tzemachs grew tired hearing that Israel is the world’s “bad guy,” and decided it was time to show the world the truth about who we Israelis are. The truth is, we are not a bunch of ruthless warriors, we are people just like you — families mostly — who go to work, meet our friends for coffee and do other normal, everyday things like people do all over the world.

As excited as I was to hear about the Tzemachs and their year-long mission, their quest brought up some nagging questions. Why don’t the English or French or Americans need to do things like this? Why do we Israelis need to explain ourselves, to make sure that the world gives us “permission” to exist? And finally, do we really need to defend ourselves to the world?

After reading a lot on the matter, I discovered the ugly truth: Yes, Israel does need to defend herself. We are not like the English, French or Americans. In spite of the fact that all three of these countries had their share of oppressing people in other countries, as well as people who lived within their own borders, no one ever questioned their right to exist.

Yet here you have one tiny, Jewish state that gets all the attention when it comes to how it treats people. Many believe Israel is the cause of all the problems in the world, as if all of the world’s problems began only 63 years ago. The world press, from my point of view, is very one-sided when focusing on Israel. This leads people around the world to create a strong opinion about a country that they, in fact, know very little about.

Delegitimization of the state of Israel is not a new phenomenon. What is new is the fact that, instead of being a target only for Arab nations and third-world countries, people from western countries now oppose Israel’s existence. What troubles me most is that some of these Israel opponents are Jews.

The state of Israel wasn’t born from the Holocaust. It is actually the opposite: the Holocaust happened because we didn’t have a Jewish state to protect our people.

The Holocaust is proof that we should not have to justify our existence to anyone. Jewish people deserve a country just like any other people in the world, and the only legitimate place for us to do that is the land of our ancestors, our history and our heritage. In other words, the Land of Israel. From our perspective in Israel, it makes sense we are there. From our perspective, we do not have to justify ourselves. But with today’s world politics and perceptions, the reality is, we do need to justify our existence as a state.

This sad reality puts the pressure on all Jews, everywhere, to ensure the existence of the state of Israel will never be a question. Left wing, right wing — your specific beliefs don’t matter. What does matter is the existence of the state of Israel. Israelis and Diaspora Jews alike … it is a big part of our Jewish identity that we need in our lives.

I ask all of you to take action against the delegitimization of Israel. Speak out, learn more or join my Israel Advocacy group. You can connect to the advocacy group on Facebook (Israel Advocacy KC) or text advocacykc to 51818 to get updates on Israel. I also welcome you to contact me in person at or 913-327-8124.

It is difficult to place into a neat and tidy box custard-meister Jim Sheridan’s relatively novel restaurant concept Unforked (7337 W. 119th St., Overland Park, Kan. 66213). Is it a health food place? There is a salad premised wholly upon kale, after all. A Mexican joint? So much, it seems, is served within the confines of a taco (or quesadilla). For years, Sheridan dazzled us with dessert. We waited in long lines outside, enduring blistering heat and other elements, for delicious custard strewn with fruits, candies and various other mix-ins. With Unforked, however, Sheridan is reeling us in by simply making good food, fresh, with seasonal and/or local ingredients (to the extent possible).

Unforked is wholly casual in its approach. There is a drive-thru. Inside, food is ordered at a counter, from helpful clerks who are ostensibly “true believers” in the Unforked concept and product. Lines can be long, particularly at peak dinner times. Buzzers are given to diners, who are then (on busy nights) relegated to the mad scramble for somewhat limited seating in the bright dining area — where the walls are lined with white siding, as would appear on a house exterior. Televisions flash overhead. After the buzzers sizzle, diners return to the front of the restaurant to retrieve orders. Geez, whatever happened to sitting down and being waited upon? That said, the food at Unforked is generally well worth the effort.

Be ready for the cute names of menu items — including both salads we tried. Hail the Kale ($4.50, $7.50) was a simple and fresh salad in which kale (a spinach-like leaf, of sorts) was simply and effectively dressed with a light, lemon olive oil dressing and just enough parmesan cheese. The Thai Me Up ($4.50, $7.50) was a more complicated, but frankly terrific blend of juicy mangoes, carrots, string beans, coconuts and peanuts —interspersed with a strong cilantro essence that was a bit much for my taste (given a profound disposition against that particular herb, in all candor). As an appetizer, we also tried the Chipz ($1.70), an economical snack basket of house-made tortilla, taro and plantain chips, served with two “flavors” for dipping — out of a dozen possibilities. The habanero ranch we chose was only fair, with its odd aftertaste (and lack of creaminess that characterizes the best ranch versions). The creamy-avocado-cilantro sauce was superb, however — even with the shading of the dreaded cilantro.

Having grown up on Winsteads and Town Topic, and rounded out adulthood with Westport Flea Market and its fine burgers, the Unforked Pure Burger ($4, $6 for a double) failed to measure up. Though made from quality Angus beef sirloin, the patty was rather thin and lacked the heartiness and flavor of the better burgers in town. It’s less greasy, though, and presumably healthier — if those sorts of things matter. We preferred the Veggie Burger ($4.30), which was actually a delicious, perfectly grilled and marinated Portobello mushroom sandwich. The fries, deemed K Fries ($1.70), did measure up to those served at some of the better burger joints — small, crispy and satisfying.

What Unforked does quite well — and serves in intriguing varieties — is tacos (with either whole wheat, white corn or flour tortillas — all soft shell renditions). We sampled many of the offerings — some, again, riddled with cutesy names. The Pink Lady ($3.30), included tender steak contrasted with interesting, pickled red onions and queso fresco cheese. The Conquistador ($3.50), also featured the steak and was a little spicy, with a very well-executed chimichurri (a marinade with roots in Argentinean cuisine) and “blistered” onions, along with a bit of the queso fresco cheese. The Fundido Sirloin ($3.50) was like a Philly cheese steak on a taco, in essence — a pretty good one, too. The Cali ($3.50) included superior seared tilapia, with the stellar creamy avocado-cilantro sauce and pickled red cabbage slaw. This tilapia would have stood comfortably on its own as an entree at a (sit down?) restaurant that featured quality seafood.

The one chicken dish we tried, The BFF ($3), was the most Americanized Mexican taco we tried, with good grilled chicken simmered in salsa verde, with refried black beans and queso fresco cheese. Unforked does a very nice — albeit simple —Cheesy Quesadilla ($3.20), and an even better Veggie Quesadilla ($3.20), featuring many of the fine, grilled vegetables and ingredients offered within the array of tacos, laden with nice, ripe avocado.

Obviously, we had to have dessert. We knew Unforked would excel in that realm and we sampled three. Our favorite was the Wedding Cake Custard, though we were also immensely fond of the Chocolate Kiss ($3.50, $4.50, $5.20). The Wedding Cake Custard tasted like really good custard, for a couple bites — no real surprise, there. Then, we hit some icing. And some cake. And some more icing. Wow. The Chocolate Kiss was more “Ben and Jerry’s” in its approach, with chocolate chunks and chocolate chip cookie dough. Really excellent Ben and Jerry’s, though. We liked the flavor of the most unusual dessert that we tried, the Ricotta Pistachio Shake ($3, $6), and it was crammed with pistachios. It was a little thin, though, as shakes go.
We would undoubtedly come back for the food, rooted in fresh, quality ingredients. But we would stay, day after day, for the dessert. After all, this is Sheridan’s place.

Food:  3 stars
Service:  3 stars
Atmosphere:  2½ stars

Out of four stars

By now, everyone is aware of the infamous open microphone incident in which President Barak Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy were overheard in a private conversation ridiculing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the G-20 summit in Cannes. After Sarkozy was overheard saying that he “could not stand Netanyahu” and calling him a “liar,” Obama replied “you are fed up with him, but I have to deal with him every day.”

Obama’s lack of defense at the character assassination of a supposed ally should awaken Jewish voters to the inescapable conclusion that President Obama is not a friend of the Jewish state despite his recent efforts to change this perception.

It seems that Obama’s recent strategy of publicly adopting pro- Israeli stances, and avoiding public confrontations, condemnations and humiliation of the Israeli prime minister has only been a temporary public relations ploy to hold on to Jewish votes and donations in his re-election campaign. Obama has been publicly reassuring Jewish supporters of his commitment to Israel’s security and repeatedly pointing to the high level of security and diplomatic cooperation with the Israelis. However, privately he has been undermining Israel by agreeing with European leaders that the Israeli prime minister is to be blamed for the lack of progress toward peace in the Middle East while at the same time giving the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas a pass.

A reality check reveals that Obama’s view of the Israeli prime minister is distorted, whether by personal bias or selective memory. In fact, since Netanyahu came to power three years ago, the prime minister has bent to Obama’s will on many occasions. He agreed for the first time to commit his Likud party to accept a Palestinian state. He froze West Bank settlement growth as well as any buildup in east Jerusalem, Israel’s eternal capital. This is something no other Israeli leader has ever agreed to do, including dovish prime ministers such as Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres. Netanyahu removed dozens of roadblocks, agreed to dismantle illegal outposts and eventually accepted Obama’s territorial formula for a Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders with land swaps.

Moreover while Netanyahu accepted the Mideast Quartets’ call, which included France and the United States, to return back to negotiations with the PA without preconditions, Abbas said no. But much worse, Abbas has rejected numerous personal appeals from Obama not to take his bid for statehood to the United Nations. This may force the United States to use its Security Council veto, which is something Obama seems to dread.

For almost three years, until he began his re-election campaign, Obama has been involved in public confrontations, condemnations and humiliation of the democratically elected Netanyahu. At the same time he has been silent and respectful to Abbas, a corrupt and undemocratic Holocaust denier, who has never ended the anti-Jewish incitement in schools, mosques and the media.

Those Jewish Obama supporters — who claim that despite his apparent personal dislike and disrespect to Netanyahu Obama is still a friend of Israel and can be trusted to ensure its survival — delude themselves. Respect for and a cordial relationship with a democratic ally demand that the president accept the democratic selection of Israel’s leader and treat that elected leader with courtesy and respect. Anything else is a slap at the Israeli people.

It is even more humiliating when one witnesses the great personal rapport that Obama has created with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan. Turkish media outlets reported that after Erdogan’s mother died last month, Obama was among the world leaders who called him and the two “spoke for 45 minutes about their feelings.” The Washington Post reported that since the summer the relationship has been on the upswing and the two leaders speak often and frequently agree on policy in the Middle East.

It would be interesting to know if Obama agrees with the Erdogan policy toward Israel. Since the summer, Turkey has expelled the Israeli ambassador, downgraded diplomatic relations and suspended long-term military agreements with Israel. In September it even threatened that Turkish warships would accompany the next flotilla to Gaza.

Only fools will ignore the alarming signs of Obama’s animosity and Jews are not fools. Each Jewish voter must decide if they can trust Obama with Israel’s survival for four more years.

Shoula Romano Horing was born and raised in Israel. She is an attorney in Kansas City and a national speaker. Read more on her blog www.shoularomanohoring.com.

“Motti” by Asaf Schurr (Dalkey Archives, 2011) $13.95
“Heatwave and Crazy Birds” by Gabriela Avigur-Rotem, 2011) $15.95

Two new novels by Israeli authors have recently been published in the Dalkey Archive Press Hebrew Literature Series. The first, “Motti” by Asaf Schurr is a low-key tale of a stereotypical loser. Motti, an elementary school teacher, lives alone with his dog, Laika. The only excitement in his life comes from his daydreams about falling in love with his neighbor and his regular Wednesday night outings with his friend Menachem. Menachem, on the other hand, is a boisterous drinker with a wife and two children. When, on the way home from the café, Menachem hits and kills a woman, Motti doesn’t think twice about claiming responsibility for the accident. After all, Menachem has a family to support. Motti has nothing.

Sentenced to prison, Motti misses his dog but continues to dream about his neighbor, listen to the stories of one of the prison guards and receive visits from Menachem for a while. Prison, it seems, is very similar to Motti’s life in the outside world in its lack of excitement. Schurr’s gentle depiction of a gentle man gives the reader a very different picture of a passive Israeli who does a good deed for which he is severely punished.

In Gabriela Avigur-Rotem’s “Heatwave and Crazy Birds,” a not-so-young woman is returning to Israel more than 25 years after she ran away. Loya Kaplan has inherited from her father’s colleague and friend the house in which she grew up. And it appears that most of her school friends are still living in the same neighborhood — some married, some divorced, and all curious about where she has been for 25 years. As the novel unfolds, the reader learns of Loya’s complicated relationships with her father, his friend Davidi, and Davidi’s son Nahum.

This is the story of a woman trying to recover her life, discovering the history of her parents during the Holocaust, reconnecting with her best friend, Ora. This is not an easy book. The author’s prose is beautiful and beautifully translated by Dalia Bilu, one of Israel’s preeminent translators of Hebrew to English. However, Loya’s story is revealed in fits and starts, interspersed with her memories of archaeology, which her father taught her, and intertwined with the birds that come to her house. This novel of a woman whose roots have withered will, however, reward the patient reader; and what Loya eventually discovers will make the reading journey worth the time it takes.

Andrea Kempf, a librarian at the Billington Library at Johnson County Community College, has reviewed books for many publications, including Library Journal and The Jewish Chronicle.