February's People
By Gad Nahshon
Ezra Cohen, a hard working man, established at 51st Street and 10th Avenue, the best Middle Eastern restaurant in this country! He serves, in his small intimate 'Azuri' coffee shop (that's the name of his restaurant), the best homemade dishes. I am not the only one to praise Cohen's delights. Just read the New York Times, The Daily News and the Zagat, or just ask his many Jewish-Israeli and Gentile clients.
In New York's jungle of life, Azuri's dishes and the Turkish coffee will enrich you with peace of mind.
The Jewish Theological Seminary honored Ivan Seidenberg, president of Verizon, with the distinguished Louis Marshall Award. The ceremony took place at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan. Joan and Sandord I. Weill were the chairs of the event. Among the guests: Gershon Kekst, J.T.S. Chairman Robert Benmosche, Robert Hurst, Summer Redstone, Raymond Smith, Alan Schwartz and Riki and Stanley Tulin.
On November 8th, the Gomez Mill House Foundation honored Erica Jesselson and Bruce Slovin at a gala dinner held at The Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, Manhattan. Both have been long-time advocates and supporters of the Gomez Mill, five miles north of Newburgh, New York, which is inscribed in the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest surviving Jewish homestead in North America. Fleeing from the Spanish Inquisition, Luis Moses Gomez built a blockhouse in 1714 which today is a museum offering tours of the property and a wide variety of activities and events in conjunction with an exhibition program. Activities, include fishing derbies, archeological digs and papermaking. Information: (212) 294-8329.
"Less than two months, Prime Minister Ehud Barak joined us in laying the cornerstone for the High-Tech R&D Park adjacent to our campus. The Park has already begun to attract large international companies and it is expected to offer, within a few years, 10,000 new positions for graduates of BGU in the areas of engineering, computer sciences, biotechnology and biomedicine. The establishment of the new Computer, Communications, Sciences and Engineering School will provide graduates to feed directly into those positions," said Prof. Avishai Braverman, the president of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, to the many participants and guests who attended the most successful and enriching one day symposium "Emerging Trends in the New Economy." It took place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel and it was organized by the friends and associates of this great university.
Prof. Braverman and Leonard Tessler were the co-chairman. Tzi Alon, the newly elected director of the 'friends' and P.R. consultant Myra Cohen, helped to accomplish this mission. Among the speakers was Israel's distinguished General Yom-Tov Samia. Among the guests was Dr. Yehuda Lancry. It should be noted that Prof. Braverman, the builder of this university, has contributed more than any other Israeli in making the dream of David Ben-Gurion come true: The founder of Israel believed that we must, first of all, develop the Negev.
And Prof. Braverman is the 'Lobby' for the development of the Negev. He calls on American Jews to help him to fulfill this mission. He views the university as the most important pioneer in this area.
There were many panels in this symposium. Among the speakers: Prof. Steven Spiegel, Dr. Yoram Metal, Eric Ben-hamou, Prof. Ehud Menipaz, Dr. Harry Saal, Prof. Joel Moses, Zvi Alon, Prof. Avishai Braverman and Abby Joseph Cohen.
Jeff Wiesenfeld, who is George Pataki's advisor, liaison to the Jewish Community and a member of the New York City College Board, is known to be a man of courage. He never conceals his love of the Israeli 'National Camp' (center-right), his love for the Jewish religion and his love for the Yiddish culture. Recently, he told Gen. (Res.) Ivry the following: "The Israeli P.R. in this country stinks!"
Todd Gitlin is the winner of Hadassah's prestigious 2000 Ribalow prize. Gitlin wrote the best seller Sacrifice. Among the past winners are: Chaim Grade (1983), Robert Cohen (1997), and Ann Michaels (1998). Henry Roth received a special award in 1995.
Ballet is back and The American Ballet Theatre opened a two week run at City Center, West 55th Street, with a gala featuring Tschaikovsky selections and Balanchine's "Prodigal Son". Almost everything in the Tschaikovsky half was a pas de deux and the dancers shone particularly Susan Jaffe, partnered by Vladimir Malakhov in "Sleeping Beauty" and Irina Dvorvenko and Maxim Belotserkovsky in "Swan Lake." After the intermission, Ethan Stiefel and Julie Kent danced "Prodigal Son" with intensity and drama. ABT will return to New York in the Spring 2001 when it presents its annual season at The Metropolitan Opera House.
Elegant writing, extraordinary knowledge, and mouth-watering recipes join together to create the most fabulous cookbook for the holidays this year. Sephardic Flavors: Jewish Cooking of the Mediterranean is a must-have addition to any home cook's library.
Legendary chef, author, and Mediterranean cooking expert Joyce Goldstein follows her acclaimed Cucina Ebraica: Flavors of the Italian Jewish Kitchen with this remarkable exploration of Jewish cooking of the Mediterranean. In Sephardic Flavors (Chronicle Books, October 2000), Goldstein uncovers the culinary history of the Diaspora, revealing in vivid prose and with delicious recipes, how the Sephardic Jews adapted the cuisines of their new homelands.
Drawing upon the cultural and gastronomic heritages of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, Goldstein has amassed a remarkable array of unique recipes and historical information. A fascinating voyage into culinary history as well as a compilation of superbly satisfying dishes, Sephardic Flavors captures the indomitable spirit and brilliant cuisines that continue to capture our imaginations today.
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