PunkTorah

Independent Jewish Spirituality Online

Jewlicious 7.0

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Jewlicious 7.0 Review or in short, Fool’s Gold is awesome live. Drink yer wine in the car first.

Early arrival at Jewlicious with a Saturday night concert only ticket means no entrance until the start of the show promptly at 9:30pm. Boo! What will you get for being half an hour early? An amazing conversation (free of charge) with a security guard who likes to ramble about how much the Jewish folk keep feeding him (well what did you expect, Sir? You should come over for Shabbos dinner sometime). For good measure, and just to make sure we were clear on how well he was being fed, he threw in a tidbit about all the food his Hispanic lady was also feeding him. We decided to leave and come back, all the while pondering if by his Hispanic lady he meant his girlfriend/cleaning lady/personal chef???

That left us to our own devices. Getting ice cream seemed like a logical choice for kicking off a night of good, Jewish fun. So off to Baskin Robbins we went.

Dear Long Beach, Los Coyotes Diag is a confusing street with an even more confusing and strange name. Some diag you got there! Whatever that means. So clearly from there we needed to unscramble our minds and let loose for all the dancing that would shortly ensue. Pre-show partying continued next door at the local supermarket where we found ourselves some mini bottles of Gallo cabernet. If only Manishevitz made small bottles of wine! Dear Manishevitz, get on it!

Back to the show we went, now a little late, we caught the tail end of Kosha Dillz’s set. He definitely knew how to get the small, but enthusiastic, crowd going, jumping up and down and stirring up energy with a lot of call and response. (When I say Kosha, you say Dillz!) However, I probably could’ve done without the sweatpants song. I like sweatpants. I like songs. I don’t like sweatpants songs. Rappers have been wearing baggy clothes, sweatpants included, for a long time, old news. A couple Jewlicious festivals ago he donned a sequin hat with elephants on it. Now that’s an article of clothing I wanna hear about.

Soul Farm was a welcome addition to the lineup. The dancing progressed in intensity as these guys brought out the most eclectic sounds of the night; influences from rock to bluegrass, vocals in Hebrew and English, and instruments from hand drums to mandolin, really made Soul Farm a special treat. I looked back later to find a note I had typed up on my phone ‘Soul Farm sounds like bluegrass Smashing Pumpkins with Pete Seeger covers, heavy hand drums and celtic mandolin. More mando(lin)! (The wine may have also begun kicking in more right around this time). This was country fried, kick your shoes off, get down music.

The expected highlight of the evening was Jewlicious newcomers, Fool’s Gold. I was particularly excited about seeing them since I had missed their previous show with Local Natives. Indie music scenesters had finally made their way to Jewlicious! Rabbi Yonah gave a special introduction and without further ado, they went to town with their special worldy, rhythm driven, dance worthy, chant-with-the-tribe lyrics, musical blend. Now Stop for a minute. Open up a new tab or window on your computer. Go to Youtube and listen to a few songs by Fool’s Gold, if you haven’t already. Try ‘Poseidon’, ‘Nadine’, and ‘Surprise Hotel’. It’s good right. Your head is bopping along, your hands are drumming on your desk, you can dig it. Now here’s a question, do you have any urge, whatsoever, to do the electric slide??? Because for some reason, unbeknownst to me, the Jewlicious crowd seemed to think this was a good idea. Did 1993 call? Because it would like the electric slide back, thanks!

I’m all about having a good time and dancing it up but this was beyond my inner music snob’s comprehension. Shout out to singer Luke Top for kicking it back to 1993 in a different way, by throwing in the old school kid’s song ‘Ha Kova Sheli’! Seemed like not much of the crowd, except me, remember the musical glory days of Hebrew school though, as much as Luke and I; they watched on in slight confusion as he sang it, until finally he exclaimed, “C’mon I thought you guys were Jewish.” In the end, Fools Gold finished out their set with percussion instruments in one hand and with their other arms around each other in a semi circle. That brotherly/sisterly tribal vibe emanated from between the musicians and onto the crowd, resulting in a feeling of unity—which is ultimately Jewlicious’ goal—to connect and bring together all different types of Jews.

The hippie vibes continued with Acharit Hayamim closing out the show. Our ‘Gallo’ haze and dancing had left us happy but weathered already and we left as the crowd danced it off into the wee hours. All in all, the Jewlicious concert left us with good vibes and worn out feet as any good concert should. Little tweaks, such as entrance times and ‘no electric slide’ warning signs, would be useful but there’s always next year. L’shana ha’ba’ah b’Jewlicious Festival!

I’m A Punk Jew (And Here’s Some Jackson Pollock Salad)

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This post by Reina Kutner comes from our newest project, NewKosher.org. Reina’s bi-weekly blog on NewKosher highlights the best of indie Jewish life and awesome recipes from her personal blog, Young, Broke & Kosher.

After Jewlicious this weekend, I have come to the conclusion that I am a strange anomaly in the Jewish community. I’m kosher, but not completely – I will eat hot dairy when I go out. I wear long skirts and sleeves… occasionally, and depending on my mood. I consider Friday night possibly the most sacred time of the week, but am not Shomer Shabbat in any way, shape or form

So here I am, a Jew in Long Beach, filled with unusual contradictions and odd ways of looking at my faith. You could say I’m conservative, and I do associate myself with the conservative movement in Judaism. But for me, I guess I would consider myself a Punk Jew – right down to my red-and-black checkered Vans, also known as the Anarchy Shoes, 2.0.

Now, I don’t look punk in any way, shape or form – unless you counted the times I dyed my hair red.  But the fact of the matter is that when it comes to my Judaism, I have a nonconformist and rebellious point of view when it comes to faith. Sure, I’m traditional, but you don’t see me covering my hair (and if I was, I’d be wearing a bright purple wig) or completely covered from head to toe. I also support things – such as gay marriage or sitting with your family during services – that would have some Orthodox Jews freaking out.

At the same time, I don’t associate myself completely with the reform movement. I like using Hebrew when I pray, separating myself from my normal world. I don’t feel like Shabbat services should be quiet with the strumming of guitars – instead, I want the power of loud and powerful voices filled with joy dancing me into Friday night, no instruments required. I am of the belief that the best thing you can do in Judaism is sit down on Friday night to a Shabbat dinner with friends and, if you have them close by, family.

I reject the fact that I have to be told by the rabbis what to do or how to live my life. I am a Jew, and I feel that I have the free will to do what I want with it. I’m no less of a Jew because I don’t observe the way you do, and I am no more of a Jew because I may observe more than you do.

When it came to kashrut, I dedicated myself to this practice because I wanted to. It was something that was important to me, that made me aware every day that I was Jewish, and therefore I was special. I felt that it was the right decision for me. But I don’t push others to do it.

I may not be an anarchist, but the fact is that I don’t need authority to tell me who I am, or what I can and can’t be. I don’t need people telling me that I’m not Sephardic because either my skin is too light or the fact that my father isn’t. I don’t need people telling me I’m not good enough to be a certain type of Jew. I’m proud to be Jewish and somewhat traditional, yet I am proud to be progressive and accept those who may not have a place in Judaism and welcome them to my movement of being a Punk Jew, and not being in just one place.

The Booksteins taught me that any way that you can be Jewish, you should – and it doesn’t matter if you are Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist. You should embrace everyone and let them become close, and encourage love. I guess I am a Punk Jew in that way: I believe more in love than anything else in my faith. I believe in basic human values – not embarrassing people, respecting those around you, loving openly, being honest, understanding, kind and giving.

I believe these values come before anything that is written in the Torah – and trust me, I love my Holy Book. But these values come before any laws, rules and regulations. So, in this way, if being a Punk Jew means loving with a full heart, I don’t mind it in the slightest.

In honor of anarchy and going against the grain, I give you Pollock Salad – named after the famous painter Jackson Pollock.  Every time I think of him, I think about an incident when I was in Israel. I was in a drama class, and my friends had a conversation about Jackson Pollock splattering paint all over a toilet seat and selling it for gobs of money. But if the guy had to make a salad, I bet he would do it this way.

POLLOCK SALAD

1 bag salad greens

1 large carrot

1 yellow squash

2 zucchini

2-3 scallions

5-6 radishes

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

¼ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons garlic powder

Salt and pepper

Pour the bag of salad greens into a bowl. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the skins off of the zucchini, yellow squash and carrot and discard them. Then, using the peeler, slice the vegetables over the salad greens until you reach the centers and are unable to peel. Discard the insides.

Meanwhile, chop the scallions into ¼ inch pieces and top the salad. Slice the radishes into small pieces, like matchsticks. Top the salad.

Meanwhile, whisk the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder and salt and pepper together. Once ready to serve, pour over the salad and mix.

I’m A Punk Jew (and a Pollock Salad Recipe)

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After Jewlicious this weekend, I have come to the conclusion that I am a strange anomaly in the Jewish community. I’m kosher, but not completely – I will eat hot dairy when I go out. I wear long skirts and sleeves… occasionally, and depending on my mood. I consider Friday night possibly the most sacred time of the week, but am not Shomer Shabbat in any way, shape or form

So here I am, a Jew in Long Beach, filled with unusual contradictions and odd ways of looking at my faith. You could say I’m conservative, and I do associate myself with the conservative movement in Judaism. But for me, I guess I would consider myself a Punk Jew – right down to my red-and-black checkered Vans, also known as the Anarchy Shoes, 2.0.

Now, I don’t look punk in any way, shape or form – unless you counted the times I dyed my hair red.  But the fact of the matter is that when it comes to my Judaism, I have a nonconformist and rebellious point of view when it comes to faith. Sure, I’m traditional, but you don’t see me covering my hair (and if I was, I’d be wearing a bright purple wig) or completely covered from head to toe. I also support things – such as gay marriage or sitting with your family during services – that would have some Orthodox Jews freaking out.

At the same time, I don’t associate myself completely with the reform movement. I like using Hebrew when I pray, separating myself from my normal world. I don’t feel like Shabbat services should be quiet with the strumming of guitars – instead, I want the power of loud and powerful voices filled with joy dancing me into Friday night, no instruments required. I am of the belief that the best thing you can do in Judaism is sit down on Friday night to a Shabbat dinner with friends and, if you have them close by, family.

I reject the fact that I have to be told by the rabbis what to do or how to live my life. I am a Jew, and I feel that I have the free will to do what I want with it. I’m no less of a Jew because I don’t observe the way you do, and I am no more of a Jew because I may observe more than you do.

When it came to kashrut, I dedicated myself to this practice because I wanted to. It was something that was important to me, that made me aware every day that I was Jewish, and therefore I was special. I felt that it was the right decision for me. But I don’t push others to do it.

I may not be an anarchist, but the fact is that I don’t need authority to tell me who I am, or what I can and can’t be. I don’t need people telling me that I’m not Sephardic because either my skin is too light or the fact that my father isn’t. I don’t need people telling me I’m not good enough to be a certain type of Jew. I’m proud to be Jewish and somewhat traditional, yet I am proud to be progressive and accept those who may not have a place in Judaism and welcome them to my movement of being a Punk Jew, and not being in just one place.

The Booksteins taught me that any way that you can be Jewish, you should – and it doesn’t matter if you are Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist. You should embrace everyone and let them become close, and encourage love. I guess I am a Punk Jew in that way: I believe more in love than anything else in my faith. I believe in basic human values – not embarrassing people, respecting those around you, loving openly, being honest, understanding, kind and giving.

I believe these values come before anything that is written in the Torah – and trust me, I love my Holy Book. But these values come before any laws, rules and regulations. So, in this way, if being a Punk Jew means loving with a full heart, I don’t mind it in the slightest.

In honor of anarchy and going against the grain, I give you Pollack Salad – named after the famous painter Jackson Pollock.  Every time I think of him, I think about an incident when I was in Israel. I was in a drama class, and my friends had a conversation about Jackson Pollock splattering paint all over a toilet seat and selling it for gobs of money. But if the guy had to make a salad, I bet he would do it this way.

POLLACK SALAD

1 bag salad greens

1 large carrot

1 yellow squash

2 zucchini

2-3 scallions

5-6 radishes

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

¼ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons garlic powder

Salt and pepper

Pour the bag of salad greens into a bowl. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the skins off of the zucchini, yellow squash and carrot and discard them. Then, using the peeler, slice the vegetables over the salad greens until you reach the centers and are unable to peel. Discard the insides.

Meanwhile, chop the scallions into ¼ inch pieces and top the salad. Slice the radishes into small pieces, like matchsticks. Top the salad.

Meanwhile, whisk the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder and salt and pepper together. Once ready to serve, pour over the salad and mix.

In Search of the Kosher Cheeseburger

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Think that a kosher cheeseburger can’t exist? You’re wrong! Here’s a few of our favorite examples…

Talia’s Steakhouse Cheeseburger

OK, it doesn’t have bacon (of any kind) on it, but Talia’s is the first restaurant in NYC to serve a kosher cheeseburger, so you have to give them credit for that.

The Jewlicious Burger

The kids at Jewlicious are the real winners in the kosher bacon cheeseburger experiment. Vegetarian and chocolate filled, this burger sounds absolutely disgusting…but really, really funny.

There’s several other combos that work, all equally delicious…

  • The South African Burger: ground beef, vegan cheese, and Macon Bacon (made from beef in South Africa)
  • Mary Had A Little…Burger: ground lamb, vegan cheese and lamb bacon
  • The Veggie: Morningstar Farms vegan burger, veggie bacon (contains egg) and tofu cheese

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