Itâs not muchâin fact, it might feel like the shortest 88 seconds of your lifeâbut the first trailer for director J.J. Abramsâ Star Wars: The Force Awakens is finally here, and they werenât kidding when they called it a âteaser.â
âThereâs been an awakening, have you felt it?â a voiceover bellows before cutting to shots of a soccer ball-shaped droid, Stormtroopers, and X-wing starfighters in flight. A dark cloaked figure wielding a red cross-shaped lightsaber treks through the snow as the voiceover continues âthe Dark Side ⌠and the light,â and then the money shot: the Millennium Falcon! Itâs really happening!
(Side note: Does that voiceover sound an awful lot like Benedict Cumberbatch doing his Khan thing to anyone else?)
The trailer, which hit the web today and is playing in select theaters this weekend, ends by reminding us that this movie doesnât come out until December 2015. So, like, a whole year from now. Thatâs a long time to wait, but it looks like itâll be worth it.
Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and all the comfort foods that come along with Thanksgiving make us all really excited for the holiday season!
Here are some great ways to “Thank Your Body” this Thanksgiving!
1. Avoid the SUGAR!
Make homemade desserts such as Apple Pie. When you cook homemade meals and desserts, you control exactly what goes in them! Choose natural sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, and organic stevia to have your Thanksgiving treat you won’t regret!
2. Go Gluten Free.
There are tons of recipes containing gluten free Thanksgiving traditions such as this Classic Gluten free Stuffing recipe!
3. Don’t worry about the FAT.
If you didn’t realize yet, I am a BIG fan of FAT! Add organic grassfed butter to all your dishes that require it, and don’t forget to it enjoy it! Click here to find out why Fat doesn’t make you FAT!.
4. Avoid Food Preservatives.
Many products we deem as “harmless” are in fact pretty harmful. Check your food labels for any ingredients you don’t understand. If you find a word you can’t pronounce, odds are its a food preservative. Words like disodium phosphate, Monosodium Glutamate and BHA/BHT all indicate toxic food preservatives. Try to steer clear of these by buying organic spices and seasonings.
The dish was a staple for Sephardic Jews during the Spanish Inquisition
Searching for a new twist on the traditional Thanksgiving buffet? Look no further than the Spanish Inquisition.
A new online publication, The Converso Cookbook, offers unique dishes based on the recipes of 14th- and 15th-century Jews who were persecuted by Spanish authorities. One of these recipes, Jewish Hamâor cecina de ansarĂłn or ansarĂłn cecinadoâis a perfect Thanksgiving alternative. The âhamâ is actually salt-cured duck or goose; when sliced, the final product looks rather similar to salted pork.
The Converso Cookbook is the work of Ana Gomez-Bravo, a professor of Spanish and Jewish Studies at the University of Washington. Sheâs involved with the universityâs Sephardic Studies Program, featured in a Tablet article this summer about Seattleâs Ladino revival.
A native of Madrid, Gomez-Bravo specializes in medieval and early modern Spanish literature. She has long been fascinated by the culture of converso Jewsâthose who were forced to convert to Christianity during the Inquisition period. Gomez-Bravo realized that food practices could serve as a rich source of information about medieval Sephardic identity, and began to hunt for textual evidence in both Jewish sources and Inquisitorial records.
Then, she started cooking.
The result is an intriguing online gallery that is part cookbook, part photo essay, and part history lesson. Recipes for Jewish Ham: Cured Goose, Almodrote: Spicy Eggplant, and Adafina: Sabbath Stew can be found alongside blog posts explaining the story behind each recipe, based on Gomez-Bravoâs archival research.
To her surprise, Gomez-Bravo found that attempting to replicate these dishes in a modern kitchenâand locating ingredients as similar as possible to those described in her medieval sourcesâshed new light on the complex (and age-old) connection between food and Jewish identity. Itâs also a useful tool for familiarizing modern Jewish audiences with a dark period in Jewish history.
âFood is a good way to present hard topics and periods that are generally perceived as difficult to understand,â Gomez-Bravo explained. âI also hope to help retrieve an important part of Jewish heritage and to help Jews know their own history.â (Her current book project examines how the Inquisitors used the food practices of Jews and Muslims as the basis of racial profiling.)
American Jews have long embraced Thanksgiving as a time to celebrate their integration into American society. Like other secular national holidays, Thanksgiving offers a chance to synthesize a variety of culinary traditions. So why not use kosher poultry to recreate a 15th-century Sephardic Jewish dish that itself was akin to Spanish cured pork? This Thanksgiving, try some Jewish Ham and revel in the complexity of flavorsâand of history.
Ingredients:
2 duck or goose breast halves (If you canât find fresh duck or goose or donât want to debone a bird yourself, you can easily find frozen duck breasts in many supermarkets.)
1 pound kosher salt
black pepper (optional)
bay leaves (optional)
thyme (optional)
juniper berries (optional)
The simplest way to prepare duck or goose ham is to just bury the breasts in kosher salt. It is common to pat cracked pepper on the breasts before tying them together with the fat side out, but you can skip this step. If you have a smoker, you can smoke the meat after it has dried or, for a more traditional effect, you can hang it by your chimney the next time you light a fire!
If you are using salt that has been out of the package for a while or you live in a damp climate, you can dry the salt before use by stirring it in a cast iron pot on a medium-high fire for five to ten minutes or until it looks dry. Be careful when handling it after you have removed it from the heat because it will be scorching hot.
After the salt has cooled down to room temperature, lay a bed of it in a glass bowl. Lay the meat on the salt and cover it with another layer.
If your bowl is not large enough to hold both breast halves in one layer, you can place one breast half on top of the other, first making sure that you have spread a thick layer of salt between them.
It is important that the meat be covered with salt on all sides and that the layers are thick, as the meat will be releasing its juices as it becomes cured.
Place the bowl with the duck or goose meat in the salt in the refrigerator for a week.
To consume, slice thinly and serve as an appetizer or put a piece in your adafina!
Once you become comfortable with this recipe, you can try adding some garlic and dry spices like black pepper, bay leaf, thyme, and juniper berries alongside the salt.
Hannah Pressman has a doctorate in Hebrew literature and is co-editor of Choosing Yiddish: New Frontiers of Language and Culture. Her writing has appeared in Lilith, the Forward, eSefarad.com, and MyJewishLearning.com. She lives in Seattle, where she is affiliate faculty for the UW Stroum Center for Jewish Studies.
What it Took for STAR-K to Certify the GA, Under Secret Service Surveillance
by Margie Pensak
Security was tight at STAR-K Certificationâs largest and most challenging food service supervision, to date–The Jewish Federations of North America’s 2014 General Assembly (GA), the premier annual North American Jewish communal event, held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, in National Harbor, Maryland, November 9-12. Vice President Joe Biden was one of the several scheduled speakers and I had to make sure I arrived early enough before Gaylordâs security lockdown. I never did get to see the Vice President, while I was touring the kosher kitchen with STAR-K Assistant Director of Supervision Rabbi Mayer Kurcfeld, who spearheaded the kashrus team for this event. But, I did feel the thrill of the anticipation of his arrival, as I went through more than one security checkpoint and watched a sniffing K-9 attack trained German shepherd police dog check out the crowd!
The Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center is a luxurious city in itself, with its 19 floors; 1,886 rooms; 110 suites; 89 meeting rooms; and 470,000 square feet of total meeting space. That is more than eight times the size of an American football field, or 10.8 acres. This was the facilityâs first-time ever to host a kosher event and Rabbi Kurcfeldâs first-time ever to oversee such a gargantuan event in his 30+ years in kosher supervision.
Before any food could be prepared, half of the kitchen which Gaylord permitted to be partitioned off for the event, had to be kashered. By Friday afternoon, two days before the arrival of the 3000 expected GA convention participants, Rabbi Kurcfeld oversaw the 90% of the kashering which was completed. The remainder he did on motzei Shabbos. The list of things to be kashered included: a dishwasher, multiple ovens, a stove, hotboxes, two soup kettles, industrial-sized pots, a steam kettle, silverware, serving pieces, metal pitchers, and bread baskets.
Unlike the 2012 GA event, held in the Baltimore Convention Center–where the entire facility was kashered and participants and non-participants, alike, were served kosher–this event would be preparing for approximately 3000 participants who would be served Star-K certified kosher meals, while approximately 1500 non-participating Gaylord guests would be served treif at simultaneously held events and in six on-premises treif eateries.
To give you some idea of what was involved, Rabbi Dovid Lapin, Star-Kâs Head Mashgiach and Kosher event planning specialist, put in 67 hours for the four day GA Convention. His longest stretch of consecutive hours was clocked in from midnight on motzei Shabbos until 11:30 p.m. on Sunday evening. In those 67 hours, he oversaw the supervision of, among other things, Sunday breakfast which was held in five separate locations, and Monday breakfast which was held in six separate locations. One of the six locations served 1100 of the 3000 conventioneers; another upscale one was served on china with silverware.
âOn Monday evening, there were nine receptions held at one time, in one area of the convention center/hotel, while in another area, simultaneously, there were five other receptions taking place for 300 people,â related Rabbi Lapin. âMore than 500 people attended one of the nine receptions; the other eight were attended by between 30-100 people.â
Veteran Star-K mashgicha, Emunah Friedman, clocked in 67-3/4 hours in the six days she worked. She was one of the 13 mashgichim posted at various food checkpoints in Gaylord, âmanningâ the area between the kitchen and the hallway adjacent to the loading dock. Describing the kosher kitchen scene prior to Vice President Bidenâs arrival, she noted, âOn Monday, the Secret Service shut down our production at 4 a.m. The kitchen staff had to report in by that time, although we were shut out of the kitchen until 6:30 a.m. We had to be down the hall from the kitchen, and the Secret Service kept changing our location throughout the process, constantly clearing the hallway. After they ensured that there was nothing dangerous for the vice president, with the help of a K-9 unit that checked every nook and cranny, we were able to return to the kitchen. By the time we were let back into the kitchen, at 6:30 a.m., it left the staff little time to prepare for breakfast, which was scheduled to start at 7 a.m.!â
What does it take to feed close to 3000 conventioneers for four days? âA lot of advance planning went into ensuring that an event this size would be a success,â explains Rabbi Kurcfeld. âI started planning and talking about the GA event more than a year before it happened. Our initial Gaylord-Star-K meeting took place before Pesach, on March 27. From then on, there were four in-person on-site and subsequent in-office meetings plus many communications via email, text messaging, and phone calls. I faced my biggest challenge in food service yet, with much trepidation. Somewhat like Eisenhower must have felt when planning âD-Dayâ, I thought of it as âGA-Dayâ. Boruch Hashem, in the end, all went as planned.â
According to Gaylordâs Food Purchasing Manager, Wazir Chagla, the GA Convention order comprised of: 4000 chicken breasts,400 pounds of raw turkey breast, 3 cases of chicken wings, 120 pounds of chicken fajita meat, 250 pounds of fish, 500 pounds of beef, 23 cases of eggs, 198 cases of yogurt, 75 pounds of Greek yogurt, hundreds of pounds of potatoes, fruits and vegetables, and thousands of pre-made salads, sandwiches, cookies, and muffins, in addition to various baked goods and groceries.
Not having had the opportunity to see the vice president with my own eyes, I was curious to know if he partook of the Star-K certified food. My reliable sources tell me that he did not. Of course, with such impeccable kashrus standards as Star-Kâs, no doubt, it had nothing to do with religion and, presumably, everything to do with politicsâWhite House policy is strict when it comes to the president and vice-president eating out!
âWill this make me fat?â That seems to be the running question in our office these days.
Many are confused as to what foods may be contributing to their weight gain. Obesity is an epidemic that is running rampant in America, and yet no one seems to know what is causing it. Is it the soda? Is it the DIET soda? Is it the fatty pastry I had for breakfast this morning? What is it in our food that is making Americans so FAT! Yes, I said it, FAT!
The CDC says:
“The Trust for America’s Health projects that 44 percent of Americans will be obese by 2030, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it projects 42 percent of adults will be. CDC also reported that 12 states have an adult obesity rate of over 30 percent.”
I don’t know about anyone else, but that is one scary number! 44 percent of adults will be obese? If that’s the case, what are those adults teaching their children? What will that number look like by 2060?
We all know that being obese, or overweight is not healthy. We also know that this contributes to other diseases such as heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome and many more.
The question I raise to ask is, is obesity a cause, or a symptom?
Many of the diseases becoming more prevalent are merely symptoms of one thing, BAD FOOD!
As a nutritionist, I can say the most common phrase I hear is, “I am concerned about my weight because it’s causing all my other issues!”
Let me just say, of course your weight is contributing to this, but your weight is not what is causing you to have high blood pressure. It is the food you are eating that is causing you to gain weight AND have high blood pressure. Obesity is not a disease, but is simply a symptom of BAD FOOD.
The first thing everyone must know about weight gain is that the culprit is not FAT. Fat does not make you fat.
Really?… No it doesn’t!
What is Fat made-up of?
Fatty Acids 2. Glycerol
Fatty Acids are important because they help build cell walls, produce hormones and digest fat-soluble nutrients. Ever hear of fat soluble vitamins? Fat soluble means it can only be digested with fat. So we need fat to be nourished with vitamins that can only be used with FAT. (Hence why I am not a fan of the low fat diet) If the fat we eat is turned into fatty acids and glycerol, which is used for building cell walls, digesting vitamins, and making energy, how could it possibly bed bad for us? I don’t think building, producing and digesting are bad things for our bodies to be doing, do you?
Glycerol is where many get confused into thinking that it turns into fat. Glycerol is an alcohol that turns into a fancy word called dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate is used in a cycle called glycolysis to make⌠Drum roll please? ENERGY!
Energy we use and need every day. “But we use carbohydrates to make energy?” Yes, this is true, we’ll get to that part soon.
If Fat isnât causing obesity, what is?
CARBOHYDRATES & SUGAR!
Most patients I have spoken with about fat seem to have many misconceptions about how fat is produced by the body and what type of foods to eat if you are trying to lose some unwanted weight.
In the liver and muscles, most of the glucose (aka SUGAR!) is changed into glycogen by the process of glycogenesis (anabolism). Glycogen is stored in the liver and muscles until needed at some later time when glucose levels are low.
Our liver and body tissue is where our FAT is stored if our bodies are ever in need of energy reserves.
Without getting in too much detail about how our bodies digest fat, Carbs and sugars are what cause most of the issues in people trying to lose unwanted weight.
Go ahead, eat that fat! Here are some great sources of fat that will help build up those cell walls and help vitamin absorption:
Let me also make it clear that we do need to eat carbohydrates. Our bodies were designed to utilize all 3 nutrients – Fat, Carbohydrates and Protein. Our bodies do use carbohydrates in conjunction with FAT to produce ENERGY. So if you want some carbs (as we all do) go for some of these:
Good Sources of Carbohydrates
Fruits
Vegetables
Ezekial bread
*Gluten free foods (this will help keep your carb cravings down)
If your next question is about fat and how it can affect your cholesterol check out next weekâs article, “Cholesterol Myth Busters”.
Â
Alexandra Blydenburgh is a clinical nutritionist practicing out of her Rockville Centre practice Wellness Done Naturally. To find more of Alexandraâs posts visit her website at www.wellnessdonenaturally.com
STAR-K Takes Kashrus Training Program on the Road to Beth Medrash Govoha Yungerleit
On October 21-23, STAR-K Kashrus Administrators traveled to Lakewood, New Jersey, to present their Kashrus Training Program to twenty-five Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG) Kollel fellows who are participants in the Ner LeâElef program.
STAR-K Rabbinic Administrator HaRav Moshe Heinemann, STAR-K Institute of Halacha Rav Mordechai Frankel, and STAR-K Kashrus Administrator-New York/New Jersey Rav Shmuel Heinemann joined STAR-K Kashrus Administrators Rabbi Eliyahu Shuman, Rabbi Mayer Kurcfeld, Rabbi Dovid Heber, Rabbi Avrohom Mushell, Rabbi Zvi Goldberg, Rabbi Zvi Holland, Rabbi Moshe Schuchman and Rabbi Sholom Tendler, in covering topics ranging from the kashrus of medicines, alcoholic beverages, milk/cholov Yisroel, meat, and fish to foodservice challenges, commercial and residential kashering and industrial kashrus. Practicums included: vegetable checking/insect recognition; nikkur; koshering; and, chicken shaylos. Kosher accountability, answering consumer shaylos properly, overseeing plants overseas, and agency administrative issues were also discussed. Tours of a catering facility and a mikvah rounded out the seminar experience.
Since 2005, the Ner Le’Elef Training Program, a division of Torah Links, has helped capable Beth Medrash Govoha yungerleit fill crucial communal roles â rabbanim, kollel yungerleit, educators, kiruv professionals and institutional administrators- -across North America and beyond. Its two-year course covers general hashkafa,
da ma shetashiv, Jewish history and pertinent halacha topics, such as eruvin, mikvaos and taharas hamishpacha. Lectures also focus on various leadership skills, such as teaching, public speaking, fund-raising and marketing techniques.
“It was fascinating to hear shiurim from the rabbonim of the STAR-K,â noted BMG Kollel fellow/Ner LeâElef participant Yaakov Lyons. âThey showed us how the sugyas in yoreh deah combine with technology and science in the world of Kashrus.”
BMG Kollel fellow/Ner LeâElef participant, Moishe Botnick, concurred. âIt was great to hear about the practical application of hilchos kashrus in a commercial setting and to get hands on experience in bug checking and nikkur. I was impressed with the halachic knowledge of all the star-k speakers in addition to their expertise in the practical issues relevant to hashgacha.”
âItâs a pleasure working with Rabbi Holland,â said Rabbi Moishe Katz, director of Ner LeâElef Lakewood. âThe Kashrus seminar is one of the highlights of our program.â
âSTAR-K has always been dedicated to our various training programs in the world of Kashrus,â remarked STAR-K President Avrom Pollak. âIt is something that makes us very proud and we are committed to continuing it.â
Kosher Delight shutting after 35 years in business
Kosher Delight shutting down after 35 years in business.
Kosher diners in Brooklynâs Midwood neighborhood may need to start thinking broccoli instead of brisket. Kosher Delight, the boroughâs oldest kosher fast food restaurant, closed its doors yesterday, the New York Daily News reports. The store had been a landmark on Avenue J since it opened in 1979.
The Huberfield family, which owns the restaurant, is reportedly looking at alternative venues for a new kosher venture, which will contain vegan and vegetarian optionsâa dramatic change from Kosher Delight, an establishment described by one Yelp reviewer as âlike McDonalds for the Kosher Crowd. Greasy and Fast.â
The new new store will embrace the general dietary trend of healthier dining. âWe want to keep our customers healthier so they come back for longer,â a Kosher Delight employee told the Daily News. The closure of the joint was long in the making. The franchise had been struggling for years, first closing its Borough Park restaurant in 2011 and then its Manhattan location in 2012.
Last October another Yelp reviewer wrote: âKD has a mesorah, and itâd be nice to pass that on to my kids someday.â Sadly, it looks like he wonât have that opportunity.
The Dinner Party: A Whodunnit Cabaret!; Galapagos Art Space, DUMBO, 8pm. $20.
Somebody “dun” it, and you’re going to find out who at this Clue-esque dinner-party performance where the show won’t be confined to just a stage.
Force Majeureopens in theaters
It doesnât sound funnyâa family man on a ski vacation suffers a meltdown after an avalanche shakes his poiseâbut Ruben Ăstlundâs psychological drama builds, subtly, to a hilarious takedown of masculinity.
First Aid Kit + Samantha Crain; Hammerstein Ballroom (at the Manhattan Center), 7pm. $28.50â$65.
First Aid Kit, the effortlessly affecting folk-pop duo of sweet-voiced Swedish sisters Klara and Johanna SĂśderberg, hits town in support of its latest LP, Stay Gold (the follow-up to 2012âs lovely The Lionâs Roar).
Oct 25
Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade; Tompkins Square Park, East Village. 12pm. free.
If only there were a parade that showcased the awesomeness of an adorable dog in a well made costume…Oh wait! There is. Bring along your lovable fur ball, or consider adopting a new friend from one of the many animal shelters that will have booths there.
Electoral Dysfunction; The PIT, Gramercy, $8. 7pm.
There’s less than two weeks till Election Day, and these comedians plan to give you a far better (mock) debate than any real politician can.
Dean Moss; the Kitchen, Chelsea, 8pm. $15
Moss explores the complicated legacy of white abolitionist John Brown in a production that includes video performances of a script commissioned from playwright Thomas Bradshaw.
Thrill the World; various locations, 2:30pm. free.
Michael Jackson’s musical and social impact was such an inspiration he’s got people everywhere turning into zombies to support charity years after he passed.
“Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs”; Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Midtown East, various times. $25.
It was rather late in life that Henri Matisse (1869â1954) began to create one of his most extraordinary bodies of work. At this exhibit you’ll get to see some of his best pieces, including the pure abstraction work he’s known for.
Oct 26
Punk Rock and Heavy Metal Flea; Sage, Williamsburg, 12pm. free.
Dream of going to CBGB? Ya can’t. But you can head to this flea market that totally captured the vibe of that era, with djs that’ll play actual vinyl. None of that millennial, laptop nonsense.
The Poetry Brothelâs 7th Annual Masquerade Ball; The Back Room, Lower East Side, 8pm. $30.
Don your feathered mask and indulge in a night of tarot and palm readings, burlesque queens, music, live painters and performances by the resident âpoetry whores.â
Bob Saget; St. George Theatre, New Brighton, 7pm. $38â$58
The veteran comedianâwho’s known, mostly, from family-oriented ’90s television shows like Full House and America’s Funniest Home Videosâdisplays his true comedic range as he is one of the bluest acts around.
A Brief History of Beer; East Village, Under St. Marks, 6pm. $18
Down your complimentary Sixpoint while watching the “drinkerative” show about the history of ale.
The Last Ship;Neil Simon Theatre, Midtown West, various times, $60â$150
Will rock icon Sting’s semi-autobiographical Broadway musical sail the high seas or spring a leak? We can’t wait to find out.
Exit Berlin: How One Woman Saved Her Family from Nazi Germany; Museum of Jewish HeritageâA Living Memorial to the Holocaust, Financial District, 2:30pm. $15
Here, you’ll learn about the life of Kristallnacht survivor Luzie Hatch and how her taking refuge in New York City helped to reveal new facts about the Holocaust.
The Twilight Zone Marathon; Habana Outpost, Fort Greene, 8pm. free.
It’s the 1960’s classic that mastered the art of suspense, at the restaurant that’s mastered the art of margaritas.
Halloween: The Curious Story of America’s Most Horrible Holiday; Morbid Anatomy Museum, Gowanus, 8pm. $8.
Believe it or not, Halloween scholars exist, and one of themâLesley Bannatyne, Guinness World Record winner for largest Halloween gatheringâwill spin the true tale of the ghoulish holiday according to her recent book Halloween Nation.
Obsolete Cinema presents Satanic Panic!; Freddy’s Bar, Sunset Park, 2pm. free.
It’s a spooky twofer at Freddy’s Bar, with screenings of both metal-horror flick Trick or Treat featuring Gene Simmons and the made-for-TV Mazes and Monsters where Tom Hanks got his first big role.
To pick up your free tree, you must agree to:
⢠plant in one of the five boroughs.
⢠keep trees properly watered and maintained.
⢠plant your tree in the ground of your yard and NOT along streets, in city parks, in containers, terraces, balconies or on roofs.
Registration will be posted no earlier than three weeks before a giveaway date.
If registration is closed, a limited quantity of trees will be available on a first come, first served basis.
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito visited the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn on Sunday to attend a special sukkoth gathering hosted by Councilman David Greenfield at the home of Renewal Chairman Mendy Reiner.
The Sukkah gathering in honor of the Speaker was attended by several elected officials and some 50 Jewish leaders, including heads of many community non-profit organizations.
Upon her arrival, Councilman Greenfield introduced the Speaker to the many community leaders in attendance, highlighting the important and diverse work they do in the communities of Borough Park and Midwood. Some of the organizations represented included the Boro Park, Flatbush and Bensonhurst Jewish Community Councils, Masbia Soup Kitchen, Mekimi, Reach for the Stars Learning Center, and Guardians of the Sick.
A half-dozen Council Members also joined in the festivities including Council Members Mark Treyger, Helen Rosenthal, Alan Maisel, Vincent Gentile, Rafael Espinal, and the City Councilâs Jewish Caucus chair Mark Levine. Several national Jewish leaders were also in attendance including Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents, Rabbi David Zweibel, Executive Vice President of Agudath Israel of America, Mrs. Ruth Lichtenstein, Publisher of Hamodia, and Jeff Leb, Political Director of the Orthodox Union.
Brooklyn Democratic Chairman Frank Seddio wished the crowd âA Gut Yom Tov,â (in a Yiddish accent) and thanked the Speaker for adopting the Borough of Brooklyn as her own. Seddio also praised Councilman Greenfieldâs leadership role in the City and the Jewish community.
Introducing the Speaker, Greenfield spoke of her close relationship with the Jewish community, including her unwavering support for the restoration of $10 million in funding for after school Priority 5 vouchers, the City Councilâs newly expanded Autism Initiative and her support against the nearly 40% increase in anti-Semitic crimes in New York City. Greenfield also spoke of multiple visits that the Speaker made to the community including a meeting with community leaders in April and several visits with Masbia and the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty to prepare and distribute food for the needy before Pesach and Rosh Hashanah.
The Speaker, for her part, thanked those in attendance for their support and friendship. She also reiterated her advocacy for the neediest in New York City and happily wished everyone at the Sukkah event a âChag Sameachâ in perfect Hebrew.
âSukkos is the most joyous holiday on the Jewish calendar. Itâs the time to gather with friends and family and celebrate. My thanks to Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito for joining us in Borough Park yesterday and sharing in the holiday with so many of the Jewish communityâs leaders,â Councilman Greenfield said in a statesment. âI know the Speaker was impressed by the amount of chesed that was on full display and represented by so many people who attended the Sukkah event in her honor.â
âIâm very grateful to Council Member Greenfield for hosting this wonderful sukkah gathering,â Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito remarked. âCelebrating the joyous holiday of Sukkot with so many important community leaders was a great privilege. Council Member Greenfield has displayed tremendous leadership as an elected official and last nightâs event was another example of his work to bring all of New York Cityâs communities together.â
13 Powerful Antibiotics That Donât Require a Prescription
Antibiotics are a group of medicines that are used to treat infections caused by bacteria and certain parasites and they are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the US.
Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria and they donât differentiate between good or bed bacteria. As a result every time you swallow antibiotics, you kill the beneficial bacteria within your intestines. Good bacteria in the gut help people in many ways, including helping make vitamins and boosting immunity. Some researchers think that killing them off with antibiotics may be contributing to an increase in chronic health conditions such as obesity, asthma and cancer. If you do need to take antibiotics you should also take probiotics which will help to restore the good bacteria in your gut.
Nature has several other highly effective substances with antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, all able to protect the human body safely and with deep healing powers.
Here are 13 natural antibiotics still in use around the world. I would like to note that this article is not intended to replace medicine, a doctorâs care or in place of medical treatment.
1. Goldenseal
Goldenseal is easily grown in the United States and has become a popular natural method of killing bacteria. Uses include treating digestive problems, UTIs, eye infection and canker sores. Itâs also sometimes mixed with echinacea to alleviate cold symptoms. The berberine found in it can destroy bacteria, parasites, and even strengthen white blood cells.
Use â There are several forms of Goldenseal including pills, extracted liquid and glycerites. The most popular method of ingestion is mixing liquid extract to wash over your skin since it doesnât absorb effectively when taken orally. Precautions
Ask your doctor before taking goldenseal if youâre currently on any other type of medication. It may cause irritation of the skin and heighten itâs sensitivity to sunlight in some users. Avoid use if you have high blood pressure.
2. Oregon Grape
This antibiotic functions a lot like its close relative goldenseal. Medical practitioners are beginning to shift toward this herb because itâs less difficult to produce. The alkaloid berberine is the most effective ingredient in the root. It aides in digestion and can kill a variety of harmful microbes that cause viral sickness.
Use â People tend to use this supplement in tincture or tea form. The root can be chopped into hot water and actually tastes pretty good thanks to the alkaloids. Precautions
The dried root shouldnât be exposed to much light or heat and should be thrown away after a year of storage. Some people experience nausea after the first few doses.
3. Andrographis Paniculata
The root and leaf of this South Asian plant has a commonplace in relieving cold symptoms. Itâs also been used to treat insect bites, hemorrhoids and a wide variety of infections. The active ingredient in most andrographis supplements is called andrographolide.
Use â The best bet for this supplement is to search for capsules and tablets containing no less than 20% andrographolide. Look at the recommended dosage on the label. Precautions
Donât use the product for longer than three months. If you experience diarrhea, upset stomach, or a headache stop taking immediately.
4. Manuka Honey
Interestingly enough this natural antibiotic comes from New Zealand bees that pollinate the manuka bush. It can be used to repair infected tissue, reduce cholesterol and treat diabetes. Methylglyoxal is the compound identified as the active ingredient primarily responsible for the antibacterial action of Manuka honey. The UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) level in manuka products measures the concentration of methylglyoxal and should be no lower than 10 UMF for medical benefit.
Use â You can apply manuka honey directly to a wound or burn for optimal results. Precautions
Manuka honey may elevate blood sugar or cause an allergic reaction. It also interacts negatively with chemotherapy medication.
5. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil extracted from the Melaleuca Alternifolia tree is now becoming a widely-used natural health remedy thanks to its versatility. The most recurrent use is treating cuts, acne, toenail fungus, infections and lung issues. It works effectively in both infection preventing and healing bacterial issues. Read my article about the top 5 medicinal uses for tea tree oil.
Use â You can find tea tree oil in in many products such as toothpastes, hair products, lip balms, lotions, soaps, and pure essential oil. It shouldnât ever be taken by mouth. If you are interested to learn more about essential oils you can find useful information in my e-book Magical Aromatherapy. This book will help you to discover the power of essential oils and the most effective ways to use them. Precautions
Test the oil on a small area of your skin to check for allergies prior to use.
6. Garlic
While it may not actually ward off vampires, garlic still has much more use than simply adding flavor to your meals. It fights heart disease, cold symptoms, boosts your immune system, and has effective antibacterial properties. Research found that some sulfuric compounds in garlic contribute to heart health but the main medical component is allicin, a chemical that also contributes to its trademark smell. Garlic is one of the superfoods mentioned in my e-book about superfoods which is part of the Natural Health Revolution Program. This program will help you to achieve your health, nutrition or weight loss goals.
Use â The most popular way to use garlic is by cooking it into your meals, eating it raw or in powdered form. There are also garlic oils, extracts, and freeze-dried tablets available. Find more information in my article how to use garlic as a medicine. Precautions
Some people that take too much garlic may experience a burning sensation in the mouth or stomach, heartburn, gas, nausea, vomiting, body odor and diarrhea. These side effects are often worse with raw garlic. Also garlic might prolong bleeding, so stop taking garlic at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery. It can also interfere with certain medications.
7. Echinacea
Native Americans have used echinacea as a way to fight off infections and treat injury for over 400 years. Studies have revealed its ability to lessen pain, diminish inflammation, and act as an antiviral as well as an antioxidant. The glycoproteins, volatile oils, flavonoids, and alkamides in the root all help treat athletes foot, UTIs, ear infections, and injuries that heal slowly.
Use â Echinacea is available in tinctures, pills, extracts, and ointments. Itâs commonly found in capsules and tablets mixed in with other natural health supplements. The root can also be put into hot tea. See here the recipe for echinacea tea to boost your immune system. Precautions
Some supplement companies use misleading labels with products that contain very little echinacea so read carefully. Avoid taking if you have diabetes, HIV, liver troubles or multiple sclerosis. Echinacea can also cause a rare allergic reaction in some people.
8. Pau DâArco
This supplement is extracted from the wood and bark of the Pau DâArco tree. Evidence suggests that it can help treat intestinal worms, ulcers, yeast infection, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The main chemical extracted from the tree for medical purposes is called lapachol.
Use â Pau dâarco is sold as tablets, dried bark tea and tincture. The chemicals that give pau dâarco its medicinal effects donât dissolve well in water, so a tea is not recommended. Precautions
Exercise extra caution when using this natural antibiotic. High doses can result in serious diarrhea, nausea and internal bleeding. It interferes with medications that slow blood clotting, so talk to your physician before using a Pau DâArco product.
9. Ginger
Ginger is a common staple in the culinary world that has a prevalent presence in holistic medicine. Itâs considered an effective way to ward off nausea brought on by motion sickness or pregnancy. The phenol compounds like shogaols and gingerols are the main medicinal component in the root that contribute to the anti-inflammatory benefits as well as lowering cholesterol.
Use â Ginger is best known for use as a spice in the kitchen. You can also find ginger extracts, tinctures, capsules and oils. A popular method is brewing hot ginger tea and you can find here how to make anti-inflammatory and pain relief ginger turmeric tea, and find more information in my previous post how to use ginger as a medicine. Precautions
Pregnant women should consult with a doctor before taking a concentrated amount of ginger as in ginger supplement (ginger is considered safe when used in amounts found in food), and ginger should not be given to children under 2. Ginger may also interact with certain prescription medications. For example it may not be safe if you have a bleeding disorder or take blood-thinning drugs. Therefore talk with your doctor before taking it.
10. Olive Leaf Extract
The fruit, leaves, and seeds of the olive tree are packed with natural health benefits. It can treat infections, both viral and bacterial, and also increases healthy purifying bacteria in the stomach. The polyphenol called oleuropein and fatty acids found in the plant are the main components in medical use. Find more information in my article about the health benefits of olive leaf including how to make your own olive leaf extract.
Use â Olive leaf extract is most effective as a pill, topical cream, and liquid extract. It can be applied directly to the skin or consumed with a suggested maximum of 60g per day. Precautions
Generally one of the safest options on this list. The pollen created by the plant will sometimes irritate people with seasonal allergies.
11. Oil of Oregano
The leaf of the oregano plant has been used for a variety of medical purposes. The main use lies within respiratory health by treating symptoms of coughing, asthma and bronchitis. When the carvacrol is extracted from oregano it has the potential to fight off parasites, eliminate bacteria and alleviate acne.
Use â Oregano oil can be mixed with hand sanitizer, vaporized into the air, rubbed onto the skin, or taken in pill form. 600 mg a day is sufficient for stomach parasites. Precautions
Oregano is relatively harmless when found in recipes for cooking. In medical amounts it can cause upset stomach if too much is taken and can interfere with medications containing lithium. Also pregnant women should avoid taking it. Thereâs also potential for allergic reactions.
12. Turmeric
A relative to ginger, turmeric has a lineage of antibiotic use. Itâs been suggested to help with stomach ulcers, indigestion, heart disease, and viral as well as bacterial infections. The curcumin found in the root of the plant is the main source of antioxidant and antibiotic benefits.
Use â Turmeric root can be consumed raw but is most commonly dried and powdered. The powder can either be ingested in a drink, sprinkled onto food, or simply found in a capsule. There are also tinctures dissolved in alcohol and liquid extracts of turmeric. Find more informetion in the article about the health benefits of turmeric, including a recipe for a golden milk. Precautions
Turmeric is considered a generally food safe herb but when used too much it can cause an upset stomach and even ulcers. If you have surgery scheduled within two weeks turmeric should be avoided because of the blood thinning properties. Also taking turmeric by mouth in medicinal amounts is likely unsafe in pregnancy.
13. Coconut oil
The saturated fats found in coconut oil contain antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic properties which strengthen your immune system. Coconut oil can further benefit the skin by treating and preventing skin infections and also helps in treating various skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and many more. Coconut oil has anti-microbial properties which help to fight indigestion-causing bacteria, fungi and parasites and has been effectively used to prevent and cure candida. Some of the most promising research in recent years has been in the area of using lauric acid or monolaurin, both derived from coconut oil, in treatments for antibiotic resistant super germs. One study was conducted at Georgetown University in 2005 and found the these substances can inhibit the growth of many pathogenic microorganisms. Lauric acid in coconut oil in combination with oregano oil, has even been found more effective in fighting the staph bacteria than antibiotics. Find more information in the article about the many health benefits of coconut oil.
Use â Coconut oil can be added to smoothies, hot drinks, stir fries or as a spread on a toast.
Precautions
Always opt for organic, virgin coconut oil and avoid all the refined stuff. Coconut oil is safe for most people if used in amounts commonly found in foods, and despite the many health benefits of coconut oil, like many things in life, moderation is the key. This means that up to 3 tbsp. daily per adult is an appropriate dose.
Mother Nature gives us great natural alternative to antibiotics â next time the you feel unwell try these natural alternatives to antibiotics. if you are pregnant or breastfeeding please consult with your doctor before using any of these herbal antibiotics.
