THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS — CURACO — Rolling hills topped by centuries-old plantation houses . . . a starkly dramatic landscape with 20-foot high cactus plants . .. and probably the most charming small city-in the Caribbean. These all de- scribe the Dutch island of Curacao, just 40 miles north of Venezuela. • Curacao's principal at- traction is the bustling sea- port of Willemstad, where 17th Century Dutch-gabled buildings painted in soft pastels line the streets and "bor entrance. There's ,o a picturesque floating market, where Venezuelan schooners with exotic fruits and vegetables tie up along the waterfront. The Queen Emma float- ing pontoon bridge, a pedestrian-only walkway that swings open for passing cruise ships and freighters 20-30 times a day, links the two sections of-Willemstad. The Punda, Willemstad's business district, contains dozens of fascinating shops. Curacao boasts an un- usual number of excel- lent restaurants offering French, Swiss, Italian and local cuisine. These are set amid lovely set- tings ranging from con- verted mansions to reno-, vated fortresses over- looking the sea. One international favo- rite many visitors enjoy is rijsttafel, an Indonesian specialty featuring as many as 24 different, beef, veget- able and chicken dishes. Another is "Keshi Yena," which consists of a whole Edam cheese stuffed with fish, then baked. The recipe below is just one of many tempting dis- hes described in a recently published cookbook, "Re- cipes from the Jewish Kitchens .of Curacao." This collection of authentic is- land specialties was com- piled by the Sisterhood of Cong. Mikve Israel- Emanuel and is sold in that synagogue's gift shop. 1 chopped green pepper 2 tsps. Worcestershire Sauce 1/4 cup raisins or prunes 1 /4 cup sliced olives 1 tbsp. capers 1 tbsp. parsley 1/4 hot pepper, minced or Tabasco to taste 2 tbsps. ketchup 2 tbsps. piccalilli Salt and pepper to taste Cut a small circle on the upper part of the cheese. Scoop out the inside, leaving a shell of 1/4" to 1/2" inside. Saute the vegetables, seasonings and fish in butter, margarine or oil. Simmer until the tomatoes are reduced, ____about 20 minutes. Beat 4 eggs 1 Edam cheese about 2 to 21/2 and blend into the mixture. lbs. Generously grease a cas- 2 lbs. fish, cleaned and de- serole or the top of a double boned (tuna or salmon) boiler. Fill cheese with the 5 eggs vegetable/fix mixture, cover 3 tomatoes, chopped and wit, the lid and spread remain- peeled ing egg on top of cheese as a 1 tblsp. tomato paste sealer. Set the casserole in a 2 sliced onions pan of hot water and place in 1 small garlic clove the oven at 350 degrees for 11/2 hours or the double boiler over simmering water with a lid for the same amount of time. Alternate Method: Slice cheese about 1/4" in thickness. Line a deep buttered dish or individual custard cups with cheese, overlapping edges. Place the filling inside, cover with cheese, brush with be- aten egg to seal. Serves 10-12. Keshi Yena Cong. Mikve Israel-Emanuel- DEXTER DAVISON KOSHER MEATS 557-7677 12 & Evergreen SAVE 60c lb. CHUCK ROAST (bone in) $1 1 49 1h. 1st Cut CHUCK STEAK (bone in) saw PURE BEEF HAMBURGER or PATTIES $1 6%3. Incidentally, since virtu- ally everyone on Curacao speaks English, shopping and dining here are quite pleasurable. Moreover, you can pay for your purchases in U.S. dollars, whether in cash, travelers checks or major credit cards. The real charm of Curacao lies in its people, a polyglot community of 40 to 50 different nationalities. And all somehow seem in harmony. This is perhaps best reflected in the fact that the language of Papiamento, a sort of inter- national cocktail consisting of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English and African dialects, has gradually been adopted by all the inhabi- tants of Curacao. Curacao is undoubtedly the most important island in the Caribbean in terms of Jewish history. This oldest of New World Jewish com- munities actually dates to the year 1651, when a small agricultural settlement was founded by a Portuguese Jew, Joao d'Illan, who emi- grated from Amsterdam. Other Jews soon fol- lowed — many fleeing the attract upwards of 20,000 today affiliated with the Re- visitors annually. constructionist Foundation The white sand-covered and the World Union for floor inside the sanctuary Progressive Judaism. How- symbolizes the Israelites ever, many elements of the wanderings in the desert be- traditional Sephardic fore they reached the Prom- liturgy are still maintained. ised Land. It also calls to Visitors are welcomed to mind how Marrano JeWs Friday evening and Satur- , living in Spain and Por- day morning services. tugal used sand to muffle Curacao's equally large , Spanish Inquisition in footsteps during their secret Ashkenazic community has Brazil. Then, in 1654, the worship services during the its own Orthodox congrega- tion, Shaarei Tsedek, at 39 Sephardic Cong. Mikve - Inquisition. Mikve Israel-Emanuel is Scharlooweg. Israel ("The Hope of Is- rael") was established. Still more families ar- rived from Holland dur- ing the second half of the 17th Century. When the United States gained independence in 1776, Curacao already had a Jewish population of nearly 2,000 — more than the total number of Jews in all 13 colonies! In fact, Curacao had the largest, the wealthiest and most influential Jewish Nobody Sells Diamonds For Less And We Prove It! community in the Americas during most of the 18th The Diamond People For Over 50 years E y~OUZ Century. From this period MAN & CO 30555 SOUTHFIELD RD CONGRESS BLDG ,, 100 until the 20th Century, (ONE BLOCK SOUTH OF 13 MILE ROAD) Sephardic Jews virtually dominated the Curacaoan PHONE 645-9200 • economy, most notably as merchants, sailors and shipowners. Curacao's Mikve Israel- Emanuel, with a member- ship of approximately 300, is today the oldest syna- gogue in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere. 13831 W. 9 Mile Rd.; Oak Park 543-7092 Interestingly, 1982 carries special significance as it marks the 250th anniver- GLATT KOSHER MEATS sary of the present Specials good from Aug. 8th thru Aug. 13th structure, which was con- secrated on the eve of CHUCK STEAK & MIDDLE CHUCK lb. Passover in 1732. Housed in a pastel- lb. yellow building located at the corner of Hanchi di lb. Snoa ("Alley of the Syna- gogue") and Colum- busstraat in downtown Willemstad, the syna- lb. gogue is open to visitors Many More Specials In Our Self Service Counter weekdays. The edifice and adjacent museum Under Supervision of are considered architec- The Council of Orthodox Rabbis tural masterpieces and wHfirs IM fl MAME? ► RYTHIMG! IF YOU'RE IMTERESTED IM DIAMONDS, STRICTLY KOSHER MEAT MARKET ....1.49 FLANKEN SHOULDER ROAST END OF SHOULDER ROAST . WHOLE BRISKET $2.19 $2.49 $2.2911). $2.29 SHABOT SHALOM FROM GREAT SCOTT! HAAGEN DAZ ICE CREAM PINT 149 CTR. SAVE 46' GOLDEN BLINTZES 2 Temples Grow OAKLAND, Calif. (JTA) — A Reform congregation near here has grown so rapidly in the last few years that it has spawned a second congregation. Temple Isaiah in Lafayette has grown to 600 families, and Cong. Bnai Tikvah in Walnut Creek has tripled its membership in one year to nearly 100 families. Friday, August 6, 1982 43 15-OZ. 99 AVE SAVE 76' KEDEM GRAPE JUICE 22-0Z. 109 SAVE BTL. 52' BORDEN SOUR CREAM PINT CUP KOSHER FOODS AVAILABLE AT: • • • • • 6 9°SzE MOST STORES OPEN DAILY TELEGRAPH/LONG LAKE IN BLOOMFIELD TWP. E3 A.M.-TO 10 P.M. SOUTHFIELD/13 MILE IN BEVERLY HILLS ORCHARD LAKE/13 MILE RD. IN FARMINGTON HILLS SUNDAY TELEGRAPH & MAPLE ROAD BLOOMFIELD PLAZA 9 A.M. TO 6 P.M. 12 MILE/EVERGREEN IN SOUTHFILED PRICES EFFECTIVE THRU AUG. 12, 1982. NO SALES TO DEALERS. j