For Openers The Other, Other White Meat Mr ithin the list of expected items like ham- burgers and chicken soup, the menu at Taste of Class restaurant boasts something so unusual and so unfamiliar that it sparks questions from even the most seasoned patrons. "People come in and ask, 'What on Earth is bison meat?"' says Chuck Ehrenreich, owner of the Oak Park eatery where the new item has been sold for the last six weeks. "Some say they didn't know buffalo was kosher or that they think it's still endangered." The animal was removed from that list in 1988. Not only is bison kosher, but it's actual- ly healthier than many other meats because it's lower in fat, calories and cho- lesterol than beef, veal, lamb and even skinless white meat chicken. "Kosher bison meat has been available for a couple of years in other areas, but no SHELLI one here was willing to give it a try until LIEBMAN now," says Rabbi Joseph Krupnik, kashrut DORFMAN director of the Council of Orthodox Staff Writer Rabbis of Greater Detroit/Vaad Harabonim in Southfield. The rabbi helped bring about the change. He got a call from a distributor of Solomon's Finest Glatt Kosher Meats in South Dakota, whose Bridgewater Quality Meats is the only kosher buffalo processing plant in the United States. He suggested they call Ehrenreich, who ordered the meat for both Taste of Class and his David's Grill in the West Bloomfield Jewish Community Center. Johnny Katz of Harvard Kosher Meats in West Bloomfield became the first Detroit-area vendor to sell the kosher meat. "Most customers first like to try the ground bison," Katz says. "Then if they like it they come back for other cuts like steak, roast, flanken or buffalo patties that we make and freeze. Anything you can use beef for, you can use bison for." He describes the meat as a little sweeter than beef; it can be broiled, barbecued and used in spaghetti. ) rot-tivlb I srael is bordered by the Arab countries of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Which other Arab country is located only 15 min- utes from the Israeli border? ) Cath Johnny Katz weighs kosher buffalo meat. Although healthier, the meat is more costly than its beef and poultry counterparts, with bison roast about $1.50 more per pound than beef roast and ground bison about 50 cents more than ground beef. "That's because of the limited availability of the kosher buffalo meat," Rabbi Krupnik says. Both Katz and Ehrenreich have sold all the bison meat they have received and have re-ordered several times. "Last week, a man who doesn't eat beef came in and bought just one thing," - Katz says. "This week he came back and spent $100 — all of it on buffalo meat." "I wonder what's next?" asks Ehrenreich. "Maybe the giraffe?" He says the animal is deemed kosher for its cloven hooves and cud chewing, but for now, is not among those slaughtered according to Jewish law. ❑ — Matthew Schenk, president of the Reconstructionist congrega- tion of Detroit, as quoted in a Forward story about urban-based synagogues. "If religious representatives are seen coming together in mutual respect to strive for a better world, it sends a powerful message of positive regard for other faith traditions and presents religion as a force for good." EICIE.119r IPITES :JaMSUV GRAPLIEWZ RABBI I'VE DECIDED TO ATTEND SERVICES ReGoARL, I'VE DISCOVERED REt.IGfoN evat -------, he Jewish ,,, t§igtiott -----:' A Haggadah ro ve w ebrate the,earth. Fiftld-to 'help s s www.detr6itfiwis - ,. . . . . - ,.: "There is a strong commitment just to maintaining the 150-year continuing presence of Jews in Detroit." By Goldfein , . „. . , . . . . .,_. ._,. . „. .,. ._,_ David Rosen, the American Jewish Committee's international director of interreligious relations, in Assisi, Italy, at an interfaith peace rally of world religious leaders. Mendel Wow! FAKYTASTIC SAM! DM POI,IGHTED I NOW 1..61-15 SEE, WHAT LIFE-C1-1A1ZINC7 EXPERIENCE C001. HAVE BROUGHT AFOOT THIS EPIPHAN)?.. urch docu- Jewish leaciirs praiSt4rtyv ment on the"' ssiah. m/news www.detroitjewis ) Recalling The Shoah Germans mark six decades since Hitler's "Final Solution." www.detroitjewishnews.cominews ) Stroke Of Luck Fighting back from adversity, Kirk Douglas recalls his stroke and its aftermath. www.detroitjewish- news.cominews Kirk Douglas, 85, slides down new playground equipment he and his wife, Anne, donated to a California elementary school. Michael Jacobs/JTA ) Mideast Update The latest news from the Mideast. www.detroitjewishnews.com/news ) What's Eating Harry Kirsbaum? Letters From Camp X-Ray: How are conditions at the popular Taliban and Al Qaida resort in Cuba? Depends on whom you ask. vv-ww.detroitjewishnews.com/opinion — Joshua Paul Cane, IN Online Web producer THE BIRTH OF HAVE WA) A 6RAPJVCI-111-P SEEN THE PeRNAPS?.. THE DgeoVa8 OF YOUR PERFORMANCE OF THE OWN MORTA MARKET MAYBE A LONGING FOR CoMMU(OrrA? LATEL Y ? — Yiddish Limericks A piccolo player named Mort Said, "Granted, my instrument's short, But I can outplay Your flute any day." "Ich fife ahfJere!"* was the retort. — Martha Jo Fleischrnann * (literal) I whistle on you! (figurative) Go to the devil! 1/25 2002 11