24 Hours
And Counting

Young Israel to host Shabbat
cholent contest.

H

ow do you stage a cooking
competition when outright
cooking is prohibited? The
Young Israel of Oak Park, an Orthodox
congregation, found the way to do it
— with a cholent contest called the
Iron Blech.
Loosely modeled after the Food
Network's Iron Chef, the Iron Blech,
which will take place Saturday, June
21, will feature 15 cholents that were
prepared at least 24 hours in advance
of the event and then set to simmer in
crockpots until lunch following syna-
gogue services.
Cholent, an all-in-one dish that
simmers overnight or longer — in
the oven, on a stovetop on top of a
metal sheet (a blech) or in a crockpot
— has traditionally been the hot main
course that observant Jews served on
the Sabbath. Because cholent solved
the problem of having hot food on a
day when cooking was forbidden, it
is widely believed to be the oldest of
Jewish traditions.
Despite its occurrence in most
Jewish communities around the world,
there is no single recipe for cholent.
The cultural glue that connects cho-
lents globally is the requirement that
they be prepared before the Sabbath.
Cholent ingredients must also hold up
to prolonged cooking. Meat, legumes,
barley, potatoes and root vegetables
are some standards. But cholents are
as diverse as the people who make
them.
YIOP's Iron Blech competition,

Beth El Brotherhood
At its installation dinner on June
4, the Temple Beth El Brotherhood
elected Marc Zupmore as president,
Jeff Hollander as first vice president,
Larry Imerman as second vice presi-
dent, James Michelson as third vice
president, Gerry Cole as secretary and
David Bloom as treasurer.
Elected directors were Kevin
Gorman, Jerry Biegler, Mark

which started in 2003, has pitted vege-
tarian cholents against meat, meat and
more meat cholents. For this year's
Iron Blech, YIOP's outgoing rabbi,
Rabbi Reuven Spolter, an avid "sugar
buster" dieter, will substitute sweet
potatoes for white ones and sugar sub-
stitute for the real thing. A contestant
since the event started, Rabbi Spolter
is making his last shot for the prizes
awarded before making aliyah with
his family in July.
YIOP's incoming rabbi's wife,
Devorah Cohen, who traces her lin-
eage to the Jews ousted from Spain in
1492, is picking up the cholent spoon.
She'll recreate her Sephardi family's
version of cholent, a chamin with
chickpeas and rice, a dish she says has
been greeted with rave compliments.
On Saturday afternoon after a
hearty lunch, members of the congre-
gation will sample the cholents and
vote for the one they like best. In addi-
tion to their Taste of Cholent award,
there will also be a panel decision for
the Cholentum Magnificum award.
The panel of superdelegates com-
prises Judge Michelle Friedman Appel,
of the 45th District Court in Oak
Park, and chef Annabel Cohen, who
frequently contributes food articles to
the Detroit Jewish News.
The cholent contest will take place
at the Young Israel of Oak Park on 10
Mile Road. There is a charge for the
event, and reservations are required.
For information, call the synagogue
office, (248) 967-3655. ❑

Cooperman, Dana Gulick, Joe Inwald,
Barry Lepler, Leo Hollander, Lee
"Buzz" Turner and Larry Warren.
The Temple Beth El Brotherhood
in Bloomfield Township is in its 90th
year. It sponsors a range of activi-
ties including a blood drive, youth
programs, social action projects and
events to build camaraderie.
For information, call Mark
Cooperman, (248) 851-1100.

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designed for women of all ages who wish to optimize their personal
and professional lives as they grow older. Great gifts and prizes will
be awarded as well!

Admission is complimentary and open to women of all ages.

Thursday, June 26 • 10 a.m.

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Complimentary Peripheral Vascular Disease test to those that R.S. VP
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Wynwood Utica - 45969 North Pointe Boulevard

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Presented by Dr De Mei relcs
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1404780

June 19 • 2008

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