ETCETERA
THE Q & A
KIDDUSH CLUB
The Gospel According to Joe
Let's Shrei Over Rye
By Bryan Gottlieb
J
oseph Lieberman, the most senior member of Con-
necticut's congressional delegation, is nearing the end
of his third, and what he has said is his final, term in
the U.S. Senate. Elected twice as a Democrat, in his last
race, in 2006, Sen. Lieberman lost his bid for re-election
in the Democratic primary. Less than a month after that
stinging defeat, his campaign officially filed paperwork
allowing the former 2000 Democratic nominee for vice
president to collect signatures under the "Connecticut for
Lieberman" Party.
Critics contend Old Joe is really a wolf in sheep's cloth-
ing, and that his vocal support of the Iraq war, endorse-
ment of Sen. John McCain for president in 2008 and
countless appearances on conservative media shows belie
his membership in the Democratic Party — from which
he never resigned, even while running as a third-party
candidate.
Through it all, one of the Senate's more affable mem-
bers has remained consistent on at least one thing: Being
shomer Shabbat, or Sabbath observant.
In his most recent book The Gift of Rest: Rediscover-
ing the Beauty of the Sabbath, (Howard Books /Simon &
Schuster; $26; 236 pp), Lieberman lays out the case for
why observing Shabbat isn't as much about recharging
one's batteries as it is recharging one's soul. As arguably
the country's most famous observer of this commandment,
the senator details the refuge he and his wife Hadassah
retreat to after candle lighting on Fridays — "Shabbat-
land" — and how people of all faiths can draw strength by
withdrawing from life's frenetic pace, if only for a day.
Given the criticism Lieberman has endured through-
out the last decade of his political life — from friend and
foe alike — it stands to reason why Shabbatland is such
a refuge.
RT: After authoring half a dozen books, we're surprised
you didn't pen this sooner. Was there a reason you waited
until now to spread the gospel of Shabbat?
JL: This is something that has been building in me for
years. Actually, about three or four years ago, I said to my
dear friend Rabbi Menachem Ganack, "I would really like
to write a book about Shabbat because it means so much
to me, and I want to convey that to people:' And I think
it has broader applications because people are working so
hard regardless of their religion.
RT: Many people, including many Jews, can't fathom
`going dark" for 25 hours by disconnecting from technol-
ogy. What are those who have yet to try it missing out
on?
JL: Well, this is part of the problem because in
the electronic information age, our work never
leaves us. It's always as close as the cell phone,
Blackberry or the iPad, and the danger is that
everybody is always working, not stopping to
get perspective on what they're doing and
renewing themselves to do it better in the
(lairs ahead.
It also has the salutary and humbling
effect of making clear to me that the
world actually can get by without me for
24 hours a week and, if the world really
needs me, it will find me.
RT: You're an FFB (frum from
birth); was there ever a period
where you questioned keeping
Shabbat?
JL: When I went to college,
I stopped observing Shabbat,
but I came back to it after I got
married and started raising a
family and haven't left it since.
I consider it to be a gift. The
original donor of the "gift of rest"
was God, but the immediate donors
were my parents, of blessed memory,
who put me on this track.
RT: Why is the notion of an observant Jew seemingly so novel to
the chattering class while little attention is paid by many to the born-
again GOP's near requisite demand to give it up for Jesus?
JL: The reality is that observant Jews are still a minority in the
Jewish community. For a long time, observant Jews tended not to be
involved in politics as much. But I think this will now change, that
increasing numbers of observant Jews will become involved in every
phase of American life, including government.
RT: There was some kibitzing in the press when, in your book, you
touch upon the notion of the "double mitzvah," or the precept of know-
ing your wife, biblically, on Shabbat. Are we (the press) just a bunch of
horny eighth-graders?
JL: I hope that one of the accomplishments of the book is that the
reader becomes my "guest" and travels with me through a Sabbath day.
I hope that one of the things people discover is that Sabbath is not just
a somber day of prayer but is full of joy, family gatherings and food and
wine. And, according to rabbinic tradition, it's a wonderful time for
couples to be together sexually.
RT: Do you think Eric Cantor would accommodate your request
to help make a minyan?
JL: Well, Eric Cantor and I are friends, and I'm sure that if I
asked him to come to a minyan, he would come.
RT: How long after you break-the-fast does Hadassah get on
you to put up the sukkah?
JL: Almost immediately! But usually action is taken by the
next day.
RT: Lastly, would we find you at "Kiddush club" during the
Haftorah reading?
JL: No more. I've repented, and I delay the Kiddush
until after the service is fully done.
18 October 2011 I
•
RED THREAD
hiskey — one of the most complex spirits on
the shelf — evokes a passion from connoisseurs
and novices alike. Frankly, the dispute over
spelling alone (Whiskey — American/Irish; Whisky
— Scotch/Canadian) is enough to drive one to drink.
Then there's the perennial debate between those
who add a bit of water versus those who consider it
sacrilege, which inevitably leads to someone getting
called a little girl and tears starting to flow. Now, all of
a sudden, a delicious glass of whiskey contains hints
of salt and sadness.
Prior to Prohibition, or Volstead's Folly as we call it,
rye whiskey was one of the most popular alcohols in
the United States. It faded from memory shortly after
full American liberty was restored on Dec. 5, 1933.
Whereas bourbon is sweet — and scotch is smoky
— rye is spicy; and like any booze, the prices range
from "I'm not sure humans should consume that"
to "Man, I wish I was rich!'Thus is the mandate of
our club: Give the consumer the facts to make an
informed decision.
'W
JIM BEAM RYE
$22
JB, America's No. 1-selling rye, is the one-
night stand of rye whiskeys. There's a reason
for that: It's easy to drink. There's a bit of burn,
but the sensation lasts only as long as this
mash is in your maw.
While some whiskeys have an aftertaste
that lingers in your throat, JB's is here one
second and gone the next. That could be
because it doesn't have a powerful flavor like
some others, or it might be because, well — we don't
really know everything.
In any case, Jim Beam is not a rye we find ourselves
wanting to sip, so this by-the-hour lover makes a
great choice for cocktails — not that there's anything
wrong with that. Next time you feel like spending
a night putting back Jack and Cokes, give this rye a
shot instead.
BULLIET RYE WHISKEY
$28
Last March, one of our favorite Kentucky
distillers decided to expand its offerings
and produce a rye that is, as the kids say,
"full on:" Bulleit Rye is 95 percent Rye mash,
which makes it among the highest ryes
available. It's 90 proof and is produced in
Indiana.
It's not too spicy and thus perfect for
those who don't want the feeling of their throat be-
ing whitewashed. With a well-rounded sweet-spice
taste, this baby is a sipper, straight or on ice.
$33
RUSSELL'S RESERVE RYE
A member of the Wild Turkey family, the
reaction you will likely have after tasting
RRR is, "Wow, this is smooth!' No need for ice
or chilling the glass — just pour and enjoy.
Try and sit back to savor it, and — if you're
like us — the lingering spiciness will cause
you to want another sip to start all over
again.
There's a little bit of burn as it goes
down but not in the cheap liquor sort of way. It's just
enough to remind you that you're a man, you drink
whiskey straight and you make no apologies for it.
(Unless you're a woman, in which case we'd like your
number!)
(RI)1 KENTUCKY STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY $48
efio.
Pronounced "rye one," (ri)1 is a Kentucky
straight rye whiskey that is the rye for those
who want to have the best of both worlds.
It's lighter and sweeter than other ryes but
still has that spicy snap. The name is seem-
ingly an element from the periodical table,
and the packaging is sleek, hip and modern.
It definitely has the high-end look — and a
price tag to boot.
TEMPLETON RYE WHISKEY
$50
With a deep yellow-orange color, its
shade akin to that of Mearth — Mork and
VIA
Mindy's geriatric-aged toddler son on the
1970s ABC show —Templeton has not
been rushed out of the cask. The fresh rye
spice has some distinct woody notes, which
smell like a mix of cedar, pencil shavings
and cardboard.
Templeton, made from a classic pre-Prohibition
recipe, is aged a full five years before coming to
market. You can practically taste the barrel when it
hits your lips. We don't know if this is one is a sipper,
but drinking too much may contribute to you getting
caught by your zipper!
— By Red Thread Staff
www.redthreadmagazine.com