Being thankful … in chopped liver
If Barack Obama ever asks that classic Jewish question — “What am I … chopped liver?” — David Goldberg would say yes, but in a good way. Goldberg, of San Francisco, crafted an image of our president-elect in a large block of chopped liver for Thanksgiving.
Noting that his family traditionally offers up a not-so-traditional chopped liver side dish at Thanksgiving gatherings, Golberg explains, “My wife, Cheri Goldberg, uses an age-old family recipe with schmaltz, and the whole works. It’s from heaven.”
David then gets artistic, making the surface of the chopped liver look like a turkey or a pilgrim or some other Thanksgiving icon. This year, the couple used a stencil of Obama and then commenced chiseling. The end result: an Obama portrait in chopped liver with details and features created with poppy seeds and paprika. “I suspect that there has never previously been a sculpture of Barack Obama in chopped liver in the history of the world,” David concludes.
Chanukah presence
Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, in partnership with the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation’s LGBT Alliance, has an online auction (through Dec. 18) in which you can pick up some unique Chanukah goodies and support the San Francisco congregation, too. Among the offerings are babysitting, cupcakes, yoga classes, art, dinners and “Renta A Yenta” (you’ve got to read the description). Check it out at www.shaarzahav.org.
Or you can extend your Chanukah tzedakah overseas and help refugees from Darfur. Fred Ross-Perry of Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael is donating the proceeds from the sales of his CD “Sanctuary,” a collection of original spiritual music, to the congregation’s campaign to build a clinic in Chad where 50,000 Darfuri refugees along with 100,000 Chadians are served. The congregation is working with American Jewish World Service. To hear the music or purchase a CD, visit www.ross-perry.com. To simply make a donation to the clinic in someone’s honor, contact Joni Pratt ([email protected]) or Terry Seligman ([email protected]).
Gan HaLev, the Jewish Congregation of San Geronimo Valley (in western Marin County), is looking for a new or used guitar for its Penina Maier Jewish School. If you have one you can donate, call (415) 488-4524 or e-mail [email protected].
Tzedakah and the City
The S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council’s Casey Cohen, coordinator extraordinaire of the Jewish community volunteer day at San Francisco’s Project Homeless Connect, reports that participation of individuals and Jewish organizations doubled this year. Some 140 volunteers from 23 groups showed up Dec. 3 at Bill Graham Civic Center to help direct those in need to a variety of services.
Volunteers interviewed people, escorted them to proper stations, and provided legal and medical expertise, among other jobs. Rabbi Sydney Mintz opened the day with an inspiring charge to the hundreds of volunteers (there were many from the general community as well), and Rabbi Marv Goodman led a debriefing in which the Jewish context for the day was examined.
In addition, the community collected toiletries and put them into free hygiene kits — 30 grocery bags full of them, noted Cohen, who packed up her car and trunk with the donations. “This is tzedakah at its highest order,” one volunteer noted. It’s an annual event, so look for it again next year.
Listings aplenty
Gail Green of Jewish Community Information & Referral encourages you to visit PlanitJewish.com — the community’s online event calendar — to find out the latest in Chanukah (and other) happenings. If you’re from an organization and want to list something but don’t know how, contact Green at [email protected].