Recipe of Kosher Brazilian Cheese Rolls

This recipe is a famous one in Brazil as known as " Pao de Queijo" and the Kosher ones are doubled price in Jewish markets in Brazil...Thus, it's just impossible to find a ready kosher sale of these delicious rolls in Brooklyn.

I've made dozen of these for this past Chanukah when we indulge in cheese eating...One bite leads to another! They are rich in iron and are amazingly delicious!

Here goes the recipe that takes only 10 minutes, if you want more, all you have to do is double its ingredients -

One can note that the main ingredient is "Sweet Polvilho Starch" which is a Brazilian product, therefore, if one can't go all the way to Queens to buy it, it can be used either "Tapioca Starch" or "Sweet Cassava Starch" - since this "Polvilho" Powder comes from Tapioca. So, in other countries it might be named either Tapioca Starch or Cassava Starch !

Ingredients

4 Cups of sweet Tapioca Starch or Cassava Starch ( Polvilho Doce in Portuguese);

1 table spoon of salt or as one may like it;

2 cups of Milk ( 300 ml);

1 ounce of Oil ( the original recipe says 1 cup, it's up to you);

2 big egg ( I use one - if you want it lighter you can use only the white);

4 cups of shredded cheese;

Oil to grease

Preparation :

1 - Put the starch in a pot;

2- Separately bring to boil in a pan, the milk and oil;

3- when it boils, scald the starch with this mixture, mix very well to avoid little bumps;

4- Let it cool;

5- Add the eggs one at a time, alternating with the shredded cheese and stir well after each addition;

6 - Make your hands greasy with oil if needed;

7 - Make balls of 2(cm) size and put them on a baking sheet;

8 - Take to the oven in a medium temperature of 180 degrees, pre-heated;

9 - Bake until it reaches a golden color !


And Enjoy this dairy treat !


Some kosher Brazilian products can be found in regular supermarkets in Brazil, therefore, if exported to the USA they can be bought in places like in Queen where there are Brazilian markets; here goes a Brazilian site of kashurut/ kosher items :

http://www.bdk.com.br/GaleriaProdutos.aspx you can be directed at it by clicking on the text above.

Succot celebrations and the unknown Jewish factor of Rio's Olympic Games!!!

The Jewish holiday of Succot (feast of booths or huts) is celebrated right after the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur which are known as the days of judgment and awe; Succot is a harvest holiday where we not only remember that the ancient Israelites dwelled in a Succah ( Huts/booths) in the desert after escaping from Egypt; actually build a Succah to eat there and have a little of the feeling of how it was like living in a humble dwelling, yet having the Divine clouds of protection better than any modern security system ever created.

Besides the Mitzvah (Torah commandment) of building a Succah; we say blessings on the harvest fruits such as an etrog (Citron) and pray for protection from calamities for the four corners of the earth, and get to enjoy many celebrations with music and dancing.

After the days of judgment we embrace the holiday of Succot where we have the joy of experiencing the spiritual blessings and the fun that this holiday has to offer and the last days of Succot are actually Shmeni Atzret and Simchat Torah which mark the ending of the Torah reading cycle with lots of dancing and rejoicing !

Yesterday, I went to Crown Heights where Jewish people from all over the world come to celebrate and dance together where there’s concert staged from Chabad.

I had a great time, because I met some friends from the Jewish community of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and we had so much fun together and saw Brazilian flags waved by some Jewish guys from Rio; we were happy that Rio will host the Olympic games, but even happier to celebrate Succot together in a place which has become a meeting point in New York.

Talking about the Olympic Games in Rio on 2016; I bet that few people know that the real contributor for this is the Jewish Brazilian Olympic bid president Carlos Nuzman!

So, all the Brazilian flags in Crown Heights reminded me and should remind Brazil’s President Lula that Carlos Nuzman is Jewish and was the key element to bring the games to Rio.

Most Jewish people in Brazil have an active role of contribution to Brazil’s culture, arts, music, business, economy and sports and now more than ever a contribution to the Olympic Games!

I uploaded some mini videos of the celebration in Crown Heights (has 4 tiny parts) just press on the text and it directs to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sNPuuiMv-Q

About Nuzman :
http://www.universalsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&ATCLID=204800653
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carlos_Nuzman.jpg
http://www.gonomad.com/roundworldphoto/2007/10/carlos-nuzman.html

A NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE

It's not late to wish AM ISRAEL and humanity a sweet 5770! I hope everyone that is reading this post has enjoyed so far the High Holidays known as the days of awe.

Now, before speaking about the beauty of our feasts; I have to say that the large Jewish community in Brazil and I as a Brazilian citizen are extremely upset about the encounter of the brazilian president Lula with Ahmadnejah at UN conference; every Rosh Hashanah he participates in the holiday celebration and so did he this time again, but Baruch Hashem BRAZIL and the Jewish people there do not agree with politics of just trying to get along with this tyrants in order to avoid conflicts and keep the exportation to Iran. The hatred that dictators preach have to be dealt with rigor and not in a passive way; so the message of BRAZIL AND ITS JEWISH PEOPLE to Lula is WE DON'T WELCOME DICTATORS, AM ISRAEL HATERS and HOLOCAUST DENIERS to our land of freedom;we will advocate and fight agaisnt the influence of this evil.

Now, about my Rosh Hashanah experience: it was very interesting this year in a very positive way, Baruch Hashem. I was able to enjoy the prayers sang by the Chazzan/ cantor Stark and my husband and I met a sweet couple from Canada that came to visit the husband's mother in the hospital, so we went to visit some patients at the hospital as well and I felt like it was one of the best prayers that I could offer...

Now this Yom Kippur I had the privilege of having a live dream with my sweet late daddy, it felt so real and I feel grateful to G-d for His kindness.

If we read the newspapers, we can see that most of its news are not enthusiastic and positive, nevertheless, if keep our souls in the spirit of the High holidays where we reflect and try to improve ourselves and ask forgiveness to G-d, thus in the holiday of Succot (Feast of the booths) we embrace the sense that our prayers have been answered, being sheltered by the Almighty’s heavenly clouds symbolized by the booths that once the ancient Israelites lived in the desert.

I hope everyone may harvest good blessings from their sincere prayers and enjoy the Yom Tov of Succot that is right on the corner and just like history tells, may we really experience its joyous occasion with news of Divine interventions individually and as a G-d fearing nation.

May Hashem Himself bring His SHALOM to ERETZ ISRAEL and not the treaties of politicians that think they could solve the problem and may we all gather together soon in Yerushalayim.

An interesting article upon the Jewish and Arabs living in Brazil, check at http://www.brazilpoliticalcomment.com.br/content/view/104/29/lang,en/ or click on the text of this post.

Tidbit on the role of the Shofar

First of all I'd like to detail a tidbit history of the Shofar which is a ram's horn that has been used as a sounded instrument from ancient Yisrael.

The Torah was given to Yisrael with the blasting sound of the shofar ( Shemot/Exodus 19:19); and Yisrael conquered the Battle of Yericho ( Jerico) with the blast of the shofar (Joshua 6:20); the shofar was blown as a sign to all Yisrael as an assembly during wars ( softim/judges 3:27; Shmuel 20:1); the shofar was also used during the coronation of kings (1 Kings 1:34, 39) and it was blown to announce the beginning of the Chaggim, the Jewish festivals (Numbers 10:10); and to celebrate the new moon on Rosh Chodesh (Psalm 81:1-3) and for a Teshuvah (Repentance - Isaiah 58:1;Ezekiel 33:1-20) and other appointed times such as distress, judgements, deliverance and so on.

Klal Yisrael will be advised on he coming of Mashiach through the blast of the Shofar (Zechariah 9:14,16) and the Shofar's blasts are a reminder that Hashem is on control of everything, as it causes awareness of his sovereignty.

The sound of the Shofar awake us to our spiritual reality and help us to be aware of our soul's need to reconnect to our Sovereign Creator who is the only one that can bring us deliverance from our distress.

Rosh HaShanah is also referred to as “Yom Teruah”, the Day of the Sounding of the Shofar, or the Day of the Awakening Blast.

Each sound is different. The various notes of the shofar that are blown are known as:

teki'ah--one long blast,

shevarim--three broken sounds, and

teru'ah‑nine--staccato notes.

The shofar blasts have the following sound patterns below:

teki'ah‑shevarim teru'ah‑tekiah;

teki'ah‑shevarim‑teki'ah;

teki'ah‑teru'ah‑teki'ah.

The final sound, the tekiah is longer ( teki'ah gedolah, which means a "great blast") and it reminds us about the verse from Isaiah which says: "And on that day a great ram's horn shall be sounded" (27:13)

Therefore, I'd like to wish each one of my friends, family, Am Yisrael and all good natured human being a true meaningful and happy 5770 with lots of joyful occasions, shalom and health !

Are boys - the fragile ones ?

- boys the weaker ones -

A research of the University of Tel Aviv (Israel) has demystified the idea that women are the fragile ones; the study proved that male babies have a weaker immunological system after monitoring about 66 thousand births. The study concluded that boys have much higher risks of diseases and they are far more vulnerable to several ailments after birth than girls are.

According to their analysis the boys can still suffer an overgrowth inside their mother’s womb which could result into a premature birth.

This fragility is said to be due to the lack of estrogen which is the female hormone that protects the baby girls from the harm of the surrounding environment.

Even though the boys birth rates are higher in accordance to CDC( National Center for Health Statistics) statistic’s than the girls birth rate, all the environmental dangers encountered before and after their birth – and even in an older age the effects of the testosterone levels can unfortunately cause many aggravations, according to researches. So, even if the boys rate are higher worldwide and specifically in the United States, the worry still remains on the boys’ death rate which is higher than girls.

We all knew that females usually lived more than men, and now studies show the reasons of this life factor.

It’s pretty interesting the findings of these statistics – yet in my own humble opinion, there are many women in modern times suffering from heart diseases and from many ailments that they didn’t suffer as much before.

It’s understood that as infants they might be better protected and even in adult life as matter of their immunological system. But, the choices that one makes in life as an individual later in life may make a huge difference.

Men used to be the ones that primarily smoked and abused from overdrinking and got themselves into accidents and fights – they still do so and supposedly because of their search for adventure resulted from testosterone levels…

Though, inherently men seem more vulnerable preys to the harms of the environment as shown in these researches; Women have become a lot more vulnerable in recent times as they are active participants in dangerous professions and are taking all the bad habits such as smoking and drinking which by the way has been proven to be much more harmful to women than men! So, I don’t see this whole thing as black or white, but I see the gray line between, in other words, I always see the middle ground, and I won’t say that men are the fragile sex – maybe in the maternity cribs the baby boys are the weaker ones…

Ps: clicking the title will redirect you to the Statistic's site. And there are other information about the issue below and it’s pretty interesting findings…




http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/06/22/why-are-more-boys-than-girls-being-born.htm

http://www.jornalalef.com.br


http://www.fact.on.ca/news/news0303/nt030316.htm

http://www.enotalone.com/article/19491.html

CYBER WORLD

Thoughts about a high tech world


About three weeks ago, I heard someone saying that they would never be able to live without the internet or all the intricacies that technology has to offer. I just paused and thought about my own life and what would be my reaction if I got lost without any internet whatsoever, and wondered whether I would survive and came to think that I certainly would.

The internet can be pretty addictive I admit, and it’s better used for education and family connection – nothing that is too much is healthy. But nowadays almost everything gets done in the cyber world…from banking online, shopping, international calls and conferences, chatting, studies outlines and all sorts of business and entertainment with the convenience of doing it all at the same place.

The downside is that you look around on a train ride and it seems that all the people around you are not really there, since they all got their “entertaining devices” at hand; nobody wants to feel bored…You can notice that some teenagers don’t even know how to interact with others in a real world!

Once I was on a train ride, and there was a look like “rebellious teen” who was listening to a blasting music coming from her i-pod and right in front of her was standing an elderly lady – It kind of hurt me to see that some young people don’t have any clue of what goes on right in front of their eyes. I pitied the elderly lady and thought that she probably had given out her seat so many times to the elderly on her young age which is something people don’t care any longer, since they are immersed in their own world.

The point of the overdose of entertainment is that people basically lost their sense of social skills and besides that, many times we happen to be so immersed in our own world and so distracted to pay attention to daily blessings, thus forgetting about our earthly mission to our Creator.

I’m sure that we can even use high tech devices to connect to G-dliness, as some people are really using i-pods to learn Torah, recite Tehilim (spalms), etc…Yet, I wonder if we aren’t exaggerating.

We are G-d’s children and should optimize our times to be in connection to those who need a helping hand or hear a good word and give a little of our times to Hashem…In modern times with all the expedition to a cyber world the SHABBAT has turned to be even more essential to our souls.

But, here comes my dilemma – right after my “Socratic” research about our cybernetic society it happened that my instrument for my homework study, researches, news info and family connection suddenly collapsed! This instrument, Baruch Hashem was only my laptop!

Ouch it hurt though…Well, it was last week and it’s still being taken care of – but I got frantic to know that I wouldn’t be able to do my online studies required for my real concrete LIU classes and finals. I still got to use the LIU library computer, but it wasn’t my own little device, if you know what I mean…

So, a friend helped me to get at least my desktop computer up running, which is the one I’m using right now…There’s more into life than just connecting online – yet it’s the modern times challenge.

I got say that there’s room to do good deeds even in a cybernetic way of live – G-d’s creation is not limited and we play a special role in it – so, even through the cyber connection – one can and should positively touch one’s life with a word and even smile and make someone’s life meaningful – yes, even good words coming through a computer screen can spread some light out somewhere…

Brooke Greenberg - An eternal baby?? - 2005

Brooke Greenberg is a 16 years old girl who looks like a toddler ! In other words she has a body of a six month old baby and speaks with infant sounds. She hasn't aged at all, even though her bone structure has been pointed out to be 10 years old.
Brooke amazingly survived a brain tumor by sleeping for straight 14 days, thus awaking up without any tumor whatsoever; besides that she has also miraculously overcome a brain seizure without any damages - so, her parents have credited her with healing powers.

Therefore, this 16 years old "baby " has puzzled doctors who are trying to find out what is it that keeps her from aging at all;

As Brooke Greenberg hasn't developed either physically or mentally she happens to attend a special education for special children at a Baltimore Public School.

There will be a documentary about her life being aired this year 2009 in the USA.

Berry Weber - Bei'olkim Official Music Video

Here goes a nice video clip of a new rising Jewish star on the making - his rythem, words and style sound beautiful and fresh !

It really has an unique style and I thought to post here at my blog as soon as I watched it !

It's a video with a positive and cheerful side of life and as the music of this video cheered me up - I hope people can cheer up as well and enjoy the posted video !

YiddishFest 2009 tomorrow !

For those who enjoy free concerts at parks and Jewish music at the same time, you can take the opportunity that there will be happening a YiddishFest concert on Wednesday June 10th 2009 at the LINCOLN CENTER'S DAMROSCH PARK for free at 7 pm - for those interested it's located at 62 Street (bet. Broadway and Amsterdam)Take 1 Train to 66 Street Stop.

The Performers will be David Krakauer's Klezmer Madness with hip hop beat architect Socallei Mike Burstyn Pharaoh's Daughter.

It's a continuing tradition of 40 years to have large scale Jewish concerts in the Parks of the city of New York and for those who are interested you can either
Contact the circle.org through phone or e-mail - (212) 889-6800, ext 319, email NYRegion@circle.org or visit their Website at www.circle.org

Irritable Male Syndrome

The irritable male syndrome is something that many are unaware of, yet everyone knows that male anger can be extremely caotic.

There's a book called "the irritable male syndrome by Jed Diamond, author of the this male menopause book, as it can be seen above in the video.

Guys who are extremely angry, usually suffer of hypersensitivity, they don't recognize their "hormonal" syndrome as a irritable period.

These men tend to blame their loved ones for everything...Thus, these untreated emotional problems can lead up unto more "tensions" like alcohol, aggression and abuse which can be divided into a physical or emotional abuse.

IMS symptoms are similar to male-hype depression often expressed through irritability and scientific research has just begun on this matter.

A lot of men recognize that they suffer from some kind of anger mood and they can be one day the sweetest and the next act like a total stranger...Yet, they live in denial.

I guess anyone that may know a person who is extremely angry should look for some help by first checking out the symptoms of this IMS syndrome and there's a quiz and information at Dr. Jed's webpage which is http://www.theirritablemale.com
and you can find the link for a quiz and he can certainly help with guidelines for a healthier life style.

I think this approach is very helpful, since many women can find some help while being abused and etc through several organizations, yet there's a big need of offering help for many men that suffer from this syndrome and eventually if not treated can become extremely violent and abusers...

The link for the quiz is http://www.theirritablemale.com/quiz.htm

Ladino Song - Abraham Avinu

Dear friends and visitors,

Sorry for being on a vacation for so long and not being able to dedicate myself for sending new posts !

So, as a fast breaker and an apology - here goes a beautiful Ladino music video to warm hearts up with this melodious song in this Jewish language spoken by so many Sephardim worldwide.

I hope to be able to write new post in the near future !!!

If I don't be able to write before Pessach, which I truely wish and hope that I will...In any case I wish all a Kasher'v chag samech !

Synagogue Kahal Zur Israel - The First in the Americas

As the Jewish people have been experiencing the exile for centuries...There have been Jewish immigration all around the globe and especially to the New world, in other words to the Americas - North and South America respectively.

We all know that Am Israel have a natural connection with Eretz Israel, the land of Israel.

But,few people may be aware of some connection between The Jewish community of New York and the Jewish community in a northern state of Brazil...

So, even though the above youtube video is not one of the best produced by some students - their english is far from good - yet, it quite shows the mikva and structure of the old synagogue in the New world.

Yet, the first synagogue of the new world was actually built in the city of Recife, Pernambuco in Brazil approximately in 1636- and some of its members were the ones that founded the first shul in New York, USA which is the Shearith Israel located on Central park west 70 th st.

Nowdays, both communities carry their own identities...yet, the connection of the Jewish people surpass the bondaries of nationalities and countries.

The Jewish community of Brazil still faces challenges like any other, yet its Ahavat Israel and friendship is an example to be followed.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/922773.html
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Brazil.html
http://www.shearithisrael.org/folder/learning_history_new.html

THE RISK OF UNTREATED POSTPARTUM IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

I had written before about the critical condition of postpartum depression that many women are likely to suffer after childbearing regardless of nationality, social status and religious background.

I just want to emphasize more on the necessity of this condition to be treated, especially in the Jewish community where the birth rate is high and many women suffer silently from PPD.

Postpartum depression can affect a woman’s well being for a long time after childbirth and if not treated it can develop into a lifelong thyroid condition.

So, I urge all ladies to be attentive to their health before and after childbirth and be aware of any unusual symptoms that one might be feeling such as to name few: excessive sadness, uncontrollable crying, lack of interest in the baby, confusion, anxiety, total exhaustion or severe fatigue, feeling of guilty, disturbances of sleep, mood swings up and downs…

But, if these symptoms don’t get treated it can become a much worst condition, and it’s a mistake that many women leave it untreated and undiagnosed.

It’s important to note that problems untreated after childbirth is likely to become a thyroid problem during life and be triggered in a future pregnancy, menopause or a general stressful time.

If you know somebody who might be suffering from PPD, you can contact the non-profit organization SPARKS whose primary mission is to help women in the Jewish community to overcome this condition.

SPARKS is doing a terrific job in helping women in the community, yet it survives solely on donations; therefore this a great Tzedakah cause that everyone can contribute due to its worthy cause which is the Yiddish mama’s cause.

Check SPARKS’s website: http://sparkscenter.org/about.htm or click on the title to be redirected.

ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF

What’s wrong with the World? How dare nations find it normal that the terrorist organization – hamas can send rockets into Israeli soil and find outrageous that Israel is defending itself!

But, when Israel finally awakes and is defending its innocent civilians, the World complains? I wish they complained half as much as when innocent children die in Israel - and now they have the audacity to complain when Israel is striking the evil terrorists which by the way are called militants in the bias mainstream media.

It’s interesting that the UN and the whole world suddenly care about the death of innocent civilians which in the majority are the wives and children of terrorists; what about the Israeli civilians? Isn’t it plausible that a country defend itself against harmful rockets that fall into its territories?

How dare the world is furious?! If your neighbor attacks you, what are you going to do? Sit and wait until he finishes up with your family?

Israel is doing its best to protect innocent Palestinian civilians and offer humanitarian help – nobody wants wars and nobody desires to kill Palestinian civilians.

Nevertheless, it’s the terrorist Palestinian organization which insists in killing the innocent civilians in Israel.

If Israel doesn’t defend itself – who among the nations would exclaim: There are innocent children dying on the floor…I’ve never heard any UN consul reprove terrorist’s activities that kill Israeli civilians.

I’m appalled to find the hypocrisy of the media and world government to reprove Israel, when all it is doing is to finally fight back terrorists who shouldn’t be called “militants”; terrorists think that Israel doesn’t have the right to exist and want to kill any innocent person that in their understanding is an infidel.

I’m sick tired of hearing the Media and the World blame Israel. Terrorists can’t have a free pass to kill innocents in the World and they should get the message and Israel’s message to the World is that even though it’s doing everything possible to preserve the life of Palestinians (plus the humanitarian aids) It’s enough of terrorist’s activities killing innocent children and families in Israel.

One can not compromise with terrorism – but rather take action and fight for its very existence. Peace sometimes has to be fought for.

I feel terrible for the innocent in the Palestinian side, but unfortunately, most of them think that it’s okay to kill Israelis by sending rockets. I wish they should have a normal education and normal healthy lives free from the influence of terrorist organizations.

What bothers the world is – Israel does have the right to exist and yes it has the right to defend itself just like any country would.