At Maot Chitim, we experienced how life can change in a moment’s notice, what coming together as a community looks like, and what it’s like to survive, not only one pandemic, but two.
January 2020 came with the promise of a good year. After all, thanks to over 1500 adults and children who played key roles, 2019 Holiday Distributions came and went without a hinge.
February brought early talk of a new flu-like illness potentially spreading across the world, just as Passover 2020 planning was in full swing. Food was ordered, letters were received and answered, volunteers were signing up by the dozens.
Early March felt like a race against time. A pandemic was setting in, with talks of a possible shut down headlining the news daily. Our thoughts remained focused on setting up, packing boxes, and we remained optimistic that there would be a Passover 2020 food delivery.
In Mid-March, with the help of a group of Vanderbilt students, our new warehouse and assembly line was set up. Boxes were being built… and then…things came to a screeching halt, as the state went on a complete shutdown. Emergency meetings were held to figure out how to switch gears without wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars of food and still supplying food to the thousands of people in need. We needed to do all of this fast and without the help of our usual 1500+ volunteers. It took a small, but mighty village and the fielding of hundreds of phone calls, but we managed to contact everyone in our recipient database to inform them that due to the COVID-19 restrictions and the CDC guidelines. they would be receiving Jewel gift cards in lieu of food.
All were understanding, most had means to help them get to the store or help with shopping, others were worried they wouldn’t be able to shop. Some, who look forward to our kosher food boxes, felt very isolated as they did not live close to a store with a good supply of kosher food. With long hours and determination, we put a gift card in the hands of thousands of Jewish neighbors in need and gathered volunteers to safely grocery shop if needed. We did not know then, that this would be a trial run as to what was to come next.
Jewish organizations around Chicago saw a rapidly increasing need as more and more people were out of work. We were able to donate food to The Ark, The Chesed Fund and Local food pantries. Thanks to the Jewish United Fund, and local donors such as yourself, we were able to feed everyone.
Shut down continued through the summer months. Our senior population remained isolated and stuck at home. In partnership with Holocaust Community Services, we were able to reach out and hold a virtual party. We sent out Israeli flags and pins which joined the American Flag with the Israeli Flag. We hosted an online gathering featuring the Israeli Scouts. At the end, everyone sang Hatikvah and waved their flags. It was a moment of unity. We may not have been together physically, but as Jews we stood together as one. One thing was certain, Rosh Hashanah 2020 was coming, and the pandemic was staying.
Passover 2020 paved the way for our gift card distribution for Rosh Hashanah. Due to the unfortunate circumstances, our recipient list continued to increase. We are happy to report that we were able to increase the dollar amount, per person, from Passover. Beautiful homemade gift cards, along with the Jewel cards, let our recipients know that their community wished them a sweet year of health and happiness.
September brought hope to thousands of Holocaust survivors in our community, thanks to our collaboration with Holocaust Community Services. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, with a limited number of volunteers, we distributed gift bags of challah and honey to Holocaust survivors throughout the Chicago area. The gift bags were cherished and brought meaning of being remembered to this well deserving group of individuals. Tears of happiness flowed throughout Chicagoland that day and calls of thanks flooded our office. Not only from recipients, but from volunteers as well.
We headed into fall with October and November. Chanukah arrived in early December. Our Plan to have a contact free delivery of menorahs, cookies, candles and gelt to our seniors living in subsidized buildings had to be canceled. As COVID numbers surged to their highest numbers to date, the buildings were closed to visitors, and once again, we were restricted. On a positive note, we hosted a beautiful Chanukah celebration, complete with singing and dancing, online with Holocaust Community Services, where we were able to send our wishes and prayers for hope.
2020 has come to a close. It’s been a crazy, bittersweet year, but a year of realization. We are grateful to all of you, our Maot Chitim family. Your donations fed over 16,000 individuals this past year. The beautiful homemade cards brought joy. Prayers of love and healing brought hope. We have so much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to. Thank you for bringing our Maot Chitim community so much Light amidst the darkness of 2020.
We wish you a healthier, happier and more prosperous and hopeful 2021.
Joellyn, Wendy and the rest of our Maot Chitim Family
Despite financial and logistical hardships, Jewish nonprofit organizations in Chicago do not intend to stop their critical work of supporting Jewish life. With covid wreaking havoc on everyone’s lives, the nature of nonprofit operations is changing at record speed.
Organizations found new and creative ways to adapt. At Maot Chitim we didn’t have any hands-on volunteer activities this year. We were forced to cancel the annual seder for BBYO in the Illinois Holocaust Museum. We also gave food to The Ark, the Chesed Fund, and the Holocaust Community Services.
Covid pushed Maot Chitim and the Jewish community in Chicago to work together more than ever. Assistant Vice President of Communications at Jewish United Fund (JUF) Elizabeth Abrams said that “JUF is providing extra assistance in five key areas: emergency financial aid; health and safety; expanded social services; organizational stability; and food assistance.” To date, JUF distributed $14.7 million in grants through its covid relief plan to over 75 local agencies. These funds were in addition to their usual allocations and significantly increased human services in the Greater Chicago area.
JUF is serving far more families this year. This is due in part to their expanded research efforts. Between April and September, JUF sent out three surveys to all local Jewish organizations, including synagogues and schools. Survey participation was high. Through its covid action initiative, JUF reports monthly on the dollars spent and number of families served. Based on the survey results, their partner agencies offer critical aid such as emergency cash for food and housing. “People are willing to share because they see we’re using the information to help them get access to resources they need,” said Karen Galin, associate vice president of JUF’s Planning and Allocations. In order to reach more families, JUF even removed some of its eligibility requirements.
Nonprofits switched to web-based programming on a massive scale. After covid hit, JUF started focusing more on mental health issues. As mental health professionals moved exclusively to virtual visits, JUF’s partners expanded their reach to individuals they would not have otherwise connected with. Day schools also expanded their online education tracks. Despite general criticism about the challenges with virtual learning, day schools in Chicago are making a concerted effort to offer quality web-based learning. Of course it’s not the same as in-person instruction, but the feedback so far was overwhelmingly positive.
JCC Chicago worked quickly to offer quality virtual programming as well. Three days after they closed their doors in the spring, they launched Channel J to offer programs that foster community connection. “Continuing virtual programming has enabled more community members to engage with Jewish content and conversation while at home and has significantly broadened the agency’s reach,” reported Ilana Carp, assistant director of Marketing and Communications. During quarantine, JCC Chicago made significant operational changes in time to reopen early childhood facilities and day camps in the summer.
North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park felt the same about going virtual. They invested in high quality cameras for live streaming services, which drew feedback from members who joked that they now have a better view of the bimah than when they attended services in person.
Obviously, virtual programming isn’t a perfect solution. With so many people continuing to spend their days in isolation, community leaders such as regional director for Chabad of Illinois Rabbi Meir Moscowitz and his colleagues found ways to reorient their usual programs to foster face-to-face interaction while accommodating the CDC’s social distance requirements.
For example, Chabad is known for blasting the shofar on street corners and in parks. This year, Chabad of Illinois put even more effort to blow the shofar outdoors. People of all ages and religious backgrounds came in droves. An estimated 12,600 people heard shofar throughout the state. It was socially distant, safe, and connected people in a way that Zoom can’t.
For Sukkot, many Chabad Houses sent “Sukkah mobiles” to individual homes. This was a small sukkah that was loaded onto the bed of a pickup truck, which enabled many families to enjoy a Sukkot experience and do the mitzvah of shaking lulav and etrog.
In addition to Chabad, Metro Chicago Hillel offers a number of in-person programs that adhere to CDC guidelines. But the pandemic hasn’t just hurt the people they serve; the organization is working through some internal struggles. Executive director Charles Cohen of Metro Chicago Hillel said that COVID-19 sparked a number of mental health discussions with his team, because the pandemic is making it extremely challenging to do their jobs.
Cohen said that his staff is trying to help the people they serve battle feelings of isolation and loneliness while dealing with the same feelings themselves. “Being isolated is not human nature,” he said. “We naturally want to be together with people and our communities. It’s our mission to provide that sense of connection, and our team is devoted to that goal.” Many college students and post-college graduates that Metro Chicago Hillel serves are experiencing job insecurity, wondering how they will pay rent and buy food. “People are losing their jobs and figuring out how to pay for life. They are dealing with this 24/7,” Cohen said.
Rabbi Levi Notik of F.R.E.E. (Friends of Refugees from Eastern Europe) is in a similar position. He operates the Chicago-based Bubby Fira’s Food Bank that serves the West Rogers Park and Uptown neighborhoods. The food bank is producing six times the amount of food that they used to prepare. Instead of 200 meals per month, they serve 1,200. Chicago’s Jewish Relief Agency is busier than ever sending food packages to 6,400 people every month.
The fears about food and lost income are real and raw. Rabbi Moscowitz said that his members are struggling with job insecurity and feelings of loneliness. People want a listening ear, including older people who are not going out as much. In one case, Rabbi Moscowitz convinced one Jewish senior to take a walk outside.
Highland Park’s Beth El Synagogue said this year they redoubled their efforts to reach some of its more vulnerable members, mostly seniors over 80. Their program, Chazak, connects volunteers with seniors. Some elderly people don’t have family around, or they’re not as tech-oriented, which makes certain tasks such as grocery delivery very difficult. The volunteers call to check in regularly, help run errands, and ensure access to food and other essentials. The seniors really appreciate the effort.
Nonprofit organizations such as Chabad and Hillel are planning to offer more in-person programs this year because people are craving that face-to-face support and connection. Both Rabbi Moscowitz and Charles Cohen said that Jewish United Fund has provided incredible support for financial aid and other critical resources.
Certain efforts were paused indefinitely this year. Maot Chitim continued working with other local organizations, but was forced to cancel in-person drives. Beth El’s Rabbi Alex Freedman commented that the men’s club usually works with Maot Chitim during the holidays. “It’s a great partnership,” he said. “The guys get very excited about working together on that.” Maot Chitim hopes to resume the drives soon.
Because more people are experiencing food insecurity, communities are working hard to fix this. The Ark, one of JUF’s partner agencies, shifted its regular model to give food-insecure community members consistent access to nutritious meals. Maot Chitim continued collaborating with the Ark on this critical initiative as it does every year by providing food items. So although the partnership remained, the nature of the food preparation has changed.
The Tikkun Olam Volunteer “TOV” Network is another prime example of how organizations are shifting. Chicago’s residents love to help those in need. Some changes this year involve contactless deliveries. It helped people get excited about volunteering and connecting them to others in the community. So far the contactless food programs were well received. The organizations involved communicate regularly to potential volunteers about available opportunities. They also created space for organizations to make specific requests for materials such as providing Chromebooks to day school students.
Rabbi Chaim Telsner of Chabad at ISU said Covid-19 hasn’t stopped them from continuing their activities even though donations have fallen drastically. Like many nonprofits, funding challenges persist and they take it week by week. To accommodate safe food handling procedures and social distancing, the Telsners give students pre-packaged food for Shabbat and holidays, which is more expensive than the fresh homemade meals they used to serve. But as Rabbi Telsner explained, “we’re not going to stop our activities just because we’re low on funding.” Lately Chabad at ISU is organizing all in-person activities outdoors. Instead of five students per table, now it’s two at a table. Their sukkah went from 15×20 feet to 25×40 feet, more than triple the size of the original.
This year, many Campus Chabad Houses around the country decided to send holiday packages to students in lieu of hosting dinner as they usually do. It isn’t the most social initiative, but it helps students feel cared for. The larger campus Chabad Houses around Illinois schedule shifts of guests for Shabbat and holiday meals.
The pandemic caused logistical challenges for Rabbi Binyomin Scheiman, a Chabad prison chaplain at the Hinda Institute in Illinois. While most of the federal and state prisons accommodated the inmates’ religious needs, new covid policies made it difficult for chaplains to do in-person visits or even deliver kosher food to inmates in county prisons. Passover was especially hard due to extreme regulations that were implemented in the spring. It took an incredible amount of effort for Rabbi Scheiman to provide Jewish inmates with supplies for Passover (Maot Chitim donated most of the food items).
Financially they are doing fine. “It sounds counterintuitive, but we actually had a better year than previous years,” Rabbi Scheiman said. “People are giving more because of the pandemic.” Maot Chitim sends most of the food he gives inmates for Passover and other holidays. This year they supplied the usual food packages.
Sukkot was a little easier to navigate as many prisons started easing up certain restrictions on deliveries and visits. It helped that the prisons classify chaplains as contract employees rather than volunteers, who are still not allowed to do in-person visits.
All the nonprofits say that they are thrilled to be part of the local effort to join forces around Chicago. “It’s beautiful to see the collaboration between the Jewish organizations around Illinois with Jewish United Fund and other agencies, which has always been a thing in Chicago, but has become even stronger this year during the pandemic,” Rabbi Moscowitz commented.
No one knows how long the pandemic will continue to wreak havoc. But Jewish organizations are determined to keep going. As regional director for Chabad of Illinois Rabbi Moscowitz put it, “We have a lot of work ahead of us and we’re not slowing down.”
Click here to donate to Maot Chitim.
At this time of year, as we are approaching Thanksgiving and continued uncertainty, we are reflecting on what we are thankful for. At Maot Chitim we continue to be thankful for our dedicated supporters. We are thankful that, with your help, we have continued to provide necessary food for our Jewish neighbors in need. We are well aware that we could not do this alone.
You might be familiar with the buzz going on about Giving Tuesday. (aka #GivingTuesday) Five weeks from now, the whole country will be focusing on doing good deeds for others. It’s a wonderful “day” of giving that, fortunately for many, lasts through the end of December. In preparation for Giving Tuesday we are working on a new challenge. Double our database!
Our goal is to double our database. We know that sounds huge, but look how easy this can be. Since you’ve all taken the time to read this, we can safely assume that you have been quite loyal to our cause. What we are asking is for you to help spread the love with someone you know. Your friends, your family, somebody you may have just met, someone you trust will care about our organization as much as you do. All you must to do is introduce them to Maot Chitim by sharing your story, your volunteer experiences, and/or why you donate to Maot Chitim.
“Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and invite your friends to do the same. Make sure to share our website and please subscribe to our newsletter and blog. This way no one will miss out on the next volunteer opportunity and all the wonderful good deeds that take place. Your friends and family will be able to familiarize themselves with Maot Chitim and become a lifelong part of our community as well. If every dedicated supporter reading this invites one person into our family, we will double our database just like that. That’s the magic of “Sharing is Caring.”
Be sure to stay connected to Maot Chitim as we will unveil our next volunteer opportunity very soon! (hint: Think Chanukah)
From our family to yours, stay safe, stay healthy and thank you for your continued dedication!
Maot Chitm
Since COVID-19 hit the US in February and March, Jewish nonprofit organizations have struggled financially, some on the brink of collapse. Jewish nonprofits tend to diversify their funding sources — they offer memberships and charge program fees, hold multiple fundraisers during the year, build personal connections with donors, and apply for grants that support specific initiatives.
Covid has changed that, possibly for good. This year many donors lost their jobs or had their hours reduced. Some got sick. The lost income caused Jewish philanthropy to drop significantly. For example, Chabad of China, the only Jewish outreach organization in that country, put out a call for help to the global Jewish community in March, when many of its regular donors had lost their income. Chabad of Illinois reported that some supporters lost their jobs and need help now for themselves. Families who used to give recurring monthly donations currently pick up food boxes distributed by the same organizations they used to support. Other charitable organizations are in a similar position.
Nonprofits are suffering at every level. Shelter-in-place orders did away with summer programs and other events. The lack of ticket sales, registration fees, and memberships significantly hurt revenue. Unfortunately one major source of funding—grants—often cannot be used to cover operating costs due to their restrictive nature. Originally meant to ensure accountability, the restrictive rules imposed by many grants prohibit nonprofits from using these funds for operating expenses, even emergencies. For example, a grant that is earmarked for the cost of providing food to low-income families cannot legally allocate those funds for other purposes such as employee salaries or community services.
The last few decades saw an increase in restricted giving. Much like grants, this was originally designed as a way to show accountability and measure how donors made a “good investment.” But in reality, these limits are making it hard for nonprofits to cover expenses.
JCCs across America, which employ 50,000 employees and serve thousands of families in 160+ community centers, lost significant income. All 25 overnight camps were canceled this past summer and 150 of their day camps had very low attendance. JCCs usually bring in around $1.6 million annually and are used to only fundraising 20% of their net income. This year the balance has been a struggle to fill.
As a result, nonprofits are eliminating jobs. Most JCCs cut 25% of their employees and Hillel International let 20% of its staff go. Jewish Federation of North America (JFNA) connects 450 smaller organizations, employs a staff of 10,000, and allocates $3 million annually to other smaller Jewish organizations. JFNA’s top-level executives said that their usual ways of building financial support are simply not available right now. Community events and even in-person visits to donors are severely limited.
Canceling in-person activities has naturally led to less involvement and less engagement. This year saw no Israel missions, community programs, and almost no camps. The uncertainty created by COVID-19 means that everything continues to be a question. We are still not sure how the pandemic will ultimately affect the collective futures of these organizations. Some will regain their footing, others will decrease in size, and the rest may be lost entirely.
What can we do? The solution is not simple. Government loans and grants offering pandemic relief have helped some. But for most, these funds are quickly used and don’t offer a long-term solution. The LA Jewish Foundation allocated $8.5 million in grants in 2020 just for COVID-19 relief in the US and Israel. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation gave $10 million to Jewish overnight camps. They also sponsored the Create a Jewish Legacy Program for Chicago’s JUF to get local organizations involved in endowments. Despite the generosity of these and other foundations, it’s still not enough to cover costs.
Financial experts recommend keeping 3-6 months of reserve funds for emergencies. But this type of fund is impractical for many organizations as they are so focused on providing critical aid to people. They can’t justify holding back money from families in crisis so they can build a reserve fund. Most are currently relying on government assistance, and calling on donors who still have the means to support them.
JFNA attempted to address this with a giant merger. In March, JFNA formed a coalition with eight other organizations: BBYO, Foundation for Jewish Camp, Hillel International, JCC Association of North America, Moishe House, the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, and Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools. Their goal is to support each other through the challenges yet still offer critical services and collaborate on various programs. One of their largest initiatives this past spring was the Jewish Community Response and Impact Fund (JCRIF), an $80 million fund that gives grants and loans to Jewish organizations.
Jewish Funding Network CEO and activist Andres Spokoiny said that centralized funds at a national level is not a good idea. Instead he recommends mobilizing emergency responses at a local level, and to organize giving by sector, increase loans, distribute “Jewish life” grants to individual families, and generally coordinate giving.
Jewish nonprofits in Chicago tried this local approach with amazing results. In August, Chicago’s Jewish United Fund collaborated with a number of other nonprofits to mobilize resources that would cover all their expenses for the next six months. They raised close to $10 million. Lonnie Nasatir, president of Jewish United Fund, commented, “I don’t think anyone’s been able to raise these dollars and then allocate those dollars accordingly.”
In another instance of pooling resources, Jewish Funding Network (JFN), JFNA, and the North American Volunteer Network collaborated to raise funds to distribute essential materials and equipment to the Association of Jewish Aging Services and the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies.
Felicia Herman, founder of Natan, a philanthropy organization that serves Israeli and Jewish nonprofits, said not to underestimate the power of giving small recurring donations. Individual donors make up 68% of nonprofit income. Herman believes that is how nonprofits will continue to stick around long enough to hopefully regain their equilibrium.
United Way agrees with this. At the beginning of the pandemic, they saw a huge uptick in donations which then dropped, a pattern that occurs after natural disasters.
Despite the damage caused by COVID-19, nonprofits are trying to move forward and plan for the future. We’re seeing abandoned offices as more people are working from home, perhaps for good. Many private Jewish day schools with organized leadership are offering variations on virtual learning. Despite some technological issues and challenges with connecting socially over Zoom, this has been a lesson in resilience. Communities who worked together are better off now for their efforts. The future is still unclear.
At this point, the best way to help is by regularly donating what you can to organizations that are meaningful to you.
Click here to donate to Maot Chitim.
If you’re with another nonprofit organization, we’d love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@maotchitim.org.
To some it may just look like bag with a challah, a small jar of honey and a calendar, but to the hundreds of Holocaust Survivors who received this heartfelt gift, it was a symbol of love that showed we cared and they have not been forgotten. At the same time providing a meaningful volunteer opportunity for many.
On Sunday, September 13th, with the help of many dedicated volunteers, we delivered a special gift bag for Rosh Hashanah to over 2000 Holocaust Survivors. This complemented the Jewel gift cards we sent to our recipients in need earlier in the week.
To us, this meant providing a “no contact” meaningful volunteer experience for some of our loyal volunteers who we have missed during this difficult time.
A tangible gift meant the world to them. It wasn’t necessarily the challah, the honey or the calendar, that held the special meaning, but the idea that someone took the time to put it all together and personally deliver this gift to our survivors.
Our volunteers were gloved and masked and were told to knock, hang the package on the door and leave, making the contactless delivery safer for our elderly population. However, there was the occasional person who opened the door and got to personally thank them with tears in their eyes and their hearts overflowing with gratitude.
When we came back to the office, we were overwhelmed with phone messages from recipients and volunteers equally thanking us for such a wonderful gift.
“I need to share with you what a meaningful experience I had yesterday delivering for Maot Chitim This memory will stay with me forever. I’m so glad to be a small part of this phenominal organization. Shanah Tovah.”
“The greatest impact on the kids was when after they met a survivor-they were told in the elevator by the building manager that she was a 104 years old & still going!
What an experience! L’Shana Tovah”
“It was like sunshine and love coming to my heart.”
Of course, none of this would be possible with out your generous donations over the years. We are asking for you to dig deep in your hearts and yes, pockets to help us help others. During this time of COVID, when we are all affected by the quarantines and isolation, any donation, large and small, will help warm the hearts of thousands of Jewish people in need of food and love. It takes a community and we are so happy to have you be part of ours. Donations can be accepted via our website, by mail to: Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago, 3710 Commercial Ave., Suite 7, Northbrook, IL 60062 or by calling our office, 847-674-3224
Please follow us on social media to stay informed of the next meaningful volunteer experience.
Germany to give $662 million in coronavirus aid to Holocaust survivors
Germany to give $662 million in coronavirus aid to Holocaust survivors. To read more click here
At Maot Chitim we’re sharing three wholesome, tasty, tried-and-true dishes that will look beautiful on your Sukkot table under the stars.
The Jewish harvest festival is approaching! Sukkot, which translates as booths or huts, commemorates the years when the Israelites wandered the desert after fleeing Egypt under G-d’s protection. The solemn high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are followed by the more light-hearted Sukkot which is marked by a week of joyous celebration and Simchat Torah, the last of the high holidays.
Between building a temporary outdoor structure known as a sukkah, choosing a lulav & etrog, and preparing meals for this seven-day holiday, Sukkot can be quite an ordeal. That’s why people often choose easy recipes that allow for quick meal prep.
We chose these three dishes because of their connection to the seasonal holiday. Fall-friendly sweet potatoes complement the kale salad perfectly with its thick garlic-mayo dressing and crunchy topping. Lemon juice prominently features throughout as it is very reminiscent of the etrog or citron, one of the Four Species (lulav and etrog) that we use on Sukkot. Enjoy!
This recipe is a little like Caesar salad but with kale instead of Romaine lettuce. The dressing tastes similar and the crunchy topping adds depth. There is no cheese so it works well for a traditional yom tov meal featuring meat or chicken. Definitely a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients:
Dressing:
Sweet Potatoes:
Heat oven to 425. Peel and cut sweet potatoes into quarter- or half-inch pieces. Coat with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Bake until roasted, about 30-40 minutes. Remove, cool, and set aside. When ready to serve, mix kale with dressing and then add sweet potatoes. Top with croutons and other mix-ins.
Chicken is such an easy protein to serve during the holidays and is synonymous with comfort food. This recipe can be made in advance as it freezes well.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350.
Peel and cut up potatoes for the bottom of the pan. Place chicken on top of the potatoes. In a separate bowl, mix the diced tomatoes, sliced shallots or onions, juice from one lemon, red wine, garlic, soy sauce, and olive oil. Then pour the mixture over chicken.
Bake covered for 45-60 minutes and uncover for 20-30, depending on preference.
This classic Jewish holiday dish is a great way to use up any leftover apples from Rosh Hashanah. Originally full of sugar, it easily adapts to more health conscious sweeteners and can even be gluten free! Try substituting half honey, half maple syrup for a rich fall flavor. Using a glass pan for this recipe really makes a difference, although it will still be delicious if you don’t have one.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350. Mix the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and salt together in a large bowl. Peel and slice apples into thin quarter pieces, about 1 to 2 inches long. As you cut, add apples to the mixture to keep them from turning brown.
Pour oil into a glass pan until it covers the surface, using either a 9×13 or 10×15. (Note: kugel tastes better in a 10×15 pan because it comes out thinner). Alternatively, you can use three shallow 9-inch pans. Heat the pan for about 10 minutes. While it’s heating, add the matzah meal/almond flour/potato starch to the apple mixture, and stir to combine. Do this just before baking. When the oil is hot, carefully remove pan from the oven and pour it into the apple mixture. Gently mix and then spoon it all into the hot pan.
Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
Click here for more information about Sukkot and how to prepare for it.
At Maot Chitim, we’re all about helping people improve their high holiday experiences, and that starts with food. Please drop a comment below or email us about how these recipes turned out.
We hope you’re all staying healthy during COVID-19.
Wishing you a good yom tov and chag sameach (happy holiday)!
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We celebrated Rosh Hashanah in September, New Years in January, and we just celebrated the “new year of the trees,” also known as Tu Bishvat. A long time ago, this holiday signaled the start of the agricultural cycle. Today, Tu Bishvat has morphed into a nature appreciation day celebrated by planting trees and eating fruit. The celebration doesn’t stop with nature lovers, however. Now more than ever, Tu Bishvat is an important time to pause and appreciate our environment and think about what we can do to preserve it.
Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is one of the biggest environmental problems at the moment. Loss of biodiversity and ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are just a couple of the devastating effects of this trend. This is the perfect current event to think about during this tree-focused holiday. One way to honor the occasion could be to donate to an organization that supports this cause, such as Rainforest Alliance or Amazon Watch.
Tu Bishvat is also a great time to learn about Jewish efforts to promote sustainability. For example, the Kayam farm at the Pearlstone retreat center aims to connect people with the Jewish value of preserving resources by implementing environmentally-friendly practices. Many Jewish values connect to environmentalism, yet they are by no means at the forefront of the sustainability discussion. This connection can strengthen Jews’ commitment to reducing their footprint.
Finally, taking some time to think about biodiversity would be a great activity with a real connection to the holiday. On Tu Bishvat we eat fruits like pomegranates and figs, which wouldn’t be available if not for biodiversity. With species disappearing by the dozen, it’s important to stay grateful for what we have.
Happy belated Tu Bishvat and happy (almost) spring!
Tu B’shvat takes place on the 15th of the month of Shevat. (February 10, 2020). A minor Jewish holiday, it is often referred to as the “new year” or “birthday” of the trees. Its customs are simplistic, however, it’s meaning can be quite monumental.
We’re Jewish, Therefore We Eat!
On Tu B’shvat it is customary to eat at least 15 varieties of fruits and vegetables. It is important to include the seven species mentioned in the Torah: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. These foods symbolize God’s creation, and by eating them, we give thanks to Hashem and reaffirm our ties to the Land of Israel.
Grow Like the Trees
On Tu B’shvat it is customary to donate money to plant trees in Israel. Along with this tradition, we kindly ask you to help grow and renew the spirit of those in need this Passover Holiday by donating to Maot Chitim so we may bring food to those unable to afford to do so.
