Aloha Bread Lovers – This Sunday we will be calling on our beloved Uncle Yosef. Uncle Yosef is a flat bread that is filled with 3 types of cheeses, a spinach leaf and an egg that we crack over it. The whole thing goes into to oven to bake. It comes with a small chopped salad. We will also have our Uke Jammers to play some music – to which you may all join in and sing.
Last week we wrote of Sukkot, the harvest festival and low and behold, we had an amazing harvest moon. The moon was so low on the horizon, so bright and enchanting – I had to learn a little more about it. The first question is why does the harvest moon seem so close? Because in September the moon is orbiting the earth almost parallel to the horizon. For this reason it rises almost simultaneously with the sunset. The shallow angle of the moon’s orbit relative to the horizon is what gives us a brighter moon that rises earlier, creating light longer into the night. This makes it possible for farmers to work a longer days just when they need them for the autumn harvest, which was vital as the northern hemisphere headed into the dark, shorter days of the approaching winter. In Chinese culture this moon is celebrated by eating mooncakes and different festivities including lantern lighting and family meals. In Taiwan hats are made out of pomelo peels and people head to parks to bbq and gaze at the moon. In Japan its about an outdoor picnic with some sake (yes!!) and tsukimi – white rice dumplings. In Korea the festival is called Chuseok and includes a rice cake called songpyeon often filled with sesame, chestnuts or red bean paste. In Vietnam its called Tet Thrung Thu and is mainly for kids who parade at night with lanterns and masks. Finally, in Cambodia its Bon Om Touk – a 3-day celebration that includes boat races, various offerings (including rabbits…oy).
Finally – a huge shout out to Isabelle and her fellow Franco-phones who gathered on Thursday at Motek to speak French. Next Thursday it will be a 9:00. Now a question – are there any Portuguese speakers out there? Let us know – there may be some interest for an occasional gathering.
Mahalo – David and Yael
P.S. – A Joke: WARNING – CLICK ON THE LINK AT YOUR OWN PERIL: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2018/11/26/jerry-fisher-hearing-cd9-399-10
