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September 14, 2001/Elul 26, 5761, Vol. 54, No. 1
Sephardic community prepares traditional fare
LEISAH NAMM
Assistant Editor
Middle Eastern music blares from a cassette player at 11 p.m. on this Wednesday evening in the kitchen of the Chabad-Lubavitch Center of Phoenix. Women braid pastries, twist croissants and shape colored almond-based candies into fruit designs to create Sephardic treats.
The women, whose families are from Iraq, Iran, Morocco and Yemen, laugh and good-naturedly tease each other as they prepare for the Sephardic Community of Arizona's first High Holiday celebration.
"The event that we're making right now - it's really a big deal for the Sephardic community," says Nathalie Portal Klemow, a Moroccan woman who owns Garden Bistro, a Phoenix restaurant. "We're putting (in) a lot of energy, a lot of happiness, a lot of heart," she says.
"It's the first time in the Valley we have all people from our part of the world - Jews from the Orient, Africa, North Africa, Spain - who are going to be able to pray with the same lyrics, the same songs."
The founders of the Sephardic Community of Arizona met in April to plan the Valley's first traditional Sephardic High Holiday services, which will be held at The Cedars, 1702 E. Northern Ave., Phoenix.
More than 50 women - both Sephardic and Ashkenazic - have joined together in this kitchen over the past few weeks to prepare for the celebration, says Danielle Rakow, originally from Morocco, and cooking coordinator.
"It is so exciting, I'm thrilled," Rakow says. "They all came in such ruach, spirit, and they come back at night they like it so much. ... they do it from all their heart."
The women used about 120 pounds of chicken to prepare such meals as a Moroccan dish of chicken with olives. Other foods they prepared include meatballs with celery, cocktail meatballs, stuffed meatloaf and traditional salads. All of the food is kosher and was prepared in the Chabad Center's kitchen.
"I want to make sure we thank Chabad of Phoenix for allowing us to do all of it," says Mercedes Roussel, one of the group's founders.
The term "Seph-ardic" refers to Jews whose ancestors lived in Spain and Portugal, most of whom were expelled in the 1490s before the Spanish Inquisition. They were scattered throughout the Mediterranean world, including the north coast of Africa, the Turkish Empire and the Balkans, where they established unique customs and rituals.
Their culture is different from that of Ashkenazic Jews. The term "Ashkenazic" originally applied to Jews of Germany and Northern France beginning in the 10th century and, in the middle of the 16th century, expanded to include Jews of Eastern Europe.
Customs, foods, Hebrew pronunciation, liturgy and holiday traditions differ between the two.
The members of the Valley's Sephardic community have wanted a Sephardic synagogue for a long time, Rakow says. "This is the proof. We are thirsty. We are hungry for it and we're happy this is happening."
Although it has been a lot of work, "it's really been a pleasure," Rakow says of the hours the women have spent preparing for the meals.
"We put on the music and as we're working, we were dancing and singing and laughing and giggling," she says. "And just having the most beautiful time."
Cost for the High Holiday services is $100 for individuals, $150 for families. Servi-ces will be led by Dr. Alain Bohbot of France. Call 602-995-3874 or 602-277-8667.
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