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No. 12 Omaha, NE
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B'nai B'rith announces new programs celebrating 75 years of AZA by Carol Katzman
It was a night of remembering, a night for friends to reminisce about the humble beginning of AZA in Omaha, its long history and its impact on thousands of teens around the world. As more than 300 members and supporters of B'nai B'rith's youth organization, BBYO, gathered at the Marriott Hotel Saturday night to celebrate, International President Richard H. Heideman and AZA International Aleph Godol Andy Lowenstein announced important new programs. Starting in Omaha and Lincoln, all Jewish 13year-old teens will receive a gift membership worth $75 to BBYO's Teen Connection. Funded by an anonymous donor, the program is part of B'nai B'rith's Next Generation Campaign aimed at involving seventh and eighth graders before their eligibility in BBYO. "It's a privilege to be here in Omaha to kick off this program," said Heideman in an interview with the Jewish Press. A former International AZA Aleph Godol in 1964-65, Heideman has worked his way up the BBYO ladder through leadership roles in B'nai B'rith, culminating in his election as International President in August of 1998. Though his term expires in 2000, he is eligible for re-election for another two-year term. "To have such a democracy in .Jewish.life.is_precious," Heideman noted, "Leadership shouldn't be measured by one's ability to sign" a check; but to provide leadership to the Jewish world." Phyllis Heideman, who met her future husband at B'nai B'rith's Camp Perlman in Starlight, PA, knew "his goal was to be International President." Heideman, at 52, is the fourth youngest president in B'nai B'rith history. Lowenstein, Heideman's 19-year-old counterpart had an announcement of his own to make. . "B'nai B'rith has offered to fund a meeting of the presidents of all the major Jewish youth organizations at its headquarters in the spring of 2000,"
Richard D. Heideman, International B'nai B'rith President, left, and Andy Lowenstein, International AZA Aleph Godol. said Lowenstein, who deferred his acceptance to Washington University in St. Louis in- order to serve his year as President, or Aleph Godol, of AZA. The meeting of national youth groups presidents will be modeled after the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations and allows these teen presidents to exchange ideas on membership, programming and issues of concern. "Saturday night's event was wonderfully planned," he added, "I was humbled to be in the pieaence otaucVi great'ge^ltiii(leiid Though energized by the "grand perspective" of being an international president, Lowenstein said, "It's the chapter experience that offers Jewish youth direct interaction. "If we get them excited in BBYO, they will remain dedicated to Jewish involvement." That's the goal not only behind the Next Generation Campaign, according to Heideman, but also B'nai B'rith's New Century Campaign, an outreach project to expand the organization's professional presence from 40 North American Jewish communities to 50.
Watch out for complacency Special to the Jewish Press by Gary Javitch
Speaking before a packed audience at the tary "exceptional" and at the top of his list of perChamber of Commerce last Thursday, former sonalities in Washington who have their egos in check. To a very warm Clinton Cabinet meml> r applause, Rubin, in turn, Robert E. Rubin foreca 1 congratulated Senator ed a strong global ecou" Kerry on the work he has my. Yet at the same tini , done reforming entitlehe cautioned the busini ment programs. " membership not to IMcomplacent. Economic In his 20-minute adsuccess will come otilv dress, Rubin described a with the "rigorous revi' <. very positive economy. He of risk/reward probabiliexpected a half percent ties." •• increase in growth for the US to 3.5% in the year Nebraska Senator Bob 2000. He expected Asia Kerrey introduced former outside Japan, to grow at Treasury Secretary Eubin the rate of 4-6% both this to more than 1000 attenyear and next. He suggestdees, who included the ed that Japan would grow mayor and some members only between zero and one of the state legislature. He called him the economic Robert Rubin, left, and Sen. Bob Kerrey percent for this year and next as they begin to tack"rock of the administra• • tion for four-and-a-half years," acknowledging his le the structural problems in banking that have efforts as the main architect in the long-running held their economy back. Reflecting on administration success over the last economic boom. Kerry also credited Rubin for his work in stemming the financial crises in Mexico, few years, he stated that they had erased a $292 Asia and Russia. Besides guiding reforms at the billion deficit in 1992 and were now in their second IRS, Rubin has also been a strong advocate for. year of surpluses. He had helped to knock down economic barriers between countries and assisted open trade policies. • V. (Continued on page 12) Describing his character, Kerrey called the secre-
B'nai B'rith has already created a BBYO Alumni Network and a Chai Network, which offers graduating high school seniors a $36five-yearmembership in B'nai B'rith and a gift membership to a Hillel anywhere in the U.S. The plan is to link Jewish college students by e-mail through B'nai B'rith's website, located at: www.bnaibrith.org A third program is the Genesis Network, for recent college graduates through age 40. Genesis will identify BBYO alums and other Jewish college graduates to involve them in social action groups, "provide a welcome and mentoring in the Jewish community." "If the goal really is a stronger, more vibrant Jewish community," Heideman continued, "then every Jewish organization should want to work together, to share lists and information. We'll compile the database and make it available to every Jewish organization in the country. . This is not about dollars; this is about our Jewish future," Heideman insisted, noting that BBYO sent more Jewish teens to Jewish camps and Israel programs in 1999 than any other youth organization. Photos ofAZA's anniversary celebration will be in ti<sxt week's Jewish Press,
"Peas in latkes? I've never heard of that!" by Linda Morel
NEW YORK (JTA)-"My grandmother used to make latkes from peas and other vegetables," said the manager of a dental office in Manhattan, wishing he had the recipe. "Peas in latkes?" asked the dentist, whose parents emigrated from Poland. Tve never heard of that!" Because people who love latkes consider their preparation an art, opinions abound. A maven on the subject by profession, Jakob the Liar, & character from the recently released movie of the same name, was a former latke vendor who knew what went into a good latke. For Jews of Eastern European descent, latkes call for potatoes the way blintzes cry for cheese. But recently, creative cooks have been welcoming new ingredients, changing the taste of tradition.
A couple of years ago, Martha Stewart Living magazine featured mushroom latkes as a side dish. Along with the recipe came a glossy photo of sauteed mushrooms resting between layers of fried matzah. Fired up by the concept, I began searching for latke recipes calling for anything but potatoes. I tried corn pancakes prepared with chili, cumin and cilantro. Inspired by Asian cuisine, I developed carrot noodle latkes. Frying noodles to a birds' nest crunch, I infused them with ginger and scallions, flavors from the Far East. But is it right to take latkes so far from their roots? • Actually the word latke is Yiddish for "pancake." By definition, there is no link to potatoes. Even though Ashkenazi Jews claim potato latkes as Hanukkah's signature dish, these crisp pancakes are a relatively recent addition to our cuisine. (Continued on page 10)