I know I'm supposed to set a good example and talk about our Cabbage roll main meal first but....oh the pastries at the Yiddish Food Festival! Every May, these traditional delights, are the hit of the festival. They sell out quickly and we have learned to come early to get the best selection that the Mount Sinai Synagogue bakers have to offer. Let's pause from the pastries for a minute to talk about Synagogues in Wyoming. There is 1 in Cheyenne, 1 in Casper, 1 in Laramie and 2 in Jackson. Not many! The Yiddish Food festival provides a great way for Cheyenne's Jewish community to share their beliefs, traditions and once again, the pastries, with a population that might not otherwise have an opportunity to understand and appreciate. Mount Sinai has been part of the Cheyenne community for over 100 years. It has the only Kosher kitchen in Wyoming but the most unique feature of the building is an underground stream that runs through the property. This "living water" allows the Synagogue to provide a highly valued ritual bath area. The festival begins with Shofar blowing by Doctor Jason Bloomberg, who also gives tours of the Synagogue. His knowledge and dedication are evident as he leads tour participants through not only the building, but also aspects of the faith, Jewish life and pastries, I mean food! OK, I admit there is more to the festival than food. It also includes music by Bisl Klezmer playing traditional Jewish music with Mt. Sinai member, Howard Rodack as the soloist and emcee, ( his grandparents were in Yiddish theatre and performed in all the famous venues in the "Borscht Circuit"). The Israeli Folk Dance Team perform traditional dances like Yayin (Wine) and Ovrim Yamim, (The Days Go By). The phrase on the food price list sums the whole thing up, "Eat something- You shouldn't leave hungry!" No one's belly or soul should be left wanting after this festival. Shalom!
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"Do you want to go see the Arboretum"? Dave asked, " its Mother's day and I think you would like it". So, off we went on a 15 minute, westward drive. Following Warren Air Force Base's chain link fence on Roundtop road, we arrived at the USDA's Grasslands research station and the High Plains Arboretum. Said to be, "One of the most important agricultural historic sites west of the Mississippi...", it truly is, "one of Cheyenne's best kept secrets". When we moved here from the east coast, I remember being shocked and a bit frightened by the lack of trees in the landscape. I love trees! They're my friends that protect, shelter and inspire me so the wide open, rolling plains were something I had to get used to. There's a plaque at our Botanical Garden with a quote from an early pioneer named Nannie Steele. In 1876 she remarked that, “there are only twelve trees in this town.” The marker goes on to say that a John Talbot ordered 20,000 young trees and willow cuttings from Nebraska, which were hand planted and watered by city residents. Trees take tending here but they are highly valued for shade, wind breaks and beauty. Cheyenne hasnow been named a Tree City by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the past 34 years. The city's Urban Forestry Division recently had a tree inventory done and you can go online and see where the trees are and what kind of species are in the city. The online map says there are 3 Cortland Apple trees in the city. Cortlands are a variety I enjoyed growing up in Western New York ( also my Grandma Palmer's preferred applesauce making variety). Yes, I love my trees! Thank you to the city's past visionaries who planted and cared for its fledgling trees. and thank you to the city's current caretakers who keep our trees healthy! |
LEAP 366
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