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New York Times names this Jewish dessert as one of NYC’s best dishes of 2023
(New York Jewish Week) — It’s the most wonderful time of the year — and I don’t mean Christmas. Rather, it’s the season of “best-ofs,” when publications across the boroughs and from coast-to-coast share their selections for the year’s best books, music, restaurants and more.
Last week, the New York Times food critic Pete Wells published a list of the “most memorable” things he ate in the city this year, “Top 8 New York City Dishes of 2023.” They include just one dessert: the Black-and-White Seven-Layer Cake from Gertrude’s, a Jewish bistro that opened this summer in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
“Many liberties have been taken since Hungarian Jews carried the recipe for Dobos torte across the Atlantic,” Wells writes. “Gertrude’s monumental version, almost as dense and moist as pudding cake, alternates chocolate and yellow layers like piano keys.”
The delicious concoction is a mashup of two popular Jewish desserts: black and white cookies and seven-layer cake.
Black and white cookies are about to hit the mainstream in January, when Oreo releases a new version channeling the Jewish New York classic. But at Gertrude’s, the Black-and-White Seven-Layer Cake is one of three desserts on a highly curated menu designed to “push the Ashkenazi tradition,” as co-owner Nate Adler told us in August.
Other inventive, Ashkenazi-inspired items on offer include a burger that can be ordered “Reuben-style” (a beef patty topped with melted Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and sauerkraut on a challah roll), latkes and a Nicoise salad made with smoked sable.
Gertrude’s is run by the same folks behind Williamsburg’s popular Jewish diner, Gertie. Both restaurants are named after Adler’s maternal grandmother, Gertrude Aronow, a Jewish woman whom Adler describes as “a really colorful and eccentric human being who was the life of the party.”
As it happens, in September, the New York Jewish Week published its very own roundup of top Jewish dishes to eat in the city, “25 Jewish Dishes to Eat in NYC Right Now.” Gertrude’s also made our list — but not for its dessert. Rather, we selected the bistro’s Seder Plate Margarita, a unique, refreshing beverage made with Passover flavors like bitter orange, parsley and salt water, plus lime and mezcal.
Other must-try items on the New York Jewish Week’s list include a cheddar jalapeno knish from Yonah Schimmel’s and jachnun from 12 Chairs Cafe. And if you’re looking for something sweet, there’s malawach churros from Balaboosta and New York-style cheesecake from the S&S Cheesecake, a Bronx institution founded by Holocaust survivor Fred Schuster in 1960.
Wells has touted Jewish eateries in the city before: In April, he named two Jewish delis (Flatiron’s S&P Lunch and legacy Upper West Side appetizing shop Barney Greengrass) and a tiny, Israeli-owned falafel joint, Midwood’s Tanami Falafel, as three of the 100 best restaurants in the city in 2023.
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The post New York Times names this Jewish dessert as one of NYC’s best dishes of 2023 appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
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US Reportedly Shares Intelligence with New Syrian Leadership to Counter ISIS Threats
i24 News – The United States has begun sharing classified intelligence with Syria’s new leadership, led by Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group formerly designated as a terrorist organization, reports the Washington Post.
This unexpected collaboration comes in the wake of HTS overthrowing the Assad regime last month and reflects heightened US concerns about a potential resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS).
According to sources, US intelligence recently helped thwart a planned ISIS attack on a prominent Shiite shrine near Damascus.
Despite this cooperation, US officials stress that the intelligence-sharing arrangement does not signify full support for HTS, which has a controversial history of extremism.
HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, previously known by his militant alias Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has made efforts to project a more moderate image, pledging to protect Syria’s religious minorities and stabilize the country.
However, skepticism remains about HTS’s ability to govern effectively and sustain efforts against ISIS.
The Biden administration, before leaving office, maintained HTS’s terrorist designation while easing sanctions on Syria to facilitate humanitarian aid. As the new US administration under President Donald Trump takes shape, questions loom about the future of American involvement in Syria and the ongoing military presence aimed at preventing an ISIS comeback.
The post US Reportedly Shares Intelligence with New Syrian Leadership to Counter ISIS Threats first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Hostages Missing from Hamas’ Release List
i24 News – The second phase of hostage releases between Israel and Hamas has sparked deep frustration and grief among the families of those still held captive.
Two hostages—Arbel Yahud and Agam Berger—were notably excluded from the list of those to be freed on Saturday, despite earlier agreements prioritizing the return of civilians.
Arbel Yahud, 29, and Agam Berger, 20, both captives since the October 7 attack, were not included in the list of four hostages expected to be released.
Yahud, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, was taken along with her partner, Ariel Cunio, whose family was freed in November. Yahud’s brother, Dolev, was later found dead in June after he was killed while trying to aid the wounded. Agam Berger, from Holon, was captured while stationed at Nahal Oz. Her family identified her in a video released by Hamas, showing her in pajamas being taken away in a vehicle after she called her father to alert him of the gunfire.
The omission of these two hostages has led to heightened concerns and calls for action from Israeli authorities, who are now exerting pressure on Hamas and mediators to honor the terms of the release agreement. Israeli officials reaffirmed their commitment to continue with the broader agreement, but warned that the failure to meet the agreed terms could harm future releases.
Adding to the grief, the Bibas family expressed their devastation when they learned that Shiri Bibas and her children, who were abducted from their Nir Oz home on October 7, were also absent from the second release list. In a heartfelt message shared on Saturday, the Bibas family shared their anguish: “Even though we were prepared for it, we were hoping to see Shiri and the children on the list that was supposed to be the civilian list.” The family voiced concerns over their loved one’s safety and questioned why, despite grave fears for their lives, their relatives were not included among the civilians due to be returned.
The Bibas family’s message emphasized their belief that the public must continue to demand answers, adding, “Thank you, dear supporters, for not giving up, for continuing to pray, to hope and to demand answers.
The post Hostages Missing from Hamas’ Release List first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levi, and Daniela Gilboa Return to Israel After 477 Days of Captivity
i24 News – After 477 harrowing days in captivity, four young Israeli women—Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levi, and Daniela Gilboa—have finally returned home.
The release took place Saturday morning in Gaza’s Palestine Square, under a carefully staged scene orchestrated by Hamas.
The four women, who served in a military observation unit in Nahal Oz, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Before their release, they were made to wear uniforms provided by Hamas and were paraded on a platform in front of a crowd of activists. Forced to smile and wave, the women endured the ordeal under the watchful eyes of Hamas fighters.
Once the formalities concluded, the women walked to waiting ICRC vehicles, accompanied by representatives of the organization. Upon reaching Israeli forces, IDF medical teams immediately conducted examinations. At the meeting point, the first female officers who greeted them informed the women that their families were watching live. Overcome with emotion, the former hostages smiled at the cameras, sending heartfelt gestures to their loved ones.
Footage later released by the IDF captured a poignant moment: the four women removing the uniforms given to them by Hamas and embracing Israeli officers. These emotional scenes underscored the end of a long and grueling chapter in their lives.
The women were transported to the Reim reception center, where their families eagerly awaited them. After 477 days of separation, the reunions were deeply moving, marking a moment of relief and joy.
However, the release was not without complications. A fifth military observer, Agam Berger, remains in captivity, and Hamas failed to uphold its agreement to release civilian hostage Arbel Yahud, who was originally included in the liberation group. The breach of terms has drawn widespread condemnation, intensifying efforts to secure the release of those who remain captive.
This momentous event brings a mix of celebration and determination, as Israel continues to work tirelessly for the freedom of all hostages still held in Gaza.
The post Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levi, and Daniela Gilboa Return to Israel After 477 Days of Captivity first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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