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MOCHERS The Jewish Men’s Lifestyle Magazine DRINKS / Whiskey SOUR KOSHER CRAFT BEER, WHISKEY: SCOTLAND & ITS MOUNTAIN FEATURES / SCOTLAND, ITS MOUNTAINS, ITS BARREN MOORS, ITS COLOURFUL PEAT BOGS, ITS PICTURESQUE VALLEYS FOOD / KIDDUSH CLUB & THE SUMMER Q: KEEP IT COMING WATCHES / TOP FOUR PICKS FOR THE SUMMER COLOGNES / NOT JUST FOR THE SIMCHA TRAVEL / GABRIEL BOXER KOSHER GURU FOOD / EATS, MEATS & THE Q SHPITZ SUITS / In Defense of the Summer Suit USA $8.99 ISSUE 02 SUMMER 2021

MOCHERS<br />

The Jewish Men’s Lifestyle <strong>Magazine</strong><br />

DRINKS /<br />

Whiskey<br />

SOUR<br />

KOSHER CRAFT BEER,<br />

WHISKEY: SCOTLAND & ITS<br />

MOUNTAIN<br />

FEATURES /<br />

SCOTLAND, ITS<br />

MOUNTAINS, ITS BARREN<br />

MOORS, ITS COLOURFUL<br />

PEAT BOGS, ITS<br />

PICTURESQUE VALLEYS<br />

FOOD /<br />

KIDDUSH CLUB & THE<br />

SUMMER Q: KEEP IT<br />

COMING<br />

WATCHES /<br />

TOP FOUR PICKS FOR THE<br />

SUMMER<br />

COLOGNES /<br />

NOT JUST FOR THE<br />

SIMCHA<br />

TRAVEL /<br />

GABRIEL BOXER<br />

KOSHER<br />

GURU<br />

FOOD /<br />

EATS,<br />

MEATS<br />

& THE Q<br />

SHPITZ SUITS /<br />

In Defense<br />

of the<br />

Summer<br />

Suit<br />

USA $8.99<br />

ISSUE 02<br />

SUMMER 2021


14<br />

Photos By<br />

Yisroel Teitelbaum<br />

12<br />

DE<br />

PART<br />

MENTS<br />

18<br />

8 NOTES FROM THE<br />

EDITOR IN CHIEF<br />

10 LETTERS TO THE<br />

EDITOR<br />

12 KOSHER COCKTAILS<br />

14 THE CHOSSON’S<br />

WATCH<br />

17 MEN’S HEALTH<br />

18 SHPRITZ SPRAYS<br />

24 COFFEE<br />

32 SHPITZ SUITS<br />

42 CARS<br />

44 SHTICK LAB<br />

46 WORKING SPACE<br />

55 FINE ART<br />

58 PLACES TO GO<br />

WITH THE CHEVRA<br />

62 CIGARS<br />

78 HAIR: THE BAIS<br />

BARBER<br />

82 FITNESS


26<br />

FEA<br />

TURES<br />

26<br />

52<br />

60<br />

64<br />

67<br />

73<br />

KOSHER GURU’S<br />

JOURNEY TO MOROCCO<br />

PLACES:<br />

JERSEY SHORE<br />

GETAWAY<br />

IN MEMORIAM:<br />

RUSH LIMBAUGH<br />

RESTAURANT<br />

RENDEZVOUS:<br />

LAKEWOOD<br />

RESTAURANTS<br />

SPORTS:<br />

A GIANT’S WHAT IF<br />

CBD


courtesy of<br />

Samuel Adams<br />

20Photo<br />

38<br />

KID<br />

DUSH<br />

CLUB<br />

20<br />

38<br />

43<br />

48<br />

50<br />

69<br />

76<br />

80<br />

43<br />

DRINKS:<br />

THE WHISKEY RABBI<br />

FOOD: BBQ<br />

KOSHER CRAFT BEER<br />

HOW TO HERRING<br />

HEALTHY EATS<br />

WINE:<br />

FOUR WORLDLY<br />

WHITE WINES<br />

FOOD SNACKIE<br />

DRINKS: SCOTCH


EDITOR’S NOTES<br />

NOTES FROM THE<br />

Editor in Chief<br />

from the shoot<br />

Kiddush club is what unites us<br />

mochers and if you don’t have one,<br />

you can be in quite the predicament.<br />

The kiddush clubs that I attend are cordial, with an<br />

affable chevra, and always garnished with a fine<br />

scotch. Finding a kiddush club can be quite the<br />

quandary and always a major task. I was looking<br />

for an amenable group who would enjoy talking<br />

Torah with some fine Michters.<br />

After I started davening at a new minyan in a new<br />

town, I asked around and inquired to find out where<br />

the cool cats would be. The response was quick<br />

and very welcoming — nothing like attempting to<br />

sit at the cool kids table during my high school<br />

days. I found the oilum to be interested in the new<br />

guy in town, wanting to know more and to see<br />

what my amusements were. My kiddush club is<br />

quaint, yet up-to-date, and has good taste in the<br />

finer things, and I hope yours is too.<br />

In regards to a perfect kiddush club, I learned<br />

a few tricks that are paramount. Make sure you<br />

have a real savant who knows his stuff. The first<br />

course can be of the lighter goods; it knocks out<br />

the tasters who can’t truly taste but quenches<br />

them. After the first round is when the good stuff<br />

should come out. It’s revivifying. Pace yourself,<br />

although that can be a challenge after the walk<br />

to shul, stroller pushings, and elbow bumps at the<br />

hashkama minyan.<br />

In this issue we are enthusiastic for summer.<br />

It’s finally here after a prolonged winter, stricken<br />

with masks and Zooms. We take a look at some<br />

phenomenal cocktail recipes by Yissie Steinhardt.<br />

Want to get away with some flair? Moshe Ney<br />

details local adventures right here in our Jewish<br />

communities. I prattle about cigars and the usual,<br />

while Kalman Safrut portrays the best about<br />

fine art and Judaica. Josh Perew discusses the<br />

morning cologne routine and how to get the best<br />

perfunctory shpritz.<br />

They say that a happy wife is a happy life. I find<br />

that a happy kiddush club is a delighted way to<br />

keep the dudes happy too.<br />

— I’m enjoying the cordial rendezvous, I know you<br />

are too.<br />

IZAK J. HELD<br />

Editor-in-Chief<br />

Photograph by<br />

Yisroel Teitelbaum.<br />

Office space provided by<br />

Henry Cohen.<br />

8 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


MOCHERS<br />

The Jewish Men’s Lifestyle <strong>Magazine</strong><br />

EDITOR IN CHIEF<br />

PUBLISHER & CHIEF<br />

CONTENT OFFICER<br />

Izak J. Held<br />

COPY EDITOR<br />

Chana Z. Weiss<br />

HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER<br />

Yisroel Teitelbaum<br />

ASSISTANT EDITOR<br />

Ben Zigelstein<br />

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT<br />

Yehuda Pitterman<br />

LEAD CONTRIBUTING<br />

EDITORS<br />

Gabriel Boxer<br />

Ami Lock<br />

Tuvia Mackay<br />

Naftali Engel<br />

SENIOR CONTRIBUTING<br />

EDITORS<br />

Noah Morris<br />

David Pliskin<br />

Kayla Goldstein<br />

Avrahom Pressburger<br />

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS<br />

Pinny Wasser<br />

Lizzy Brenner<br />

Eli Jaffee<br />

Kalman Safrut<br />

Menachem Ickovitz<br />

Ahuva Shandelman<br />

Josh Perew<br />

CONTRIBUTORS<br />

Yissie Steinhardt<br />

Yisroel Zuckerman<br />

Amir Ellituv<br />

Jeremy Urbach<br />

Dovid Nahem<br />

Shlomo Assayag<br />

Bentzy Fox<br />

Sruly Meyer<br />

PUBLISHING CONSULTANT<br />

Moshe Kinderlehrer<br />

LAYOUT CONSULTANT<br />

Adam Negnewitzky<br />

DISTRIBUTION CONSULTANT<br />

Avi Conway<br />

SENIOR PRODUCER<br />

Gabriel Boxer<br />

SENIOR WRITER<br />

Moshe Ney<br />

ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR<br />

IN CHIEF<br />

Dovid Weiss<br />

OPERATIONS MANAGER<br />

Yonatan Parmett<br />

PUBLISHING ASSOCIATE<br />

Libby Unger<br />

ASSOCIATE CONTRIBUTORS<br />

Daniel Green<br />

Ariel Katz<br />

Eyal Seti<br />

Yosef Vera<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY PRODUCTION<br />

DESIGNERS<br />

Samantha Green<br />

Deanna Perew<br />

PROOFREADERS<br />

Avromi Mostofsky<br />

Azi Fein<br />

LAYOUT & DESIGN<br />

Jewish Link Marketing Solutions<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT<br />

Naftali Kunstler<br />

MARKETING<br />

Dufgers Social<br />

ALTCHIES<br />

MEDIA GROUP<br />

PUBLISHER<br />

Izak J. Held<br />

VICE PRESIDENT<br />

STRATEGY<br />

Yonatan Parmett<br />

CONTROLLER<br />

Sol Feldman<br />

CORPORATE OFFICE<br />

Woodmere, NY 11598<br />

(866) 4-ALTCHIES<br />

editor@mochers.com<br />

<strong>Mochers</strong> is published by<br />

Altchies Media Group<br />

© Altchies Inc.<br />

(866) 4-ALTCHIES<br />

info@altchies.com<br />

<strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is published<br />

quarterly by Altchies, Inc. in Woodmere,<br />

New York 11598-1906. Subscription<br />

price for the U.S. is $35.96 for one<br />

year (4 issues). For all other countries<br />

outside of the US. Call 866-4-ALTCHIES<br />

to order your issues for the regular<br />

price; additional shipping costs apply<br />

for foreign orders. Copyright 2020.<br />

All rights reserved. No part of this<br />

publication is allowed to be reproduced<br />

without written permission from<br />

Altchies. Altchies, Altchies Media<br />

Group and <strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is not<br />

responsible for the loss or damage<br />

of unsolicited materials. We proudly<br />

print in the United States of America.<br />

Altchies Inc. and <strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />

encourages responsible consumption<br />

of alcohol and tobacco products.<br />

<strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> does not encourage<br />

alcohol or tobacco consumption for<br />

ages under the state or federal law.<br />

<strong>Mochers</strong> drink responsibly.<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 9


MLETTERS TO THE EDITOR<br />

Dear “<strong>Mochers</strong>,”<br />

I thought Machers was<br />

spelled with an A! What<br />

is with you spelling it<br />

with an “O”??<br />

,,<br />

~ Berny from Lakewood<br />

Hi Izak, is this magazine<br />

monthly or bimonthly?<br />

~ Jen from 5 Towns<br />

Dear <strong>Mochers</strong> Editors ,<br />

How can I update my<br />

subscription? I am moving<br />

and the one you have on file<br />

won’t be valid soon! I must<br />

get my next <strong>Mochers</strong> issue!!<br />

~ Lieb from Teaneck<br />

@<strong>Mochers</strong> and @<strong>Mochers</strong>Mag<br />

Signup for our email newsletter<br />

on our website at <strong>Mochers</strong>.com<br />

Thanks for the catch!<br />

You are right indeed that the<br />

conventional way of spelling machers<br />

is with an A , not an O. <strong>Mochers</strong><br />

<strong>Magazine</strong> , however , is our brand<br />

identity and this is how we spell it. By<br />

our community simchas we dance<br />

around the rebbe or chosson in an<br />

O or circle. This is how we plan to<br />

share in the mochers experience — in<br />

a circle, together. Also...Lyft, Reddit,<br />

Tumblr, Flickr...<strong>Mochers</strong>!<br />

Hi Jen, our magazine is quarterly,<br />

meaning it will be produced 4<br />

times a year. We do this in order to<br />

provide plenty of time to gather the<br />

best content out there. During this<br />

production time our editors and<br />

contributors are hard at work watching<br />

trends, studying the products , and<br />

postulating ideas that we know our<br />

readers are interested in. We do not<br />

want to cheapen content by putting<br />

too much out too soon. With that said,<br />

we hope to go bimonthly soon!<br />

Lieb, we can help you with this!<br />

You can update your address in<br />

the portal by clicking in the original<br />

email subscription confirmation,<br />

or by visiting this page: https://<br />

subscriptions.zoho.com/portal/<br />

altchies<br />

If you have not set a password; simply<br />

click on reset your password. It will<br />

ask you to enter the images below the<br />

population box. (You can disregard the<br />

message about enabling cookies.) It<br />

will then send you the email to enable<br />

your portal login and you can update<br />

your shipping address from there!!<br />

10 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


Whiskey<br />

COCKTAILS<br />

SOUR<br />

BY:<br />

YISSIE STEINHART<br />

Whiskey sour at<br />

Fireside in Monsey, NY<br />

firesidekosher.com<br />

12 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


M<br />

sour mix<br />

1 part<br />

1 part<br />

1 part<br />

Simple Syrup<br />

L emon Juice<br />

Lime Juice<br />

Many people are under the<br />

impression that making<br />

cocktails is something that is<br />

difficult to do. You need too many<br />

weird ingredients, the tools are<br />

expensive and hard to find, and only<br />

bartenders know the right way to<br />

mix the ingredients.<br />

Truth be told, that’s how cocktail mix<br />

companies got started. Mr. & Mrs. T’s,<br />

Master of Mixes, and Rose’s, to name a few,<br />

are all able to make a living because people<br />

are looking for an easy fix when it comes to<br />

mixing cocktails at home.<br />

I have been drinking for a long time. A<br />

very long time. When I first started making<br />

cocktails, I bought premade mixers and<br />

didn’t think anything of it. It made sense to<br />

me because I had all of those standard fears<br />

and doubts. But no matter which brands of<br />

mixers I used, the drinks didn’t taste the<br />

same as the ones I would order at bars. So<br />

I started to do some research into what was<br />

actually in these mixers. Google is amazing,<br />

and thanks to YouTube as well, I was able to<br />

find really simple and easy recipes for great<br />

fresh mixers!<br />

Two of the most basic components to<br />

have on hand are simple syrup and sour<br />

mix. Simple syrup is just that, simple —<br />

one part water to one part sugar. There is<br />

disagreement as to whether<br />

you should measure by weight<br />

or by volume, but either way,<br />

it’s a pretty simple formula to<br />

remember.<br />

Simply mix the sugar and<br />

water together and heat until<br />

all of the sugar is dissolved. If<br />

you bring it to a light simmer<br />

for a few minutes, that will<br />

extend its shelf life. Adding<br />

some vodka also adds to the<br />

time this syrup can stay good<br />

in the fridge.<br />

Sour mix, an easy mixture of<br />

lemon juice and simple syrup,<br />

is a standard component that is used in many cocktails, my favorite being<br />

the whiskey sour. The exact ratio is up for debate, but those are the only<br />

two ingredients. After learning how easy it was to make sour mix, I started<br />

to riff on it. I would add or use different fruit juices for the sour component,<br />

and eventually I landed on the perfect combination which is now my go-to<br />

whenever making sour mix.<br />

You can make big batches of this mixture if you have an event coming<br />

up when you’ll need this in bulk. Otherwise, you can make it to order by<br />

squeezing fresh lemons and limes.<br />

Once you’ve got your sour mix, you’re well on your way to the standard<br />

whiskey sour, which is made of whiskey, sour mix, and egg white. (Some<br />

add bitters as well.) The trick to using egg<br />

whites in a cocktail without any unpleasant<br />

flavor is to dry shake the egg white with<br />

citrus juice first, before putting in ice or<br />

other ingredients. Personally, I prefer to skip<br />

the egg white altogether. For some extra<br />

sweetness, wet the rim of the glass and then<br />

dip into sugar before pouring your drink in.<br />

Shake whiskey and sour mix with ice, then<br />

top with Sprite. Garnish with a maraschino<br />

cherry and a cocktail straw.<br />

whiskey<br />

sour<br />

2 ounces<br />

Whiskey (or bourbon)<br />

3 ounces<br />

Sour mix<br />

2 ounces<br />

Sprite<br />

For garnish<br />

Maraschino Cherries<br />

Yissie Steinhart is a<br />

contributor for <strong>Mochers</strong><br />

<strong>Magazine</strong> and a for hire<br />

bartender, specializing in<br />

private events and cocktail<br />

workshops. Follow on Instagram<br />

@bar.simcha<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 13


THE CHOSSON’S<br />

WATCH<br />

WATCH<br />

OUT<br />

for<br />

UMME<br />

14 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


While everyone has heard of summer or winter suits, not many people think of watches in<br />

seasonal terms. However, people are definitely more apt to buy and wear certain watches<br />

in the warmer seasons.<br />

A summer watch knows how to have fun — it can be suited for dressing down or occasionally dressing up. It has<br />

a focus on flexibility and comfort along with a high level of water resistance. While it is easy to say “buy a Rolex” in<br />

every situation, let’s focus on lesser-known alternatives that provide a unique style and value.<br />

Here are our top four picks for the summer of 2021:<br />

Tissot PRX<br />

This 2021 release from Tissot sold out instantly and it’s easy to see why. It features an<br />

integrated bracelet design that is seeing a tremendous renaissance this year. The PRX<br />

brings to mind timeless watches such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Vacheron<br />

Constantin Overseas, but it is especially reminiscent of the celebrated Rolex Oyster Quartz.<br />

This is certainly fitting for a timepiece with such a reliable and accurate quartz movement.<br />

The 40mm case is a great fit for most wrists. It has a combination of polished and brushed<br />

surfaces that contribute to its instantly classy look. There are a variety of dial options<br />

available, but our first pick is the timeless blue sunray. The dial is protected by a scratchproof<br />

sapphire crystal. Fit and finish are top-notch for the price point.<br />

100m water-resistant. $375<br />

Longines Hydroconquest Ceramic<br />

MOCHERS<br />

BY: ANDREW LOCK<br />

R<br />

The Longines Hydroconquest<br />

presents a unique value<br />

proposition in a segment<br />

dominated by Rolex and<br />

Omega: a handsome diver<br />

with all the features one<br />

might need for a deep-sea<br />

dive, splash in the pool, or<br />

while munching on a slice<br />

of pizza on Central Avenue.<br />

The watch features a<br />

scratch-proof green ceramic<br />

bezel complemented by a<br />

matching dial. The dial’s<br />

matte finish differentiates<br />

it nicely from the infamous<br />

green Rolex Submariner. The<br />

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16<br />

www.mochers.com | 15


CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15<br />

watch can be purchased with a steel bracelet or a rubber strap —<br />

our choice is rubber for comfortable summer wear. When it begins<br />

to get dark out, the blue Super-LumiNova on the dial positively<br />

glows. The timepiece is powered by an automatic movement with<br />

a robust 72-hour power reserve.<br />

300m water-resistant. $1600<br />

Seiko Prospex LX GMT SNR049<br />

Oris Carl Brashear Calibre 401<br />

Limited Edition<br />

The Carl Brashear 401 is the third watch from Oris that pays<br />

tribute to the inspirational story of US Navy diver Carl Brashear.<br />

The timepiece is presented in a moderately sized 40mm brushed<br />

bronze case. While it may look like rose gold at the time of purchase,<br />

the bronze will develop a patina unique to each watch and the story<br />

of its owner. Sitting in the center of the bronze case is a dial of deep<br />

blue lacquer. The dial markers and hands are filled with a cream<br />

color Super-LumiNova that glows green and blue respectively. The<br />

watch is powered by Oris’ newly developed in-house Calibre 401<br />

movement. It provides chronometer-like accuracy and a whopping<br />

five-day power reserve. Owners can rest easy thanks to a ten-year<br />

warranty and a ten-year service interval for the movement. Rather<br />

than a bracelet or a rubber strap, the watch is worn on a moisturewicking<br />

nylon parachute strap produced by Erika’s Originals. One<br />

would be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable option for<br />

humid summer days.<br />

100m water-resistant, 2000 piece limited edition. $4200<br />

These watches and many others can be<br />

purchased at David Desso Jewelers.<br />

468 Central Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY<br />

516.341.0733.<br />

Tell them Andrew sent you.<br />

The Prospex LX line from Seiko is a challenging watch to<br />

understand when judging it based on the brand name on the dial.<br />

It took long enough for the public to understand the value offered<br />

by Grand Seiko but here is a watch that says Seiko — and only<br />

Seiko — on the dial and costs more than many fine Swiss watches.<br />

Examine each part of the watch, however, and its true and unique<br />

value is quickly revealed. It is easy to dismiss the 44.8mm case as<br />

oversized, but slip it on your wrist and it wears more comfortably<br />

than many smaller watches. The case and bracelet are crafted of<br />

titanium, a metal significantly lighter than stainless steel. While<br />

titanium is often a dull grey, Seiko uses a bright, high-density<br />

titanium that is hard coated for scratch resistance. The case is<br />

polished by hand in the Grand Seiko studio for a mirrored “Zaratsu''<br />

finish. The timepiece is powered by a Spring Drive GMT movement.<br />

It has a true, sweeping second hand and quartz-like accuracy.<br />

While most automatic watches are accurate to within five seconds<br />

a day, this spring drive is accurate to within one second a day and<br />

fifteen seconds a month. It is also a true GMT movement; the hour<br />

hand can be jumped forward or backward in one-hour increments,<br />

making it easy to set the watch when landing at a destination. The<br />

GMT hand can be set to UTC time or home time, allowing two time<br />

zones to be seen at a glance. The gradient sunray dial represents<br />

the blue of Earth and the deep black of space. Complementing this<br />

dial is a black and blue sapphire bezel insert with a 24-hour scale.<br />

Summertime is travel time and this lightweight, feature-packed<br />

watch is just what a summertime traveler needs.<br />

100m water-resistant, 400 piece limited edition. $5500<br />

Andrew Lock is the proprietor of Andrew<br />

Lock Custom Menswear at 403 Central<br />

Avenue in Cedarhurst. His shop offers all<br />

manners of custom clothing as well as fine<br />

shoes, accessories, wardrobe consulting<br />

services, and the best cappuccino in town.<br />

Call 516.619.6264 or visit NYbespoke.com<br />

to schedule a fitting.<br />

M<br />

16 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


MEN’S<br />

HEALTH &<br />

WELLNESS<br />

BY: BENSON FOX<br />

Benson Fox practices as a certified transformation<br />

coach and specializes in helping Jewish men achieve<br />

higher levels of balance, joy, and confidence. He is a<br />

Psychology major and a Psychology Doctoral student at<br />

Adelphi University. He runs the 500 member Facebook<br />

group: Jewish Men for Joy, Balance, and Growth. Go<br />

to coachbensonfox.com or results@coachbensonfox.<br />

com for a free consultation.<br />

“There is nothing to fear but<br />

fear itself.”<br />

“Anger is an acid that can<br />

do more harm to the vessel<br />

in which it is stored than<br />

to anything on which it is<br />

poured.”<br />

“Jealousy is a form of hatred<br />

built upon instability.”<br />

Through these seemingly clever phrases,<br />

society has idealized language that makes<br />

negative emotions into symptoms that<br />

are to be feared, seen as problematic, and<br />

eliminated.<br />

In the interest of “moving on” and “not living<br />

in your past,” we must disown, repress, and<br />

skip over the process of processing our<br />

emotions. I have found that our relationship<br />

with our dichotomous parts such as negative<br />

emotions and pain is often what defines<br />

people’s lives for good and otherwise.<br />

When you experience negativity that<br />

contradicts the narrative of how you would<br />

like your life to be, do you deny it exists,<br />

immediately and reflexively push it away, or<br />

do you welcome it, seek to understand it and<br />

receive its communication?<br />

One way to work on becoming more open<br />

to the latter approach is to start noticing<br />

the language that people use every day that<br />

reflects this collective unconscious of seeing<br />

the parts we do not like in ourselves as an<br />

enemy to be defeated. Begin to notice the<br />

hyper-positivity of “just smile” campaigns<br />

and the extreme discomfort in letting your<br />

uncomfortable emotions surface.<br />

While it is true that imbalance can lead one<br />

to balance or the Rambam’s and Aristotle’s<br />

“Golden Mean,” we must not confuse the<br />

process with the result. The purpose of<br />

hyper-positivity campaigns should not be to<br />

establish a state of constant positivity, but<br />

to help someone who is too negative find<br />

a better balance between the negative and<br />

positive aspects of himself.<br />

When you are feeling sad, anxious, or<br />

mad, are you allowed to just be in it, or do<br />

you or others reflexively attempt to shut<br />

down or distract from these uncomfortable<br />

feelings? Do those around you try to cheer<br />

you up so that you feel good again, or do<br />

they help you navigate through it?<br />

Let’s get very comfortable with sitting with<br />

our most scary, painful, and uncomfortable<br />

parts by recognizing that all they want is for<br />

you to be protected and happy. Let’s become<br />

more sensitive to language that perpetuates<br />

these destructive and divisive myths about<br />

the “badness” of our “negative” parts.<br />

M<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 17


COLOGNES<br />

SHPRITZ<br />

SPRAYS<br />

BY: JOSH PEREW<br />

If you are like me, sometimes your<br />

morning routine can be rushed.<br />

After your alarm jolts you out of<br />

bed, you walk to the bathroom still<br />

half asleep, turn on the light, brush<br />

your teeth, shower, throw on some<br />

clothes with little thought, and head<br />

out the door. But there is something<br />

missing.<br />

Perhaps the most often-overlooked<br />

finishing touch to your morning routine is a<br />

few sprays of your signature scent to wake<br />

up your olfactory senses and the senses<br />

of those around you. There are many<br />

reasons why men wear cologne. For some<br />

it’s a matter self-care, for others, it’s to get<br />

noticed by that special someone, and for<br />

others it’s a matter of wanting to impress<br />

the boss. Whatever the motivation is, behind<br />

it is a singular goal: to smell exceptional.<br />

As in every area in life, there is no “one size<br />

fits all” cologne. Not everyone will have the<br />

same experience with the same cologne.<br />

Everyone has unique oils on their skin, so<br />

the same fragrances can smell different<br />

depending on the person who is wearing<br />

it. But in a world of uncertainty, one thing<br />

is for sure — if you have not yet found your<br />

signature scent, the time is now. Luckily for<br />

you, I am here to help you along that journey.<br />

The cologne world is filled with tens of<br />

thousands of options, so picking just a few<br />

is a daunting task. Nevertheless, my criteria<br />

are simple: Four colognes in total, including<br />

two that are approachable and affordable<br />

that can be worn every day, and two<br />

colognes that are more niche, expensive<br />

fragrances for more special occasions (or<br />

every day if you are a man of means ).<br />

18 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


M<br />

DIOR SAUVAGE<br />

3.4 oz $100. This is the quintessential fresh and bright cologne. Top notes of citrus, sweet<br />

earth, fresh wood and pepper. It lasts around 5 hours, which is above average, and has medium<br />

projection. This is the perfect everyday cologne that will get you noticed and will get compliments<br />

but won't offend people by being too bold.<br />

LA NUIT DE L'HOMME BY YVES SAINT LAURENT EAU DE TOILETTE<br />

3.3 oz $90. To me, this scent screams nighttime fun. It opens with cardamom and bergamot with<br />

citrus in the background. As it dies down, it becomes herbal and spicy with hints of masculine<br />

lavender and wood. It is sophisticated and elegant. This is a very extroverted, attention-grabbing<br />

scent, and thus is more suited to going out rather than for the office. It lasts around 8 hours and<br />

has a medium-to-high projection.<br />

OUD WOOD BY TOM FORD<br />

3.4 oz $340. This is my all-time favorite cologne. Smooth, subtle and understated. Sweet, fresh<br />

oud with plenty of vetiver, sandalwood, eastern spices, and Chinese pepper. Bright, yet refined<br />

and sensual. It lasts around 6 hours but does not project. I wear this for more formal occasions,<br />

or whenever I want to smell special.<br />

LAYTON BY PARFUMS DE MARLY<br />

3.4oz $310. This scent is from a niche fragrance house from Paris. With Parfums de Marly, you<br />

get what you pay for in terms of the quality of the ingredients. Layton opens with ripe, crisp<br />

apples, bergamot, jasmine, vanilla and pepper. It smells expensive, sweet, and fresh. As it dries<br />

down, you get floral notes and sweet spices. This is what I would consider to be a gourmand<br />

scent — it is complex and mysterious, with many things going on in the background. This is the<br />

perfect scent for a romantic evening. Projection is medium to high and it lasts forever.<br />

Josh Perew is a contributing<br />

editor for <strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 19


WHISKY<br />

DRINKS<br />

RABBIBY: AMIR ELLITUV<br />

Whisky (not just whiskey) or<br />

scotch (not just scaatch) is<br />

the one drink that carries so<br />

many different connotations in the<br />

mind of the mocher.<br />

It is a unifying force that brings people<br />

together, taking center stage at the kiddush<br />

club. When you pour a great dram, you<br />

are viewed on a different level, as a true<br />

gentleman who takes care of his friends.<br />

But there is so much more behind “uisge<br />

beatha” (pronounced ooshky baye) —<br />

Gaelic for the water of life. Rabbi Amir<br />

Ellituv, otherwise known on Instagram as @<br />

whiskyrabbi, opens up a whole new world of<br />

Scotch Whisky, bringing a new appreciation<br />

and understanding of this great drink.<br />

When I think of whisky, I think of the beautiful<br />

country of Scotland — its mountains, barren<br />

moors, colourful peat bogs, picturesque<br />

valleys, coastlines that are unparalleled<br />

in beauty, ruggedness, white sands, and<br />

turquoise waters. When you visit Scotland’s<br />

20 | MOCHERS<br />

many distilleries, you will undoubtedly pass<br />

many of these scenes to reach that pot of<br />

gold. Many people think that a great whisky<br />

must be old, expensive, and smooth, but<br />

I’m going to buck that trend and show that<br />

there is so much more than a Blue Label,<br />

Macallan 18, Glenmorangie Signet, Chivas<br />

Regal 25, or Glenfiddich 30. Those are all<br />

great whiskies, but can be quite expensive.<br />

I want to showcase some great whiskies<br />

which create a symphony of flavors,<br />

full of explosive sweetness, tosfos-level<br />

complexity, harissa-level spice, and even<br />

some cohiba wafting smoke (the smoky<br />

ones will come at a later stage!) that will<br />

make your friends view you as a connoisseur<br />

without hurting your wallet.<br />

We will go to the tip of the Mull of Kintyre, to<br />

Campbeltown, the former capital of whisky<br />

in Scotland. Drive through Loch Lomond<br />

and the Trossachs National Park, past<br />

Inveraray and Loch Fyne, which incidentally<br />

has some of Scotland’s finest smoked<br />

salmon and whisky shops. Continue past<br />

Kennacraig, the ferry harbor that connects<br />

to the mythical and legendary island of Islay,<br />

and drive down the coast, passing stunning<br />

coastlines with seals perched on the rocks<br />

and smooth sandy beaches, and arrive at<br />

your destination.<br />

Campbeltown’s main distillery is Springbank,<br />

which produces three types of whiskies;<br />

Hazelburn, a non-peaty triple-distilled malt;<br />

Springbank, a slightly peaty but lovely<br />

oily and fruity malt; and Longrow, a more<br />

peated malt. Next door to Springbank is the<br />

Glengyle distillery, open for a few months of<br />

the year, which produces Kilkerran, another<br />

heavy, salty, and smoky malt that is full of<br />

character. Springbank ensures that all the<br />

stages of the whisky making process is<br />

done on site, including the malting of the<br />

barley, bottling, and aging of the casks.<br />

The smell is me-eyn oilom habo, and<br />

tasting the malts direct from their famous<br />

Cadenhead warehouse is an experience not<br />

to be missed.<br />

www.mochers.com


SPRINGBANK RUM<br />

WOOD 15 YEAR<br />

51% vol<br />

NOSE: Pineapple and toasted<br />

marshmallows, with sweet barley notes.<br />

TASTE: A sweet banoffee pie in liquid<br />

— do I need to say anything else? Try<br />

this delightful heavenly dram and be<br />

transported to another sphere. There<br />

were only 9,000 bottles made, but if you<br />

manage to get your hands on a bottle, it<br />

is well worth it!<br />

Sunset by Machrihanish<br />

Bay in the Mull of Kintyre<br />

HAZELBURN 13<br />

YEAR, OLOROSO<br />

CASK MATURED<br />

Bottled September 2020,<br />

50.3% vol<br />

NOSE: Coconut, tropical fruits, and<br />

crème brulee.<br />

TASTE: An explosion of wonderful<br />

tastes greets you, with stewed fruits,<br />

sweets, and aged bananas. It feels oily<br />

and so smooth, with the sludge of the<br />

Lagavulin special release and the deft<br />

softness of a Dalwhinnie. The flavors in<br />

this Campbeltown classic come back in<br />

waves that you would expect in a peaty<br />

whisky.<br />

Location: Bamford Edge,<br />

overlooking Ladybower<br />

reservoir, Peak District<br />

National Park, Derbyshire, UK<br />

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 21


DRINKS<br />

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 SPRINGBANK 12<br />

YEAR, CASK<br />

Strength 56.1% vol<br />

NOSE: Apples, subtle marzipan, stewed<br />

fruits, and caramel toffee.<br />

TASTE: On the palate you’ll notice a hit<br />

of spiciness, with a nice oily feel. The<br />

spiciness moves to the sides of the tongue<br />

and then vanishes, with alcohol that is<br />

quite overpowering.<br />

Add a couple of drops of water and the<br />

complexion totally changes. It is a lot<br />

more oily, the spiciness subsides, and the<br />

caramel chocolate flavors come to the fore.<br />

The initial powerful dram loses its potency<br />

— with just three drops of water, the beast<br />

has been tamed.<br />

The Springbank has been transformed<br />

from one that is clawing at you to one that<br />

hugs you and touches your palate with<br />

warm whisky chocolate.<br />

Location: Derwent Water,<br />

Peak District National Park,<br />

Derbyshire, UK<br />

M<br />

Amir Ellituv is a contributor<br />

for <strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>. Follow<br />

his brand @whiskyrabbi


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COFFEE<br />

GEARING<br />

UP FOR<br />

A GREAT<br />

CUP<br />

An overview of essential<br />

coffee equipment for unique<br />

personalities, tastes, and<br />

brew methods<br />

BY: TUVIA MACKAY<br />

24 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


M<br />

Our last installment of the <strong>Mochers</strong><br />

<strong>Magazine</strong> coffee section covered a<br />

range of coffee brew methods, from<br />

pour over to espresso.<br />

I hope you’ve had the opportunity to get out<br />

there, sample cups at your favorite café s, and<br />

discover what styles suit you best. Personally, I<br />

like to match my coffee to my mood, the foods<br />

I’m enjoying my cup with, and yes, the weather.<br />

On hurried mornings, I’ll have a quick espresso<br />

before hitting the gym; on lazy Sunday afternoons,<br />

I’ll chill with a tall cup of single-origin pour over;<br />

and on hot summer days, I can’t resist a good<br />

cold brew to cool me down and keep me going.<br />

POUR OVER: Pure Over. As simple as pour over<br />

is, there are still so many different setups on<br />

the market. Yet even in this crowded space, the<br />

Pure Over stands head and shoulders above the<br />

competition. A sleek, self-contained, all-glass<br />

system, the Pure Over is easy to use, beautiful<br />

to look at, and creates a crisp and clean cup that<br />

elevates your bean’s best qualities. There’s no metal<br />

filter to impart a funky taste and no paper filters that<br />

you’ll inevitably run out of at the worst possible time.<br />

(Retail price: $75 for the complete kit, available<br />

exclusively at pureover.com)<br />

However, if we learned anything from the last<br />

article, we know that drinking coffee is only a part<br />

of the enjoyment. The full experience comes from<br />

sourcing great beans, getting your hands dirty in<br />

the brewing process, and of course, sharing with<br />

friends and family. In this installation, we’ll cover<br />

some essential recommended gear, fit for the most<br />

discerning Mocher and tested by yours truly, to<br />

match coffee styles for every mood and occasion.<br />

GRINDER: Baratza Virtouso+. High-quality grinders<br />

aren’t just for your favorite, ahem, besomim. They<br />

also ensure that your coffee tastes fresh, vibrant,<br />

and retains its best qualities. Buy your beans whole,<br />

store them in an airtight container, and grind just<br />

before use for best results. Burr grinders are always<br />

the way to go. They are essentially small mills that<br />

crush your beans to a fine and consistent size, unlike<br />

blade grinders which will heat your beans as they<br />

slice, burning away those precious oils that coat the<br />

bean and detracting from the flavor. The Baratza<br />

Virtuoso+ is super easy to use, with 40 grind sizes<br />

from coarse cold brew all the way down to the finest<br />

espresso. The machine’s time settings allow you to<br />

dial in for the perfect quantity every time. It’s also<br />

super easy to clean, which is critical to keeping your<br />

grinder shmutz free. (Retail price: $249)<br />

ESPRESSO: Breville Bambino. Breville has long<br />

been one of the masters of espresso machines for<br />

serious home baristas. While we will cover the full<br />

range of at-home espresso machines in a future<br />

installation, the Bambino is a no-brainer for those<br />

getting started who value serious performance and<br />

unparalleled taste. This machine is the ultimate<br />

uncomplicated and compact device for those<br />

looking for incredible espresso-based drinks without<br />

the worry of a more complex piece of equipment.<br />

It comes with a built-in frothing wand for steaming<br />

milk for cappuccinos and lattes. The Bambino’s<br />

competitive price point is another plus for those who<br />

don’t want to dive into a more complex machine just<br />

yet. (Retail price: $299)<br />

Tuvia Mackay is a multidisciplinary<br />

connoisseur and all-around faynshmeker.<br />

His love of coffee started in earnest when<br />

he discovered a micro-roastery near his<br />

yeshiva and developed through numerous<br />

tastings and classes thereafter. These days,<br />

you can find Tuvia pulling espresso shots<br />

on his Lelit Bianca or walking Zeidy, his<br />

French bulldog. Tuvia can be reached for<br />

questions, comments, or inquiries on all<br />

things coffee at mocherscoffee@gmail.com.<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 25


TRAVEL<br />

Kosher Guru’s<br />

Journey to<br />

Morocco<br />

A Warm Welcome to<br />

Jewish Visitors<br />

BY: GABRIEL BOXER<br />

My crazy Moroccan adventure<br />

during the pandemic was<br />

everything I thought it<br />

would be and much more. On a<br />

Sunday morning in February, with<br />

a sprinkling of snow in New York,<br />

Rebeka and I were checked into our<br />

flight by a courteous representative<br />

from Royal Air Maroc (RAM).<br />

The plane was sleek and sanitized, the<br />

staff above and beyond. Warm Moroccan<br />

hospitality was evident the<br />

moment we took our seats.<br />

We were greeted by the onboard<br />

staff who made sure<br />

our flight was comfortable<br />

and enjoyable. The lay-flat<br />

first class section was one<br />

of the most comfortable<br />

sections I have ever been in.<br />

They provided not only stellar service, but<br />

kosher food as well.<br />

EDITORIAL NOTE<br />

After we landed, we were greeted by Hamid<br />

Aberaouz of the Ministry of Tourism, our<br />

“protector” for the week. We drove to<br />

Rabat, the capital, and checked into our<br />

hotel, Sofitel Jardin des Roses. Almost<br />

immediately we were whisked off to enjoy<br />

the sights of the city.<br />

First was the oldest hotel in Rabat, called<br />

Tour Hassan. Its traditional Moroccan<br />

decor was evident, with all modern<br />

amenities. Many celebrities are known to<br />

stay here. In fact, there’s a hall dedicated to<br />

their photographs. We had an excellent tea<br />

experience, the first of many!<br />

As a result of the Abraham Accords in the fall of 2020, whereby four<br />

Muslim nations established cordial relations with the state of Israel,<br />

the government of Morocco invited Kosher Guru as a royal guest<br />

with the aim of opening the kingdom to Jewish travelers<br />

Our tour guide took us to the Mellah,<br />

the ancient Jewish quarter located in<br />

almost every medina (Old City). We saw the<br />

facade of an old shul, the homes that used<br />

to belong to Jewish families, and the streets<br />

named after prominent Jewish people.<br />

We went to see the Tower of Hassan, which<br />

would have been the highest tower in the<br />

city but was never completed. Next door is<br />

the Mausoleum of King Mohammed V and<br />

his two sons. A walk through Kasbah Des<br />

Oudayas led to stunning views of two cities<br />

and the shore. Throughout our tour we were<br />

impressed how clean Rabat is, and how<br />

much pride the people have in their culture.<br />

Early the next morning we set off for the city<br />

of Fez. We were in for a real treat, starting<br />

with Riad El Amine, the hotel<br />

where we stayed for the day. Fez<br />

is known for their riad (garden)<br />

accommodation. Many homes<br />

in the medinas have a beautiful<br />

garden at the center of their<br />

homes, with the rooms of the<br />

home surrounding it. In Fez<br />

many of these homes have been<br />

turned into lodging accommodations with<br />

modern amenities. Some even have pools,<br />

spas and other luxurious facilities for the<br />

guests. Staying at a riad you experience the<br />

warm hospitable culture of Morocco.<br />

Fez is known for the artisans who use old<br />

26 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


school methods to create a multitude of<br />

products. Many are taught a trade by their<br />

ancestors, some dating back to the 12th<br />

century. You never know what you will find<br />

behind closed doors.<br />

Our visit to Riad Palais Amani was a treat.<br />

Around the spectacular garden were<br />

unassuming doors that led to beautiful<br />

guest rooms with accommodations for<br />

about 30 people. On the rooftop there is a<br />

cooking school with stunning views of the<br />

medina of Fez.<br />

After a bite to eat, we were on the winding<br />

streets of the medina. After a few short<br />

steps we went up the stairs of a building that<br />

contained handcrafted leather goods. I had<br />

no idea where our guide was taking us, but<br />

we kept on walking through different rooms<br />

until we came to a porch with the coolest<br />

view and worst smell I’ve ever experienced<br />

in my life.<br />

Off the porch was a full view of the Chouara<br />

Tannery of Fez, which dates back to the<br />

12th century. Although super odorous from<br />

the use of animal feces and urine to soften<br />

the leather and remove the hairs of the<br />

animal, it was a sight not to be missed. It<br />

looks like a huge display of watercolors and<br />

it’s amazing that it’s still in use after 1,000<br />

years. Here they color and soften the leather<br />

to prepare it to make shoes, bags, jackets,<br />

and other colorful leather goods.<br />

A walk through the souk brought us to the<br />

many artisans working and selling their<br />

crafts. We saw woodworkers, coppersmiths,<br />

wool and yarn dyers using natural dyes,<br />

tapestry makers, women making traditional<br />

Moroccan delights, pottery, handcrafted<br />

metal works, blacksmiths and shoemakers.<br />

The level of craft was incredible, with skills<br />

MOCHERS<br />

passed from generation to generation. After<br />

a long day, we went to the top of a mountain<br />

to view the entire medina at sunset and grab<br />

some amazing pictures of the sights of Fez.<br />

As a treat before the COVID curfew, we<br />

had the opportunity to check out a modern<br />

hotel just outside of the medina of Fez. The<br />

Sahrai hotel has such a cool young vibe<br />

and amazing architecture — very modern<br />

yet with subtle Moroccan flair. After a long<br />

day, we were happy to get back to our<br />

traditional accommodations for some shut<br />

eye before the next day’s adventures.<br />

We woke up early for breakfast in our riad,<br />

then headed out to the Fez mosaic and<br />

pottery factory. It’s all handmade, handpainted<br />

and sold the way the craftsman’s<br />

father taught him. It was amazing to see<br />

how the fountains were poured and the<br />

tiles made to create the amazing Moroccan<br />

mosaics you see in so many buildings.<br />

The King’s palace in Fez is right next to<br />

the Mellah, the Jewish quarter. There sits<br />

a synagogue with traditional Moroccan<br />

lanterns and mikvah, all from the 18th<br />

century. As the Jewish sights and<br />

synagogues are under the protection of the<br />

king, there were guards everywhere.<br />

Most Jewish quarters in Morocco also have<br />

Jewish cemeteries attached. It’s remarkable<br />

to see our ancient culture and heritage<br />

still extant. We inspected the communal<br />

bakery ovens, where even to this day a<br />

Jewish shamash lights the fire, symbolizing<br />

the Jews and Muslims who live in peace<br />

together.<br />

I was proud to be Jewish in Morocco.<br />

Throughout our visit we were called “brother”<br />

and “cousin.” People were happy to see us<br />

walking around the streets of Morocco with<br />

a yarmulke.<br />

We went to visit Riad Myra, run exclusively<br />

by women. As the owner explained, women<br />

are the ones who run a traditional Moroccan<br />

home and can operate a riad better than<br />

anyone. So in Riad Myra women cook, serve,<br />

and handle all aspects of a traditional riad.<br />

From there we went to see the house of<br />

Rambam, where he taught and learned. It<br />

was a special feeling to be able to walk in<br />

the same streets where the great Rambam<br />

spent a great portion of his life.<br />

Throughout our trip every guide was quick<br />

to tell us how Morocco was considered a<br />

Berber and Jewish site before it became the<br />

Muslim country that it is today. Morocco<br />

stresses a love for all people regardless of<br />

faith. Most Moroccans we spoke to said<br />

they are Moroccan first and their religion is<br />

second. It was an incredibly special place<br />

to be with all the chaos and antisemitism in<br />

our world today.<br />

A break in our riad after a long day was much<br />

appreciated, where we took advantage of<br />

the amazing decor to grab some pictures<br />

before heading out to visit Riad Karawan.<br />

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27<br />

This riad was nestled deep in the streets of the medina and<br />

we needed an escort to take us there so we wouldn’t get lost.<br />

Behind these closed doors was a stunning modern riad. Every<br />

room was different and beautiful and portrayed the owner’s<br />

lust for travel and adventure.<br />

In Rabat we were shown another riad called Dar el Kabira<br />

Salam that was situated in the medina. Although the riad<br />

was older, the views from the rooftop were dazzling, and the<br />

hospitality was above and beyond.<br />

JOURNEY TO MARRAKECH<br />

On our way to the city of Marrakech we enjoyed the<br />

breathtaking countryside. The flocks of sheep made for a<br />

pretty sight. We drove a few miles along the forest of cork<br />

trees which Morocco is known for. It was just a pretty journey<br />

heading into the desert where Marrakech is located.<br />

Upon arrival at the Pearl Hotel, we were shown the most<br />

heartfelt warmth from the entire staff. The hotel boasts three<br />

pools, an incredible spa which I highly recommend checking<br />

out, and the coolest rooftop circular bar that was enjoyed by<br />

locals as well as hotel guests. Our suite was extraordinary,<br />

from the decor to every modern amenity one can ask for. We<br />

enjoyed dinner on the rooftop that overlooks the walls of the<br />

medina of Marrakech; it was only a tease of the days that<br />

were to follow.<br />

Our day started super early with a visit to the Yves Saint<br />

Laurent museum, next door to the Majorelle Garden where<br />

YSL had his home. Many of his fashion inspirations came<br />

from Marrakech. The museum was dedicated to his fashion<br />

over the years and was interesting to see. However, the<br />

gardens were the highlight, with the colors, fountains and<br />

beautiful foliage you cannot help but fall in love with. The<br />

shocking blue villa of YSL is now a museum dedicated to the<br />

history of Berber culture. There are artifacts of the history of<br />

Morocco with its Berber, Jewish and Islamic influences.<br />

28 | MOCHERS www.mochers.com


We went into the medina of Marrakech<br />

to another museum called Dar el Bacha,<br />

which was originally a palace owned by a<br />

wealthy Moroccan family. Dar el Bacha now<br />

houses a museum of Moroccan culture<br />

with a popular coffee shop. The rooms<br />

with the mosaics were enthralling and the<br />

garden with the orange trees spectacular.<br />

The museum displays artifacts from<br />

the religious cultures that helped shape<br />

Morocco today. I especially enjoyed seeing<br />

such exhibits as the Torahs, tefillin and<br />

tallit bags as well as traditional clothing of<br />

Moroccan Jews.<br />

We then went to the Dar el Said Museum,<br />

originally a palace owned by a wealthy<br />

family. It is known as the museum of<br />

weaving. We learned about Berber and<br />

Muslim rugs and the culture of rugs for the<br />

Moroccan people. In Moroccan culture rugs<br />

gain value with age, and a rug is seen as an<br />

investment.<br />

In the medina of Marrakech there is a<br />

restaurant owned by Che Moha. He is wellknown<br />

in the country, and has been a top<br />

chef in the U.S. After watching a cooking<br />

demo at his beautiful restaurant, we spoke<br />

to him about opening a kosher spot in New<br />

York.<br />

SHABBOS IN MARRAKECH<br />

On Friday we needed to get back to our hotel<br />

for Shabbos. What better way to prepare<br />

other than a traditional Moroccan hammam<br />

and a massage at The Pearl Hotel. It was<br />

an experience I will never forget. I can’t wait<br />

to return to Morocco for more pampering.<br />

The spa at the Pearl was incredible. It was<br />

complete with both a men’s and women’s<br />

area for hammam, and another area for a<br />

private hammam. We went to the private<br />

hammam which contained saunas, hot tubs,<br />

and traditional stone tables where your skin<br />

is cleaned and scrubbed. Something tells<br />

me these weren’t the typical hammams in<br />

the streets of the medina, but this was more<br />

my cup of tea. My skin felt so refreshing<br />

after being scrubbed and cleaned, and the<br />

relaxing massage just did the trick to help<br />

me set the mood for Shabbos.<br />

We made sure to order Shabbos food to be<br />

delivered to our hotel. We called the kosher<br />

restaurant Dar Ima, which was closed<br />

during our stay, but managed to coax the<br />

owner to deliver Shabbos complete with<br />

challah, wine, traditional Moroccan salads,<br />

fish, and meat.<br />

Thank you to the Pearl Hotel for the<br />

incredible suite where we were able to enjoy<br />

welcoming Shabbos.<br />

We decided to take walking tours so we<br />

could enjoy Marrakech and Shabbos at the<br />

same time. After we davened and tasted<br />

some of the Moroccan salads from Dar<br />

Ima, we walked from our hotel into the<br />

streets of the medina and around Koutoubia<br />

Mosque and its gardens, the largest mosque<br />

in Marrakech, located near Jemaa el-Fna<br />

Square. We were told more than 20,000<br />

Muslims come to pray during Ramadan. If<br />

you cannot get a spot inside, the outdoor<br />

area has pillars to pray.<br />

On to the mellah, the Jewish quarter, to<br />

the synagogue Al Azama. It is a courtyard<br />

that contains a beautiful blue and white<br />

decorated synagogue, with a women’s<br />

section up a flight of stairs. It also has a<br />

Talmud Torah and a soup kitchen. The<br />

synagogue is no longer in use on Shabbos;<br />

there is another shul outside of the old<br />

medina, where more Jews live today.<br />

A few minutes got us to the old cemetery.<br />

We did not go in, but were told it’s one of<br />

the largest Jewish cemeteries in Morocco.<br />

We passed by a carpet store that used to<br />

be an old synagogue and walked along the<br />

surrounding streets of Jemaa el-Fna, which<br />

is the main square in Marrakech. As in Fez,<br />

there were artisans selling their handmade<br />

goods.<br />

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The Jewish community of Marrakech<br />

no longer resides within the mellah of<br />

Marrakech, but Jewish history and couture<br />

are still preserved by order of the king.<br />

Throughout our visit we were greeted in<br />

the streets with “shalom aleichem” and<br />

“welcome my brother.” Marrakech’s history,<br />

culture, and atmosphere is remarkable.<br />

Our “tent” was not a simple tent. It was an<br />

extravagant oasis with private showers,<br />

bathrooms, modern amenities, and of<br />

course, air conditioning for the day and heat<br />

for the night when it gets quite chilly. We<br />

watched the jaw-dropping sunset over the<br />

infinity pool and enjoyed a delicious dinner<br />

in one of the common areas of the resort. If<br />

this is what camping is like, sign me up for<br />

next year!<br />

King Mohamed VI. The museum boasts an<br />

old synagogue and portrays the history of<br />

the Moroccan Jews.<br />

We met the chief advisor to the king, André<br />

Azoulay, and thanked him for his relentless<br />

support. We visited the Gadol Rav Pintos<br />

shul, his home, and the Jewish cemetery<br />

where he is buried. The day ended with a<br />

stay in the stunning Hotel Sofitel with a<br />

breathtaking pool and refreshing spa.<br />

A NIGHT IN THE DESERT<br />

The next day, we decided to buy some<br />

souvenirs for the little ones at home, so we<br />

went straight to the souk. After some back<br />

and forth, I ended up with enough goods that<br />

I needed to procure a new suitcase. Then<br />

we started our drive into the desert toward<br />

Agafay, 45 minutes from Marrakech.<br />

I was told we would be spending the night<br />

camping. The camping sight was called the<br />

White Camel Lodge. It wasn’t just camping,<br />

rather “glamping.” The White Camel Lodge<br />

is a stunning resort located in the middle<br />

of the desert, with solitary views of sandy<br />

hills on the far horizon. The owner talked<br />

to us about putting in a kosher kitchen and<br />

was excited for Jewish tourism to come for<br />

his accommodations. He ordered kosher<br />

food for us, and even served us on brand<br />

new dishes he kept in the original cartons.<br />

Of course, we partook in some of the<br />

adventures the glamping site had to offer,<br />

including ATV tours and a sunset camel ride.<br />

30 | MOCHERS<br />

ESSAOUIRA<br />

I woke up and saw the sun wasn’t quite up<br />

yet, so I decided to daven right outside my<br />

“tent” and watch the sunrise. It was such<br />

a special treat to be able to daven in such<br />

a setting. After breakfast we headed to<br />

Essaouira for our COVID tests to get back<br />

home and to tour the stunning city on the<br />

shore. In Essaouira we saw a hotel with a<br />

riad-like feel called l’heure Bleu, located<br />

within the medina. It was a very pretty hotel<br />

with a rooftop pool and 360-degree views of<br />

the city.<br />

We went down to the port and fishing area<br />

that was bustling with fishermen ready to go<br />

out to sea and kids swimming in the ocean.<br />

Opposite the port is the Gate of Tolerance,<br />

bringing together Christianity, Judaism and<br />

Islam by Mohammad III. Then off we went<br />

to Dar Dikra, now a museum inducted by<br />

OUIDAD CITY<br />

On the way to Casablanca, we stopped at a<br />

stunning resort called La Sultana, located<br />

on a lagoon off the ocean in Ouidad City.<br />

The resort accommodates 30 guests and<br />

has 70 employees. It’s luxury at its finest.<br />

We enjoyed the lagoon on a boat ride along<br />

the shores and relaxed on some plush<br />

lounge chairs by the pool. At its farm-totable<br />

restaurant we sampled some of the<br />

produce that is grown right next door. In<br />

fact, the resort is built on an old tomato<br />

farm. We wished we had one more night to<br />

enjoy the wonderful La Sultana.<br />

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M<br />

Phal. We went to the Hassan<br />

II mosque situated on the coast. As<br />

the largest mosque in Morocco, it<br />

holds 100,000 worshippers during<br />

Ramadan.<br />

The Jewish museum in Casablanca<br />

is set in a former orphanage and<br />

depicts the Jewish culture and<br />

history of the Moroccan Jews. It is<br />

filled with numerous artifacts and<br />

remnants from old synagogues<br />

throughout the country. It was a<br />

superb place to visit and marvel at<br />

the original menorahs, tallis bags,<br />

tefillin bags, bridal jewelry, bridal<br />

dresses and clothing that Moroccan<br />

Jews were known to wear. Hanging<br />

in the front hall of the museum is the<br />

2011 amendment to the Moroccan<br />

constitution which guarantees<br />

freedom of religious practice to all<br />

faiths.<br />

Many people ask if Morocco is safe<br />

for Jews. My response is 100% yes!<br />

The king protects the Jews and<br />

all Jewish sites. Not once did I feel<br />

uncomfortable wearing my yarmulke<br />

and tzitzit. In fact, countless people<br />

thanked us for coming here.<br />

We were sad to leave but we had<br />

a houseful of kids awaiting their<br />

Moroccan gifts. On board RAM,<br />

one of the best airlines I have ever<br />

flown, we were again treated like<br />

royalty, with all the warm Moroccan<br />

hospitality we were accustomed to<br />

during our visit. We can’t wait to go<br />

back!<br />

Gabriel Boxer is a<br />

lead contributing editor<br />

& senior producer for<br />

<strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>. Follow<br />

his brand @kosherguru<br />

CASABLANCA<br />

We arrived in Casablanca to our Hotel Kenzi Tower ,<br />

where a kosher bottle of wine and some sweet treats<br />

greeted us in our suite. The hotel is modern, clean and<br />

within walking distance to the Jewish area and kosher<br />

food in the city. While we waited for food to come from<br />

a local caterer, we went out to explore the city on foot.<br />

Casablanca is a typical European city with traffic and<br />

the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It’s amazing how<br />

every city we visited had its own charm and culture.<br />

In the morning we met with the head of tourism in<br />

Casablanca and the managers of several large hotel<br />

chains to discuss the prospects of Jewish tourism in<br />

Morocco. In the wake of the signing of the Abraham<br />

accords, there are several kosher restaurants set to<br />

open in some of the bigger hotels to prepare for the<br />

influx of Israeli and American Jewish travelers. We<br />

were so excited with all the plans to welcome and<br />

accommodate the kosher traveler to Morocco.<br />

On a quick tour of the city, we saw the synagogue and<br />

the oldest kosher bakery in Morocco called Madam<br />

MOCHERS<br />

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SHPITZ<br />

SUITS<br />

In<br />

Defense<br />

of the<br />

Summer<br />

Suit<br />

BY: ANDREW LOCK<br />

32 | MOCHERS<br />

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The first thing a clothier must<br />

do when meeting with a client<br />

is have a conversation about<br />

what the client needs. This way,<br />

their precious hour together can<br />

stay focused, without wasting time<br />

poring over swatches that might be<br />

irrelevant and needlessly confusing.<br />

MOCHERS<br />

The greater the number of fabric books<br />

taken out of the closet and laid on the table<br />

for perusal, the greater the chance that the<br />

client will have difficulty finding something<br />

he likes. Being overwhelmed with too many<br />

choices is never a good thing. One of the first<br />

questions for the clothier to ask is whether<br />

the client would like a seasonal fabric or<br />

something to wear year-round. Of course,<br />

the seasonality of a fabric is not just a matter<br />

of the fabric’s weight — there are heavy<br />

summer fabrics and lightweight winter<br />

fabrics. Color plays a part in determining<br />

seasonality, but there is nothing inherently<br />

wrong with wearing light grey or periwinkle<br />

blue in the winter or dark somber shades in<br />

the summer. While it is not recommended to<br />

wear a bright fabric to an evening wedding<br />

or to shul on Friday night, that same fabric<br />

can look fantastic on a sunny winter day.<br />

Be careful though — some fabrics are such<br />

a light shade that they may never look<br />

winter-appropriate. However, I am a firm<br />

believer in the old adage “you have to know<br />

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the rules to break the rules.” If you<br />

understand what works and what<br />

is expected in different situations,<br />

you can bend those rules to create<br />

your own personal style. I would<br />

be remiss not to mention that it is<br />

possible to stretch that concept too<br />

far, which is where the advice of a<br />

professional clothier can help you<br />

develop your unique look while still<br />

adhering to common fashion sense.<br />

More often than not, clients request<br />

suits that can be worn year round.<br />

This seems to make sense because<br />

each custom suit is an investment<br />

and who wants to have a large part<br />

of his wardrobe hanging unused for<br />

several months of the year?<br />

It actually may be worth<br />

approaching this question from a<br />

different perspective. Do you want<br />

to wear a year-round suit when it is<br />

frigid outside and you have to walk to<br />

shul in sub-freezing temperatures?<br />

Would it not be preferable to wear<br />

a handsome, durable flannel that<br />

drapes better than anything else<br />

you own? Think about the humid<br />

summer months. Wouldn’t you<br />

choose to wear a fabric that is light<br />

as air and doesn’t stick to your legs<br />

and make you sweat?<br />

Additionally, it’s not as though a<br />

summer suit must be worn for<br />

strictly four to six months before<br />

being locked away. One may not<br />

want to wear a tropical suit in the<br />

dead of winter, but there are plenty<br />

of mild days on which a lightweight<br />

suit would work just fine.<br />

Fabric weight is measured in ounces<br />

per square yard or grams per<br />

square meter. Lightweight suiting<br />

fabrics generally range from 190-<br />

240g and midweight fabrics range<br />

from 250-300g. Anything over 300g<br />

is fairly heavy and best reserved for<br />

colder seasons. Contrary to popular<br />

assumption, the “super number”<br />

has nothing to do with weight; it<br />

simply indicates the diameter of the<br />

fibers used.<br />

For example, the term Super 150s<br />

means that the fibers are 16.25<br />

microns in diameter while the fibers<br />

used for super 200s fabric are 13.75<br />

microns around. A fabric with a<br />

higher super number will generally<br />

have a softer, more luxurious feel, at<br />

the expense of durability and drape.<br />

To make things more complex, the<br />

34 | MOCHERS<br />

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weight of the fabric doesn’t give you all the<br />

information you need to tell you whether it<br />

will wear warm or cool.<br />

A 240g twill with some cashmere in the<br />

blend and a brushed flannel finish can wear<br />

warmer than a 280g Fresco wool with a<br />

high-twist open weave that allows air to<br />

travel right through.<br />

This is only one example of why it is so<br />

important to work with a clothier who<br />

understands more than just how to note an<br />

order form and take measurements. A good<br />

clothier listens to his or her clients’ needs<br />

and guides them to build wardrobes that<br />

are current and versatile. Sometimes it’s as<br />

simple as a gentle suggestion that the fabric<br />

in question is “nice but not necessarily what<br />

you need” or showing a new pattern or style<br />

that the client may not have considered<br />

in the past. (Such as pinstripes. I repeat:<br />

Pinstripes!)<br />

Summer fabrics<br />

can be woven from<br />

a variety of raw<br />

materials such<br />

as linen, mohair,<br />

cotton, silk, wool,<br />

and an infinite<br />

number of blends of<br />

any of them.<br />

Summer fabrics can be woven from a<br />

variety of raw materials such as linen,<br />

mohair, cotton, silk, wool, and an infinite<br />

number of blends of any of them. Each<br />

has its inherent strengths, weaknesses,<br />

and idiosyncrasies. Like a whisky that is<br />

blended to highlight the best aspects of its<br />

ingredients, blended fabrics intend to let the<br />

wearer enjoy the best features of each part<br />

of its composition.<br />

Wool is breathable and widely available<br />

in the most colors and patterns. It is<br />

hygroscopic, which means that it can wick<br />

moisture away from the body. In fact, tests<br />

show that wool is less likely than other<br />

fabrics to carry an odor, and it can be<br />

freshened by just hanging and letting it air<br />

for a bit. Wool also tends to keep its shape,<br />

so it works well if one enjoys a crisp look.<br />

Wool can be woven with an open weave<br />

that allows air to pass through and keep<br />

the wearer cool on hot, humid days. Minnis<br />

Fresco, woven in Huddersfield, England, is a<br />

perfect example. It is heavier than what one<br />

would expect from a typical summer cloth<br />

but the high twist of the fibers allows it to<br />

retain its shape remarkably well. It is one<br />

of the most durable suiting fabrics made<br />

and is a very smart choice for a summer<br />

MOCHERS<br />

wardrobe. The weight and drape make it an<br />

excellent candidate to be tailored with little<br />

or no lining, allowing even more air to pass<br />

through. Fresco is also popular as a travel<br />

suit since it can be treated less-than-gently,<br />

with few ill effects.<br />

Lightweight wools such as Vitale Barberis<br />

120s and Loro Piana Tropical Wish 170s<br />

are also excellent choices for summer<br />

suiting. A plain weave, also referred to as a<br />

tropical weave, has less fiber per inch than<br />

a typical twill, causing it to weigh less. Suits<br />

created from these fabrics can be tailored<br />

with a lightweight canvas interlining that<br />

will provide structure while still allowing a<br />

luxurious light-as-air feel.<br />

While jackets tend to fare well in extra<br />

lightweight fabrics, it can be harder for<br />

trousers to maintain their structure and<br />

there is a bit of trade-off compared to a<br />

typical four-season twill.<br />

Linen is often the first fabric that comes<br />

to mind when thinking of summer suits.<br />

It certainly stays cool and breathes<br />

exceptionally well, but there is the very<br />

subjective question of whether the rumply<br />

nature of linen is a feature or a flaw. It does<br />

not belong at a formal wedding, but if some<br />

care is taken when it is worn, linen can<br />

stay somewhat crisp throughout the day.<br />

Heavier linen is less prone to rumpling but<br />

is less comfortable than lighter alternatives.<br />

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M<br />

Hemp is functionally the same as linen,<br />

even though they come from completely<br />

different sources. Interestingly, the fibers<br />

can only be distinguished by the direction in<br />

which they twist when wetted: hemp turns<br />

counterclockwise, linen clockwise.<br />

Mohair, made of the hair of the angora goat,<br />

is a fabric one might not associate with<br />

summer. It is rarely used on its own due<br />

to its rough feel and high cost. However, it<br />

truly shines when blended with wool, and<br />

not only because of the luster mohair gives<br />

the fabric. This luster is popular for tuxedos,<br />

but it can also create an eye-catching effect<br />

in a true blue or navy summer suit. Mohair<br />

is exceptionally durable and even just a bit<br />

of it blended into a fabric gives the fabric<br />

increased resilience and resistance to<br />

creasing. Most wool-mohair blends contain<br />

between two and fifteen percent mohair;<br />

more than that can make the fabric a bit too<br />

rough. Silk, which can add some stiffness<br />

and a bit of sheen, is also usually used as a<br />

small component of a blended fabric.<br />

Cotton is another popular summer fabric,<br />

but like all the others, it has benefits as well<br />

as drawbacks. It tends to have good body,<br />

which allows it to be worn unlined, but it is<br />

quick to crease and is more likely than wool<br />

or linen to hold moisture. Because of this,<br />

cotton has to be dry cleaned more often<br />

than wool to keep it fresh. One nice feature<br />

of cotton is that it will fade a bit as it ages.<br />

This gives it a casual “lived in” look that<br />

pairs well with a knitted tie. Cotton is also<br />

used to make seersucker, one of the bestknown<br />

summer fabrics. Loro Piana makes<br />

a seersucker using a wool and silk blend<br />

that is an intriguing option for someone<br />

who wants a suit even lighter than cotton<br />

seersucker.<br />

All in all, when it comes to making a summer<br />

suit or sportcoat, there are plenty of options<br />

to accommodate every taste, fit, and style.<br />

While it may seem easier to limit oneself to<br />

classic year-round suits, doing so would be<br />

to ignore a world of summer (and winter)<br />

fabrics that would revitalize your wardrobe.<br />

It is certainly worthwhile to explore your<br />

options and make a knowledgeable decision<br />

when buying your next suit.<br />

Andrew Lock is the proprietor of Andrew<br />

Lock Custom Menswear at 403 Central<br />

Avenue in Cedarhurst. His shop offers all<br />

manners of custom clothing as well as fine<br />

shoes, accessories, wardrobe consulting<br />

services, and the best cappuccino in town.<br />

Call 516.619.6264 or visit NYbespoke.com<br />

to schedule a fitting.<br />

MOCHERS<br />

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FOOD<br />

EATS,<br />

MEATS<br />

BY: SHLOMO ASSAYAG<br />

& THE Q<br />

With warmer weather quickly<br />

approaching, one thing<br />

we can count on is getting<br />

back to the barbecue and enjoying<br />

time outdoors. I love grilling — it’s a<br />

pastime many of us enjoy and a great<br />

way to safely bring people together<br />

outdoors.<br />

Although the art of grilling takes on many<br />

shapes and forms, everyone has their<br />

favorite item to throw on the grill and mine is<br />

steak. There's nothing like a delicious hunk<br />

of meat grilled perfectly and paired with<br />

your favorite sides to truly mark the start<br />

of the summer season (no pun intended).<br />

So which steaks are great for the BBQ and<br />

how do you achieve that perfect steak? It<br />

all starts with your choice of cut. My top<br />

picks are beef rib steaks, rib eye steaks,<br />

Tomahawk steaks, and cowboy steaks.<br />

Grilling can be a daunting task for some —<br />

despite what most people think, you are not<br />

simply born with the ability to grill perfectly.<br />

Having the right cuts, ingredients, and tips<br />

can make all the difference in the success<br />

of your grilling efforts.<br />

Kitchen prep<br />

To start, the steaks should be at room<br />

temperature, not straight out of the fridge,<br />

before they hit the grill. Steak should be<br />

cooked briefly at a high temperature and if<br />

they're cold, it’ll take much longer to cook<br />

and your results will not be optimal. With a<br />

great cut of meat, all you need is salt and<br />

pepper, but if you want to get fancy, you<br />

can use the Kosher King's Steak Rub for a<br />

guaranteed trip to flavor town.<br />

Pat your steaks dry before applying any<br />

spices or rubs to achieve the perfect sear.<br />

You can also spread a little oil to help your<br />

spices or rub adhere to the steak.<br />

Make sure your grill is clean<br />

You should always keep your grill clean, and<br />

this includes the space underneath the grill<br />

rack and grates. Simple maintenance will<br />

prevent flare ups, which can really damage<br />

your cooking process and your grill. If a fire<br />

does pop up, simply close the lid to deprive<br />

the fire of oxygen and that should take care<br />

of it. If you don't have a lid, you can spray a<br />

small amount of water into the fire. Keep in<br />

mind that fires will happen if your grill isn't<br />

clean. If a fire proves difficult to extinguish,<br />

sprinkle salt or baking soda directly over the<br />

grates.<br />

The easiest, non-toxic way to scrub a dirty<br />

grill rack clean is to wipe it down with an<br />

onion. Make sure the grill is on and at least<br />

warm before you begin this process to draw<br />

out the natural cleaning agents found inside<br />

the layers of an onion. Slice the onion in half<br />

and skewer it with a long grilling fork, which<br />

will allow you the freedom of scraping the<br />

racks with a good grip on the otherwise<br />

slippery onion. You'll notice excess debris<br />

peeling right off as you run the freshly cut<br />

onion across the grill. The added flavor to<br />

the grill itself is a great bonus when using<br />

this method to clean. Not only does the<br />

onion clean well and add flavor, but it will<br />

also coat the racks with its oils to prevent<br />

future build up.<br />

Grill Time<br />

Before you begin grilling, heat the grill to the<br />

desired temperature and grease the grates<br />

with some oil to make sure things don't<br />

stick. This is especially important when<br />

grilling chicken but is helpful for anything<br />

you choose to grill. Next, make sure the grill<br />

is HOT! Any experienced griller knows every<br />

grill has its own quirks and temperature<br />

variations. The perfect cooking temperature<br />

can vary based on the size and style of your<br />

grill so you can play around as you go. For<br />

a brand new grill, it’s always a good idea<br />

to test it out with chicken first. There's a<br />

lot more leeway and a longer cooking time<br />

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MOCHERS<br />

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FOOD<br />

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39<br />

for chicken so it gives you a chance to get<br />

comfortable.<br />

Keep cooking temperatures in mind when<br />

planning what will go on the grill first.<br />

Chicken cooks more slowly over low heat,<br />

so it has time to cook through thoroughly. If<br />

you’re grilling steaks as well, cook those at<br />

the end over high heat. Another commonly<br />

made mistake is making skewers with a<br />

combination of meat and vegetables. These<br />

items cook at different temperatures and<br />

the vegetables will often end up burnt or<br />

undercooked, depending on the protein they<br />

were cooked with. When cooked separately,<br />

each ingredient can be cooked for just the<br />

right length of time, resulting in perfectly<br />

cooked vegetables and meat.<br />

Once grilling the steaks, make sure to only<br />

flip them once. A critical error many make is<br />

to keep flipping steaks over and over, which<br />

will surely affect your final result and not in<br />

a good way. Don't poke or stab the steak to<br />

check if it’s ready — this causes the juices<br />

in the center to escape and can result in<br />

rubbery results. When you do make the flip,<br />

especially with large pieces of meat, the<br />

easiest way is to use tongs. A good set of<br />

long grilling tongs are a must have to keep<br />

your hands away from the fire and give you<br />

lots of control. If you're not sure if the steak<br />

is ready to flip, use the tongs to gently lift<br />

a corner and take a peek at the cooking<br />

progress.<br />

Meat continues to cook after it comes off<br />

the grill (through carryover heat), so it’s<br />

best to remove it just before it reaches your<br />

desired result so it doesn’t overcook. Let<br />

meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing it so<br />

the juices have a chance to settle back into<br />

the meat, then slice against the grain.<br />

indulge<br />

Now that you have a good steak going, you’ll<br />

likely want to throw more things on the grill<br />

and I’m here to tell you to get creative! The<br />

grill can be used for so much more than<br />

meat and chicken. In my experience, you<br />

can pretty much throw anything on. Some<br />

of my unexpected favorites are watermelon,<br />

pineapple, and avocado. I also love grilled<br />

salami and......wait for it......kishka!!! Cut<br />

the kishka into thick slices and watch a<br />

delicious outer crust form for the ultimate<br />

crunch. Lastly, don’t forget to crack open a<br />

cold beer or a nice bottle of wine, whichever<br />

you prefer.<br />

Whatever you throw on your grill, these<br />

simple tips will help you make the most of<br />

your grilling as you enjoy time outdoors with<br />

friends and family. Enjoy the season, stay<br />

safe, and happy grilling!<br />

The Kosher King's Steak Rub:<br />

• ¼ cup coarse salt<br />

• 1 tablespoon coarse cracked black pepper<br />

• 1 tablespoon onion powder<br />

• 1 tablespoon paprika<br />

M<br />

• 1 ½ teaspoons granulated garlic<br />

• 1 ½ teaspoons dried rosemary, lightly crushed<br />

• 1 ½ teaspoons crushed red chili flakes<br />

• 1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme<br />

“Don’t forget to<br />

keep it kosher!”<br />

-The Kosher King<br />

Shlomo Assayag Is a contributor<br />

for <strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, follow him<br />

on Instagram and Facebook<br />

@thekosherking<br />

40 | MOCHERS<br />

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MOCHERS<br />

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M<br />

CARS<br />

Rentals on the<br />

Road for<br />

BY: DAVID NAHEM<br />

With so much talk about<br />

brands moving to EVs<br />

(electric vehicles), with the<br />

Mustang Mach E, Audi Etron, and<br />

Tesla model Y hitting the roads, let's<br />

take a quick break.<br />

As the weather is warming up, we all get in<br />

the mood of some summer vibes. I'll never<br />

forget the weekend I was going away and<br />

I needed a rental. What would a car guy do<br />

when given the opportunity but jump into<br />

something fun?<br />

It was 86 degrees, and soon I was driving<br />

in a brand new shiny Mustang with the top<br />

down — I'd call it tanning on the go. Speeding<br />

over the Verrazano bridge in a car like that is<br />

just something different than your average<br />

day!<br />

We all need a little vacation sometimes, and<br />

a simple way to enhance your getaway or a<br />

vacation at home is just to rent the perfect<br />

car. Do you ever want to get that thrill of<br />

freedom? On another occasion when I<br />

needed a rental, a Bright Red Camaro SS<br />

caught my eye as soon as I drove into the<br />

lot. It’s a 6.2 liter V8 with 455 horses and<br />

I knew this would be the one I'd be going<br />

home with. Sitting behind the wheel of this<br />

beast is exhilarating — the only problem can<br />

be too much power under that hood!<br />

If attention is not your thing, you can hop<br />

into a Wrangler or something else you’ve<br />

always wanted to try and find some off<br />

roading trails that are a hell of a lot of fun.<br />

Another time, a friend of mine had a Grand<br />

Cherokee Limited X that needed some<br />

repair work (we all know what it’s like when<br />

it comes to American cars) so off to the<br />

rental center we went. We spotted a nice<br />

Tahoe in the corner, and the sales guy got<br />

right to work, trying to convince us to rent<br />

it for $200 a day. We had a budget to stick<br />

to, so we ended up with the more affordable<br />

Nissan Yaris. Surprisingly, my friend loved<br />

the Yaris so much, he’s even considering<br />

getting one for his next car! With a rental<br />

company, there will always be someone<br />

there to help you out, but you may not end<br />

up with the car you want at the price you<br />

were hoping for.<br />

For a more personal experience, check out<br />

turo.com, which is an AirBnB or Uber-like<br />

service to rent out people's cars, which<br />

adds a special bonus of not dealing with<br />

professional sales people. It’s more homey<br />

and you can get a good bang for your buck.<br />

Unlike a professional car service, however,<br />

because you are dealing with a private party,<br />

there can be last minute cancellations or<br />

hiccups.<br />

It's not where you go, it's how you get there.<br />

Safe travels!<br />

David Nahem is<br />

a contributor for<br />

<strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />

and a car specialist at<br />

Express Leasing.<br />

42 | MOCHERS<br />

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BY: AVRAHOM PRESSBURGER<br />

Summer invokes thoughts of<br />

spending time in the sun, sitting<br />

poolside, and manning the grill.<br />

What better way to go through these<br />

moments than with a beer in your<br />

hand?<br />

KOSHER<br />

CRAFT<br />

BEER<br />

While some might make the case that this is<br />

when you should reach for the classic light<br />

and refreshing Bud, Miller, or Coors, I would<br />

argue for the following three options, which<br />

demonstrate that a full-flavored beer can be<br />

very refreshing as well.<br />

1 2 3<br />

Avrahom Pressburger founded www.koshercraftbeer.com in 2016 when<br />

he saw a need for kosher beer news. His primary focus is now Instagram<br />

and his username is @Koshercraftbeer. He can be reached via email to<br />

discuss any beer-related questions at Koshercraftbeer@gmail.com.<br />

1. Boulevard Tank 7<br />

Boulevard may be my favorite koshercertified<br />

brewery, with a wide variety of<br />

beer across the spectrum of different<br />

styles, many of which are koshercertified.<br />

Tank 7 is a saison, also known<br />

as a farmhouse ale. Saisons are known<br />

for the flavor the yeast imparts, which<br />

can lend earthy and peppery notes. What<br />

makes Tank 7 unique is the addition of<br />

American Amarillo hops, which add<br />

citrus notes to an already flavorful beer.<br />

Despite coming in at 8.5% ABV, Tank 7<br />

is crisp and perfect for a summer day.<br />

Certified kosher by the Vaad of KC.<br />

(Availability, year-round)<br />

2. Sam Adam’s Wicked Easy<br />

What would a kosher beer list be without<br />

a Sam Adams on it? Formerly known<br />

as Sam ‘76 and recently rebranded as<br />

Wicked Easy, this is a light and easydrinking<br />

lager featuring a light-bodied<br />

character, with bright citrus and tropical<br />

fruit notes and a clean, crisp finish. This<br />

is also a low alcohol beer at 4.7% ABV<br />

— perfect for those summer moments.<br />

Certified kosher by the Star-K.<br />

(Availability, year-round)<br />

3. Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy<br />

Founded in 1867, Leinenkugel’s is not your<br />

typical craft brewery. Five generations of<br />

Leinenkugels manned the brewery until<br />

1988, when it was sold to Miller Brewing<br />

Company. They offer other shandies over<br />

the course of the year, but the summer<br />

version is likely their most popular. Summer<br />

Shandy is a Weiss beer brewed with wheat<br />

and has natural lemonade flavor added.<br />

The taste is reminiscent of Lemon Heads<br />

candy and it’s easy drinking coming in<br />

at 4.2% ABV. Certified kosher by the OU.<br />

(Availability, March-August)<br />

M<br />

MOCHERS<br />

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SHTICK<br />

LAB<br />

44 | MOCHERS<br />

2norlan whiskey glass<br />

Set of 2<br />

glasses<br />

I have been on the search for a new whisky<br />

glass for a while. Most are similar, and don’t<br />

seem to offer anything unique. Well, at least<br />

until I discovered these Norlan glasses, made<br />

of mouth-blown double-walled borosilicate<br />

glass, which aerates better than any other glass.<br />

Its design was created to deliver and diffuse<br />

aromatics to the nose and mouth, revealing<br />

hidden flavors. The double-walled design will<br />

allow you to drink your favorite whisky without<br />

tilting your head back too deeply. Try it out for<br />

yourself!<br />

Norlanglass.com<br />

$48<br />

3THE ORIGINAL RABBIT<br />

CORKSCREW<br />

1<br />

It is Friday night, and you have your favorite<br />

bottle of wine sitting on the dinner table. You<br />

Barrel Cork Catcher<br />

Side Table<br />

‘Nuff said. Elegant, intricate, and<br />

distinctive. A barrel-shaped, antiquelooking<br />

table, which allows you to<br />

insert up to 2,000 corks, and has a<br />

chalkboard plaque where you can<br />

write your favorite quote or saying.<br />

A perfect little space to capture your<br />

favorite memories by collecting corks<br />

of bottles shared in good times with<br />

good people.<br />

Wineenthusiast.com<br />

$195<br />

SHT<br />

LA<br />

start using a corkscrew to get it opened. So<br />

you begin twisting and turning… STOP! You are<br />

already doing it wrong. If you do not have the<br />

Rabbit corkscrew, now is the time. The Original<br />

Rabbit Corkscrew effortlessly opens every<br />

bottle of wine you have ever seen, no matter the<br />

size or shape. It is an essential for any home<br />

bar. You literally just pull the cork out in two<br />

seconds. The less time you spend on opening<br />

the bottle, the more time you get to enjoy it!<br />

Rabbitwine.com<br />

$50<br />

www.mochers.com


ACACIA CIRCO CHEESE CUTTING<br />

BOARD & TOOLS SET<br />

M<br />

BY: BEN ZIGELSTEIN<br />

4<br />

5<br />

Picnictime.com<br />

ICK<br />

AB<br />

6Ikea.com<br />

$189<br />

We have all seen those wooden cutting<br />

boards that some use to cut meat, while<br />

others for cheese. They are normally basic<br />

and simple. This interesting and useful<br />

charcuterie/cheese board is made by<br />

Picnic Time and has a built-in compartment<br />

containing four stainless steel cheese tools<br />

with wooden handles. You will never have<br />

to go and look for the cutting tools; they will<br />

always be there waiting for you.<br />

$34.95<br />

MoMA Touchscreen<br />

Mist Cleaner<br />

If you are tired of constant<br />

fingerprints, dirt, and grease on<br />

your phone screen, here is a neat<br />

little gadget you might consider.<br />

It is a compact, all-in-one mist<br />

cleanser. Comes in a slender bar<br />

which contains both the alcoholfree<br />

spray and a microfiber cloth.<br />

Press the button, spray, and wipe.<br />

Simple. Easy. Affordable.<br />

Store.moma.org<br />

$13<br />

SYMFONISK TABLE LAMP W/<br />

WIFI SPEAKER<br />

Lamps are a necessity; they are just part<br />

of life. Ikea makes a unique table lamp<br />

which has a built-in speaker that connects<br />

to WiFi. It is dark, atmospheric, and clean<br />

looking. I could see this fitting in your<br />

office, bedroom, or man cave.<br />

Ben Zigelstein is an<br />

assistant editor for<br />

<strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 45


WORKING<br />

SPACE<br />

Designing<br />

an Outdoor<br />

Kitchen<br />

BY: KAYLA GOLDSTEIN<br />

As the weather gets warmer<br />

and social life starts up again,<br />

the outdoors are getting a<br />

lot of love with barbecues and cozy<br />

dinners with friends, not to mention<br />

the occasional party.<br />

Having a well-designed outdoor space<br />

really adds to the environment and vibe<br />

of the gathering, and an outdoor cooking<br />

space tops it off to perfection. Here are 10<br />

things to keep in mind when upgrading your<br />

outdoor kitchen this year.<br />

1. Size and Location:<br />

It’s crucial to make sure the kitchen is in a<br />

functional space that won’t block the flow<br />

of an indoor-outdoor gathering. You want it<br />

to be close enough to the real kitchen that<br />

walking back and forth is not exhausting. It<br />

should also be close enough to the seating<br />

area so that whoever is cooking is not<br />

excluded from the festivities. Size matters<br />

as well, because where you place the kitchen<br />

will determine how big it can be — we don’t<br />

want to overpower a space or underwhelm<br />

it. Keep these factors in mind when deciding<br />

where the kitchen should go and how big<br />

it should be. This will help you make sure<br />

it complements the yard and event rather<br />

than complicates it.<br />

2. Prepping Space:<br />

Once you’ve figured out the size and<br />

location and are designing the kitchen<br />

itself, make sure it has the key factors that<br />

make an outdoor kitchen amazing. The<br />

most important and yet most overlooked is<br />

prepping space.<br />

Many assume they would just prepare inside<br />

and bring the food out to cook, however<br />

this creates extra running around and less<br />

socializing. Make sure to create a clear<br />

counter space you can prep on so that you<br />

can stay with your guests in the sunshine.<br />

3. Seating Space:<br />

Make sure to have an area where guests<br />

can lounge and an area where guests can<br />

eat. This can be one combined space or<br />

two separate areas, but either way it should<br />

be easily accessible and compliment the<br />

kitchen. Good quality, comfortable furniture<br />

that adds to the feeling of the space can<br />

completely change the mood of a dinner<br />

party. Make sure this space is close enough<br />

to the kitchen so that no one is isolated,<br />

but far enough that smoke doesn’t go in<br />

people's eyes.<br />

4. Storage:<br />

When designing the kitchen, think about<br />

what you are going to be storing outside.<br />

Some like to keep all of their grilling tools<br />

outside, some like to keep cutlery and dishes<br />

on hand — it’s up to you and your personal<br />

tastes. Write down a list of all the items<br />

that you are going to be storing outside<br />

and factor it in when creating the floor plan<br />

46 | MOCHERS<br />

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M<br />

and selecting cabinets and drawers, so<br />

you can make sure you have space to keep<br />

everything organized. When selecting those<br />

items, make sure you choose materials that<br />

will endure whatever climate you live in.<br />

5. Appliances:<br />

Another important factor when designing a<br />

kitchen is appliances. Once again, you want<br />

to make a list of everything you will be using<br />

out there, and then find places for them in<br />

your kitchen. This might include a smoker,<br />

a cooler, a sink, or anything else that you<br />

might want to use outside while cooking or<br />

hosting.<br />

6. Lighting:<br />

This can be an often overlooked part of the<br />

outdoor kitchen. There are a few different<br />

kinds of lighting going on, and we want to<br />

make sure to hit all of them. The first one<br />

is for the daytime — the sun can be a killer<br />

to both the food and the chef, so make<br />

sure to have adequate shade (and make<br />

it pretty, nothing striped!). Next, you have<br />

nighttime lighting. This includes party lights,<br />

mood lights, and task lights. To brighten up<br />

the whole yard, make sure to have some<br />

amazingly powerful spots to turn on for<br />

events. For cozier dinners where that kind<br />

of brightness would be too much, you can<br />

get some string lights — just make sure they<br />

actually give off lumens. Task lights should<br />

ensure that the actual cooking space is<br />

properly lit up so that you can see the food<br />

and cook it correctly. This can be done with<br />

gooseneck lamps, spot lights, or strong wall<br />

lights. This is why it’s important to build your<br />

kitchen near an electric source to power the<br />

lights you’ll need.<br />

7. Climate:<br />

The general climate in your area really<br />

impacts the design of the kitchen and the<br />

materials you’ll use, but even the climate<br />

MOCHERS<br />

in your specific backyard has an effect.<br />

There will be spots in your backyard that are<br />

shadier, windier, or sunnier that need to be<br />

taken into account. Make sure you are not<br />

in a wind tunnel, or if you are, create some<br />

blockages with the kitchen to reduce the<br />

wind. You want to have options for both sun<br />

and shade, whether that is with trees or with<br />

a shade you put up. In addition, while most<br />

people may think of it as a summertime<br />

kitchen, it will still be out in the elements<br />

throughout the winter and needs to survive<br />

them. Keep all these different factors in<br />

mind when selecting location, shape, and<br />

material for the kitchen.<br />

8. Privacy:<br />

This is an important factor in deciding<br />

where and how to place the kitchen. You do<br />

not necessarily want to be in full view of all<br />

the neighbors. A fence or some trees can<br />

give you privacy, as well as the other side<br />

of the house. Either way, make sure that no<br />

one is staring at you and that you are not<br />

bothering anyone so you can fully enjoy<br />

your space.<br />

9. Budget:<br />

The least exciting part of all — budgets<br />

are not fun to think about, but even less<br />

fun not to think about and to be surprised.<br />

I suggest writing up a budget by looking<br />

at your finances and seeing how much<br />

you can realistically spend, then writing<br />

down the number you would like to spend.<br />

Next, write down everything you will need<br />

to spend money on, including pavers,<br />

cabinets, appliances, shade, chairs, tables,<br />

decor, greenery, and most importantly,<br />

labor. Gather the prices for everything you’ll<br />

need, without making any purchases or<br />

commitments. Add it all up and refer back<br />

to what you could and would like to spend.<br />

Using this information, see if you can fit<br />

what you need into your budget. If there’s<br />

anything you need to trim down, do it now<br />

so you have no surprises. You never know —<br />

you might be able to do more than you think.<br />

10. Get Creative with Space:<br />

Lastly, here are some ideas if you feel like<br />

your space is too small. There are some<br />

design tricks that can help expand your<br />

space and make it feel bigger. Try placing a<br />

centerpiece (like a fire pit) a bit away from<br />

the kitchen space and put chairs around<br />

it, which will make the entire space have<br />

larger boundaries and therefore feel bigger.<br />

Another trick is to buy loose pavers and add<br />

them to the patio you already have. You also<br />

can put down a path extending into the yard<br />

and put furniture on either side of it, which<br />

is cheaper than putting down more patio.<br />

Another option is to put lighting at the edge<br />

of the boundary, and move that boundary<br />

to make the space feel larger. You can also<br />

extend the shade to make the space feel<br />

cohesive.<br />

All in all, an outdoor kitchen can be an<br />

amazing entertainment venue, as well as<br />

a great relaxing space. Done right, it can<br />

really be your spot. Just make sure to keep<br />

the important parts in mind before you<br />

get to work, and work with a trustworthy<br />

contractor. If you need any help with design<br />

or have any questions, feel free to reach<br />

out at kayla@kaylallc.com.<br />

Kayla Goldstein is a contributing editor<br />

for <strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> and an Interior<br />

Designer at Kayla LLC. Follow her on<br />

instagram @Kayla_LLC<br />

www.mochers.com | 47


HOW TO<br />

HERRING<br />

Kiddush<br />

Kings<br />

for<br />

Some of the best items for<br />

any good kiddush<br />

BY: JEREMY URBACH<br />

Photo courtesy of<br />

Mushki Brichta<br />

Photo courtesy of<br />

The Rebbe’s Choice<br />

Gefilte Fish<br />

Gefilte fish is a staple item at any good kiddush.<br />

It’s a classic, but no less one of the greats. The<br />

sweet and savory fish melts perfectly in your<br />

mouth, and the carrot on top makes this food<br />

a visual masterpiece. I recommend the classic<br />

Manischewitz gefilte fish in gelled broth, but to<br />

be honest, any gefilte fish product will get the<br />

job done.<br />

Kichel<br />

The kichel at your kiddush club is extremely<br />

important. You can enjoy it plain, or with a variety<br />

of toppings like hummus, herring, babaganoush, or<br />

matbucha. A good kichel should have enough flavor<br />

to enjoy plain, but subtle enough that it doesn't<br />

overwhelm its accompaniments. You can never go<br />

wrong with Manischewitz Tam Tams. For a healthier<br />

option, try The Rebbe’s Choice new whole wheat<br />

kichel.<br />

48 | MOCHERS<br />

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M<br />

Lox<br />

What can be said about lox? There<br />

is truly nothing better. The amazing<br />

smoky taste and unique texture<br />

provides the foundation for an<br />

amazing kiddush. You can enjoy lox<br />

plain, on a piece of kichel, or even<br />

on a bagel with cream cheese.<br />

Cholent<br />

Cholent is one of the best Shabbos<br />

foods of all time. I recommend<br />

making or buying cholent in the<br />

cooler months because nothing<br />

warms up the body like a nice bowl<br />

of cholent. Get a slow cooker pot,<br />

throw in some beef, sweet potato,<br />

onion, kishke, and barley, and let it<br />

cook overnight. Don’t bother with<br />

beans; the cholent will be better<br />

without them. I like to eat my<br />

cholent with some fresh challah.<br />

Herring<br />

No kiddush club would be complete<br />

without herring. Nowadays, the herring<br />

market has completely exploded to<br />

the point where there are dozens of<br />

herring flavors readily accessible at<br />

the supermarket. Herring ranges from<br />

creamy schmaltz to the more fishy and<br />

savory Matjes herring. My personal<br />

favorite is Everything Bagel Spice herring<br />

and lox from The Rebbe’s Choice. Use<br />

code GISHMAK for 10% off your entire<br />

order from rebbeschoice.com.<br />

Photo courtesy<br />

of Goldbelly<br />

Photo courtesy of<br />

Whisky Galore<br />

Potato Kugel<br />

Potato Kugel is one of the most delicious<br />

foods that Yiddishkeit has to offer. Kugel<br />

is an extremely traditional Jewish food<br />

with variations including potato, noodle,<br />

and Yerushalmi. Potato kugel is without<br />

a doubt the best type of kugel — if anyone<br />

tells you otherwise they are lying! Keep<br />

in mind that kugel is very dense, so you<br />

won’t need to a lot to fill you up. You can<br />

buy kugels in kosher supermarkets, but<br />

the best kugels are homemade. Consult<br />

your local rebbetzin for a recipe.<br />

Hummus<br />

Hummus is one of the most<br />

important foods in our culture,<br />

enjoyed by Jews and non-Jews<br />

alike. The best hummus is<br />

homemade, but you can easily buy<br />

it from the grocery store as well.<br />

Store bought hummus won’t taste<br />

much like authentic Middle Eastern<br />

hummus, but it is still fabulous with<br />

some challah or kichel.<br />

Mashke<br />

No Kiddush club can be perfect<br />

without mashke. Whether it’s<br />

whiskey, vodka, or Manischewitz<br />

wine, anything with alcohol can<br />

help elevate your fabrengen to<br />

the next level. Whiskey pairs well<br />

with herring and is always my top<br />

choice.<br />

Jeremy Urbach is a contributor<br />

for <strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 49


HEALTHY<br />

EATS<br />

Dess erts<br />

ARE IN<br />

BY: SRULY MEYER<br />

Today I wanted to share with<br />

you the easiest and most<br />

beautiful dessert that is also<br />

super simple to make.<br />

Fill the bottom third with yogurt — I use<br />

Greek, but you can also use fro-yo! Add<br />

blueberries and chopped strawberries<br />

in the glass, followed by another layer of<br />

yogurt. Throw a few more berries on top.<br />

Sprinkle some crushed L otus cookies, or<br />

for a healthier option, use granola. Chill and<br />

serve! You can even add fun toppings like<br />

these white chocolate wafer sticks.<br />

What do you think about this bright, healthy ,<br />

and easy-to-make summer dessert!?<br />

raspberry jam<br />

oat bars<br />

• 1 cup flour<br />

• 1 cup rolled oats<br />

• 3/4 cup light brown sugar<br />

• 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt<br />

• 3/4 cup chopped, lightly<br />

toasted pecans<br />

• 1 stick (4 ounces) cold<br />

butter, cubed<br />

• 1 large egg<br />

• 1 cup raspberry jam<br />

• Preheat oven to 350°F.<br />

• Combine flour, oats, brown sugar,<br />

salt, and pecans. Add butter and<br />

egg and mix well.<br />

• Press dough onto a parchment<br />

paper-lined baking sheet and bake<br />

for 40 minutes.<br />

• Let cool, then cut in half. Spread<br />

jam over one half, then place the<br />

other half on top and cut into<br />

squares.<br />

• Take it up a notch: Instead of<br />

using store bought jam, try making<br />

your own — it’s surprisingly easy!<br />

Mix 1 large container of fresh<br />

raspberries with 1 cup of brown<br />

sugar in a small saucepan and<br />

cook over high heat, stirring<br />

constantly, for 5 minutes. Reduce<br />

heat to low and let simmer for<br />

another 10 minutes. Let cool, then<br />

chill in the freezer for 10 minutes<br />

to set. Store in the refrigerator until<br />

ready to use.<br />

Sruly Meyer is a contributor for mochers magazine,<br />

you can follow him on Instagram @srulycooks.<br />

50 | MOCHERS<br />

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MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 51


PLACES<br />

Jersey<br />

Shore<br />

GETAWAY<br />

BY: MOSHE NEY<br />

It’s been a crazy year, and we’re all looking forward<br />

to the time ahead, with the pandemic in the<br />

rearview mirror.<br />

The spring and summer of 2021 will see many return to travel,<br />

and I think that you are no exception. You’ve had enough of<br />

quarantine and are more than ready to explore new horizons<br />

and get a new change of scenery.<br />

Wait!<br />

Don’t want to be extravagant but still do it in class? Want to<br />

live it up without having to go the distance?<br />

Ok, I got you.<br />

Let me introduce you to the wonderful and spectacular Jersey<br />

Shore. Located not too far from Lakewood, Jackson, and Toms<br />

River, some of these beach towns are tailor made for your oneto-two-day<br />

excursion or simply just for your day off. It’s bound<br />

to make some pretty cool memories down the road. So sit back<br />

and relax as we serenade you to sleep with the beautiful songs<br />

of the Jersey Shore.<br />

52 | MOCHERS<br />

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humpback whales and dolphins leap out of the water and give<br />

everyone some natural wildlife entertainment. Enjoy the sea<br />

breeze as you travel along the Jersey Shore from Belmar to<br />

Sandy Hook (or wherever else on the Jersey Shore). Trips are<br />

typically 1 ½ to 3 hours. Check the website or call for more<br />

details.<br />

(732) 451-6003<br />

jerseyshorewhalewatchingtour.com<br />

Maclearie Park<br />

Located just a few blocks over from the whale watching,<br />

Maclearie Park has been described as an easygoing riverside<br />

park with tennis courts, a children's playground, and picnic<br />

area with grills. Its location directly next to Shark River makes<br />

it quite the ideal place for a quiet place to chill with your friends<br />

over a good barbecue or let your energy out with a good<br />

game of tennis. Check out the beautiful waterfront location at<br />

905 NJ-35, Belmar, NJ 07719.<br />

The Endless SUP Company<br />

Belmar<br />

I know some of you are familiar with this one. Belmar, NJ is bound<br />

to strike a chord with many. Until recently, Belmar was home to a<br />

very successful Yeshiva for boys mostly from Lakewood and the<br />

surrounding areas. Although the Yeshiva is no longer in existence,<br />

Belmar still has that unique flavor to savor for a spur of the moment<br />

getaway with friends or alone. Check it out and feel refreshed when<br />

you’re done.<br />

Att ractions<br />

Jersey Shore Whale Watching Tours<br />

With the right weather and the right company, why not treat<br />

yourselves to a stand-up paddle boating extravaganza?<br />

Whether you want to do this before or after your BBQ at<br />

Maclearie Park, the choice is totally yours. Have some fun in<br />

the water with your family or friends as you paddle around the<br />

Shark River shores. Think of it as a small Venetian experience,<br />

just in New Jersey and with more room to move. This trip is<br />

one you won’t regret. Located at the L-street Beach, Belmar NJ<br />

07719.<br />

(848) 404-9033<br />

endlesssupcompany@gmail.com<br />

endlessbelmar.com<br />

(Note: Viewer discretion is advised when visiting the websites.<br />

Make sure your computer has proper image filtering, or simply<br />

call or send an email instead.)<br />

Located on the shore of Shark River, opposite the Shark River Hills<br />

neighborhood across the river, this is the perfect exciting activity<br />

for those who want to get out on the water and watch the local<br />

MOCHERS<br />

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 53<br />

Avon-by-the-Star<br />

Done with Belmar? Oh, but of course you aren’t! But there’s so<br />

more to see beyond its borders, and you don’t even have to go<br />

that much further. Just over the Belmar Bridge, there’s a tiny<br />

beach town called Avon-By-The-Sea. And, oh, by the sea it is!<br />

Head on over to the boardwalk on Ocean Ave. and be awed by<br />

the amazing sights of the brilliant and breathtaking Atlantic<br />

Ocean.<br />

Shuls<br />

Congregation Agudath Achim of Bradley Beach:<br />

When I say this place is tiny, I mean it. This cute little beach<br />

town covers an area only a little more than a half a square<br />

mile! Don’t let that turn you off. It’s picturesque with very neatly<br />

maintained beach homes and a beautiful shoreline.<br />

While there isn’t much here in the form of attractions, the<br />

boardwalk is definitely a must if you want to enjoy the fresh<br />

breeze from the sea. Otherwise, just take a stroll down Main St.<br />

and browse the many stores that line either side.<br />

Bradley Beach<br />

Bordering Avon-By-The-Sea by merely blocks, Bradley Beach is<br />

extra special because it actually has—wait for it!—not one, but<br />

two shuls in the neighborhood. Although seasonal, these shuls<br />

welcome guests to come into their humble walls to join them for<br />

Shabbos and sometimes during the week as well. Unfortunately,<br />

some of the local attractions in Bradley Beach are temporarily<br />

closed (perhaps due to COVID), but that definitely should not<br />

stop you from enjoying the beach and other local scenery in<br />

the area.<br />

It’s not often that you find a beach town with a shul nearby<br />

(Atlantic City has one near it as well; that’s for another time).<br />

Agudath Achim is quite the homey out-of-town shul atmosphere<br />

that you want to feel when you're away on vacation.<br />

When my son was born on Shemini Atzeres a number of years<br />

ago in Jersey Shore Medical Center, I walked 45 minutes to<br />

daven there, and boy am I glad that did. Although open only<br />

seasonally from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend,<br />

Agudath Achim has enough room for all different stripes and<br />

colors of Yiddishkeit to come and spend a Shabbos in their<br />

warm atmosphere. The shul is Modern Orthodox, but whether<br />

you’re Yeshivish, Chassidish, Modern, if you’re a Jew with a<br />

beating Jewish heart, Agudath Achim welcomes you with open<br />

arms. It’s also right near the water so you can enjoy a nice walk<br />

on the boardwalk on Shabbos afternoon.<br />

301 McCabe Ave., Bradley Beach, NJ 07720<br />

(732) 774-2495<br />

www.bradleybeachshul.org<br />

Magen David Congregation of Bradley Beach:<br />

Moshe Ney is a<br />

senior writer for<br />

<strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

M<br />

If you’re a Sephardi and want a Sephardic beit knesset while<br />

on vacation, not to worry. Magen David is also here for all of<br />

your tefillot needs. You can literally see it from the boardwalk so<br />

you’re never too far away! Make sure to call to ensure that they<br />

are open and running for the summer season.<br />

101 5th Ave., Bradley Beach, NJ 07720<br />

(732) 988-1200<br />

This is just a little taste of what the Jersey Shore has to offer.<br />

I’m sure you can only imagine what else lies beyond. So what<br />

are you waiting for?<br />

54 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


FINE ART<br />

In the<br />

Laws of<br />

Writing<br />

STAMBY: KALMAN SAFRUT<br />

A<br />

scribe must pay attention to the black ink he<br />

lays down as he writes the letters as well as to<br />

the white space around the ink.<br />

In the laws of writing STAM (an acronym for Sefer Torah,<br />

Tefillin, and the Mezuzah text) the Halacha stipulates that the<br />

letters must be surrounded completely by clean parchment<br />

(Mukaf G’vil).<br />

The first time I saw the fiery letters on my friend’s parchment<br />

of Megillat Esther I was blown away and convinced I had to<br />

learn this ancient craft. I wanted to have a closer relationship<br />

with the Hebrew letters and understand them more deeply.<br />

The story goes that the first meeting between the Maggid of<br />

Mezeritch and the Holy Baal Shem Tov went as follows: The<br />

Maggid was already an established scholar, both in revealed<br />

and hidden Torah teachings. The Baal Shem Tov asked him to<br />

explain a certain passage in the Etz Chaim, a Kabbala Sefer<br />

that is the summary of the Arizal’s teachings.<br />

The Maggid of Mezeritch explained the passage word by word<br />

in intricate detail while seated before him. But the Baal Shem<br />

Tov nodded dismissingly in dissatisfaction. He said “Stand up!<br />

I will explain the passage properly.” As the Maggid stood, the<br />

entire room became dark.<br />

The Baal Shem Tov began reciting the passage with the<br />

very same words the Maggid had used, but now the Maggid<br />

stood in awe. Thunder and lighting, his mind and opened to<br />

an expansiveness he had never known. He felt as Moshe<br />

must have felt ascending Mount Sinai. As the Baal Shem Tov<br />

concluded and the Maggid returned to his senses, the Maggid<br />

CONTINUED ON PAGE 56<br />

MOCHERS<br />

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FINE ART<br />

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55<br />

Prayer for the Home<br />

(Birkat Cohanim in the<br />

mane and Hamalach<br />

Hagoel as the face)<br />

Shiviti<br />

Inner flame. Hashems name ‘I AM THAT I AM’<br />

(Notice the right legs of the Hei:)<br />

56 | MOCHERS<br />

“You told me pshat, but<br />

without lifesource. I put<br />

the neshama into this<br />

teaching. That is the only<br />

way you must learn.”<br />

asked his master what had happened. “You told me a detailed<br />

explanation of this passage and you were absolutely right, but you<br />

didn’t understand a word you were saying.<br />

“You told me pshat, but without lifesource. I put the neshama into<br />

this teaching. That is the only way you must learn.” This story always<br />

shakes me. On a simple level we must add life and richness to our<br />

Torah learning and Jewish lifestyle.<br />

My favorite commissions of scribal artwork is when a person or a<br />

family have a pasuk or tefillah that they want decorating the walls of<br />

their home and add inspiration and kedusha to their living space or<br />

office.<br />

www.mochers.com


M<br />

With My spirit.<br />

Zecharia 4:6<br />

When working with the letters , I look for techniques<br />

and styles that I can use to express the neshama of the<br />

texts. It’s a passion of mine that I feel blessed to share<br />

with people.<br />

The holy hebrew letters are infinite, and so are the ideas<br />

that come from them.<br />

I enjoy crafting pieces or collections for homes, shuls,<br />

community centers , and offices. The bottom line is the<br />

same for all of these places, each in its own application.<br />

How do I infuse life and meaning to Hebrew texts and<br />

prayers in a way that people can relate to and find<br />

meaning in ?<br />

I take precaution not to write Hashem’s name directly<br />

in my artwork unless appropriate. Writing Hashem’s<br />

name makes the artwork halachically holy and many<br />

laws apply for safeguarding and storing. I make a small,<br />

hardly noticeable gap in the right legs of the letter Hei in<br />

Hashem’s name . This way, you have the impression that<br />

it is Hashem’s name but halachically, it is not.<br />

It’s a win-win for making Torah texts into artwork. I want<br />

people to be inspired and find insight vis-à-vis my work,<br />

without putting a stumbling block before the blind.<br />

MOCHERS<br />

Kalman Safrut is a<br />

contributing editor for<br />

<strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

www.mochers.com | 57


M<br />

PLACES<br />

CHEVRA<br />

to go wit h the<br />

BY: LIZZY BRENNER<br />

We love a good waterfront outdoor bar.<br />

Combined with COVID-friendly activities,<br />

we're doubly sold. Here are three that we<br />

love across different areas of NYC:<br />

the Hudson<br />

@thehudsonny<br />

Where: Just north of Washington Heights on Dyckman Street<br />

Details: The Hudson (formerly known as La Marina) is a<br />

beautiful spot situated right on the water. It’s perfect for a late<br />

afternoon or evening drink (with beautiful sunset views) and<br />

also has picnic table options for groups. It’s located right next<br />

to Fort Tyron Park, which has a nice hiking trail if you want to<br />

make this a full #sundate .<br />

Reservations: You can make reservations on opentable.com or<br />

walk in for a table .<br />

58 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


Pier i Cafe<br />

@piericafe<br />

Where: On the UWS Pier — enter at 70th and Riverside<br />

Details: Pier i Café is a super casual summer spot<br />

to grab a coffee or cocktail before or after hopping<br />

on a Citibike (there’s a nearby dock) and riding down<br />

the pier. You order at the counter and find an empty<br />

table, making it a great spur of the moment place to<br />

check out .<br />

Reservations: They don’t take reservations, so tables are<br />

first come first serve .<br />

Grand Banks<br />

@grandbanksnyc<br />

Where: Downtown on Pier 25 – enter at N. Moore & West<br />

Details: Grand Banks is a top notch date spot we visit<br />

every summer (along with its sister location Frying Pan @<br />

fryingpannyc), located aboard a historic wooden ship. It can<br />

get very busy on weekends, so if you’re looking for a more low<br />

key date, try coming on a Monday or Tuesday.<br />

Reservations: Always make a reservation in advance here to<br />

get a spot on this boat bar, especially if you’re coming on the<br />

weekend.<br />

Second Date Shadchan is a popular NYC activities<br />

feed on Instagram, constantly delivering the best date,<br />

family and group activities NYC has to offer. If you<br />

enjoyed this article, give us a follow on Instagram @<br />

SecondDateShadchan<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 59


M<br />

IN<br />

MEMORIAM<br />

Remembering<br />

Rush<br />

BY: IZAK HELD<br />

You might have never known this , but Rush Limbaugh was my only friend at one point<br />

in time. The year was 2011, I had just come back from a college year abroad and I started<br />

something new.<br />

A new school, in a new town , with no one I knew. In between classes I’d run to my car for a break, grab some<br />

food , and dial up the radio. One morning , the car reset and 770 AM went on full blast, and the rest of my<br />

conservative talk radio days would begin. I never missed a month, I never missed a week , and for the<br />

past five years, never a day. When I was young, maybe 9 or 10, my mother used to play this<br />

guy who called himself El Rushbo, who I would later find out was Mr. Rush Limbaugh.<br />

Rush is like an uncle to me. He has been there for the good, the bad and the ugly.<br />

His wisdom, wit , brevity, debonair and simple love for life is what made him stand<br />

out. Aside from being a pioneer and then a titan in the radio and broadcasting<br />

arena, he was also simply a good man.<br />

Rush was a large part of my inspiration for creating my own businesses and<br />

companies. He gave betteradvice to us millennials, entrepreneurs , and blue<br />

collar workers than anyone else… and I’ve heard everyone else. It wasn’t<br />

just about what Rush did for me (and over 200,000,000 million listeners<br />

over his career), it was what he was able to bring out of every soul he was<br />

able to reach out to.<br />

My afternoons will never be the same. Life won’t ever be the same. But<br />

I will prevail. I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Rush, I know he’s with<br />

us in spirit on the waves of radio. Again, thank you for the cherished<br />

memories Doctor of Democracy, America’s Anchorman & Maharaja!<br />

Thoughts are with Kathryn, the Limbaughs, Cookie, Mr. Snerdley, Dawn,<br />

and the rest of the gang.<br />

Your “talent on loan from God,” as you use to say , is now back<br />

home. Bless you, bless you.<br />

Forever dittos , my friend,<br />

Published in Cigar<br />

Aficionado and other<br />

publications.<br />

60 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


CIGARS<br />

MOTZEI<br />

SHABBOS<br />

PUFFBY: IZAK HELD<br />

Cigars have a plethora of flavors — not<br />

just your typical strawberry, chocolate,<br />

or vanilla (as you get in a milkshake) but<br />

rather creamy, mild, medium, and heavy.<br />

If you’re a first time cigar user, preconceived notions<br />

will have you trying a light and creamy cigar. I would<br />

counsel differently. Being that your palate is a novice,<br />

go for a stick that is heavy and has spice. Your palate<br />

simply won’t be able to break down and decipher the<br />

hints and natural deliciousness within, but that’s ok.<br />

Think about the first time you tried something and how<br />

deep it felt, while you knew there was a long way to go.<br />

I think back to my first job on Wall Street (ok, it was two<br />

blocks north of Wall Street, but pardon the nuance).<br />

After the whole human resources welcome and a few<br />

days in training, I found myself at my desk and wired.<br />

Thinking about the entire job and what it entails can be,<br />

nay, is overwhelming. To bring the analogy back to our<br />

cigars, taking on too much in the beginning can weaken<br />

the experience. A cigar that is light is actually harder to<br />

understand for a beginner or occasional smoker. Heavy<br />

and more spiced cigars are much easier to detect and<br />

familiarize yourself with when it comes to the flavor<br />

profiles and notes within the cigars.<br />

A few of the brands that sell phenomenal heavier cigars<br />

that conventionally come in darker shades are Rocky<br />

Patel, Diamond Crown, CAO, and Alec Bradley. These<br />

four cigars will vary in price depending on where you<br />

buy them and can range from affordable to a luxury buy.<br />

They are all not only delectable but make great Motzei<br />

Shabbos chill gifts too.<br />

62 | MOCHERS<br />

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M<br />

Rocky Patel Number 6<br />

This Honduran-grown Corojo<br />

wrapper and Honduran binder<br />

cigar has a delicious creamy<br />

and peppery taste. It scored a 95<br />

in professional cigar-rating media<br />

outlets and was Cigar Aficionado’s number<br />

nine cigar of the year. This has become a top<br />

five cigar for me. It’s available in your local<br />

tobacco shop, but hurry, they are going fast!<br />

$10<br />

Diamond Crown No. 3 Maduro<br />

This cigar is fairly big, coming in<br />

at 6½ by 54 rim gauge. This is a<br />

remarkable smoke for a summer<br />

day outside with the family or<br />

guys. It will last you plenty of time.<br />

It’s fermented with a Connecticut<br />

broadleaf wrapper and a Dominican binder<br />

with a mix of fillers. This special cigar is made<br />

in the Fuente factory and if you think it’s too<br />

big, well, it comes in five other sizes as well.<br />

$17<br />

CAO Brazilian<br />

This CAO Brazilian has me relishing<br />

my original days of cigar smoking.<br />

It can be found almost anywhere<br />

$8<br />

and with plenty in stock. It’s a full<br />

Nicaraguan cigar with a Brazilian<br />

wrapper. Most expect a spicy cigar,<br />

but this one is actually pretty light and very<br />

doable without overpowering your palate.<br />

What I fancy about this cigar is that it’s very<br />

consistent in taste, from the first third to the<br />

last.<br />

Alec Bradley Project 40 Maduro<br />

This cigar is pretty new and<br />

aesthetically, it has a very attractive<br />

look to it. A Brazillian habano<br />

binder with a Mexican San Andreas<br />

$8<br />

Wrapper, it has a light chocolatey<br />

taste with notes of leather. For<br />

about $8 a stick this is the way to go.<br />

So for all of those first timers or newbies,<br />

embrace being a cigar dilettante.<br />

Izak Held is the Editor in Chief<br />

of <strong>Mochers</strong>. <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 63


RESTAURANT<br />

RENDEZVOUS<br />

LAKEWOOD<br />

Restaurants<br />

BY: MOSHE NEY<br />

Sometimes, we all need a<br />

change of scenery — especially<br />

the young and adventurous<br />

entrepreneur looking for a nice<br />

venue outside of the Five Towns and<br />

Central Avenue.<br />

You’ve probably been to every restaurant<br />

already (or have you?), and Brooklyn and<br />

Cedarhurst just don’t seem that exciting.<br />

Where can you go without having to travel<br />

too far?<br />

Listen closely.<br />

Lakewood.<br />

What? Lakewood?! The Lakewood of today<br />

offers a lot of new phenomenal restaurants<br />

that weren't there once upon a time,with<br />

the quality dining outlets you’re looking for.<br />

These venues are good for a date, corporate<br />

meeting, or special events with family and<br />

friends. Here is but a sampling of some of<br />

the luxury dining that Lakewood has to offer.<br />

Bon appetit! (Just a little reminder to call<br />

ahead or check online for COVID-related<br />

info. Some, but not all restaurants, may still<br />

be doing outdoor dining.)<br />

64 | MOCHERS<br />

FLEISHIG RESTURANTS<br />

Entrée<br />

Photo courtesy of Entrée<br />

www.entreerestaurant.com<br />

The ambience at Entrée is simply stunning.<br />

Located in the heart of Lakewood in the Kikar<br />

Shabbos shopping center on Monmouth<br />

Ave. and 4th St., Entrée is a must visit if you<br />

are on a date (whether single, newly married,<br />

or many years married) or want to make a<br />

smashing celebration that’s a little over top<br />

(just a little, though). The interior is classy<br />

and distinguished for its coveted guests<br />

coming for their special evening. Let’s not<br />

forget about the reason you came in the first<br />

place — the food! Dig in to their unbelievably<br />

delectable appetizers and entrées (hence<br />

the name, if you haven’t realized). Don’t<br />

forget to make a bracha with kavana! (The<br />

more kavana in the bracha, the heartier your<br />

enjoyment will be!) Their out-of-this world<br />

menu includes:<br />

• Smoked Brisket Eggroll<br />

• Pastrami Empanadas<br />

• Short Rib Tacos<br />

• Baby Back Ribs<br />

• Stack of Lamb Riblets<br />

• Stunning Sizzling Steak Selection (Don’t<br />

forget to ask if they have the surprise<br />

steak available. Boy, is it a surprise!)<br />

• Chicken Marsala<br />

• Baby Chicken<br />

• Grilled Chicken<br />

Entrée also has an exquisite selection of<br />

wines and other upscale beverages, hard<br />

and soft. Just check out the beverage menu<br />

upon being seated. Check them out today<br />

for an unforgettable dining experience.<br />

399 Monmouth Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701,<br />

(732) 534-6000, entreerestaurant.com<br />

www.mochers.com


M<br />

Revolve<br />

Photo courtesy of Revolve<br />

@revolverestaurantandcatering<br />

Instagram<br />

Another heart-of-Lakewood grand slam for<br />

any event, big or small. Revolve is a unique,<br />

two-level rustic boutique restaurant in a<br />

fully-renovated 19th-century brick building,<br />

located in the municipal parking lot right<br />

behind Eat-A-Pita (on Clifton Ave). The<br />

relaxed setting is good for any corporate<br />

business get-together, night out with<br />

friends, or any classy celebration, with a<br />

menu featuring exotic appetizers, as well<br />

as a variety of fish, chicken, and steak<br />

entrées. Be sure to stop in for a great dining<br />

experience next time you’re in the area!<br />

116 Clifton Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701<br />

(in the parking lot behind Eat-A-Pita),<br />

(732) 738-6583, dineatrevolve.com<br />

Estréia<br />

guys, there’s no smoking lounge yet!) Estréia<br />

has a very serene feeling — with dimmed<br />

lights, relaxing classical background music,<br />

and candlelit tables, it’s pleasant in every<br />

sense of the word. Relax into your seat as<br />

you analyze the delicious and impressive<br />

menu selections, from steak and chicken<br />

to duck — you name it! The spirit selection<br />

isn’t too bad either, and can be ordered by<br />

the bottle or the glass. Call today to make<br />

your reservation or check out the website<br />

for more details.<br />

978 River Avenue Lakewood, NJ 08701,<br />

(732) 994-7878, www.estreia978.com,<br />

info@estreia.com<br />

MILCHIG RESTAURANTS<br />

Kava Coffee House<br />

Ottimo Café<br />

Photo courtesy of Ottimo Café<br />

www.ottimocafe.com<br />

Upscale dairy dining could not taste any<br />

better, with the perfect setting for a date or<br />

fancy outing with friends. The menu boasts<br />

an array of pizzas, salads, and an impressive<br />

selection of fish entrees including:<br />

• Teriyaki Grilled Salmon<br />

• Espresso Crusted Tuna<br />

• Roasted Chilean Sea Bass<br />

Check out their menu for all the details —<br />

you’re bound to come away happy. Don’t<br />

forget to reserve in advance!<br />

6794 U.S. 9 S, Howell Township, NJ 0773,<br />

(732) 367-0009, ottimocafe.com<br />

The Upper Crust<br />

Photo courtesy of Kava Coffee<br />

House @kava_coffeehouse<br />

Instagram<br />

Photo courtesy of Estréia<br />

www.estreia978.com<br />

Estréia is another popular and classy<br />

location for a date, anniversary outing, or<br />

any other occasion, but be prepared to<br />

spend because it can be quite pricey. (Sorry,<br />

MOCHERS<br />

Kava’s cozy atmosphere is great for a<br />

late morning breakfast with friends or a<br />

lunch meeting with business associates.<br />

Check out their variety of omelet and bagel<br />

selections. The menu also boasts a variety<br />

of fish, wraps, quesadillas, pizza, salads, and<br />

more! (The Breakfast Burrito and Nachos<br />

are my personal favorites.) Of course, there<br />

are more than enough coffee, smoothies,<br />

and milkshakes to go around for everyone,<br />

and waffles and pastries as well. Kava is an<br />

all around-winner! (If you’re not in the mood<br />

of sitting down, Kava has a drive through<br />

option as well, so you can order from the<br />

comfort of your car and be on your merry<br />

way.)<br />

6791 US-9 N, Howell Township, NJ 07731,<br />

(732) 534-5199, kavacoffeeonline.com<br />

Photo courtesy of The Upper Crust<br />

@TheUpperCrustLakewood<br />

Facebook<br />

Now this is fine kosher Italian dining, in<br />

my humble opinion. The Upper Crust is<br />

a spacious dairy restaurant serving the<br />

Lakewood community and anyone who<br />

wants to drop in for the experience. It’s not<br />

just a pizza shop, it’s an experience in and<br />

of itself.<br />

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RESTAURANT<br />

RENDEZVOUS<br />

CONTINUED<br />

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M<br />

The comfort, the ambience, and the food are<br />

all part of the same package. Great for an<br />

afternoon or evening party with friends and<br />

family,<br />

The Upper Crust will please you more than<br />

enough to come back again. Check out the<br />

full menu of pizza, salads, soups, and other<br />

tasty selections that The Upper Crust has to<br />

offer.<br />

95 E Kennedy Blvd, Lakewood, NJ 08701,<br />

(732) 243-8226, uppercrustlakewood.com<br />

If these aren’t enough for you, then I don’t<br />

know what is, my friend! You’ve got more<br />

than enough here in Lakewood to keep you<br />

busy with family or friends for any event, big<br />

or small.<br />

It’s worth the trip, it’s worth the money, and<br />

it’s worth the experience. Plan your next visit<br />

whenever you need to be in Lakewood or are<br />

looking for a nice change of scenery.<br />

AUTHOR’S NOTE<br />

While I made a strong emphasis on the<br />

details of the gashmiyus here, I want<br />

to clarify that it is not my intention to<br />

endorse splurging into these things just<br />

in and of themselves. It goes without<br />

saying that as Yidden, our job is to<br />

take the gashmiyus and raise it up for<br />

ruchniyus. Beyond eating and enjoying,<br />

the purpose of these venues is to allow<br />

us to have a nice change of scenery<br />

so we can come back to our davening<br />

and learning a little more refreshed and<br />

relaxed than we were before, showing<br />

Hashem how much we really want to<br />

serve Him and be close to Him.<br />

Moshe Ney is a senior writer for<br />

<strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

66 | MOCHERS<br />

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SPORTS<br />

GLAZE<br />

Photo courtesy of<br />

Peter Morgan/AP<br />

a<br />

GIANT(S)<br />

what if?<br />

BY: MENACHEM ICKOVITZ<br />

The NFL draft is a time of great<br />

opportunity as each team works<br />

to improve their roster.<br />

MOCHERS<br />

For fans, especially those of teams that<br />

didn’t make the playoffs, there’s a renewed<br />

optimism that this group of players can help<br />

turn the franchise around. There are many<br />

remarkable NFL draft stories from over the<br />

years but the one that might have the best<br />

“ what if” attached to it is from 1984.<br />

The story of the 1984 draft is an interesting<br />

one. The draft itself was filled with good<br />

players, but nobody who would eventually<br />

make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This<br />

was partially due to the fact that there was<br />

another football league at the time, the<br />

USFL.<br />

The USFL did what they could to get the<br />

best college players to play for them instead<br />

of heading into the NFL. Amongst the things<br />

that they offered was more money to start<br />

their careers, which enticed many players.<br />

NFL owners wanted to have the rights to<br />

these players but did not want to “waste” a<br />

pick in the actual draft , so they implemented<br />

the supplemental draft.<br />

When the supplemental draft took place in<br />

June, the draft order was the same as from<br />

the NFL draft , which took place a month<br />

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SPORTS<br />

GLAZE<br />

Reggie White (R) talking to<br />

Lawrence Taylor (L) before<br />

the 1999 NFL Pro Bowl. Photo<br />

courtesy of Lenny Ignelzi/AP<br />

CONTINUED<br />

FROM PAGE 67<br />

M<br />

What if the Giants<br />

would have drafted<br />

Reggie White instead?<br />

earlier. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, needing<br />

a starting quarterback , drafted Steve Young.<br />

At #2, the Houston Oilers took the 1983<br />

Heisman Trophy-winning running back Mike<br />

Rozier to replace future Hall of Famer Earl<br />

Campbell, who was traded away.<br />

Then came the #3 pick and the New York<br />

Giants. The Giants were choosing between<br />

offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman and<br />

defensive end Reggie White. Both players<br />

would eventually make the Hall of Fame<br />

and neither would play for the Giants.<br />

They decided to go with Zimmerman, who<br />

requested a trade and the Giants obliged.<br />

Then at #4, the Philadelphia Eagles picked<br />

White and he played for them from 1985 –<br />

1992.<br />

The Giants’ reasoning for not drafting White<br />

was because they needed more help on<br />

the offensive line than on defense. But the<br />

question must be asked. What if the Giants<br />

would have drafted Reggie White instead ?<br />

Having White along with the other defensive<br />

players would not have hurt the Giants’<br />

Super Bowl runs in 1986 and 1990. In fact it<br />

may have helped them reach another Super<br />

Bowl. At the very least , watching White and<br />

Taylor together would have been amazing.<br />

Finally, after the 1992 season , White was<br />

a free agent and signed with the Green<br />

Bay Packers. The other team he was<br />

considering was the Cleveland Browns,<br />

whose head coach at the time was former<br />

Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick.<br />

White’s decision to go to the Packers over<br />

the Browns sent both teams in opposite<br />

directions. The Packers soared all the way<br />

to a Super Bowl win, while the Browns<br />

moved to Baltimore. The NFL could have<br />

been completely different had the Giants<br />

taken Reggie White!<br />

Menachem Ickovitz has written<br />

for numerous sports websites and<br />

enjoys taking an historic look at<br />

sports topics. He is a contributing<br />

editor for <strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

68 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


WINES<br />

4WORLDLY<br />

Whit e Wines<br />

BY: NOAH MORRIS<br />

As far as popularity goes, white<br />

wines often take a back seat to<br />

red wines. For the longest time I<br />

favored red wines until recently, when I<br />

began to develop a greater appreciation<br />

for the lighter side of wine. It’s really all<br />

about having the right white wine at<br />

the right time.<br />

With summer approaching, I wanted to share<br />

some excellent white wine options that you<br />

may have never heard of and are definitely<br />

worth trying. These are mostly of the Old World<br />

style, but are each an incredible example of its<br />

country.<br />

Just as in the world of red wines, one of the<br />

best places to start is in France. There you can<br />

find the two most popular white wine varieties<br />

available — Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.<br />

Today we will begin our journey with the latter.<br />

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Domaine Joost de<br />

Villebois Pouilly-<br />

Fume 2019<br />

It’s important to note that the most<br />

prestigious regions in France for growing<br />

the Sauvignon Blanc variety can be found<br />

in the Loire Valley, and more specifically, the<br />

appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly Fume.<br />

While I do enjoy several examples from both<br />

of these regions, I’d like to focus on one in<br />

particular, the Domaine Joost de Villebois<br />

Pouilly-Fume 2019.<br />

Let’s start off with a little bit of background<br />

information about this kosher run, produced<br />

at a non-kosher winery. (Side note:<br />

Sometimes the best worldly wines are<br />

kosher runs from non-kosher wineries.)<br />

With lineage tracing as far back as the<br />

knights of the Medieval period in Touraine,<br />

in the heart of the Loire Valley in France,<br />

Dutch businessman Joost van der Does<br />

de Villebois is an aristocrat whose original<br />

family castle still stands in the foothills of<br />

the Perigord, Gironde, and Charente.<br />

Pursuing his dreams, Joost de Villebois<br />

understood the potential of the Sauvignon<br />

Blanc grapes growing in the Loire Valley and<br />

dedicated himself to bringing his passion<br />

to the tables of wine lovers everywhere<br />

while remaining faithful to the terroir of this<br />

region, which consists primarily of soils rich<br />

in limestone and flinty clay.<br />

The Pouilly-Fume appellation, originally<br />

created in 1937 as Blanc Fume de Pouilly,<br />

is one of Loire Valley’s most revered white<br />

wines, and is made from Sauvignon Blanc<br />

grapes (Blanc Fume is the local nickname<br />

for Sauvignon Blanc). As with all French<br />

wines in their portfolio, Menachem<br />

Israelievitch, European Chief Winemaker for<br />

Royal Wine Corp., oversees all aspects of<br />

the production of this kosher run.<br />

Pale straw in color, this refreshing and<br />

beautifully balanced light-to-medium<br />

bodied dry white wine is made from 100%<br />

Sauvignon Blanc grapes.<br />

On the nose, there are aromas of citrus,<br />

lime, peach, orange blossom, fresh cut<br />

grass, light smoke and flint.<br />

On the palate, we get a soft and round<br />

mouthfeel, with flavors of lemon, lime,<br />

grapefruit, white peach, papaya, and apricot,<br />

with nice salinity and limestone minerality<br />

balanced with mouthwatering acidity.<br />

This wine is Mevushal, and has an alcohol<br />

content of 12% by volume.<br />

Chill well to about 50°F and enjoy now. This<br />

wine can be appreciated with food or on its<br />

own, and should hold up well for another<br />

2-3 years with proper cellaring. It pairs well<br />

with fresh fish dishes, oven roasted chicken<br />

breast, grilled asparagus with hollandaise,<br />

or tangy goat cheeses.<br />

One thing to look for in an Old World white<br />

wine is its level of salinity, or mineral aromas<br />

and flavors in the wine.<br />

Ramon Cardova<br />

Albariño, Rias Baixas<br />

2019<br />

Our next offering (and the one following it as<br />

well) certainly does not disappoint.<br />

If you ask someone what the most popular<br />

70 | MOCHERS<br />

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white wine from Spain is, they would probably<br />

answer Albariño or Verdejo. Although we<br />

have good examples of both, let’s focus on<br />

the Albariño varietal, specifically the Ramon<br />

Cardova Albariño.<br />

Ramon Cardova is the kosher line of wines<br />

produced by Ramon Bilbao, one of Spain’s<br />

most respected wineries, with the name<br />

of the brand paying tribute to the town of<br />

Cordova.<br />

Rias Baixas is a DO wine zone<br />

(Denominación de Origen, which indicates<br />

both the geographical origin as well as the<br />

style of wine) located in the Galicia region<br />

of northwestern Spain. Rias Baixas is<br />

named after the coastal inlets, or rias, that<br />

characterize the landscape.<br />

Hailing from old vines carefully picked at<br />

sunset in the Salnes Valley (Val do Salnes)<br />

located along the Umia River, the Albariño<br />

grape variety is a green-skinned grape<br />

native to Galicia on the north Atlantic coast<br />

of Spain, and is a variety not commonly<br />

found in the kosher wine world.<br />

The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean is what<br />

influences the environment at Rias Baixas,<br />

MOCHERS<br />

with mist and fog from the sea, along with a<br />

very high annual rate of rainfall, contributing<br />

to the cool climate.<br />

The coolness helps the grapes to retain<br />

their crisp acidity, and the granite soils on<br />

the slopes and floors of the valley imbue the<br />

wine with the intense minerality that this<br />

local variety is known for.<br />

Light gold in color, with slight greenish hues,<br />

this light-to-medium bodied crisp dry white<br />

wine is created from 100% Albariño grapes.<br />

On the nose, there are aromas of melon,<br />

citrus fruit, pear, peach, nectarine, apricot,<br />

and wet stone.<br />

On the palate, we get tart citrus flavors of<br />

lemon, lime, tangerine, and pink grapefruit,<br />

with a hint of green tea leaf in the<br />

background.<br />

This wine has medium acidity, nice<br />

minerality, and just the right amount of<br />

salinity; is not Mevushal, and contains 13%<br />

alcohol by volume. At the price, this wine<br />

earns a very high QPR (Quality to Price<br />

Ratio) recommendation.<br />

Chill well and enjoy this wine while it’s still<br />

young, or cellar for up to 3 years longer.<br />

The wine has a novel label with a postmark<br />

on the front, which becomes visible at the<br />

correct serving temperature of 46-48°F.<br />

Pair this wine with grilled sea bass, ceviche,<br />

spicy fish tacos, seared tuna with tropical<br />

fruit slaw, creamy Greek-style pea soup,<br />

fried Padrón or Shishito peppers, or soft,<br />

creamy cheeses.<br />

Pescaja Solei Terre<br />

Alfieri Arneis 2019<br />

Another great white wine of similar style<br />

representing an amazing wine region is a<br />

grape you also probably never heard of —<br />

the Italian Arneis.<br />

Owned and managed by Beppe Pescaja, the<br />

Pescaja Winery is located in the Piemonte<br />

(Piedmont) region of Italy, source of some<br />

of the country’s oldest and most soughtafter<br />

wines.<br />

A majority of this area is covered in<br />

vineyards, with the best sites located atop<br />

hilltops or on south-facing slopes where<br />

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CONTINUED FROM<br />

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exposure to sunlight is maximized. The<br />

climate here is hot and humid during the<br />

summertime and cold in the winter, with<br />

year-round precipitation. Fog during the<br />

autumn season is common, and provides a<br />

cooling effect, beneficial for many varieties<br />

grown here.<br />

The Arneis grapes used for this wine are<br />

grown and harvested in the Terre Alfieri<br />

region in southern Piemonte, on sandy soils,<br />

at altitudes ranging from 130 to 350 meters<br />

above sea level. Arneis has a reputation<br />

as being a troublesome variety — it is lowyielding<br />

and susceptible to powdery mildew<br />

and in warm seasons, struggles to retain<br />

useful levels of acidity. All of the above<br />

supports the theory that the variety’s name<br />

is derived from a Piemontese word meaning<br />

“little rascal”. Arneis was also once known<br />

as Nebbiolo Bianco.<br />

This fruity and fresh well-structured complex<br />

and fragrant dry white wine is pale yellow in<br />

color, with notes of lemon, elderberry, peach,<br />

apricot and flint on the nose.<br />

On the palate, we taste concentrated yellow<br />

fruit, banana, lemon, honeydew, lychee, as<br />

well as floral nuances, almond, and hazelnut<br />

along with nicely bracing acidity and loads<br />

of flinty minerals.<br />

This wine is mildly oaked, and has a smooth,<br />

supple, and lightly oily mouthfeel, and is<br />

medium bodied. Alcohol content is 13% by<br />

volume, and this wine is not Mevushal.<br />

Serve slightly chilled and enjoy now, or cellar<br />

for another 2-3 years. This refreshing white<br />

wine pairs well with lemon sole, spaghetti<br />

with garlic and olive oil, hard aged cheeses,<br />

or Waldorf salad.<br />

Domaine Netofa Tel<br />

Qasser White 2017<br />

Now that you’ve gotten a taste of the Old<br />

World, let us try a wine and winery that takes<br />

all that influence and further develops it with<br />

our own holy land of Eretz Yisroel. Let’s head<br />

up north, where we can share a glass of the<br />

Domaine Netofa Tel Qasser White 2017.<br />

This elegant white wine is made from<br />

100% Roussanne grapes and is harvested<br />

completely by hand at the Domaine Netofa<br />

Winery. The Roussanne grape variety is also<br />

one of the more popular grapes produced in<br />

the northern Rhone Valley in France.<br />

Netofa Winery, established in 2006, is<br />

located in Mitzpe Netofa, with the vineyards<br />

located at the foot of Mount Tabor in the<br />

Lower Galilee region in northern Israel,<br />

whose landscape is characterized by<br />

rocky elevations of well over 1500 feet.<br />

The relatively high rainfall and cool climate<br />

attribute to the fresh and vibrant flavors of<br />

the wines grown here.<br />

The creators of this wine are the winemaker<br />

Pierre Miodovnik, who spent many years<br />

producing wine in France, Spain, and<br />

Portugal; and Isaac Thor, who has lived and<br />

breathed the vineyards in the land of Israel<br />

for many years.<br />

The nose on this bright, golden colored,<br />

medium-to-full bodied dry white shows<br />

plum, pear, apricot, toasted walnuts, peach,<br />

and apple, with mineral, earth, and orange<br />

blossom floral notes.<br />

On the palate, we get a slightly oily texture<br />

with nicely balanced acidity, along with<br />

layers of green apple, stone fruit, melon,<br />

quince, lemongrass, vanilla, and mineral<br />

flavors. Aged for 10 months in French oak<br />

barrels, this non-Mevushal wine contains<br />

13.5% alcohol by volume.<br />

Allow this white wine to come up almost to<br />

room temperature for greatest enjoyment.<br />

Drink now, or store for up to 5 years longer.<br />

Pairs well with baked salmon, turkey, or<br />

chicken dishes.<br />

These are great white wines that I highly<br />

recommend trying, but represent only the tip<br />

of the iceberg of what’s available. I urge you<br />

to continue to try new and different wines<br />

that challenge your assumptions and your<br />

palate. If you would like to learn more about<br />

wine, and particularly more about kosher<br />

wine, please go ahead and follow me on<br />

Instagram @kosherwineguy, and subscribe<br />

to my blog kosherwinelife.com. We have<br />

lots of new and exciting developments, as<br />

well as offering a unique curated wine club<br />

available for those of you in New York.<br />

Noah Morris is a wine connoisseur<br />

and sommelier, holding the Wine<br />

Spirits and Education trust level 2<br />

certification in wine and spirits. This<br />

is a side hustle and a passion for<br />

Noah, who is a professional digital<br />

marketer and owner of the digital<br />

marketing agency Tevahmedia, where<br />

he helps Jewish owned businesses<br />

and non-profit organizations execute<br />

effective marketing strategies to grow<br />

their reach, revenue, and impact.<br />

Learn more about Noah and his firm<br />

at Tevahmedia.com.<br />

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BY: AARON BALKANY<br />

I<br />

have been deeply involved in the<br />

cannabis and hemp industry for almost<br />

a decade. Particularly, my expertise<br />

lies in extraction from the plants and<br />

infusion of their derivatives into delicious,<br />

all-natural, kosher edibles.<br />

Together with the team leaders at Kosher CBD,<br />

Mendy S. and Shloimy R., our aim is to provide<br />

customers with the highest degree of quality and<br />

kashrut at a price that will not break the bank. To<br />

educate our clients about CBD+ products, we felt<br />

it necessary to dispel some rumors and stigmas<br />

and to validate some of the medical research on<br />

cannabis and hemp.<br />

Welcome to part one of the world of CBD and the<br />

host of beneficial substances derived from the<br />

ancient hemp plant! This is the first in a series<br />

of informational segments on hemp, marijuana,<br />

cannabinoids, and how to use them. To be<br />

clear, this is meant to provide information and<br />

education on cannabis and its derivatives, and<br />

NOT to be used for legal or medical guidance.<br />

This information has been culled from extensive<br />

research, beta-testing, lab results, and scientific<br />

journals. Our hope is that you will come away<br />

more informed and less wary when considering<br />

the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical benefits<br />

hemp has to offer.<br />

Public interest in and the availability of CBD<br />

have grown extensively due to its promising<br />

health benefits. People use CBD to help with<br />

a wide variety of physical and mental issues,<br />

including pain, nausea, addiction, and depression.<br />

Although scientific studies have not confirmed<br />

CBD’s usefulness for all these conditions,<br />

available evidence suggests that CBD works with<br />

the endocannabinoid system, which is a signaling<br />

network.<br />

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CBD, or cannabidiol, is non-intoxicating<br />

and one of the more than 540<br />

phytochemicals found in the Cannabis<br />

sativa (C. sativa) plant. THC, or delta-9-<br />

tetrahydrocannabinol, is the compound that<br />

gets people high. It is the difference between<br />

THC levels found in hemp and cannabis that<br />

has caused so many legal complications.<br />

What is hemp?<br />

Hemp is a specific variety of C. sativa.<br />

People have grown hemp for hundreds of<br />

years, using it to make rope, clothes, sails,<br />

food, and much more. Industrial hemp has<br />

an equally long history in the United States<br />

– Thomas Jefferson, the third president,<br />

grew it himself.<br />

The 2018 Farm Bill considers C. sativa plants<br />

74 | MOCHERS<br />

with less than 0.3 percent THC as hemp<br />

or industrial hemp. Producers can grow it<br />

legally across most of the U.S. (excluding<br />

three states), subject to strict regulations.<br />

Hemp plants do contain THC, but at very low<br />

levels. However, certain types of processed<br />

hemp, such as tinctures, gummies, or<br />

capsules, can still cause euphoria. In most<br />

cases, manufacturers use the leaves and<br />

flowers of the hemp plant to make CBD<br />

products.<br />

What is cannabis?<br />

There are three standard varieties of<br />

cannabis plants: C. indica, C. sativa, and C.<br />

ruderalis. There is also a range of hybrid<br />

plants that are a mix of these three strains.<br />

These cannabis plants contain much<br />

higher and varying levels of THC than hemp<br />

plants. Besides containing more THC,<br />

these plants also tend to contain less CBD<br />

than hemp plants, and the difference has<br />

become steadily more pronounced. A 2016<br />

analysis found that the average potency<br />

of cannabis plants rose from about 4% in<br />

1995 to 12% in 2014. Average CBD levels<br />

decreased from 0.28% in 2001 to less than<br />

0.15% in 2014.<br />

Cannabis CBD vs. Hemp CBD<br />

Cannabis and hemp plants contain both<br />

CBD and THC, along with more than 540<br />

other substances. The main difference<br />

between the two plants is the amount of<br />

each compound they contain. Cannabis<br />

contains more THC and less CBD. Hemp<br />

contains more CBD and less THC.<br />

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Most importantly, the benefits of CBD do<br />

not change whether it is cannabis-derived<br />

CBD or hemp-derived CBD. Common<br />

side effects, such as an upset stomach,<br />

tiredness, or feeling on edge, remain the<br />

same. This is because the chemical makeup<br />

of CBD does not change depending on<br />

which plant it comes from. However, the<br />

amount of CBD available for extraction<br />

does depend on the source. The hemp<br />

plants contains far more CBD, making it a<br />

more lucrative option for manufacturers<br />

and the option with the least potential<br />

legal ramifications.<br />

The main difference between hemp<br />

CBD and cannabis CBD is their legal<br />

status. According to the 2018 Farm Bill,<br />

products made from plants that meet the<br />

legal standards of hemp are legal across<br />

most of the USA, except three states.<br />

Products made from plants that have<br />

higher levels of THC are not legal under<br />

this statute. However, it is important to<br />

note that all CBD products must have<br />

less than 0.3% THC, so even those made<br />

from cannabis-derived CBD should contain<br />

less than this amount. The United States<br />

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)<br />

consider any CBD products containing<br />

more than 0.3% THC as a Schedule I drug<br />

in states where the recreational use of<br />

cannabis is not legal.<br />

Summary<br />

• CBD is attracting considerable public<br />

interest because of its promise in<br />

treating various physical and mental<br />

health issues, even though there is<br />

no scientific evidence to prove these<br />

health claims.<br />

• Hemp and cannabis are two different<br />

varieties of the C. sativa plant with<br />

hemp containing more CBD and<br />

minimal THC.<br />

• Most CBD products are made from<br />

hemp plants, as they contain far more<br />

CBD and almost no THC, which is the<br />

compound that creates the high.<br />

• Individuals considering using CBD for<br />

physical or mental challenges should<br />

inform their doctors to make sure it<br />

does not interact with any medications<br />

they may be taking.<br />

• The main difference between hemp<br />

CBD and cannabis CBD is legal<br />

standing.<br />

Thank you for reading and stay tuned for<br />

Segment Two, in which we will look at how<br />

the cannabinoids contained within the<br />

plant get from the ground into a beautifully<br />

infused edible.<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 75


OOD<br />

Your favorite sports drink is now<br />

available in a frozen format!<br />

New POWERADE® Sports Freezer Bars. Each<br />

bar, available in sizes ranging from 1.5oz to<br />

5.5oz, will feature POWERADE's ION4 Advanced<br />

Electrolyte Solution, that helps replace the<br />

sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium<br />

lost in sweat, as well as Vitamins B3, B6, and B12.<br />

And they are kosher!<br />

Products are currently rolling out to stores and<br />

online nationwide and are available in two classic<br />

POWERADE® flavors – Fruit Punch (red) and<br />

Mountain Berry Blast (blue).<br />

Mentions:<br />

@powerade @jelsertco<br />

Kosher Certified @oukosher<br />

SNA<br />

Koma is a traditional, authentic kosher<br />

omakase dining experience, with a<br />

variety of unique & exotic fish from<br />

all over the world, brought to you in the<br />

heart of brooklyn. Koma stands for ‘ko’sher<br />

‘oma’kase.<br />

The Line Up<br />

• Otoro with fresh wasabi on top<br />

• Triple toro<br />

• Yellowtail belly with scallion<br />

• Sake Sakura maki<br />

(lightly seared salmon with tomato)<br />

• Salmon roe ikura<br />

Mentions:<br />

@komasushinyc for inviting @teamgrowth<br />

@kosherlicks for a true omakase experience!<br />

Cuisine: Japanese Sushi Poke<br />

Atmosphere: Casual Dining<br />

1618 Ave M, Brooklyn, NY 11230<br />

(718) 758-5311<br />

Kosher Certified Pareve, Vaad Hakashrus of Flatbush<br />

76 | MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com


M<br />

CKIE<br />

BY: YISROEL ZUCKERMAN<br />

New Mountain Dew Frost Bite Zero<br />

Sugar, available exclusively at<br />

Walmart.<br />

The melon-flavored beverage is the brand’s<br />

alternative to the original flavor, delivering the<br />

same “bold charge and flavor” now with zero<br />

sugar.<br />

Additionally, the brand is also expanding its<br />

packaging offerings of original Mountain Dew<br />

Frost Bite by adding 24-can packs to the lineup.<br />

Both the Original and Zero Sugar varieties are<br />

Walmart exclusives.<br />

Available now @walmart<br />

News @pepsico<br />

The all new and limited edition:<br />

PEACH HABANERO POTATO CHIPS<br />

If you like sweet and the right amount of HOT,<br />

you’ll love these chips. Sweet and salty, tangy<br />

and spicy, they’ll carry you away with their burst<br />

of fruity peach flavor and peppery habanero heat.<br />

What do Y’ALL think of the new Southern Peach<br />

Habanero?<br />

Yisroel Zuckerman Is a<br />

contributor for <strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

Follow his snack experience<br />

@kosherfoodie_stalker<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 77


THE<br />

BAIS<br />

BARBER<br />

1Stop using the 5-in-1:<br />

while we’re at it? Cheap shampoos tend to be formulated<br />

2<br />

3<br />

4<br />

5<br />

There’s no way that this mystery soap can properly clean and<br />

moisturize your hair, face, and body. Why not use hand soap<br />

while we’re at it? Cheap shampoos tend to be formulated<br />

with harsh ingredients that can dry out your hair. Find a more<br />

natural shampoo that is right for your hair type.<br />

Condition more:<br />

This step is more important than you think. It helps keep your<br />

hair smooth, hydrated, and shiny. After using conditioner, you<br />

should find your hair softer and less tangled. It should be<br />

used after shampooing to replenish moisture that shampoo<br />

strips away.<br />

Shampoo less:<br />

I still highly recommend a shower. Everyone needs that.<br />

However, your hair does not need the shampoo every day.<br />

Why not clean your hair? Everyone’s scalp produces sebum<br />

and oils that are crucial to keep your hair and scalp hydrated.<br />

Washing with shampoo too often strips these oils away<br />

and leaves your head dry. It’s recommended to wash with<br />

shampoo 2-3 times a week unless you have particularly dirty<br />

or oily hair.<br />

Be gentle:<br />

Hair is fragile. Rubbing your head with a towel like it’s the<br />

hood of a car is not what it needs. It’s especially important to<br />

be gentle while your hair is wet. Hair absorbs water, making it<br />

more elastic and prone to breakage. Use a quality hairbrush,<br />

let it air dry, and avoid heat tools.<br />

Use hair oils or leave-ins:<br />

Many of us do not naturally have soft, silky hair, but that<br />

doesn’t mean it’s far from reach. Aside from taking proper<br />

care of your hair, putting on a little specialized cream or<br />

oil can make dry hair instantly feel soft and moisturized.<br />

Whether you experience dry, rough, or thinning hair, there<br />

are many oils or leave-in conditioners that will help you feel a<br />

difference. Just a bit after a shower, either alone or followed<br />

by some styling product, will do a trick.<br />

BY: ELI JAFFE<br />

TIPS FOR HEA<br />

78 | MOCHERS<br />

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M<br />

6Find the right barber:<br />

You want your hair to look good? All the hair care in the world<br />

can’t protect you from a bad haircut. Even great hair can be<br />

ruined by a bad haircut and even the worst hair can look good<br />

with a great haircut. Your barber should be on speed dial. Like<br />

it or not, he is one of the most important people in your life. A<br />

large part of your physical appearance is accredited to him,<br />

for good or bad.<br />

7<br />

8<br />

9<br />

10<br />

Get the right haircut:<br />

The right barber will work with you to find the haircut that<br />

suits you best. It may not happen right away, but that’s why<br />

it’s important to stick with one barber. Over time, your barber<br />

should learn your hair and preferences and will fine-tune your<br />

haircut until it’s 100% on point.<br />

Use the right product:<br />

There’s a good product out there for everyone’s hair. Don’t like<br />

it too shiny? Don’t like it too hard? Don’t like it greasy? There<br />

are still good products out there that will suit your needs<br />

and keep your hair where you want it. Know your hair type<br />

and find a product that caters to it. The right product can<br />

make thin hair look more full. The wrong one will make it look<br />

even thinner. The right product can make curly hair fresh and<br />

bouncy. The wrong one can make it frizzy and heavy.<br />

Eat right:<br />

The most common cause of hair loss is genetics. However,<br />

many other factors can affect your hair health. Lack of proper<br />

nutrition and vitamins from your diet can cause hair loss over<br />

time. People with protein-deficient diets and extreme and<br />

sudden weight loss can experience thinning hair. Fatty fish,<br />

eggs, greens, and nuts are good for your overall health, and<br />

especially hair health.<br />

Chill out:<br />

Another factor that can affect hair loss is stress. An<br />

occasional bad day or week won’t move your hairline up,<br />

however chronic stress or psychological trauma can lead<br />

to losing some or even all of your hair temporarily. In most<br />

cases, hair loss from stress is not permanent.<br />

LTHIER HAIR<br />

Eli Jaffe is a contributor for<br />

<strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>. Follow his hair<br />

care experiences on Instagram<br />

@the_bais_barber<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 79


DRINKS<br />

Is Bourbon the New<br />

Scotch?<br />

Since time immemorial (or at least since<br />

1495), scotch has always been the staple<br />

at the Kiddush club.<br />

BY: YEHUDA PITTERMAN<br />

Back in the day, we all remember the blended Scotch<br />

at our grandfathers’ Kiddush club. You had Chivas<br />

Regal, Crown Royal, or Canadian Club (unless your<br />

grandfather was Chassidish, in which case it was<br />

Slivovitz and Old Williamsburg, with sponge cake, of<br />

course) and if you were really fancy, you had some<br />

Johnny Walker. As single malts became more popular<br />

and prevalent in the late 80s and early 90s, The Glenlivet<br />

(yes, its official name is THE Glenlivet) and McCallan<br />

overtook Dewar’s and J&B as the must-haves at any<br />

self-respecting kiddush club. As additional distilleries<br />

started importing more varieties and people’s palates<br />

matured, we entered the start of the golden age of<br />

scotch. Besides the classic single malts, people<br />

began discovering smoky and peaty scotch (what<br />

exactly is a smoky or peaty scotch is a topic for a<br />

future date), and Lagavulin and Laphroig became<br />

common sights. While scotch became more popular,<br />

good old fashioned American bourbon became “old<br />

fashioned” and out of style and the people who drank<br />

it were looked down upon. (It bears mentioning that<br />

you should never make fun of someone’s drink of<br />

choice if it’s what they enjoy— they’re entitled to enjoy<br />

themselves, even if they’re wrong.) It had a reputation<br />

of being the drink for those who couldn’t appreciate<br />

a single malt scotch, besides a few exceptions like<br />

Woodford and Basil Hayden.<br />

80 | MOCHERS<br />

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M<br />

Beer Barrel Bourbon<br />

AMAZING! It was the<br />

first bourbon that I<br />

really liked.<br />

Angel’s Envy<br />

At one point, they<br />

even partnered with<br />

Kedem and had a<br />

hechsher.<br />

In spite of all of that, an extraordinary thing happened<br />

— bourbon became popular and mainstream. If you go<br />

to most liquor stores nowadays, the bourbon selection<br />

has probably doubled, and people are unabashedly<br />

drinking bourbon by kiddushim. People began to<br />

realize that there actually are some very decent<br />

bourbons, including some very high-end bourbons,<br />

and they might even prefer some bourbons over<br />

some scotches. Once you realize that there are some<br />

good and even great bourbons out there to try, after<br />

years of drinking scotch, you might not know where<br />

to start. First of all, here’s a very important life lesson<br />

when it comes to buying alcohol: Always speak to<br />

the sales people at your local liquor store. They are<br />

usually very knowledgeable (I mean, it is their job) and<br />

very helpful. That being said, although I’m personally<br />

more of a scotch guy, here’s my (slightly eclectic) list<br />

of bourbons that I have personally enjoyed, excluding<br />

some of the more famous ones like Woodford and<br />

Basil Hayden.<br />

Yehuda Pitterman<br />

is a contributor for<br />

<strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

Spring Mill<br />

Around $30 and<br />

somehow delicious<br />

Wild Turkey 101<br />

I told you it was<br />

eclectic!<br />

Bulleit<br />

Probably one<br />

of the most<br />

underrated<br />

bourbons<br />

Jeffersons<br />

Especially their<br />

special editions<br />

Widow Jane<br />

Michter’s<br />

MOCHERS<br />

www.mochers.com | 81


M<br />

FITNESS<br />

The<br />

gyms<br />

are<br />

closed<br />

is no<br />

excuse.<br />

BY: JEREMY URBACH<br />

Russian Twists<br />

One of the things about this pandemic<br />

that has really annoyed me was that all<br />

the gyms were forced to close down.<br />

This meant that many avid gym-goers like myself had to<br />

step into a whole new territory of exercise: bodyweight<br />

exercises, which are exercises using only the weight of<br />

your body. This especially took a toll on me; as someone<br />

who enjoys lifting weights and swinging kettlebells, my<br />

university's gym facilities being closed meant that I had<br />

to stay in my room and work out without equipment.<br />

But over the months, I became familiar with many<br />

bodyweight workouts and have even learned ways to<br />

alter them to reap more muscle-building benefits. I'm<br />

going to let you tzadikim in on three of my favorite<br />

bodyweight exercises that hit all areas of the body,<br />

work up a good sweat, and will definitely help you cut<br />

down the kugel gut.<br />

Push Ups<br />

Push ups are an excellent upper body<br />

exercise that you can do anywhere.<br />

Push ups will hit your chest muscles<br />

and also work your shoulders, triceps,<br />

and back.<br />

If you’re ready for something a little harder,<br />

you can do diamond push ups with your<br />

hands together, so your fingers form a<br />

diamond. If you want even more of a<br />

challenge, try clap push ups.<br />

Squats<br />

Squats are the ultimate lower body workout.<br />

While gym-goers usually like to squat with<br />

heavy weights to bulk up their legs, we can do<br />

bodyweight squats to make our legs stronger<br />

and get our heart rate up. When squatting,<br />

make sure to keep your feet shoulder-width<br />

apart and your knees in line with your toes.<br />

If you want to make it harder, hold the squat<br />

position for longer. If that gets too easy, try<br />

single-leg squats, AKA pistol squats, by doing<br />

the regular squat movement, but on only<br />

one leg.<br />

Jeremy Urbach is a contributor<br />

for <strong>Mochers</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />

Russian twists are an excellent workout for your core and can get your heart rate<br />

pretty high. To perform them, rest your tailbone on the floor with your legs off of<br />

the ground in front of you, then twist from side to side until your abs can’t take<br />

anymore. You can make this exercise more challenging by holding something in<br />

your hands, like a water bottle. For even more of a challenge, try and keep your legs<br />

locked in place.<br />

82 | MOCHERS<br />

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