During my 20 visits to Israel I had always wanted but never had the opportunity to visit Jerusalem’s oldest synagogue, The Karaite Synagogue in the Old City’s Jewish quarter. Every single time I tried, no one was inside to open the door or show me around. Thus, I felt really lucky to turn a corner to find the synagogue’s gate open, and a few tourists standing at its entrance.

We were even luckier to meet Shuki, the man with the nicest and sweetest smile in Israel according to my wife! Joshua Levy (Shuki) is the administrator of The Karaite Kenasa (their word for Beit Kneset) Synagogue and the greatest cheerleader for Karaite Judaism. Although I have had a great deal of interest and curiosity about Karaite Jews, and have visited Karaite synagogues and cemeteries in Eastern Europe, this was my first opportunity to meet a real Karaite.

Shuki graciously took us on a tour of the synagogue/community center. When he realized I was better informed than most tourists and asked good questions, he went out of his way to try to explain the Karaite beliefs and positions. While seeing their beautiful museum, he told me that one of his missions is to get out the Karaite version of facts rather than what others think or say about them. For instance, their synagogue is located in what amounts today to the basement of the building and that is usually explained by non-Karaite tour guides as the fulfillment of Psalm 130 that says, “Out of the depths have I called Thee, O the Lord. Lord, hearken unto my voice; let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.”

Shuki said that their explanation was not accurate. Because the Karaite Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in Jerusalem, built over 1,300 years ago, it was located at street level during that time. Today, after so much destruction and construction, the street level is a whole floor up. Similarly, we discussed many of the myths and legends I had heard about Karaites, including the one that no Karaites were murdered by Nazis.

Annan ben David, who lived in 8th century Babylon is deemed to be the founder of Karaism. Karaites believe that they observe the original form of Judaism, as prescribed by God in the Tanakh, and do not accept what they consider to be later additions to the Tanakh, such as the Oral Law of Rabbinic Judaism. They place the ultimate responsibility of interpreting the Tanakh on each individual. Karaism does not reject biblical interpretation but rather holds every interpretation up to the same objective scrutiny regardless of its source.

At some point Karaites may have been as much as 40 percent of world Jewry, but nowadays they are less than 50,000 worldwide. I have always wondered what were the causes for Karaism’s near demise. Shuki’s explanation made lots of sense. He told me that since Rabbinic Judaism (what we think of as normative Judaism) has made so many adaptations and created ways to make life easier (for instance using a Shabbat elevator or timer on Shabbat or the idea of creating an eruv to allow people to walk farther on Shabbat), the Karaite practices and way of life became too hard for people so they abandoned Karaism for Rabbinic Judaism. Since there are so few Karaite Jews today, many end up marrying into Rabbinic Judaism and abandon their practices.

As we were about to leave I thanked Shuki for the tour, chat and explanations and told him I had only one complaint: why wasn’t there a gift shop? No tourist site worth its salt is without a gift shop! He produced the only thing they had for sale: a Karaite mezuzah, that in fact is only an image of the Ten Commandments, that Karaites put on their doorposts, but without the claf, the prayer that goes inside. I bought one and it now rests in the doorpost of Temple Israel’s office. It is for me a reminder that Judaism is a diverse, multi faceted and ever evolving religion.

“Sarah’s Key” is a war drama based on the beloved best-selling 2007 novel by Tatiana de Rosnay. The characters are entirely fictitious, but they put names and faces to the 13,000 Jews arrested by the French police in the great Velodrome d’ Hiver roundup that took place on July 16, 1942, in the heart of Paris. The book and movie adaptation tell a story that should never be forgotten. It is a tribute to the 76,000 Jews deported from France during the Holocaust with special mention to the children who never came back and the few lucky ones that survived. The movie opens tomorrow (Friday, Aug. 19) exclusively for a limited engagement at the Glenwood Arts and AMC Town Center 20.

The movie begins with a loud pounding on the door of the third floor apartment located in the Marais district of Paris. The French police are there to take into custody the Polish Jewish family named Starzynski consisting of husband Wladyslaw, 32, his wife Rywka, 30, their 10-year-old daughter Sarah (Melusine Mayance) and 4-year-old son Michel.

After answering the door, Sarah goes into the bedroom and tells Michel to pretend they are playing a game of hide-and-seek. He climbs into the long, deep cupboard in the wall and Sarah locks him in. She slips the titular key in her pocket. She whispers to him through the wooden panel, “I’ll come back for you later. I promise.”

The movie shifts gears and fast forwards to Paris of 2009. American journalist Julia Jarmond (Kristin Scott Thomas from “The English Patient” and “Gosford Park”) gets an assignment to do a 10-page article for her Parisian-based magazine on the thousands of Jewish families locked up for days in the summer of 1942 at the famous indoor stadium where bicycle races were held. Julia is married to architect Bertrand Tezac and they have an 11-year-old daughter Zoe. They are on the verge of moving into an apartment previously occupied for more than 66 years by Bertrand’s paternal grandparents, Andre and Mame Tezac.

Sarah and her parents spend several deplorable days in the stadium before being transported in an overcrowded truck to a transit camp. Upon arrival, Sarah and her mother are separated from Wladysaw. Later, Sarah is separated from her mother. Both her parents end up in the crematoriums of Auschwitz.

Julia visits Mame at the nursing home and learns that the apartment has a history tracing back to World War II. It turns out that the Tezac family moved in right after a Jewish family was deported. Julia determines from the records that the family’s name was Starzynski and this ties the two story threads together. Julia begins a genealogical search to find the missing Sarah.

On the domestic front, Julia finds out from a home testing kit that she is pregnant. When she tells Bertrand the good news over dinner, he insists that she have an abortion.

Other characters that play key roles in Sarah’s survival tale include fellow prisoner Rachel, a kind policeman named Jacques and foster parents Genevieve and Jules Dufaure (Niels Arestrup from “Farewell,” “A Prophet” and “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”). Genevieve and Jules are representative of those most deserving non-Jews declared Righteous among the Nations at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

The movie jumps back and forth in time during its entirety. Sarah’s story is much more compelling and the audience is fully invested in her fate. It feels like an intrusion on the forward momentum in 1942 every time we are forced to switch tracks returning to the present day. Julia’s decision whether to abort or not seems trivial compared to Sarah’s dire straits that teeter on the edge of life and death. There is much less tension in 2009 and an absence of a rooting interest for the journalist.

Although a wonderful story, it seems to come out in fits and starts. The slow, meandering pace may be a turnoff to those unfamiliar with the novel. The movie also does a poor job of identifying characters. The quest for the truth and the search for a missing person from the Holocaust is the fascination that keeps us engaged in the mystery.

Mayance, in her feature film debut, takes the cake in the acting category. She is natural and believable in the most important role in the movie. Thomas is a reliable class act with innumerable thespian gifts. Arestrup is a French treasure and has appeared in some of my all-time favorite foreign language films. Another familiar actor to American audiences, Aidan Quinn (“Songcatcher” and “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee”) plays a vital role in the last act.

The movie debuted at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival and began making the rounds about a month ago in major U.S. cities.

The dialogue is partially in French, German and Italian with English subtitles. The movie is rated PG-13 for thematic material including disturbing situations involving the Holocaust. It has a running time of 111 minutes and merits my rating of GOOD (3 stars out of 4).

As a postscript, I highly recommend that you read the EXCELLENT book to fill in all the missing blanks. I rank the novel right up there with “The Diary of Anne Frank.” It kept me up all night and the 293 heartfelt pages will linger in my memory forever.

What is a Bat Mitzvah? A rite of passage for girls? A sacred ceremony in front of your congregation? All of these are right answers. But for me, Bat Mitzvahs are about giving back to the community.

Last summer, I volunteered at Operation Breakthrough (an organization to help children in poverty by giving them a safe environment to grow in). I played outside with kids about 4 years old. They had lots of fun and so did I. But, there was something bittersweet about this experience. These children lived lives unfairly made for them. I thought it would be great to see them happy again and again.

I became a Bat Mitzvah on June 25 at Congregation Beth Shalom. Because of my experiences with Operation Breakthrough, I decided to collect school supplies for the organization and make stuffed animals for the kids. As a group, I gathered my cousins and a couple of my friends (both Jewish and non Jewish) to make teddy bears for the kids.

Then, the week after my Bat Mitzvah, I was able to visit Operation Breakthrough again to make the special deliveries! With my mom and dad’s help, I went with my sister Ariel and my brother Joel to Operation Breakthrough where an employee, Jennifer Heinemann, took us to two different classrooms.

The first room was full of children about 2 and 3 years old. The children were so excited to see the bears! Some boys even gave each other hugs because they were so happy! Then, after we gave out the bears, some helpers set up tables and chairs for lunchtime and the kids sang the “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

The second room was for the 3 and 4 year olds. They had a different reaction to the bears than the first one. While the kids in the first classroom immediately played with the bears, the kids in the second one politely thanked us (first) and then started playing with them.

After visiting both rooms, we helped Jennifer store the school supplies that will be distributed in time for school to begin in the fall. Materials that we used to store the school supplies and deliver the bears will also be put to good use by Operation Breakthrough.

That is why Bat Mitzvahs are such a special thing. It’s a mitzvah to help people who need it most.

Hannah is the daughter of Ann Karty and Billy Silverman.

Disappointing event coverage

Since coming to Kansas City over 35 years ago, I have been an avid reader of the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, which I respected for its insightful and accurate reporting on Jewish issues both local and world-wide. For the past six weeks the Chronicle has continued its downward slide and reached its all-time low with your devoting two full pages, including the entire front page, promoting the great Jewish sport of hot air ballooning. With all the critical and important issues facing American and world Jewry, hot air ballooning must rank at the bottom of the list.
This past week my wife and I attended a telecast at a local movie house of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra led by Zubin Mehta with the participation of two of the hottest stars in opera — Rene Flemming and the Maltese tenor sensation Joseph Calleja.
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the top orchestras in the world and the concert was outstanding and very enjoyable. It was also heartwarming to see some members of the orchestra wearing kippot and one even had payot.
It is not every day that Kansas City has the opportunity to see, hear and support this orchestra. Yet the so called Kansas City “Jewish Chronicle” did not write one word to alert its readers about this unique and rare event.
The program also included an excellent short movie narrated by Ed Asner on Richard Tucker the great American-Jewish opera tenor and cantor.

Solomon Batnitzky, M.D.
Professor Emeritus,
University of Kansas
Medical Center

A real mensch

I enjoyed Sally Beyers’ article this past week (View from the Village, July 28), especially the part about Ben Schanzer and his son Gary. I remember Ben when I was in high school (1945-1948). At that time it was not uncommon for many of us Jewish kids to have part-time jobs selling shoes at Baker’s Shoe Store downtown. Ben was the manager and always treated us like “menschen” — which was unusual since most managers with similar jobs at shoe stores were known to be difficult to work for. But not Ben. He was a very nice person and I’m sure still is, which is probably one of the reasons he’s lived a long and happy life. And based on what Sally wrote about Gary, it appears the acorn hasn’t fallen far from the tree.

Marvin Fremerman
Ridgedale, Mo.

Superb service

I recently placed a large order with the kosher deli department at the Hen House Market (11751 Roe Ave.). I gave the order to Binyomin Mazer, the mashgiach of the kosher department. I called it in from out of town, with little lead time and many, many requests. Our order was filled accurately, ready on time and every one of my nudnical requests was met and more. They anticipated our needs regarding packaging and just took care of them!
Binyomin had only been in his position for two to three weeks, having just replaced Rabbi Mendel Segal, who is now the executive director of the VAAD HaKashruth. Phil Braverman and David Staton are also integral members of the staff and were extremely helpful as well. I recognize the stress under which I put these men and appreciate not only their competency and professionalism, but also their good nature and patience. We “remembered the good old days” together.
I would recommend the kosher deli at the Hen House — food, service, ability, graciousness, client attitude, etc… etc…. to all. It was a very good experience.

Marilyn Brand Ozar
Delray Beach, Fla.

Less than a month ago I spent a most unusual Shabbat. While traveling through Spain, we ended up getting a real bargain at a hotel in the lovely and quaint walled city of Ledesma, about 20 miles away from Salamanca. Presently less than 2,000 people live there. We stayed at a rural house, inside the walls, called “Las Murallas de Ledesma” a 13th Century former priests’ residence, where Don Pepe and Dona Teresa fussed over us and scolded us if we did not eat all of their deliciously prepared homemade food!

In the city’s little museum and interpretative center we learned that the area has been inhabited since Neolithic times. In ancient Roman times it was called Bletisa and was a big regional center. Later it was conquered by Muslims and nowadays it is just a cute little Spanish town.

The museum exhibit does mention Old Christians, a code word for individuals of “pure” Christian origins but it is silent about Jews or New Christians (or Conversos). My curiosity was piqued. I learned from one of my rabbinical school teachers, Dr. Jacob Rader Marcus, that “wherever a Jew goes, he can count on there having been another Jew there before.”

When I asked the museum attendant, she kindly pulled out a huge book of the town’s history from a shelf to tell me about the Jews in Ledesma. Indeed up until 1492, there had been a Jewish community in town. The book mentioned the part of town near the fort where the Jews used to live, the Juderia. A quick online search revealed that Ledesma was the birth place of at least one of the Jewish sailors that joined Columbus on his very first trip to America!

I am a deep believer in my friend Robert Uhllman’s theory that says that if there are two Jews in a room, they will somehow find themselves out. So, I set to try to look for the part of town that used to be the Juderia. I quickly found it by identifying the ultimate sign of a former New Christian community: crosses drawn in the doorposts where normally a Jew would place a mezuzah. I believe this was done by the New Christians to prove their total allegiance to their newly accepted faith. Ancient crosses and signs are quite common in Spain. Yet, I was disappointed because I could not find a single real sign of the past Jewish presence that I knew had existed there.

That evening, after discreetly reciting the Kiddush in the hotel’s dining room, I decided to walk around town. That happened to be an exciting evening in Ledesma, because they were having a rock concert at the ancient fort.

As I walked through the stone streets in the dim light of the evening, I noticed that in the shadows reflected from the ancient walls one could almost see Hebrew characters on the textured stone walls. It seemed as if the walls had a recollection of all the Jews that once lived there!

I thought about the many centuries since Hebrew words, prayers and songs had been uttered close to those walls in the Juderia, so I started chanting quietly to myself the Shabbat service: Shalom Aleichem, Lecha Dodi, Barechu, etc. ... As I chanted, I walked through the mostly deserted town that Shabbat evening. The only place in town that seemed to have some activity was the fort. I ended up walking in that direction.

As I approached the entrance of the fort I found him! Well, I really did not find the fellow Jew I sought in Ledesma, but I found his grave: someone placed a huge medieval matzevah, where the name Yaakov bar Yedidia could be discerned. That finding really made my Shabbat complete. It was a Shabbat service of sorts and an encounter with the local community! On that beautiful Shabbat night, I realized how faith and history connect Jews through time and space. I felt very grateful to be able to be yet another link in the Jewish chain of tradition.

“Bride Flight” is a lavish romantic epic spanning 55 years that tells the personal stories of three plucky Dutch heroines from different backgrounds, whose lives are forever changed when they emigrate from post-World War II Holland to New Zealand. The movie opens tomorrow (Friday, Aug. 5) exclusively for a limited engagement at the Glenwood Red Bridge.

The movie begins with 79-year-old Frank de Rooy (Rutger Hauer in his first role in a full-length Dutch motion picture after 28 years) sampling a new batch of red wine at his Druivebloed winery. The name comes from the Bible and means “Land of grapes.” On his way back home, Frank loses control of his red jeep. He swerves and veers off the road crashing into the vineyard. He is having a heart attack. He gazes at a photo of a young girl dangling from his key ring.

The movie flashes back to a major journalistic event in 1953. Archival black and white newsreel footage announces that Holland has taken up the challenge of an air race attempting to break the record 1946 flying time from London to Christchurch, New Zealand. The passengers aboard the KLM airplane bearing the moniker of “The Flying Dutchman” are fleeing job and housing problems resulting from a devastating flood disaster.

A 25-year old Frank (Waldemar Torenstra) is onboard. His dream is to capitalize on his college agricultural degree and purchase land for farming. He meets three young women joining their fiancés, who went on ahead of them to start a new life in this unknown land.

Ash blonde-haired Ada (Karina Smulders) is sitting next to Frank in the window seat. She is a shy, sensual farm girl taking her first airplane ride. Across the aisle, dark brunette Esther (Anna Drijver) and light brown Marjorie (Elise Schaap) are sitting together. Esther is a sophisticated extrovert, who aspires to be a fashion designer. She is Jewish, suffering from survivor guilt having lost her parents and brother 10 years ago in the Holocaust. The friendly and outgoing Marjorie wants to have a big family.

The three women bond on the long plane flight that covers a distance of more than 20,000 kilometers. When the plane lands in New Zealand, the three women are greeted by their prospective grooms. They all go their separate ways, but their paths cross in key milestone events over the years. The handsome Frank plays a major role throughout their lives.

The movie initially flashes back and forth between the titular transcontinental plane trip and 2008 when the three women, now in their 70s, reunite for Frank’s funeral. The movie is based on the best-selling novel by Mareke van der Pol, who also wrote the screenplay.

Director Ben Sombogaart doles out surprise revelations steeped in irony with a multi-layered approach.

The movie is sad, hopeful and uplifting.

There is a forbidden love affair, an impossible maternal choice, a secret pact sealed with a promise, a near tragedy and selfish betrayal.

Esther’s Jewish background is an integral part of the story. A family heirloom menorah and freshly-made potato latkes, both Chanukah staples, play a pivotal part in the story.

The movie’s strengths include the gorgeous looking cinematography, meticulous art direction capturing the look of the ‘50s and ‘60s, the sparkling scenic vistas of New Zealand and the period costume designs. The talented, personable and very appealing cast shines with emotional acting that wins over the audience.

This sprawling drama is one of the most expensive Dutch films ever made. It won the Audience Award at the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival. It was also honored as Best Feature Film, Best Actress (Smulders), Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

The dialogue is partially in Dutch with short, easy-to-read English subtitles. The movie is rated R for a strong sex scene and some graphic nudity. It has a running time of 130 minutes and merits my rating of GOOD (3 stars out of 4).

The evidence is growing that we may be fighting the wrong battle in the struggle to support Israel these days.

The situation is grim, if not alarming: Jerusalem is increasingly on the defensive diplomatically, faced with a United Nations vote for a Palestinian state in September, and a range of outside efforts aimed at undermining the legitimacy of the Jewish State, from boycotts to flotillas. What’s more, there is concern that the circle-the-wagon response in Jerusalem to these threats can lead to more problems; witness the recent passage of anti-boycott resolution in the Knesset that has been widely criticized as undemocratic, even among mainstream Jewish organizations.

True, Israel advocacy groups are proliferating, offering programs, websites and curriculum, many of them first-rate in presenting Jerusalem’s case and countering critics. But at the same time the number of Americans who care about the Jewish State in a more than superficial way is decreasing.

Polls continue to indicate that Americans favor Israel over the Palestinians by wide margins. But the findings also suggest that most Americans would not be willing to have the U.S. involved with either side in the event of a Mideast war. Other surveys find increasing indifference on the topic.

There is a growing recognition among some American Jewish leaders that Israel advocacy is not enough because it provides answers to questions that most people aren’t asking. We need a fresh and creative approach.

First, let me be clear. I am a believer in Israel advocacy and have seen its positive impact, particularly through Write On For Israel, the program sponsored by The Jewish Week with funding from the Avi Chai Foundation. Now in its ninth year, it continues to provide a select group of high school juniors and seniors with the Mideast facts and moral confidence to be effective supporters of Israel on campus. The program has a proven track record of success as our graduates have taken on leadership roles as freshmen and sophomores at colleges around the country.

But the foundation for effective advocacy is education, and there is far too little Modern Israel education in our community. Even top day schools spend far more time focusing on ancient Jewish history than on the complex Mideast events of the 20th century that frame the current conflict.

Could it be that because of our long history as a people, the curriculum never quite makes it to modern times?

Our children learn about the ancient Maccabees but couldn’t tell you much, if anything, about key Zionist leaders like Ben-Gurion, Jabotinsky, Begin and Dayan. Even an authentic, living hero of the Jewish people like Natan Sharansky is little known, and the gap in our educational efforts is taking its toll.

John Ruskay, the executive vice president and CEO of UJA-Federation of New York, says the issue “requires urgent focus.”

“We as a community need to renew Zionist education, an issue we’ve neglected, and we are seeing some of the results with younger people now,” he recently told The Jewish Week. “We are not well served by conflating Israel advocacy and Israel education. Since 1948 we’ve asked people to rally for Israel, and they did. But we didn’t provide the educational frameworks that would allow them to grapple with the challenge of developing their own vision of what Israel can and should be, and working through tough issues. For ultimately, such a process strengthens connection and commitment.

“Too many in our community,” he added, “young and old, are intellectually naked when it comes to the complexity of contemporary Zionist education, and these include many of our future professional and lay leaders.”

The results of the current focus on advocacy rather than education is that mainstream American Jewry is left uninformed and often uninterested when it comes to the complex and troublesome issue of Israel vs. much of the world. And young people who receive an advocacy pitch without a solid grounding in Israel education are particularly prone to having their beliefs challenged and shaken.

As evidence, a study by the Melton Center for Jewish Education at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, first reported on here in February, found that presenting day school students with information on both sides of the Israel issue and letting them draw their own conclusions is more effective than shielding them from criticism or being perceived as forcing on them the “correct” response.

Most students were vague and uncomfortable when asked to define “Zionism,” and were reluctant to describe themselves as Zionists.

Rabbi Donniel Hartman, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, asserts that Israel advocacy programs “often fail to achieve their end.

“When the case for Israel is grounded only on a factual narrative,” he wrote in an essay entitled “Engaging Israel: Beyond Advocacy,” “it is often unconvincing to those who hold a counter factual perception. In general, positions are rarely formed purely around facts, but rather by ideological, moral and psychological propensities which then construct factual narratives to reinforce the preexisting commitment.”

Rabbi Hartman argues that the majority of committed American Jews, and especially younger ones, “lack a language to understand or articulate their feelings about Israel” as well as a framework to combat delegitimization campaigns. He maintains that’s because the standard arguments for supporting Israel — a safe haven in event of another Holocaust; the Jewish State is in danger; and Israel is a key ally in the war against evil empires — are irrelevant and no longer apply.

According to Rabbi Hartman (the son of the institute’s founder, Rabbi David Hartman), American Jews feel safe in the U.S., perceive Israel as more Goliath than David, and are not engaged by the notion of America going to war, again.

He has developed a curriculum for his institute offering a “new Israel engagement narrative” that is not crisis-centered but based mostly on “Jewish values” and the notion that Israel is “a work in progress,” one welcoming Jews around the world to help shape.

It’s a thoughtful, sophisticated approach and recognizes that talk about Israel must maintain standards of pluralism, tolerance and morality held dear by American Jews.

It’s good to know that, in addition, other educational institutions are exploring their own ideas about how to present, teach and engage with Israel in ways that reflect the new realities, including a generation of American Jews less emotionally attached to Jerusalem than their parents and grandparents.

There is a recognition taking hold that people’s views on Israel are not just about policies, like settlements, but about people and values and connecting on a personal level. There’s no one magic approach that works for everyone, but it’s clear that advocacy is best when it is grounded in education, and we need a lot more of it.

This idea of thinking of Israel in a new and meaningful way that brings us closer to understanding, appreciating and making real the Zionist dream is not a simple task. But it’s critically important, now — for Israel and for us.

Gary Rosenblatt, editor and publisher of The Jewish Week, can be reached at . Check out the website at www.thejewishweek.com.

Locally-owned Sunset Grill, opened in 2004, has the feel of an Americanized Mexican restaurant — with its lime green canvases of beachy palm tree settings on one wall, bright blue drawings of leaves on another, and the vaguely Mexicanized menu. To its credit — and sometimes to its detriment — the restaurant strives to be more than that.

The Sunset Grill sits in a large space, of which about a third contains the comfortable bar area, with several televisions. Live music and entertainment is pervasive at the Sunset Grill. One night it is Joel McNulty, local folk rocker/power popper. Another night it is Tony Antonnuci (perhaps best known for performing enthusiastically at this writer’s rehearsal dinner some nine years ago), crooning the songs of Francis Albert Sinatra. Waitstaff is predominantly younger — seemingly of high school and college age. Our waitress one evening appeared to be among the more senior members of the waitstaff, likely in the ballpark of her mid-20s.

A certain risk exists for restaurants denoting particular dishes as signature items on the menu. A diner might assume that any selection not so denoted is somehow sub-standard or unworthy of consideration. We threw caution to the wind one night and ordered the Guacamole (lacking a palm tree next to it, which would have identified it as a signature dish) ($5/$6.75). Given the restaurant’s Mexicanized theme, and the fact that the menu indicated the guacamole was made fresh daily, it seemed to warrant a palm tree. Maybe the stale chips served alongside the guacamole knocked it out of contention. Or maybe it was the over-abundance of tomatoes and onions that frankly overwhelmed the nice, ripe avocados. Fresh jalapenos were a nice touch. The Tijuana Wraps ($8.75) were a decent, Southwestern take on Chinese egg rolls, somewhat spicy and served halved and stuffed with black beans, corn, cheese, red pepper, spinach and chicken — with a fair avocado ranch for dipping. Nothing especially inventive, but a reasonably good appetizer, nonetheless.

We opted to explore several entrees beyond the Sunset Grill’s Mexican/Southwestern fringe. And one of the best entrees we sampled was the Fresh Salmon ($16.50), appropriately deemed a restaurant signature item, and a keen example of the Sunset Grill stretching beyond its Tex-Mex core and succeeding. To her credit, our waitress asked a friend how she wanted the eight ounces of salmon prepared. It was requested to be on the rare side of medium, and arrived precisely so. The fish was extremely moist and flavorful, with a decent brown sugar mustard glaze, tasting more prominently of the sugar than the mustard component. The salmon was served with a rather basic wild rice, and al dente asparagus. Though the dollop of pico de gallo was consistent with the restaurant’s Southwestern theme, it seemed out of place on this particular plate. Our friend had (oddly) requested that the mediocre Caesar Salad ($4.50) she ordered be brought with the meal. Our waitress evidently also thought this was peculiar, and brought the salad out first, proclaiming, “It was ready so I brought it, but if you want, I can put it in the fridge.”

I wanted to see how the Sunset Grill handled steak preparation, so one night I ordered the Rib Eye ($17.50), a generous 14-ounce cut. I ordered the steak medium rare, and as with the salmon, the kitchen nailed it — serving the fairly thick slab of beef with a perfectly warm, red center. Sometimes a ribeye, though almost universally flavorful, can be laden with big globs of fat; but this steak was nicely marbled with thin ribbons of fat. To be clear, this was by no means a prime cut of beef — nor was that the expectation. But it was a decent steak. The mashed potatoes served alongside were quite good, with the skin from the new potatoes left on, and a prominent flavor of garlic. The vegetable medley included carrots, zucchini, green and red peppers and a little red onion. It was colorful, and cooked fine, though was perhaps a bit drab.

We were less fond of the Parmesan Cream Pasta ($8.25, $9.75 with chicken), a basic rendition of fettucini alfredo. The noodles in the dish were overcooked, and the rather bland sauce was lacking garlic (and other) flavor. Here, the Sunset Grill faltered outside its Mexican/Southwestern comfort zone. By the same token, prevailing culinary wisdom dictates that one avoid any sort of nacho platter at Cascone’s, and any attempt at chopped liver (or kasha varnishkes, for that matter) at Bo Ling’s.

We tried dessert one evening — an Apple Crisp ($6.25), which our waitress indicated was homemade (as was another dessert, the Key Lime Pie). It was an odd dessert, with a big scoop of melted vanilla ice cream in the middle of the oval plate, and only a smidgen of “crisp” surrounding the vanilla mound, strewn with just a few cooked and spiced apple slices. The non-ice cream portion of the dessert was frankly a little skimpy and disappointing.

It is worth noting that the Sunset Grill serves a pretty solid brunch on Saturdays and Sundays — offering breakfast items with a Southwestern flair.

There is something comfortable about this place, and it undoubtedly has its loyalists. It seems like only a few tweaks here and there could take this place somewhere close to the “next level”. But somehow, the Sunset Grill seems pretty comfortable right where it is.

Out of 4 Stars
Food: 2 ½
Atmosphere: 2 ½
Service: 3

Bonding at the campfire

There have been times through the years I’ve been tempted to write a letter to voice opposition to a published article or letter; however, I took no action. This time I need to express my delight in reading about the bonding experience forged by the hike of Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff and Andrew Kaplan. What a great article; what a wonderful idea. It truly demonstrated how each drew upon the strengths of the other, how each benefitted and how that bond will benefit the congregation as a whole. Maybe our Congressional leaders should follow the same path for the benefit of our country. Thank you for letting all of us ride along and vicariously sit at that campfire under the stars.

Felicia Weiner
Kansas City, Mo.

Officials of Birthright Israel are said to be worried about the impact of an in-depth, highly critical piece, written by a recent participant and published in the July 4-11 issue of The Nation.
They needn’t be.

In fact, like the biblical Balaam, the Moabite prophet who, when hired by King Balak to curse the Jews, ends up blessing them against his will (as we read in synagogue July 9), Kiera Feldman, 26, who wrote The Nation piece, has unintentionally underscored the success of the project, asserting that it turns “blank slate” young Jews into pro-Israel advocates.

Feldman herself did not qualify as a “blank slate” when she signed up for the free 10-day trip last year. Self-described as “a baptized child of intermarriage” on assignment and funded in part by The Investigative Fund, loosely affiliated with the liberal Nation magazine, she makes clear that she is sympathetic to the Palestinian cause and opposed to Israel’s treatment of and attitudes toward Arabs.

“With the relentless siege of Gaza, the interminable occupation, the ever-expanding settlements, the onslaught of anti-Arab Knesset legislation,” she writes, “Israel has earned its new status as an international pariah.”

She headed for the Holy Land in search of proof that young American Jews are, in effect, being brainwashed to support Israel’s political point of view.

The breathless blurb summarizing her article (entitled “The Romance Of Birthright Israel”) on The Nation’s website reads: “By providing all-expenses paid trips to Israel for Jewish young adults, U.S. funders and Israeli politicians are creating the next generations of American Zionists.”

And this is a bad thing?

Apparently it is, according to Feldman, who writes that Birthright, now beginning its second decade and having sent more than 260,000 young people (18-26) to Israel, “no longer is … simply a project to shore up Jewish identity; Birthright has joined the fight for the political loyalties of young Jews.”

Organizers and funders tell her that is not the case, maintaining that the trip is designed to give participants an educational experience, a chance to explore their Jewish identity, an emotional connection to their people’s ancient homeland and a fun time with peers from around the world.

Feldman provides a thorough and accurate depiction of how Birthright was created, and credits it with “maintain[ing] rigorous quality control” in offering up a highly moving experience.

But she feels it does too good a job. She employs a mocking tone toward her fellow travelers, observing how, in her eyes, they swallow the Zionist Kool-Aid in becoming emotionally attached to the land and people of Israel. She describes the tears that are shed at the Western Wall, at Yad Vashem and at Mount Herzl’s military cemetery. “The moment almost always comes,” she writes, when participants come away “armed with a new ‘pro-Israel’ outlook.”

That particular reference was to a Reform 26-year-old woman from New York who returned from a Birthright trip during the Gaza war in 2008 and announced: “Israel really changed me. I truly felt when I came back that I was a different person.”

Writes Feldman: “It was mission accomplished for Birthright Israel …”

The subtext: there goes another liberal Jew lost to the cause of the Palestinians and to criticism of Israeli policy.

She takes umbrage at the fact that “welcome home” is a key message of the Birthright trip, asserting that “it serves as a pointed riposte to the right of return claimed under international law by the 700,000 Palestinians expelled in 1948 upon the creation of the Jewish state, and their descendants.”

Even Feldman admits, though, that “despite my best efforts to maintain a reportorial stance,” she experienced “a return to the intensity of feeling of childhood,” which she attributed to lack of sleep, the “mind-numbing itinerary” and the planners’ effort to provide a deeply emotional experience.

She writes that a key element of the trip “is the promotion — by turns winking and overt — of flings among participants,” and acknowledges that she, too, found romance with a bus mate “when the lights went down in the fake Bedouin tent.”

Feldman’s most stinging critique is in offering up examples of alleged biased remarks against Arabs by Birthright tour guides and the crime of omission when it comes in dealing with the occupation. And she is deeply upset that participants are encouraged to buy Ahava products at the factory’s Dead Sea gift shop, claiming the company profits “by illegally exploiting Palestinian Dead Sea resources,” a charge denied in the article by the company’s board chairman.

One of the great ironies of the Balaam story in the Bible is that in his attempt to curse the Jewish people, the prophet, looking down on the Israelite camp from a mountain, makes a statement so sublime that it has become part of our daily liturgy: “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel.”

Kiera Feldman is not as eloquent as Balaam, but she, too, leaves us with the impression that despite her best efforts to demean Birthright Israel, the organization is far-reaching, effective and successful.

“A new era is dawning for Birthright,” she writes. “What began as an identity booster has become an ideology machine, pumping out not only Jewish baby-makers but defenders of Israel. Or that’s the hope.”

It certainly is mine.

Gary Rosenblatt, editor and publisher of The Jewish Week, can be reached at . Check out the website at www.thejewishweek.com.