The first gentleman in line for dinner greeted us with a hearty "shalom." And "shalom to you, too" we each responded as his dinner plate was filled with the food, hot, and freshly cooked by an especially energetic crew.
We know why we gather the first Sunday of every month: it is all about the guys. On Sunday evening, December 4, we began to gather at 4:30 PM. First came Ednah Beth Friedman with the staples stored in her garage, quickly followed by NS Board Member Joan Bradus who had shopped for and delivered the fresh food needed for this month's dinner. Joan began to clean the
lettuces. Next came Jerry Derblich and Zephira Milea-Derblich. Jerry pitched right in on the salad, cutting the peppers and cucumbers into bite sized pieces. Zephira cut up the fresh fruit for desert. Susan Lawrence-Cohen our menu planner arrived. Susi spends a significant amount of quiet time each month deciding upon the menu, figuring out the quantity of ingredients needed to feed approximately 60 men, preparing the shopping list and instructions for the crew. Deborah Enelow came with her own apron and
began to help Susi prepare the vegetarian lasagna. NS President Mel Sibony arrived just in time to begin to wash some of the pans and utensils. Michael Shapira began to assemble the dessert plates and organize the serving table. Later in the evening he scrubbed a prodigious number of pots and pans. Meredith Trauner helped assemble the lasagna, prepare the garlic bread, andmade the juice-drink. Lastly, Mika & Illai Simhi-Aloni and their friend, Tal Garner, joined in. Mika and Illai had made ten dozen cookies for dessert and Tal brought corn bread she had made at home just for this occasion. When the lasagna was in the oven cooking, the green beans on the stove simmering, and the green salad nearing the finishing touches Mel left his post at the kitchen sink and shared with us a fascinating account of the Moroccan-Jewish tradition of Jewish saints. We had a lively discussion. Promptly at 7 PM dinner was served!
When you see these folks next, be sure to offer a "yasher koach" and a "toda
raba!" Will you join us in January, February, or March? Sign up at http://tinyurl.com/CNSshelterdinnersignup
