SHANA TOVAH TO OUR BRETHREN IN IRAN
This is the last Shabbat before the Jewish
New Year 5773.
I had two pieces of news. One about a
Jewish Driver in Teheran and about a Persian dish called, Mast-o-Khiar, with a
recipe on how to make it.
I happened to be in Omaha, Nebraska waiting
for a flight to go to Miami, Florida. My brothers Eliyahu and Itzhak and their
families would be spending the Erev Rosh Hashona at the home of an Iranian
Jewish family in Portland, Oregon.
This gentleman from Teheran who is Jewish
is the kind and generous and gentle is the driver of the bus that takes the
workers of a government factory from Teheran to other places. I wanted to wish
him and his family and his friends a Happy Jewish New Year. Even though we may
never meet him or other Jews who are living in Iran, it is good to let them
know that their brothers will not forget about them.
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| MOST-O-KHIAR |
Most of the North Indian food or some
cuisine termed Moghlai have Persian origin but spiced up in the subcontinent.
It is obvious when you are having some princely cuisine such as Awadi. Each
time I taste something new from Iran, I am reminded of their sweeter or spicier
cousins, and Mast-o-Khiar was no exception.
A yogurt and cucumber dip with pungency
added to it, is a cousin or the origin of North Indian Raita, only the Raita is
sweeter and a little spicier.
Suddenly it occurred to me, one of the few
Persian Restaurants in this part of the world is in Omaha, why not go there, on
this Shabbat night.
As I walked in, the owner, Ahmad, after
whom the resto is named was sitting outside with some friends smoking a cigar,
welcomed me warmly. I told him: I would like
Most-o-khiar
Dolmeh
Doorg
He said, sit down and I will prepare them
for you and disappeared into the kitchen.
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| DOLMEH |
 |
| DOOG |
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| THE JOVIAL AHMAD, OWNER OF AHMAD'S PERSIAN CUISINE IN OLD MARKET IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA |
Doorg is another yogurt based Persian Drink
that has demonstrated health benefits. In fact, a paper was presented at a
scientific meeting recently and I was in touch with the principal author of the
research.
PERSIAN YOGURT DRINK IS WINNINGDoogh May Lower Heart Disease in DiabeticsDrinking vitamin D-fortified doogh, a Persian yogurt drink, each day may lower risk of heart disease for type 2 diabetics, find researchers in Iran. Doogh improves inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetics, plus the extra calcium adds further anti-inflammatory benefits, notes the study to be published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Researchers say that the vitamin D-fortified drink decreased highly sensitive C-reactive protein, which has a role in inflammation."Our study showed for the first time that adiponectin, a substance secreted by fat tissue that has an anti-inflammatory effect, increased when calcium and vitamin D-fortified doogh was consumed," says lead author Tirang Neyestani, PhD.
Dr N, who was visiting Toronto when I got
in touch with him, said that the yogurt in North America has a distinct taste
and is very different from the Yogurt in Iran.
Do you know the reason?
I went into a store in Omaha, looked at the
Yogurt being sold in the “health” section; it had Corn Starch added to it. I am
sure the ill effects of modified cornstarch would swallow up any health benefit
of American Yogurt. So if you wish to make, most-o-khiar or raita or doog,
please make sure that the ingredients are safe and chemical free.
The night was falling; the street was busy
with people out on the town before the cold nights step in these parts.
I sat under the lamps, slowly enjoying
these new tastes, reading JK on Culture.
And thinking of my
mischpochah…all over the world - בכל רחבי העולם
May they always enjoy the thirst for Freedom
and Curiosity, which separates us from other nations.
And to those gathered in Portland in the
Iranian Jewish home, also the Jewish driver from Teheran… it is good to say
thanks.
(here is a little story,arrived from Iran, I dedicate this to Betty and her husband and her mischpochah in Portland)
SHAHAB factory is an old factory founded by a Jewish Engineer named Mr Khoramabadi. "When LG was a small shop, SHAHAB was a factory." this is what Mr Khoramabadi used to say. After 1979 revolution, the government took control of all the factories saying that the great deal of money the factories obtain is for all of people. Most of factory owners emigrated abroad, but Mr Khoraabadi remained in Iran; although all his children emigrated abroad.
He used to came to work even till 10 to 15 years ago. But, he wasn't managing, he only used to go to the laboratory, and work with R&D engineers.
I guess the driver was hired at that time, and up to now he works here.
(here is a little story,arrived from Iran, I dedicate this to Betty and her husband and her mischpochah in Portland)
SHAHAB factory is an old factory founded by a Jewish Engineer named Mr Khoramabadi. "When LG was a small shop, SHAHAB was a factory." this is what Mr Khoramabadi used to say. After 1979 revolution, the government took control of all the factories saying that the great deal of money the factories obtain is for all of people. Most of factory owners emigrated abroad, but Mr Khoraabadi remained in Iran; although all his children emigrated abroad.
He used to came to work even till 10 to 15 years ago. But, he wasn't managing, he only used to go to the laboratory, and work with R&D engineers.
I guess the driver was hired at that time, and up to now he works here.
