Introducing The Grogggers?

In anticipation of the release of The Groggers' debut album, "There's no 'I' in Cherem", we would like to share this brief window into our private lives with all of our fans and friends. Although we have been M.I.A. these past few months finishing our album, there has not been a single dull moment. Enjoy...

Is Delta Airlines Letting Itself Be Hijacked By Religious Bigots?

I thought this was worth posting:

By Rabbi Abraham Cooper

An Open Letter to Delta Airlines CEO Richard Anderson:

Pardon me for communicating with you this way, but you fobbed off inquiries by others to your Customer Care e-mail department. Since I represent 400,000 constituent families of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, I thought it would be more appropriate to communicate this way and let the rest of the American people in on an outrageous situation.

What would happen if a leading U.S. carrier voluntarily allows itself to be hijacked by bigots in order to open a new market? For example, what if it entered into an agreement with a foreign airline that would see to it that no blacks or Catholics or gays boarded code-shared flights destined to reach the partner’s home nation?

I think you know the answer.

Yet, that is what Delta Airlines appears to have done when your company announced plans to add Saudi Arabian Airlines to your SkyTeam Alliance. You see, under their rules, they require that Delta ban Jews and holders of Israeli passports from boardingflights from New York or Washington bound for Jeddah.

As a Delta spokesperson Kathy Johnston so elegantly put it to customer Jeffrey Lovitsky:

“Delta must also comply with all applicable laws in every country it serves and by the same token passengers are responsible to obtain the necessary traveldocuments required for entry into another country prior to their day of travel," she wrote. "If a passenger travels without proper documents, the passenger may be denied entry into that country and our airline may be fined. Delta assumes responsibility for ensuring that each passenger boarding our aircraft has the proper documents for travel to their ticketed destination."

We certainly wouldn’t want Delta to be fined for failing to enforce the racist, religious apartheid laws of Saudi Arabia. And our community is certainly deeply appreciative of the advice to contact the U.S. State Department -- which is a polite way of telling us to go away and leave you alone to make your money in peace.

Mr. Anderson, I know that Delta cannot make any sovereign nation change its laws, but did anyone hold a gun to your head to cut this deal? Did you utter a word of protest during your negotiations with your partners over the Judenrein policies of Saudi Arabia? Did you ask Secretary of State Clinton to try to intervene in this matter?

I'll tell you what the Simon Wiesenthal Center is doing. We are drawing a straight line to the chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to ask that Congress to check into the deal to see which laws Delta may have broken. But what is already clear is that Delta has broken the trust of American Jewry and degraded the cherished right of Religious freedom.

Mr. Anderson, I will be happy to fly to your Atlanta headquarters to discuss this matter with you but I won’t be flying Delta to get there.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Abraham Cooper

Delta #6340597357

Rabbi Abraham Cooper is associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/06/24/is-delta-airlines-letting-itself-be-hijacked-by-religious-bigots/#ixzz1QPzLma5A

Featuring Zemiros Choir: Naaseh Vnishma Video

A very funky version of Naaseh V'nishma, composed by Yossi Green played by Frielach Orchestra

Which Music is Kosher?

Great song! Jewish Music Video: Yo Shema

I'm really not familiar but this song  Yo Shema has a great groove with some fantastic chops. Enjoy!

Cheese Blintz Recipes: For Shavuot

This is a blintz recipe brought to you by a top chef contestant:

 

Blintz batter
Makes 12-15

1 1/4 cups whole milk
3 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unbleached flour
2 teaspoons melted cooled butter

Cheese filling

1/4 cup fresh ricotta cheese
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
1/4 teaspoon good quality pure vanilla extract

Blueberry (or seasonal fruit) topping

2 pints blue berries
1 cup agave syrup
Pinch of salt
Juice from a quarter of a lemon
1 sprig rosemary or thyme

PREPARATION

For blintzes

Combine all all ingredients with a whisk and allow batter to rest at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. Heat a skittle or saute pan and spray with soy-based non-stick spray. Once hot, measure 1/4 cup or 2 ounces of batter and pour evenly to make a symmetrical shape you can roll, like a crepe. Over medium heat, allow each blintz to turn golden brown on both sides, then remove from pan. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1-2 hours ahead and held at room temperature, or a maxium of 1-2 days ahead if stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

For cheese filling

Mix ingredients together in a bowl to combine. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1-2 days ahead and stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

For fruit topping

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and cook on low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until syrupy. When ingredients are hot, add the herbs and cook for just 1 minute. Remove the herbs and continue to cook down until jam-like in consistency. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1-2 days ahead and stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

To assemble the blintzes

Lay each blintz "pancake" flat. Place two spoonfuls of cheese filling in the middle. Fold sides of pancake to the center. Then, beginning at the bottom, roll up to enclose filling. Pan fry with butter over low heat until warm throughout and crispy on the outside. Alternatively, transfer, seam side down, to a lightly buttered 15- by 10-inch shallow baking pan and bake in a 500-degree oven for 10 minutes. Top with jam and serve.