My dear, sweet co-author, Jeremy, has been trying to get me on board with going vegan. The fact that he dared to ask me to give up my beloved cheese and I didn’t immediately rip his face off means that I must really really like him 🙂 The fact that I’m considering it means my new job at a school has driven me to loose my mind. The truth of the matter is that I feel like I haven’t been taking care of myself since school started and it’s not just in diet but in the whole–mind, body and soul. Working for a school, well, it can suck the life outta ya. Luckily for me, I really love working with youth and for however chaotic the school environment is, being able to connect with the students bring me incredible joy. However, the chaotic school environment also connects me to massive sugar intake (thanks be to every administrator who has candy on their desk and my compulsion to eat said candy when stressed) and what I am heretofore referring to as “passion-handles” (“love” is too light of a word for what’s happening to my mid-section). So, I made a declaration to my husband that after Labor Day I will be going wheat free and ease on the sugar. And, like the supportive partner he is, he smiled, nodded and replied, “Whatever you say honey”. I’ll admit it, I tend to get really pumped on an idea and then get bored with it within a week or so (what did ever happen to my knitting? The daily smoothies I was going to make in the Vitamix? Cooking classes? Guitar lessons?). But then, in the wee hours of the morning, when I’m desperately trying to convince my brain to shut off so I can sleep, it hit me–MOOSHY. Meat Only On Shabbat and Yontiv (holidays, for the non-Yiddish sect). Now there’s a realistic diet I think I can get behind. What’s better? MOOSHY is the brain child of a dear friend, the wonderful Aaron Potek, and has it’s foundation in spirituality and connectedness, which are always a good way to maintain a new eating habit.
So who is this Aaron Potek? A native of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, I met Potek when he was a senior at the University of Michigan and I was a Program Director for the Hillel: Center for Jewish Student Life. Luckily for me, Potek decided to spend a year studying at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem during the exact year I had chosen to study there as well. It was during our year at Pardes that Potek created MOOSHY. Having attended public high school and the University of Michigan as an observant Jew, Potek was accustomed to making connections with Jews of all denominations as well as with non-Jews. Despite having received his undergraduate degree in engineering, Aaron decided to become a Rabbi. He has dedicated his life and study to making connections and Judaism accessible to all and MOOSHY is a prime example of this.
Aaron Potek: MOOSHY Founder and all around awesome person
1. JH: How was the idea for MOOSHY born?
AP: The idea for MOOSHY was a fusion of different values of mine. From the Jewish calendar perspective, I felt that I wanted to do something tangibly different on holidays to add to the “specialness” of certain days during the year. From an ethical perspective, I discovered that America’s high meat consumption was significantly contributing to a variety of problems, including global warming, mistreatment of animals, and inefficient use of food. The more I thought about developing a spiritual meat-eating practice, the more I realized how rooted this idea is in Jewish sources and tradition. It’s clear to me that meat was never given to us to be eaten multiple times a day, and historically most Jews have only eaten meat on shabbat. Judaism for me is about living a life of example, and given the state of the meat industry today, I believe we have an opportunity to model a lifestyle of restraint and holiness.
2. JH: What are the tenants of MOOSHY?
AP: The tenants of MOOSHY are simple. Reduce your meat consumption, and elevate the meat you do eat. There is a concept in Judaism called a “Seudat Mitzvah,” which is a meal on certain special occasions like shabbat or weddings that is meant to contribute to the joy of that day. By limiting our meat consumption to those meals, we can connect more to the meat and appreciate its unique status while at the same time adding to our celebration of the day.
3. JH: How have you been able to maintain MOOSHY in your life?
AP: I have been practicing MOOSHY for about four years, so by now it’s pretty easy. In the beginning it was hard to turn down meat when going to a friend’s house or visiting an area with kosher meat restaurants. But I really do feel myself much more excited for the days when I do eat meat, and keeping that in mind helps me push through the hard times. Still, I’m not proud to admit that I’ve turned down a fair number of steak dinners. But the struggle has been almost entirely mental. I’m not convinced our bodies need a lot of meat, and I make sure to get the protein I need from other foods. Obviously certain people need meat more regularly for health reasons, but in general I think it might even be a healthier diet to reduce meat consumption. There clearly are enough vegetarians and vegans out there to show that meat isn’t a necessity.
Potek and I at the shuk in Jerusalem, summer 2008
4. JH: What’s your favorite week day MOOSHY recipe?
AP: The unique thing about MOOSHY is that we’re vegetarians during the week and meat-eaters on shabbat. Describing that now I almost feel like some sort of weird shabbos werewolf. During the week I eat what most vegetarians eat: tofu, veggie stir fry, pasta, etc. I don’t really use recipes – not because I’m an amazing and spontaneous chef, but because the stuff I make is pretty easy. If you need the recipe for a toasted PB&J, I guess I’m willing to give it to you.
Oh my goodness. So much has been happening in my life lately. My husband got a new job. I got a new job. It feels like I’m living in a blender at the moment. We feel beyond blessed and tested and stretched and crazy. You know, all of the things that you’re supposed to feel when your life is moving in new and terrifying directions. When I get freaked out by all of the change blowing in, I have to stop and remind myself that I’ve spent the last year begging for everything that I’m witnessing. Once I’m done saying thank you to the Universe? I make make magic cookie bars.
No, not every time. I’d weigh 300 pounds.
I first discovered magic cookie bars (as they are known in our house) at my mother-in-law’s house. We had dessert after a family meal and there were these mushy little squares. I think I ate my weight in them. If you’ve had a magic cookie bar, you know what I’m talking about. They’re good. Crazy good. One might say they’re life changing. After having them a couple different times for various family functions I begged for the recipe. I needed to know how to make that joy happen for myself. I was stunned when I learned that the recipe was on the back of a sweetened condensed milk can.
That’s right. They’re just like the ruby slippers. You had the magic all along, you just needed somebody to tell you how to use them. The best part is that they’re so simple and easy to make that you’ll never want to make another dessert again, ever. They take no time to put together. You can keep the supplies for them on hand so that you can whip them up when you have to bring a little something to a dinner party or potluck that you were otherwise unprepared for. You’ll look like a genius, guaranteed.
Shhhhh! Don’t tell! I never do.
What?
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine melted
1 (14 oz) can Sweetened Condensed Milk (I use Eagle Brand)
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped nuts
How?
Pre-heat oven to 350. In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and butter; mix well. Press crumb mixture firmly on bottom of 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumbs. Layer evenly with remaining ingredients and press down with a fork. Bake for 25ish minutes (I think they’re better when they’re a little under done) or until lightly browned. Cool. Chill if desired. Cut into bars. My MIL kicks the recipe up a notch by using one cup of chocolate chips and one cup of butterscotch chips. I LOVE the recipe this way. It gives them a little depth of flavor. You can really use any chip flavor combination. Peanut butter and chocolate or white chocolate. Whatever flavors you like would be amazing. If you’re not a coconut or nut fan you can leave either or both of those ingredients out. I actually like to throw the nuts into a food processor so the pieces are really small, but that’s just a person preference.
What are you waiting for? Go! Make some right now, then come over to my house!
I’ve had trouble keeping a conversion journal. That’s probably going to get me into some trouble. I’m honestly not that great at journaling for any reason. You give me a deadline for writing that is outside getting laughs and applause or cash payments and I’ll give you a blank stare. I like to write I’m just not so great under pressure with the whole writing thing. Maybe that’s why I switched my major in college from journalism to theater? I’ve had a couple of moments this week though that made me understand what keeping a conversion journal is all about.
The hardest part about converting isn’t the change for me. It’s the change for all of YOU. Well, some of you. I’ve dealt with my Christmas issues. I’ve rearranged my mind to Jewish time. I think about Shabbat. I celebrate Rosh Hashanah. I observe Yom Kippur. Maybe I don’t do any of these things the exact correct way. Maybe I don’t always fast. Maybe I might sometimes choose dinner at Chilli’s and The Help over Friday night services. Sometimes I don’t light candles. So What. Now it’s your turn.
I’m converting y’all. This is pretty serious business. I’m not doing this because Madonna started studying Kabalah or my obsession with Campbell Brown. This is real. I am a JEW. I’m living a Jewish life. I’m trying to make a real, authentic and actual change. Things like holidays. The High Holy Days in particular? They are now important to me. I won’t miss Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur services. I won’t. I know when Christmas and Easter are. I have to. The entire world seems to be vibrating both times of the year. Please learn when my holidays are. Please take those days into consideration. Please. Maybe even that is too tall an order? I’m starting to think maybe so. Maybe realizing that is part of this whole process?
Yes, I have always been a pretty secular person. For the most part I still am in many ways. I’m not going to start speaking in Hebrew or demanding washing cups or tefillin. I don’t even want to talk about it that much to be honest. But I am going to not necesarily hang out on Friday evenings and I won’t participate in anything that happens during Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. The change, I guess, might be shocking to some but what I really need right now is support.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
