A tale of two apartments, a bris and a brisket

My stepdaughter Yardena gave birth to her third bouncing boy a few weeks ago and my husband Jerry was planning to head to Israel for the bris.

He had such wonderful memories of the last trip to Israel for the last bris that he wanted to replicate it. I advised against a nine-hour layover in Romania, as it would be best if he spent more time with the grandchildren than in the airport. Boy did he ever owe me for that advice. Had he taken the layover, he would have gotten to Israel after all roads to Yerushalayim from Tel Aviv were closed due to snow.

Turns out Jerry didn’t sleep at all during his flight and by the time he arrived in Tel Aviv he was exhausted. He gathered his luggage and was online for customs, when he heard the snowstorm was starting to close highways, schools and businesses in Yerushalayim.

He thought he was first on line for the sherut-taxi but didn’t realize it was all a pushing game. As soon as one came by, ten people pushed in front of him and before he knew it, it was full. This happened two more times. I asked him why he didn’t get on first since he was there first. He said he didn’t believe in pushing himself on. Had I been there we would have been the first one on; I believe in pushing if I was there first and others ran over in front of me. But Jerry being Jerry, he finally had to be told by a woman that if he didn’t push his way on he would be stuck in Tel Aviv. As soon as the next sherut came by the woman said, “Quick you get my bags on and I’ll get you on.” So Jerry lifted her bags on and she lifted him.

After hours of traveling around on slippery snow-covered roads, he arrived at his apartment, a one bedroom rental right next door to his daughter’s apartment. He planned on spending most of the time in his daughter’s apartment and just use his for sleeping. After playing with the grandchildren, he retired to his apartment to get some much needed sleep. Just as he was about to fall asleep the power went out in the entire building except for one wall in Jerry’s apartment.

Thankfully, the electric heaters and the outlets for the kitchen were working. Jerry had to abandon his heated, comfortable apartment that he was so looking forward to, and had to head into the frozen abyss of his daughter’s apartment, while she and the three kids took refuge in his.

The next morning it continued to snow heavily. Jerry looked into his suitcase for some warm clothing. Polo shirts, crocks and light pants stared back at him. He packed for Israel; turns out it would have been far more advisable if he packed as if he were going skiing in Vermont. It was going to be a tough few days.

The eruv was down so the bris had to take place on Shabbos in Jerry’s little heated apartment. Good news was the bakery order was ready, bad news was there was no way to have it delivered. Good news was their friends picked up the soda and liquor, bad news was they couldn’t deliver it. Good news was the caterer was able to prepare all the chulent and kugels, bad news for him he had to haul these huge pots by foot and crawl over the huge tree that fell right at the entrance of their building.

Unfortunately, most women couldn’t make it as there was no eruv and it was blizzard conditions. Most men showed up frozen and dressed as best they could for snow. Not easy as no one really has snow gear.

Although the bris was planned to take place in the shul, followed by a hot Kiddush for 100 people, it took place in a tiny apartment filled with about 40 people who dared to venture out. After husbands left, their wives stopped by. Turned out, it was the only game in town that had hot food. What could have been a nightmare situation, ended up being a warm, beautiful and intimate affair. Everyone wanted to lend a hand. It was a beautiful showing of friendship and support.

Jerry had to continue camping out in the other frozen Siberia-like apartment with his son-in-law for a few more days, warmed only by the thought that his daughter and grandsons were enjoying the warmth of his little apartment. Jerry loves nature but didn’t anticipate encountering nature so intimately and vividly on this particular trip to Israel, but so it goes.

The baby was named Alexander Yoel, and ironically the storm was named Alexa.

This week’s recipe is roasted BRISket, preferably served warm.

Tender Oven Roasted Brisket

4-5 pound brisket

salt to taste

2 large onions, sliced

1 (12 ounce) can of beer

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 cubes Bloch’s Beef flavored cubes

2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper

1 bay leaf

4 cubes crushed frozen garlic

2 tablespoons corn starch

2 tablespoons water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

Season brisket with salt, and place in a baking dish. Cover the entire roast with onion slices. In a medium bowl, mix together the beer, brown sugar, beef bouillon, pepper, garlic and bay leaf. Pour over the roast. Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake for 4 hours. The brisket should be very tender at this point. Mix together the cornstarch and water; stir into the juices in the baking dish to thicken. Remove the bay leaf. Slice and serve.

Columnist@TheJewishStar.com