A few 60 degree days in January (after the 20 degree days) and you would think Spring was on the way.  Even the birds seemed confused.  Maybe they saw Jan Ayers working in the TIKVA (Tiferet Israel Kosher Vegetable Association) garden, the Chili Cookoff committee making plans for the big event on March 14th, and the women of Tiferet’s Sisterhood baking hamantashen.  

 TIKVA is kicking off its second year under Jan’s leadership and hard work.  She is in the garden a minimum of several days a week and sometimes more.  She has begun putting landscape timbers around the perimeter of the garden so we can put sand between the brick in the walkways and not have it leak out all over.  The sand should stabilize the bricks and make the brick paths easier to walk on.

 When you stand back and look at the garden, you realize how far that project has come in the one year since we started planning the garden and built the first planting bed in February 2009.  I think we lost count of how many tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, watermelons and flowers the garden provided for our Shabbat kiddushim last year; but Jan knows

for sure that we contributed over 150 pounds of fresh produce to the JFS food bank .

 At its meeting on January 25th, the Tiferet Board approved Jan as the first “Friend of Tiferet.”  This is a designation established by the Board last Fall to acknowledge individuals who cannot become members of Tiferet yet make significant contributions.  Jan has proven in a very spectacular way that she is unquestionably a “Friend of Tiferet.”

 To me, the progress in the garden reflects the progress made at Tiferet over the last few years.  New programs and new members have been added and the congregation is blossoming.  I know the Dallas community has noticed because people come up to me commenting about what is happening at Tiferet.  I like the looks on their faces after several minutes as I expound about our various activities.

 Another sure sign of Spring is the preparations for the Chili Cookoff.

 Jay Abrams, Janet Bubis, Diane Benjamin, Bill and Heddy Roth, Steve Kohansion, Esther Cohen, Stuart Roosth and Jeanie Tolmas have been meeting for weeks doing early prep for the 17th annual Dallas Kosher Chili Cookoff being held on March 14th at Tiferet.  The committee has decided that the Dallas charities

sharing the proceeds of this year’s event will be the Jewish Family Service Children with  Special Needs, the Dallas Furniture Bank and Jewish War Veterens.  Along with the Masik Brothers, great chili, hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks and rides, there are some new entertainment features planned for this year’s event which you will hear more about later.  Of course, the main thrill of the day is the Jewish community coming together for a day of food and fun.

 In 1994, Jack Baum, Dan Prescott, Mark Kleinman and Bill Finkelstein came together to organize the first Dallas Kosher Chili Cookoff. Over its 17 year history, the Cook-Off has grown from 12 teams and 500 chili eaters to include 35 to 40 teams and over 3,000 people in attendance. What great vision these people had to create an event that has lasted for 17 years and become such an important part of the community!

 Another sure sign Spring is on the way is the smell of hamantashen coming from the Tiferet kitchen along with the laughter of the ladies baking them.  They made me taste test some imperfect ones and I can assure you they are exceptional.  This is going to be another very good year for hamantashen.