Mark Munger: I'm Mark Munger, and this is a Manager's Special from Siouxland Public Media. An important tradition in Siouxland has gone dark for a few years, but this year, with thanks to my guest Dolf Ivener and the Jewish community, the light is back.
Want to do the introduction yourself?
Dolf Ivener: Sure. Hi. I'm Mark Munger. I'm here today with Dolph Ivener. He's here with the Congregation Beth Shalom, and they're going to have their world famous latke party on May 3, from 10:30 to 1:30.
Mark Munger: Thanks for inviting me, Dolf.
Dolf Ivener: You know anytime.
I believe we're eight years ago was the last time we did this, did this deal.
Mark Munger: That's pretty wild, because it was such a mainstay in the community.
Dolf Ivener: It was a mainstay. We have such a robust, growing Jewish community, yes, that we've decided to bring this back.
Mark Munger: I'm gonna have to check the facts after this.
Dolf Ivener: Facts schmacts!
Anyways, we're gonna have this latke party, and we're gonna have tabouli and egg salad
Mark Munger: And scratch latkes.
Dolf Ivener: And scratch latkes. I bought, like we have this industrial potato [makes mechanical noise] just so everyone knows the peels will be on them. We're not unpeeling them because there is lots of nutrients in the skin of a potato, gives it texture, gives it uniform... It's, how about this, less uniformity. And that's what I like.
Mark Munger: That's right. Like America,
Dolf Ivener: You're darn right. That's it. Our potato latkes represent!
So in past times when we've done it, we've done it for six hours. So we usually do like, 1000 people, and we're only going to do it for three hours this time. And I know I had said that the community is growing, and it's robust, and there's lots of young people, but that's not really true.
Mark Munger: In fact, you might need some help.
Dolf Ivener: So we.... Community members. Anybody out there? My phone number --------- you know, it takes a village. Takes a village.
Mark Munger: Well, I think, I think it's a great opportunity to volunteer to be a part of it, and it's a fun thing to do.
Dolf Ivener: Yeah, it's gonna be awesome. It's gonna be awesome.
Mark Munger: You get a free latke if you volunteer?
Dolf Ivener: All you can eat, we might have a wheelbarrow to roll you back into the car. I can't eat any more latkes.
Mark Munger: My dreams come true!
Dolf Ivener: There it is. So, I mean, you know, it's community event. You know, in ou Jewish community is, we're getting smaller, is the truth, and so, you know, it's the whole community.
Jewish communities around the country. I felt like that. We've had some trying times. You know, there's been a few shootings and events like that. So it, it takes a lot for our community to open to the public. You know, there's a lot of, there's gonna be a lot of fear and trepidation, and, you know, you know, just, you know, you'll have to bleep this, but don't let the bastards keep you down. You know, that's that, and that's, that's where we have to be right as a community, and it's fear, it's all of those things. And so you just got to stand up and say, you know, we're not gonna... that's that's not gonna work on me. I'm just gonna keep doing my thing and go see the people of my community,
Mark Munger: The latke party at Congregation Beth Shalom returns May 3. I'm Mark Munger, with thanks to my guest, Dolf Ivener, this has been a Manager's Special from Siouxland Public Media.
