Far and Near

Monday, August 20, 2018

In a letter to The New York Times, a prominent Orthodox rabbi defended the current Israeli government for, among other things, "the maintenance of traditional Jewish religious decorum at the Western Wall" in Jerusalem.  That means the enforced separation of men and women at, what is considered by many Jews, the holiest spot on Earth.  A small section is available to women, but (very) Orthodox men bully (or worse) any woman who attempts to approach the far larger section reserved for men.  This is an extension of the separation of men and women that I discussed last week.  Any random woman might be "unclean" and thereby defile a man or even a wall that she comes into contact with.

I'll skip the hygiene for now.  I'm interested in the history, the supposed "traditional Jewish religious decorum."  In this case the tradition does not even predate Fiddler on the Roof.  

Here is the Western Wall, photographed by Félix Bonfils (1831-1885), well more than a century ago.  That's evidence of a real tradition.

. . .

I am on vacation, if one can be said to be on vacation when one is retired.  I am spending a couple of days at the Harrisville Inn in Harrisville, New Hampshire, reputedly the most photographed village in America.  See https://newengland.com/today/travel/new-hampshire/harrisville-nh-photographs/

I commend the inn to you if you are seeking a peaceful hideaway, although note that it prudently closes for the winter.

http://harrisvilleinn.com

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

The Chinese consider 8 the very luckiest number.  Recall that the Beijing Olympics began on August 8, 2008, 08/08/08.  Today, Paul Manafort, formerly Donald Trump's presidential campaign manager, was convicted of 8 counts of fraud in a federal district court in Virginia.  Meanwhile, in a federal district court in New York, Michael Cohen, formerly Donald Trump's personal attorney, plead guilty to 8 counts tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations.  Feeling lucky?

. . .

An op-ed in The New York Times discusses the political liberalism of American Jews.  https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/18/opinion/american-jews-israel-liberals.html

The author and I agree that tikkun olam, "repairing the world," is a critical element of Judaism, which leads many American Jews to progressive politics.  This puzzled Norman Podhoretz, a famous convert from left wing to right wing politics.  The author paraphrases Podhoretz asking, if tikkun olam is central to Judaism, why do Orthodox American Jews reliably vote conservative now?

The answer is simple and unflattering.  Many Orthodox Jews view the world to be protected and repaired as only the world of Jews.  Not unlike some other religious groups, charity begins and ends at home for them.  Mormons, for instance, are extremely generous with money and time in support of their own welfare network, which is nominally non-sectarian.

https://religionnews.com/2016/11/29/utah-and-mormons-are-the-most-generous-and-not-just-on-givingtuesday/

However, the state of Utah, the public sector, "has not invested a lot in fighting poverty, nor on schools; Utah is dead last in per-pupil education spending," according to an otherwise laudatory article.    https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-03-28/how-utah-keeps-the-american-dream-alive

An interesting aspect of the Podhoretz conundrum is the political behavior of the most doctrinally conservative Jews here and in Israel.  Variously identified as Haredi/Black Hats/ultra-Orthodox/Torah-observant, they consistently support a militant stance on Israel -- Trump, Netanyahu.  But, they line up behind the party or politician delivering the most generous public welfare benefits to their  community.  Headline in the Wall Street Journal, of all places:

"New York’s Orthodox Jewish Community and Mayor Bill de Blasio Are In Step"

https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-yorks-orthodox-jewish-community-and-mayor-bill-de-blasio-are-in-step-1451695796

Thusday, August 23, 2018

We have proceeded to the Berkshires, spending the next several days in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in the company of our second and third generations.  Last night, we attended Inside/Out, a program of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, held four nights a week during the summer.  Unlike almost every other offering in a region heavily dependent on tourism, it was free.  Performed outdoors, against a beautiful backdrop of rolling hills, we saw a delightful 45-minute program of tap dancing to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim.  

. . .

Do I really have to choose between Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions?  That's like watching a World Series between the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves.

Friday, August 24, 2018

Bill Hyman sent along a respectable list of cold noodle joints in the Holy Land.   http://gothamist.com/2018/08/23/best_cold_noodles_2018_nyc.php    It may be most valuable if you find yourself stranded in Brooklyn or Queens.  Reflecting on the miles of cold sesame noodles that I have consumed over the years, Shanghai Asian Manor, 21 Mott Street stands out.  They will even give you an extra bowl of their fabulous peanut buttery sauce to slurp even after the last noodle is gone.  If you have room or a companion to share with, their scallion pancake and soup buns are excellent, as well.   

. . .

The best meal that we had this week and for many weeks past was served to us last night in the rental house.  It was the work of Austin Banach, a talented young local chef that we engaged for the second straight year to treat the family in high style.  banachaustin@gmail.com

The kids first had their penne pasta, grilled chicken and chocolate pudding.  After a decent interval, the grownups indulged in roasted beet tart tatin with herbed chevre and arugula, hake with leeks and white wine beurre blanc, farro grain salad with wild mushrooms, asparagus with orange hollandaise sauce, herb and olive oil glazed fingerling potatoes, chocolate tart with raspberries and salted caramel ice cream (from Soco Creamery, the only item not from Austin's loving hands).  We supplied the beverages, Macon-Lugny Les Charmes Chardonnay 2016 and Price Chopper Original Seltzer 2018.