Something to Celebrate

Saturday, February 3, 2024 

The music was too loud, as seems to be inevitable at these events, but we joyfully attended a dual Bat Mitzvah today.  It was held for two sisters, not twins, but close enough in age to make a joint ceremony a wise choice.

The girls were a delight, overlaying the traditional prayers and ritual with their own original words and dance.  Additionally, they spoke loudly and clearly before an adult audience, something that many adolescents are unable to manage.  

A very special element of the event for me was the attendance of their paternal grandfather, my friend of more than 60 years, David Mervin, coming from England with other family members, all of who in a Jewish setting for the first time.  I warned David that this fraternization may eventually extend his time in Purgatory.

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Another foreign visitor today was my niece Susan, coming from Shanghai to see her father.  She was accompanied by her son Tomás, who has the very interesting role of Tour Interpreter at Alcatraz, the now inactive, notorious Federal penitentiary.

We had lunch at Seasons 52, 217 Lafayette Avenue, Edison, New Jersey, a member of a national chain of far-better-than-average restaurants.  It is big, with spacious seating, showing sports on televisions above the bar, a legal requirement in its suburban locale.

I had the lump crab cake sandwich, generously piled on a potato bun, with a fresh green salad instead of the ubiquitous French fries ($17.50).  It was good, but not as good as the “Wood Grilled Tenderloin Salad” that I had last time ($22).  I also skipped the delicious lobster bisque this time, which you should not do ($12).

Monday, February 5, 2024

After a visit to the orthopedist to discuss the (lack of) progress of my recuperation from hip surgery, I met Gentleman Jerry at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Rangers treated us to dinner before the hockey game.  Or maybe it was Chase Bank who offered hot wings and snack-size hot dogs and pieces of steak over creamed spinach plus free soft drinks.  

And for dessert, we got a 2-1 victory in overtime.

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

As if David Mervin’s trip to the U.S.A. was not memorable enough, I invited him to join the Boyz Club at lunch in Chinatown, Wo Hop, 17 Mott Street, of course.  

The menu: Egg rolls, crispy fried noodles, duck chow fun, beef with scallions, honey crispy chicken, ginger and scallion lo mein, mushroom fried rice, shrimp with lobster sauce.  Seven guys, $150.

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Remember way back when media had the Holy Land on the verge of becoming a ghost town?  

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN28P1Q7/

Instead, the city is currently at a record low in housing vacancies. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/08/nyregion/apartment-vacancy-rate-housing-crisis.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Now, that it’s evident that we are not going away, the challenge is to broaden the vitality to encompass many more who are struggling to fit in.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

I just received a message that tomorrow is National Bagels & Lox Day.  Whatever the source of this designation, I strongly object to it.  Tomorrow is Friday; bagels and lox are for Sunday, occasionally Saturday if you are having company.  Mondays, a pastrami sandwich is on special at Pastrami Queen.  Wednesday, a gyro from a street cart (almost all run by Egyptians).  Friday, a legacy tuna fish sandwich.  Tuesday and Thursday, look for a good fried chicken sandwich and a hamburger, many possibilities.  Note that pizza may be substituted on one weekday.  All of this applies to daylight, when you can see what you are eating.  

.  .  .

I hosted a Zoom talk tonight by Rabbi Jonah Rank, President & Rosh Yeshivah of Hebrew Seminary, A Rabbinical School for Deaf & Hearing, "How Jewish is Democracy?"  He identified key principles of democracy and cited ancient Hebrew texts as precedents.  He did a great job, although thousands of years of rumination will provide support for almost anything.  

Two corollaries arise from Rabbi Rank’s presentation:

• How democratic is Judaism?
• How democratic should Judaism be?

Friday, February 9, 2024

Until yesterday, Robert K. Hur labored in obscurity, investigating the handling of classified documents by Joe Biden out of office.  Then, he propelled himself to the heights of James Comey by embroidering his findings with some verbal hand grenades.  His reference to a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” will long live in history as it possibly seals the fate of its subject.  Meanwhile, others bow at the feet of a self-confessed, convicted sexual predator.