Saturday, June 7, 2025
Bertrand Russell, British philosopher (1872-1970), writing about public support for World War I: “I had supposed that most people liked money better than almost anything else, but I discovered that they liked destruction even better.”
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The Z-word is the N-word for many “progressives” today. They are only catching up with right-wingers who have long spoken of ZOG, the Zionist Occupation Government, in reference to the United States and other western nations.
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On the other hand, we have Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the Anti-Defamation League, blatantly pandering to a group of Jewish Republicans by equating anti-Israel student protesters with al-Qaeda and ISIS.
Greenblatt succeeded Abe Foxman, a CCNY classmate and friend, who led the ADL honorably for decades, navigating some troubled waters. If the ADL is to remain an effective voice for justice, Greenblatt must go.
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Gentleman Jerry and I went out for a cup of coffee so that he could tell me about his two-week trip to London. It was wonderful to hear about places that he and the ever-charming Melanie visited, both familiar and unfamiliar to me.
We went to Patisserie Chanson, 2040 Broadway, corner of West 70th Street. It’s a small place, easy to miss. It seems to be struggling, trying to dampen its high prices with a variety of discounts by time of day and day of week. We each had an iced latte and shared a chocolate hazelnut tart and a “Burnt Basque Cheesecake” for a total of $35.49. That used to be dinner for two when America was still great.
Sunday, June 8, 2025
The Upper West Side’s Power Couple hit the road to Eastern Massachusetts to join the second and third generations in celebrating one of the major social events of the season — the MetroWest Jewish Day School’s Eighth Grade Graduation. Folks are gathering from near and far for this significant rite of passage. In preparation for tomorrow’s ceremony, the Kahns, parents of a graduate, hosted a lovely party at their home in Newton. Since I was driving our nine-day old, pristine, Supersonic Red sedan, I eschewed alcohol and freely indulged in Coke Zero. It well matched the abundant spread of Middle Eastern food served, including the silkiest hummus that I have had in a long time.
Monday, June 9, 2025
Words matter. New York Jewish Week offers this ethnocentric headline “2 Jewish delis make the New York Times’ 2025 ‘Best Restaurants in New York City’ list.”
The chosen ones are Barney Greengrass, 541 Amsterdam Avenue, and S&P Sandwich Shoppe,174 Fifth Avenue f/k/a Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop. The problem is neither is a “Jewish deli” although they might properly be labeled Jewish eating places. Barney Greengrass is an eminent appetizing store with table service. As I have previously explained, appetizing is a Jewish catchall term for lox, whitefish and herring. While Barney Greengrass also serves pastrami, corned beef, tongue and turkey, they are secondary offerings. Also, their presence alongside the cheeses on the appetizing menu prevent a Kosher designation. And, as is understood throughout the Western Hemisphere, with the exception of Katz’s in New York and Langer’s in Los Angeles, good deli is Kosher deli.
S&P, which I have not been to since it was Eisenberg’s, appears to be a very good sandwich shop or luncheonette in local parlance. While eater.com, the Michelin guide for people who work for a living, extols the pastrami at S&P (https://ny.eater.com/2022/10/
Monday, June 9, 2025
We had lunch at Legal Sea Foods, 50 Worcester Road, Framingham, a longtime favorite of mine, that has 20 branches in and around Boston and a few more in New Jersey, Illinois and the D.C. area. I first encountered it on a business trip almost 40 years ago and, in spite of continued patronage since then, I have never again had fig newton ice cream for dessert.
I had a lunch special, a cup of clam chowder, a small lobster roll and a small portion of French fries for $30. Not cheap, but a savings over a regular lobster roll at $45.
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After my nap, we were off to the graduation ceremony. Noam was preceded at MetroWest by his brother and his sister remains in attendance. All of the children thrived in this very small school with resources disproportionate to its size. How small? Five kids in this graduating class. The future of the school hangs by a thread.
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While I was napping, Law Professor David was testifying before the Special Massachusetts Commission on Combating Antisemitism. You can find him at 1:15:00.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
R.I.P. - Myron Poloner
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
When you hear the word “influencer,” think instead of “influenza” and protect yourself.
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A full-page advertisement in the New York Times is not unusual except for the one that appeared today. Tom Thibodeau had been the coach of the New York Knickerbockers basketball team for five years. Physically unprepossessing with a few strands of hair on top of his head, he never seemed pleased by his surroundings. He was fired after leading the team to its best record in a generation. Under the heading “Thank you,” he addresses “the best city in the world with the best fans in the world.” That’s classy.
Thursday, June 12, 2025
I picked up the newspaper this morning and saw a theater review of “Angry Alan.” While I was surprised to find my persona on such public display, I was not concerned about defamation, but rather how can I collect royalties. Reading further, I learned that the title character, an “internet personality” (Yes!), “teaches that women, far from being the victims of a male-dominated society, run the world” (tell that to Hillary and Kamala). So, you will have to wait for a more accurate theatrical representation of me.
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It is Anne Frank’s 96th birthday and 10,000 copies of her diary are being given out throughout the city to honor her memory.
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Gee, Bibi, things are getting quiet in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and Yemen. How can we maintain a state of menace in our own people and our neighbors?
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“Protests Go Beyond Immigration to Include Array of Left-Wing Causes”
Let’s lose our focus, spread ourselves so thin that autocracy can rumble on without a coherent opposition.
Friday, June 13, 2025
Early this morning we learned from several Israeli friends that “Israel air space is closed and will stay closed for sometime” and “all work places schools universities etc. are closed.” Even if we could fly to Israel five days from now, the prospects for a joyous celebration of my beautiful wife’s birthday with children and grandchildren are very dim. At 7 AM, we have not taken conclusive action and we are trying to remain hopeful.
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It started as a simple lunch with a couple of guys, but, by the time one o’clock rolled around, there were six of us gathered at The Corner, 698 Ninth Avenue, a “nice” Chinese restaurant that I have visited before. We dug in. Cold Sesame Noodles w. Peanut &
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When I caught up with my young bride later this afternoon, she decided to not defy the geopolitics of the Middle East and to reschedule our trip for a later date. So, we are available for brunches and barbecues, drinks and dinner for the rest of the month.
Glad you decided to wait. There will be quieter times.
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