Sunday, July 20, 2025
Back home in the early afternoon from our quick wonderful trip to Toronto, I caught up with e-mail and messages. I received an announcement for a book talk by an author who “focuses on theater, music, architecture, crime, Black-Jewish cultural interactions, restaurants, real estate, and journalism to tell the history of New York’s Yiddish popular culture from 1880 to the present.” I think that we have lost the meaning of focus here.
. . .
A few days ago, I was wasting time and brain cells playing a card game on my smartyphone when an advertisement for L.L. Bean popped up offering a variety of their goods at steep discount.
Recognizing a bargain, I ordered five polo shirts in an assortment of colors for about 80% off. As I unpacked from our trip today, I wondered about the shirts and the absence of an order confirmation or tracking information.
My credit card company told me that there was a charge to Miscellaneous Merchant, not further identified, for $48.26 on July 14, but no transaction with L.L. Bean. A call to Mr. Bean confirmed the scam. We had not done business for a long time. I then called back my credit card company to unwind the fraudulent (non)purchase. So, watch out kiddies.
Monday, July 21, 2025
Shopping list update
I have maintained that the whitefish salad at Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish, 273 Columbus Avenue and six other locations, is superior to other versions. Now, I have to add Zabar’s chunky whitefish salad ($18.99/lb.) as an alternative, very little filler, a dab of mayonnaise. If you’re already there, 2245 Broadway, shopping for one of three gazpachos, cold fruit soup, crumb cake, blintzes, one of a hundred cheeses, chopped herring, and several strudels with or without cheese, get some chunky whitefish salad.
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
In a display of cordiality that may serve as a lesson both domestically and internationally, Gentleman Jerry accompanied me to the Mets game against the Los Angeles Angels even though he is a Yankees fan. Being a good sport, he showed some enjoyment in the Mets victory, although not at my level of adolescent hysteria.
The subway gods tried to spoil the evening by having the train ahead of us break down on the way back to Manhattan, doubling the time to get home, but the thrill of victory kept the packed crowd almost patient.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Bret Stephens, a New York Times columnist, usually spends his time defending non-Trump Republican policies, a niche role. He also proudly supports Jewish positions and causes. Today, in a column headlined “No, Israel Is Not Committing Genocide in Gaza,” he makes a shameful statement. “In short, the first question the anti-Israel genocide chorus needs to answer is: Why isn’t the death count higher?” In other words, until or unless the Israeli military is more efficient we will spare them the appellation. That’s not my Judaism, that’s not my Zionism.
Rabbi Shaul Magid explains why some Jews remain unmoved by Israeli cruelty in Gaza. They believe that “Israel, like the Jews, is always the victim, never the perpetrator.”
We generally consider ourselves a generous people. The names on the buildings in major urban medical centers often reads like roll call at a synagogue’s annual meeting. And, it’s not just the Tribe’s top tier that demonstrates this spirit. Mother Ruth Gotthelf was still writing checks (in her own hand) to charities in her 103rd year.
. . .
Small World Department
So, the guy that I had coffee with this afternoon has a son who went to the Bronx High School of Science with Zohran Momdani who was one of his best friends and used to visit regularly.
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Terrific Tom and I had lunch at Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine, 371 West 46th Street, a new restaurant on the Theater District’s Restaurant Row. It’s not a very big joint, but it packs in a lot. There is a long bar in the front and a room with 20 small two-tops in various combinations. Befitting the island theme, there are bright colors everywhere. It was just about empty at lunchtime and the one waiter was very attentive and turned the music down as requested.
We shared three appetizers, four big coconut shrimp ($18), two small crab cakes ($21), six jerk chicken wings ($17). We differed only on the jerk chicken, Tom C-, me B. The other two dishes we agreed were excellent. Check it out and save airfare to the islands.
Friday, July 25, 2025
Ghislaine Maxwell was interviewed by Department of Justice personnel at the federal penitentiary in Tallahassee, Florida yesterday about Jeffrey Epstein’s affairs. Informed sources say that she claimed that Donald Trump frequently and vigorously chided Epstein on his behavior with young women and eventually cut off all relations with him, because of Epstein’s failure to reform. Maxwell was disappointed that Trump’s forceful admonitions were not ultimately effective.
This morning, the White House announced that Maxwell received a full pardon of her sex trafficking conviction and was appointed ambassador to Finland.