Praise the Lord and Pass the Corned Beef

Saturday, November 7, 2026

I realize that you will be reading this no earlier than a week from now and the weekend will have gone by. Therefore, you will likely miss the bike rally organized by "Philly Bike On Your Left" to target Jewish-owned businesses in downtown Philadelphia, just like 1938. 

https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/11/07/leaders-condemn-philadelphia-jewish-boycott/

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The Upper West Side's Power Couple skipped Philadelphia and instead had a date night right here on the West Side, dinner and a show. Actually, I was hungry, so my young bride had to sit and watch me eat at the Burger Joint, 119 West 56th Street. It's an unusual setup, a room off the lobby of the Thompson Central Park Hotel, once the Parker Meridien, a great place for a first date. Since I am beyond my first date, I haven't been on the premises in years and the current layout was new to me. The Burger Joint is unmarked, up a flight of stairs, behind a thick, red velvet curtain. Its web site says, "If you want to dine at this hidden gem, you’ll have to find it first." The interior is completely at odds with this formal entrance. The boxy room is covered with manufactured graffiti on the walls, tabletops, counters, very much trying to exude a punk rock vibe. In spite of that, the food is pretty good, hamburgers, a chicken sandwich and a grilled cheese sandwich and accoutrements.

The Burger Joint has appeared at or near the top of best local hamburger lists at various times over the years, including the New York Times (2009), CBS (2010), The Guardian (2011), Eater.com (2012) and NYC.com (2026). Today, my rating would be Pending. I had a double cheeseburger ($27), a hefty handful at a hefty price. The meat was prime and tasted flame broiled. I skipped "The Works," lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mayo, mustard and ketchup at no extra charge. That was a mistake, because the high-quality meat came off a bit bland and would have benefitted from some or all of the add-ons. Other condiments and toppings, such as mushrooms and bacon, are offered for $2.25-3.25. 

The portion of matchstick French fries was enormous, beyond even my capacity at one sitting ($10.50). Fountain sodas (including Coke Zero), draft beers, a few wines and milkshakes complete the menu. Note that, while many places are going plus/minus for credit card/cash transactions, The Burger Joint discounts 15% with proof of local residence. It is also very convenient to Carnegie Hall and the City Center, possibly accounting for the almost full house when we entered. In fact, when we took our seats in the City Center, I spotted one couple who had been in the Burger Joint, identifiable by their neon hair colors.

We saw The Unbelievers, by Nick Payne, a British work about the toll on a family when a 15-year-old boy unaccountably disappears. His mother, played by Lauren Ambrose in a role done by the marvelous Nicola Walker in London, fills the stage with her grief, hopes, frustration and aspirations. Madam and I have since discussed the title. Are the unbelievers other family members versus the mother still expecting the boy's return after years? Other family members versus the older sister who turns to spiritualism for comfort? The mother and her second husband professing atheism in the face of her first husband, now an Anglican priest?

Sunday, November 8, 2026

Go jump in the lake. But, what if the lake is named Pekwachnamaykoskwaskwaypinwanik, in Manitoba, Canada? How could you possibly ask for directions to get there? Actually, this is one of a ridiculous collection of long place names, ridiculous, that is, to the culturally insensitive.

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The Sunday morning television talking heads made much of the triumph of love in last week's midterm elections. I am skeptical of love in almost any brightly lit venue. Elections, politics, government are about power and power may be distracted by love just as love may be distracted by power. Cf. the tale of Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia Corporation, valued at over $4 trillion.

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We had dinner at Kesari Indian Cuisine, 2701 Broadway, a small, friendly spot, less than two years old. It has two dozen two-tops with seating upholstered in bright orange leatherette, not as jarring as you might imagine. Service was friendly and efficient; its low(ish) prices reflected its uptown real estate location. The quality would have been high anywhere.

We shared pakora, large spinach and onion fritters (six for $9.95). I had lamb biryani, a favorite ($20.95). The serving was quite generous and abundant with cubes of lamb. Madam had malai kofta, potato and cheese balls cooked in a creamy tomato sauce ($17.95).

It's more than six-and-a-half years since we traveled to India and I can't remember what we ate there. 

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

This may be hard to read, but it's really interesting.

Wednesday, November 11, 2026 

Without his hair, Samson was lost, powerless. I know the feeling. Without my glasses, I feel lost, barely able to function. I've worn glasses almost every waking hour for more than 70 years. Now, ten days after my second cataract surgery, I feel naked and disoriented. If I am not wearing my glasses, I must be asleep, but that's silly, I am walking around. I visited Dr. DeLuca today and he attempted to reassure me. Situation normal, as in SNAFU. I return on November 30th to get a prescription for my new sight.

At least going to the eye doctor put me on the East Side, conveniently close to Michael Ratner. We were able to meet at Pastrami Queen, 1125 Lexington Avenue for lunch. Note that the Pastrami Queen on West 72nd Street closed months ago and its replacement, a supposedly Kosher Chinese restaurant, shows no sign of opening.

I ordered a tongue and corned beef "Royal Sandwich" several inches thick ($36.15). The sandwich was so big that I took home half for dinner. A small portion of potato salad came with it. Michael and I also shared a large portion of French fries ($9). I skipped the usual Dr. Brown's and had a can of Coke Zero ($2.60). A loyalty customer discount lowered the ceiling a bit.

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About 30 of us gathered online for a virtual shiva for Harold Mindess, a gentle and kind man. He took two bold steps in his life; he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Vietnam and he went to Israel and worked on kibbutzim for several years. These experiences molded him for life. Unlike Senator Bernie Sanders who worked on a kibbutz shortly before he did, Harold remained a loyal Zionist. I will miss him.  

Friday, November 13, 2026

Josh Hawley is a Republican Senator from Missouri. His reaction to the midterm election results is notable. "What happened last Tuesday was shocking and historic. It calls for a historic response. Christians need to gather and seek the Lord."

https://idahopublicpress.com/josh-hawley-called-a-one-hour-fast-a-historic-response-to-gop-losses-critics-called-it-ski/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWhat%20happened%20last,Meet%20me%20there!%E2%80%9D

He suggested that there be one hour of fasting and prayer in December. Now, there is no mistaking me for a Christian, but I am prepared to sign up for Senator Hawley's mission. I have selected December 9th at 3 A.M. as my time slot for fasting and prayer.