thinking jewish

The Mother of Them All

Over the last ten years, the Israel Religious Action Center has consistently brought case after case to Israel's High Court, each attempting to, little by little, strip away the state's de facto recognition of Orthodoxy as the sole legitimate Jewish authority. Lately, they have won every case they've fought.

The IRAC forced the recognition of conversions performed on non-Israelis by Liberal rabbis in the Diaspora, and, just last year, the IRAC got the High Court to recognize the conversion by Liberal rabbis of Israelis abroad. Each case they won brought more legitimacy in Israel to Liberal Judaism, but never did they explicitly get the court to recognize Liberal Judaism as equal to Orthodoxy under the law; there always were caveats.

Today they have brought before the High Court the question everyone has been waiting for them to ask: is Liberal Judaism equal under the law or not?

The IRAC has asked that the court recognize all Liberal conversions, inside and outside Israel, of Israelis and non-Israelis, for the purpose of citizenship under the Law of Return. Should the IRAC win this case, the government will be hard pressed to continue discriminating against Reform and Conservative institutions in Israel.

Get informed and read more here. Keep your fingers crossed!

Stop Them with Trickery

As I walk up to the front of the line, I read the sign awaiting all fellow travelers:

You are not required to remove your shoes before you enter the walk-through metal detector. However, if you choose not to, you may be subject to longer delays.

Knowing that my shoes never set off the alarm (as they are not made of metal or explosive materials) I put my bags on the conveyer belt, and walk through said metal detector. I notice that I do not set off the alarm, and prepare to continue along my merry way in Newark airport when...

TSA Man: Take off your shoes and go back through the detector.

Me: Oh, did I set off the alarm?

Him: No. You are required to take off your shoes.

Me: Really? The sign said I didn't have to though.

Him: Well then you can be physically inspected.

Me: The sign didn't say that.

Him: Either you take off your shoes and go back through or you get a pat down. Make your choice.

Me: I'm not trying to be problematic, and I will take off my shoes, but you could save a lot of time if you changed your signs to be correct and not say that we didn't have to take off your shoes. I would have taken them off to begin with had I been told to.

Him: We can't do that! What are we going to do, tell them exactly what we're going to do? We can't give away all our information.

And so, the truth is revealed. The Transportation Security Administration plans to keep us safe from terrorist plots by tricking the evil-doers in the security lines. After being confused by differences between what the signs say and what they are told, terrorists will be so flustered that they will give themselves away.

As they always say, trickery's the best policy for a safe America.

Can I See Your Invitation?

My friend Sarah is visiting, so I thought it would be nice last night to take her to the Time Warner Center before coming home.

As we exited the Columbus Circle subway station, I noticed a table of wine glasses and full bottles inside of Hugo Boss. Ever the connoisseur of free food, I advised that we go in and check it out.

After perusing the store for a few minutes, we were offered a glass of either sparkling Italian wine or a French white. We chose the Italian. A few minutes later a man offering smoked salmon hors d'oeuvre came by. I ate a sample with delight.

Our glasses in hand, we walked upstairs and sat on comfy chairs which overlooked the lobby of the Time Warner Center. Magically, a Christmas Light show, set to music, began. We drank, relaxed, and enjoyed the entertainment.

Finally, I had had enough. I had to know why the good treatment. It's not every day that Hugo Boss treats you like royalty. So I asked an employee what was going on.

"It was all described on the invitation - the special 40% off invite-only sale... you mean you don't have an invitation? Well don't tell anyone!"

With that it all made sense. We had happened upon a secret, unadvertised 40% off sale, replete with wine and food. Yum.

Now if only I actually liked Hugo Boss clothing...

Kosherfest

There are perks to living in New York City. For one, flying to Israel takes 6 hours less.

There are perks to having friends in high places. For example,
But the real joy comes when you live in New York and have friends in high places. I do.

Cheryl works at a hip women's magazine, so, when she was invited to attend the 2005 New York Kosher Foods Convetion (A.K.A "Kosherfest" or "K-fest") she agreed, and applied for two press passes, one for herself, and one for me, her freelance writer.

I should have gone into journalism. Who knew that journalists get to eat free food and schmooze for a living?

Some highlights: I went to buy a bottle of water but realized I was out of cash. As I began to offer my credit card (for the $2.75 bottle, by the way!) the woman behind me insisted on paying for me. "Pay for someone else next time," she said. Go Jews!

WISE Organic Products slaughters kosher organic poultry and beef. They have nice-looking informational papers.

Sara's Wholesome Muffins taste very good, especially when baked into small muffin sizes, according to market research. Sara comes from Israel, Efrat to be precise. My Hebrew is better than hers.

Until Kosherfest 2006, this is David Singer, writing for said hip women's magazine, signing off.

(Yes, that is a hummus statue)

Investigative Report

I highly recommend watching this investigative report looking into why Cal has beat Stanford for the last few years.

Given, it's made by Cardinal students, but they can be funny sometimes.

The question is, does it show how cool Cal is, or how student Cal students are?

Click here.

Winning comment: "It's cause they're f&*%!#% wieners!"

Hillary Visits the Kotel

"Damn this thing smells..."

Somewhere, Out There...

Back from Berkeley. What the hell is up with that place? More to come soon...

In more stressing news, I left my brand new iPod Nano and headphones on the plane to SFO. Damnit!

Where are you, my friend?

Go MTA!

During yesterday's election, voters were asked to approve a $2.9 billion bond act to finance transportation projects throughout New York state. Half of this money would be earmarked for MTA projects in New York City such as (finally) the Second Avenue subway, West Side rail access, replacement and upgrade of old subway tracks, and, best of all, replacement of old subway cars so we can hear annoying electronic people tell us where we are at each stop along our commute.

I took this matter fairly personally. After all, the MTA is my car. I use it many times a day, every day, so money meant to make it nicer, cleaner, faster and more efficient means that my life will be nicer, cleaner, faster and more efficient.

Yesterday, New York voters did the right thing and passed Transportation Bond Act. Thank you.

Now I expect the MTA to do it's part: I want annoying electronic people announcing every stop on the B, C, and 1 lines ASAP.