Mishenichnas Adar Marbin b’SimchaAt the onset of the month of Adar, our joy increases. So teaches the Talmud in an otherwise quite dour section centering on the destruction of the Temple. Beyond dealing with the astrological and astronomical implications of such a statement, a controversy has recently arisen about the popular tune sung throughout the world. Many popular Jewish...
The Whole Megillah/Scroll of Esther begins with “It happened in the days of Ahasuerus (Xerxes)…who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia” before moving onto a description of an epic seven-day rager the King threw that people still talk about today. Hence why the best parties are described as being ‘of biblical proportions.’ In...
The tragic, untimely passing of Lisa Marie Presley, may her memory be for a blessing, provides us a moment to reflect on the enduring legacy of the Presley Family and their relationship with the Jewish Community of Memphis. Those who have paid homage to the King at Graceland, and if you haven’t you really should,...
As the JCC gears up to celebrate our 70th anniversary Platinum Jubilee, we reflect on the immense spiritual significance of the number 70 in Judaism. We read in the Torah a few weeks ago that Jacob’s House of 70 went down to Egypt leading to the exile and eventual exodus. The Sanhedrin, Judaism’s original (arguably...
In a sign of rapidly warming ties between Japan and Israel, Tel Avivnikim flocked to Dizengoff Center this week for the opening of the Jewish State’s first 7-11. The humble konbini, while unlikely to offer kosher nana-chiki and ikura onigiri, began serving insulin-inducing slurpees and gastronomically precarious roller-heated hot dogs, a long way from the...
Welcome Back from Hawaii, the Lower 48, Europe, Israel, Australia, Bali, Singapore, Niseko, Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen, Yuzawa, Okinawa and other areas outside the 23 Wards. For those who stayed closer to home, in a way you are the smart ones for not braving the crowds. If you can vacation at less busy times of the...
Jews and Chinese Food: A Love Story Like the perennial springtime media coverage of the Christian-Arab who purchases the entirety of Israel’s chametz, you can set your watch to end-of-year articles and blogposts decoding the Jewish-American fascination with Chop Suey and General Tzo’s Chicken; a tradition that began in the early 20th century when New...
The World Cup semifinals did not leave Jews with a lot of great options. Croatia? Despite the embassy’s geographical proximity to the JCC, they are basically fascist until today. No tears were shed in Israel on their loss to… Argentina? Home of the world’s only kosher McDonald’s outside of Israel to be sure but also...
It is by now common knowledge that many popular Christmas songs you hear being piped through shopping malls the world over were written by Jews. ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ by Johnny Marks, ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’ by Mel Torme, ‘White Christmas’ by Irving Berlin represent just a few in the panoply of jingles...
Freddie Roman (born Fred Kirschenbaum)5697-5783; 1937-2022 As the world mourns the loss of an icon, it behooves us to reflect on the fast-disappearing world that was the Borscht Belt. The current nostalgia driven by the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel stems from how much of today’s comedic landscape was inspired by Jewish comedians performing in mid-20th century...