זוג אריות ים רודפים אחרי אנשים בסן דייגו, קליפורניה / Sea Lions Chase San Diego Beachgoers

י״ט לחודש הרביעי תשפ״ד

English follows the Hebrew.

פוקס חדשות: זוג אריות ים רודפים אחרי אנשים, מסתערים שוב דרך המונים במפרץ לה ה'ולה בקליפורניה
זוג אריות ים נתפסו בסרטון כשהם רודפים אחרי צופי החוף במפרץ לה ה'ולה
סטפני פרייס, 23 ביולי 2024

זוג אריות ים סוערים נתפסו בווידיאו כשהם רודפים אחרי אנשים בחוף המפרץ לה ה'ולה ומבהילים את האנשים בחוף הומה אדם.

סרטון ויראלי מציג את הרגע שבו שני אריות ים הסתערו דרך קהל ב-La Jolla Cove בסוף השבוע, ומבהילים אנשים. אבל מומחים אומרים לערוץ KGTV שיונקי הים לא ממש רודפים אחרי הצופים.

"התפיסה היא שאריה הים רודף אחרי אנשים, וזה בכלל לא זה", אמר אריק אוטן, סגן נשיא לפעולות זואולוגיות בסי וורלד (פארק עולם הים) סן דייגו, לערוץ KGTV.

על פי מרכז המחקר לדולפינים, החופים והמפרצונים של דרום קליפורניה עשויים לראות עלייה באריות הים מחודש מאי עד חודש יולי כאשר החיות בעונת הרבייה.

"ולכולם יש שטחים שייכים להם. ולחלקם אין להם. אז, אריה הים הקטן יותר שמתרוצץ בין קהל האנשים הוא זה שרק מחפש מקום להתרבות", אמר אוטין. "והזכר הגדול יותר שאתם רואים נכנס ממש בסוף הסרטון הזה הוא זה שעל השטח שלו הוא ניסה להשתלט."

עשר אגורות (2¢):
אני נולדתי וגדלתי בעיר סן דייגו. ההורים שלי לא הקפיצו אותנו לחוף במפרץ לה הוֹיה הרבה פעמים כי היו צריכים לנסוע עוד 20 עד 30 דקות נוספות כדי להגיע לשם בניגוד לחופים הרבה יותר קרובים לנו.

אז התשובה לשאלתכם הבאה היא לא, אנחנו לא גרנו בשכונה היהודית העשירה. אלא גרנו הרבה יותר בפנים הארץ משכונת לה הוֹיה. וכן, זו שכונה, ולא עירייה עצמאית.

בחוף הזה אני שחיתי במירוץ ימי, עברתי חלק מאימוני הצלה וצפיתי בשקיעה מהצוק מעל החוף.

אני זוכר כשלא היו אריות ים בחוף הזה. בדרך כלל ראו אריות ים שוכבים על רציפים. ואז הם השתלטו על חלק החוף במפרץ הזה. אנחנו ילידי העיר ידענו שכדאי להתרחק מהם. לפעמים התיירים התקרבו יותר מדי.

לעתים קרובות כשאני מספר לילידי ישראל שאני עזבתי את העיר הזו כדי לעלות ארצה, הם תוהים למה או אפילו אומרים לי שאני השתגעתי.

אני מספר להם שסן דייגו הייתה מקום נהדר לגדול בו, לחקור, לטייל עם חברים, ומקום נהדר למסיבות או בחופים או במועדוני לילה. בנוסף לחופים, העיר גם ליד מקסיקו, לא רחוק מהמדבר, ורק כמה שעות נסיעה ללוס אנג'לס או לפאלם ספרינגס (עין דקלים).

אבל היא לא ארץ ישראל, המולדת האמיתית היחידה של העם ישראל.

@being_bay these seals tryna fight 🥊🦭 #sandiego #lajolla #lajollasandiego #lajollacove #seals #californiaseals ♬ original sound - bay

San Diego Skyline / קו הרקיע של סן דייגו
"America's Finest City" / העיר המצוינת של אמריקה

מחוז סן דייגו ארה״ב / טיהואנה, מקסיקו / רכבת קלה

Fox News: Pair of sea lions chase people, charge through crowds once again at California's La Jolla Cove
A pair of sea lions were caught on video chasing beachgoers in La Jolla Cove
Stepheny Price, July 23, 2024

A pair of rowdy sea lions were caught on video chasing beachgoers at La Jolla Cove and causing panic on a crowded beach.

A viral video shows the moment two sea lions charged through a crowd at La Jolla Cove over the weekend, sending people into a frenzy. But experts tell KGTV the sea mammals were not actually going after the beachgoers.

"The perception is that the sea lion is chasing after people, and that’s not it at all," Eric Otjen, vice president of zoological operations at SeaWorld San Diego, told KGTV.

Southern California’s beaches and coves may see an increase in sea lions from May through July as the animals enter breeding season, according to the Dolphin Research Center.

"And they all have territories. And some of them don’t have territories. So, the smaller guy running through the crowd of people is the one just looking for a spot to breed," Otjen said. "And the bigger male that you see come in at the very end of that video is the one whose territory he was trying to take over." (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I was born and raised in San Diego. But my parents did not take us to La Jolla Cove very often, since it was good, extra 20 to 30 minutes farther to drive, than getting to the closest beach to home.

So, the answer to your next question is no, we did not live in the wealthy Jewish neighborhood. We lived significantly more inland than the La Jolla neighborhood. And, yes, it is a neighborhood, not a city.

As a kid, I swam the rough water competition here, did some of my lifeguard training here, and watched a sunset or two from the top of the Cove.

I remember when there weren't any sea lions on this beach. Sea lions could usually be found sunbathing on docks. Then they pretty much took over part of the Cove. We natives knew to stay away. The tourists? Not so much. I am pretty sure that there signs, though.

Often when I tell native Israelis that I left this city to move to Israel, they wonder why or they even tell me that I lost my mind.

San Diego was a great place to grow up, to explore, to show friends visiting from another city of state, and a great place to party. Besides the beach, it's next to Mexico, not far from the desert, and only a couple of hours to Los Angeles or Palm Springs.

But it's not Israel, the only true homeland of the Jewish People.

מה לעשות לגרפיטי שנאת יהודים? / What Should We Do With Anti-Semitic Graffiti?

ד׳ לחודש השנים עשר א׳ תשפ״ד

English follows the Hebrew.

עשר אגורות (2¢):
הסרטון להלן שודר במהלך סופרבול, משחק הגמר השנתי בין שתי הקבוצות בראש ליגת כדורגל אמריקאי.

בשנות ה-80 אותו הדבר קרה למשפחתי. מצאנו צלב קרס מצויר על שביל הכניסה ביתנו ליד המילה ״יהודי״. שוטרי המשטרה הגיעו לחקור את זה ואמרו לנו שמה שקרה לא סתם על ידי ילדים טיפשים. פנס הרחוב נהרס, ככל הנראה כדי לעזור לעברינים להסתתר בזמן הציור. אמא שלי התעקשה שלא נצבע עליו עד שכל השכנים ברחוב שלנו הגיעו וראו את זה.

אני גדלתי בשכונה במחוז סן דייגו, קליפורניה שבה היו כמה איטלקים ופורטוגזים, אבל בעיקר אירים. הם יכלו להזדהות איתנו על מה שקרה אבל לא במאה אחוז.

ולכן, יש לי קצת בעיה עם הסרטון הזה. הוא נותן ליהודי ארה״ב תחושת תקווה כוזבת.

היהודים רק צריכים לצאת מארה"ב כבר. אני מקווה שהפרסומת הנפוצה הזו לא מעודדת יותר מדי יהודים להשאר בהכחשה, וגם לא באמונה ששכנים הגוים ירוצו להציל אותם. זה ממש כשאנו התקבלנו בברכה על ידי מדינות מסוימות לאחר גירושנו מספרד ופורטוגל. אחרי כמה זמן תושבי המדינות החדשות שלנו התחילו לרדוף אותנו.

מי שמאמין שהמצב שונה בארה"ב הוא טועה בגדול.

ההכחשה והשאננות ואפילו אפשר להגיד שותפות בדבר של היהודים בארה"ב ובמדינות אחרות פשוט מעכבות את יציאתם מהגולה למולדתם האמיתית היחידה, ארץ ישראל.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
The video above was aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday.

In the 1980s, the same thing happened to my family. We found a swastika painted on our driveway next to the word Jew. The police came out to take a report, and told us that this was not just some kids being stupid. The street light had been knocked out, presumably to help them stay hidden while painting. My mother insisted that we not paint over it, until every neighbor on our street had come by to see it.

I grew up in a primarily Catholic neighborhood in San Diego County, CA. There a few Italians and Portuguese, but mosly Irish. To a degree they could relate... to a degree.

And so, I take some issue with this commercial, and the false sense of hope is gives Jews.

Jews just need to get out of the U. S. already. I hope this widely seen commercial does not keep too many Jews in denial, nor in the hope that their non-Jewish neighbors will save them. This is no different than when we were welcomed by certain countries after our expulsion from Spain and Portugal. It was only a matter of time, before the residents of our new countries were to turn on us.

It is a grave error to believe that the U. S. is any different.

The denial, complacency, and dare I say complicity of the Jews in the U. S. and elsewhere only delays their departure for their only true homeland, the Land of Israel.

Why Jews Should Come to Live in Israel?

כ"ד לחודש הראשון תשע"ט

On Shabbat, there was a terrorist attack at a Chabbad of Poway, northeast of the City of San Diego, CA.

Some Jews are writing about this be evidence of the need to "come home."

They're not wrong. We can either do this the easy(er) way, or the hard(er) way. We can get on the plane, or we can continue making excuses about our children being at the wrong age to move, or needing to finish an internship or one more year of work for a better pension, and waiting around for more of the proverbial kicks in the pants Jew hating terror attacks, before finally coming to Israel.

It's not about "coming home" to be safe. Look at all the terror attacks here in Israel? It's about Jews needing to wake up to realize that the U. S. (and other countries) are only supposed to be temporary dwelling places.

It's about Israel not just being the place in history where you learn for a year or do IDF service then heed your parents' calls to stop being silly and come home to get your degree (piece of paper).

It's about Israel being the proper place to invest our energies, and not just a place where to throw our money at it to ease our guilt, and pretend that we're doing our part.

It's about time to stop being an "armchair Zionist," and becoming a real one, some who doesn't just put his money where his mouth is, but puts his entire body, mind, and soul in along with his money.

The Oscars Are Upon Us. So What?

כ"ו לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ז

Once again, I go back and forth, as to whether I should be giving Asher Schwartz and the [not always] Jewish Press free publicity.

Oh, well. What the heck.

by Asher Schwartz

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Asher, thanks for pointing out how star struck and materialistic we can be, and that we sometimes worship what we shouldn't be worshiping. At least that's what I got from your comic.

And, unfortunately, I cannot disagree with you.

Even more so, as a native Southern Californian, and one time very materialistic Southern Californian at that, I learned early on how tacky it was to treat celebrities as being on a higher level than everyone else.

We laughed at the tourists, and immigrants from suburbs, and yes, even those from New York City, who did.

It was even tackier to name drop. Anyone who said that he had just met a celebrity, either saw said celebrity in concert, on a talk show with a few hundred other star struck fans, or was simply lying. (Cocaine can do that, you know.) Even referring to celebrities by first name was at best borderline, but really to be avoided.

Instead, we would hint...

Remember that time in '85 in Nichols Canyon when the cops were called?

Or

Why weren't you at the Santa Monica party last night? (The one which had been in the news.)

*"The Santa Monica party" means that there was, after all, only one party of many in Santa Monica that night, which was worth mentioning.

If you didn't get it, then you were irrelevant. If you did get it, then you were probably just pretending that you got it anyway, and were irrelevant, unless you could be of use somehow.

You see, if we put celebrities on a pedestal, then we could never aspire to hang out with them, unless we were lucky enough to become one of the select few groupies, which we would never deign to become.

Mentioning street names and corners instead of cities or neighborhood names really threw people off, and was a sure way to weed out the tourists from the natives.

As a San Diegeño, I was quickly accepted into the fold upon moving to Los Angeles, since Angelinos, and everyone else in the U. S. and around the world, consider all of Southern California to be part of Greater Los Angeles anyway. I just made sure never to be seen rolling my eyes, every time this fallacy happened to be mentioned in conversation.

If you guessed that we were snobs, then you guessed correctly.

But, once you got to know us, and you accepted your place in the greater scheme of things,...beneath us, then you realized just how nice we really were.

If you guessed that we were condescending as well as snobs, then you guessed correctly again.

Seriously, though, Angelinos get a bad rap. They are really quite nice, just annoyed when others,...outsiders that is,...pretended that they're natives.

These individuals were simply not tolerated. But, everyone else was treated very nicely and with those friendly smiles, which everyone always thought were pasted on fakes, but really weren't,...most of the time.

Actually, you know who the nicest Angelinos are? The celebrities themselves. Every celebrity I have met (notice no name dropping?) has been super nice, and genuinely so. I was most impressed with the Oscar nominee standing in back of me in line to get into a club. Why didn't she just go right in? Surely, she would have been recognized. I took the opportunity to turn around casually to smile and say "Hi," which is code for "I'm on the same level as you. Wanna hang out?"

The answer was "no." But, I guess you get the point.

Our priorities were messed up. At least mine were. I had even been exposed to Torah observance as a kid, and even liked it.

Fortunately for me, these messed up priorities were just a phase.

I mean, who cares about who I knew and which clubs I was able to get into? (This was the beginning of the "selectors" in LA. OK. So, we stole the idea from New York,...I think. So, what?)

Or for that matter, who wins the Oscars?

Sure, I do watch movies, and the Oscars can be a helpful guide as to what to watch,...albeit less and less, and that was even before it became overrun by the ultra-Left-wing political agenda.

But, still, how will the results of the Oscars affect the universe?

Not at all.

הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים אָמַר קֹהֶלֶת, הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים הַכֹּל הָבֶל. (קהלת א,ב)

Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity. (Eccl. 1:2)

On My 18th Aliyah Anniversary, Here's My Story!

 מוצש״ק פר׳ מטות-מסעי תעש"ה

This post was inspired by Tomer Devorah's Aliyah Advice For Those Who Are Interested.

Coming up on my 18th anniversary of not only making aliyah, but arriving in Israel for the first in my life, I realized, thanks to Tomer Devorah, that I had never written about my personal aliyah story. Even though I have written tips on aliyah, before, during, and after, based on personal experience.

Eighteen years ago today, I landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport for the first in my life, and I stayed.

My flight took off from Los Angeles, where I was living for the last nine months of my life in the U. S. There was an hour stopover in Chicago, and then it was onto Israel. When we took off from Chicago, my thought was, "This is it!"

"Fly El Al - most of the pilots are former Israeli air force pilots who aren't afraid..." @ASoldiersMother

Periodically glancing at the real time, flight map at the front of the cabin, I saw when we were over international waters, and then past the half-way point of crossing the Atlantic Ocean. There was no turning back now. But, the truth was, I knew that I was never going back, at not permanently, and I never have. In fact, I only left for a two-week course in England, in 1998. That means I have not left Israel in 17 years. For years, I either did not have the money, or I did not have the time off from work. Now, I do not have any interest in leaving Israel at all.

My journey to Israel, however, actually began years before I actually landed here.

You see, I had already tried to come to Israel several times beforehand.

In 1985, I wanted to come for my junior year of study abroad. In 1994, I tried coming for a year of study in yeshivah. In both of these cases, I did not have the money to go. Remember that Birthright did not exist back then. Even though it is just over 10 years old, many Jews do not realize that it is...just over 10 years old.

In 1996, I visited with the shali'ah (State representative) in Los Angeles to "apply" for aliyah.

Taking his suggestion, I wrote several options as to what I would actually be doing Israel, to show how open and flexible I was. I wrote IDF service, yeshivah, ulpan (intensive Hebrew study) and work. I had already wrote to the Ministries of Health and Education to get my professional degrees and certifications recognized, and was in contact with the Israeli branch of my professional association.

But, in the end I was "rejected," for not being focused. Of course, the facts that I had never even visited Israel, nor knew anyone here, worked against me. But, what no one ever told me explicitly was that my only loss would be a paid flight, and help with a place to stay.

Finally, in 1997 everything fell in place very quickly. I believe very strongly that I was meant to come at this time, and not before.

A friend of mine found an ad for a teachers program in Israel, co-sponsored by the LA Federation, the City of Tel-Aviv, and the Jewish Agency. In April, 1997, I interviewed for the program, and was accepted. I was told not to worry about money. This program really took care of me. So, I must give credit where credit is due.

In June, I found a cheap, one-way ticket, from someone with whom I volunteered a couple times a month, who turned out to be a travel agent.

Only a week before I was to fly, I lost my passport. But, I was able to get a new one, with special, yet pricey, three-day service, and a cool boss who let me come into work late a couple of times, so that I could deal with this.

Although Nefesh b'Nefesh did not exist back then, and handouts of chunks of money had been cancelled, at least for Americans, and other olim (immigrants) from Western countries, I managed. The shali'ah in Los Angeles had told me that I should bring at least $11,000. with me, as a single person. Yeah, right! As if!

I stepped off the plane with just $300 in my pocket, a duffel bag, and one carry on bag. Of course, I had a job and a place to live lined up. Like I said, everything just fell into place. I might even say miraculously so.

I even had a place to stay in a merkaz qelitah (absorption center) for two years, which is unusual. Most olim do not even receive more than a year. Rent was only about $86. per month, as I distinctly remember that the rate of exchange was 3.5 sheqqels to a dollar back then.

I soon obtained a student visa, good for a year. Just over a year later, a came back to the Ministry of the Interior at 6:30am, yet I was still only 13th in line. Hours later, I met the same clerk who had given me my student visa. I brought my birth certificate, passport, and letter from my rabbi in San Diego, stating that I was Jewish. I had heard it recommended to bring in your mother's kethubbah (marriage contract) as well, but I did not, as I did not have access to it.

The clerk glanced over everything, but took only the letter and stamped my U. S. passport with my request, and told me to come back in 30 days. I did, and he gave me my te'udath zehuth (identity card), stood up, shook my hand, and said Mazal Tov.

One tip I discovered about the process, which I feel is important to share is that each rabbinical association has its own list at the Jewish Agency of recognized rabbis. The application is sent there for confirmation of ones Jewish status. I called the Jewish Agency in advance of my submission of documents at the Ministry of the Interior. When I mentioned the name of the rabbi who had signed my letter, I was told that his name was absent from the list.

I almost started to freak-out. But, then a thought came to me.... I asked the person on the phone which list she had checked. She said the Orthodox Union [OU] list. Then I asked if Young Israel had its own list. She said yes, and sure enough, found the name of my rabbi on this list. I made a point of telling this to the Interior Ministry clerk, just in case.

I believe this insured that everything went as smoothly as it did. So, check to make sure that your rabbi is listed. I believe that Chabba"d also has its own list.

Almost a year and a half ago, I renounced my U. S. citizenship. I know that this is not the choice for everyone. You can read about my experiences with this, including how the process works, and about reporting ones income, and assets, or lack thereof, for the final time to the IRS.

After living in Tel-Aviv for two years, I moved around. Jerusalem, Beth-El, Ofra, and eventually to K'far Tapu'ah for five years. For the past six years I have been back in Jerusalem.

I have been homeless in Israel, in debt, unemployed, and survived a suicide bombing. I have interviewed, worked, learned, lived, and dealt with government offices. I have job hunted, apartment hunted, friend hunted, and community hunted. It has not been easy. We are even warned in the Talmud that it is not easy. But, this is home, and it is where all Jews belong, not in the U. S.

President Obama Lost his Brains in a "Smelting" Accident

 י"ז לחודש השנים עשר תשע"ד

Frontpage: Obama Blames California Drought He Caused on Global Warming
Daniel Greenfield, February 16, 2014

A stream of water trickles on the bottom of the Almaden Reservoir near San Jose

President Obama
We're on to you!

I hear Global Warming was also responsible for ObamaCare, the National Debt and Obama’s poor golf game.

Obama helped cause the drought in California and now he’s going to blame Global Warming and funnel more money to the Green Mafia over a drought that the Green Mafia thinks doesn’t go far enough. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
The president is dumber than dumb, if he thinks he will able to get away with this. I cannot think of any of my friends, on the right or left, who does not remember this very clearly. Even then Gov. Schwarzenegger (R) was on the phone with the president, who's "hands were tied," due to environmental (endangered species) legislation. No room for exemptions? This did not just hurt the food supply, but hurt employment, with nothing to pick, to transport or to sell, not to mention hurting the ENVIRONMENT!!!

As Native Californian, I remember learning about recycling as a kid in the 1970's. Reducing the amount of material we used, and reusing materials were also already hinted to. The connection between the destruction of forests and the production of paper was made, along side the question raised, "Who wants to swim in dirty [ocean] water?"

In a word, California was light years ahead of other states, and countries with regard to environmental issues.

And don't think this was just a talking point of the Democratic Party, either. California Republicans, although mostly liberal Republicans, eventually made the connection between taking care of California's environment and California's economy. Three of the major industries in my hometown of San Diego include tuna, seaweed (kelp extracts), and tourism, can be directly affected by how well, or how poorly, we took care of our environment, changes in tourism trends probably being the most easily detected.

Who wants to swim in dirty [ocean] water? Lay on a trash filled beach? Sit on brown grass, under dying trees? Come visit sickly sea lions or zoo animals or Shamu with a stomach ache?

Likewise, when two term Republican Mayor Susan Golding got on television and told asked us to take five minute showers, we took five minute showers. And guess what. It made a difference. Siphoning water saved from the bathtub to wash the car, or from the kitchen sink to water plants, was already not uncommon to see around the neighborhood.

Better environment = more pleasant atmosphere = more tourists = better economic conditions.

Californians have had plenty of experience with environmental issues directly impacting their lives, including limited water, fish and game decreases, and beaches too polluted for even someone with a surfing addiction to brave.

Clean the park, clean the beach, and various recycling collection projects were apart of our childhoods.

Even if I am optimistically exaggerating the sentimental feelings I have for my home town and State,...just a bit, I can still stay with a high level of confidence that Californians are just as, if not more, sensitive than their fellow Americans to when water does not come out of the faucet, when turned on.

Delta Smelt
 Hypomesus transpacificus

My point is that Californians are some of the last people on earth to brush off the importance of protecting a small fish from extinction. The domino effect such an event could have is unfortunately, not unfamiliar to us. Yet, even some tree huggers like myself, opened our eyes, and yelled, "What is this bologna?! Protecting a fish takes precedence over its negative impact on California's Central Valley, job loss, and human food supply??!!"

The Buck Anywhere But Here

"Sheeple" = "Sheep" + "People"

Now President Obama says it's because of the drought? Even though both academics and hard working laborers of California remember oh so clearly the completely unnecessary "drought" caused by a little fish.

I really do not think that President Obama will get away with this one. This is just one event for which even the mostly numbed out Californian "sheeple" poked their heads out from underneath their covers in order to attend to it.

Why is the Price of Tuna Really Decreasing?

מוצש"ק פר' וירא תשע"ד

Northern Bluefin Tuna in real life
(Credit: Gavin Newman/Greenpeace, via Zuma Press)

Life In Israel: Price of Tuna Set to Decrease
October 16, 2013

Yes! Thank you Yair Lapid. Everything was worth it just for this!

We have watched the price of tuna fish consistently rise... I remember the good old days when 4 packs of tuna (Starkist and other brands) sold for about 16 NIS. In the past few months, the price for the same four-pack has been sitting at 26 NIS. Sometimes you can get some on sale for less, but that's the regular price.

Finance Minister Yair Lapid signed an order lowering import tariffs on canned tuna fish. Lapid signed the order and constructed the decrease so that the final price will be lower for the consumer.

The decrease in price will be staggered between 2013 through 2016.

The tax rate currently paid is 12% + 3.51 NIS per kg.
From November it will drop to 12% + 3 NIS per kg until the end of the year. .
For the entire 2014 it will decrease to 12% + 2 NIS per kg.
For the entire 2015 it will decrease to 12% + 1 NIS per kg.
Starting 2016 it will be taxed at just 12%.

So, with each can being 160grams or so (I dont know if they include the water or oil in the weight for taxes, or just the 112 grams of filtered tuna), I think the four-pack of tuna will drop in price, at the end of the 3 year process, by 2.25 NIS - if I did the math right.

Thank you Yair Lapid. Those are some amazing savings!

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Um,...yeah. Hurray for Yair Lapid. 

Ya'ir Lapid
Yesh Atid (There is s future) Party Founder and Head

Now, let's check out the real reason is for proclaimed decrease in tax on tuna.

R-A-D-I-O-A-C-T-I-V-I-T-Y

Yum! Where are my
chopsticks?!

That's right. Thanks to the Fukushima Nuclear Reactor Disaster, which, by the way, is FAR from being over, and could still blow another reactor, the radioactive levels in tuna have been going up worldwide.

That's right, worldwide, not just in the California/Mexico fishing waters. The Pacific Ocean currents from Japan northward, turn east following Alaska, then down the North American coast (See "Coreolis Effect"). Still pretty frightening, though, when you take a look at just how much those levels have gone up in these waters alone, how many thousands of miles away from Japan?

Tuna: Now with Mercury
AND Radiation!

The four major industries behind my hometown of San Diego's economy include the military, tourism, algae (for ice cream, margarine, shampoo, etc.), and tuna. So, so you can say goodbye to San Diego.

In conclusion, Esser Agaroth (2¢): is unable to get excited about the impending decrease in the cost of tuna in Israel as Life In Israel is.

I prefer my fish to be radioactivity-free, not to mention free of all of the other toxins this large fish picks up during its relatively long lifetime.

A Southern Tel-Aviv of Coexistence and Chic? Guess Again!

ערב שבת קודש פר' כי תבא תשע"ג

Israel Seen: In Southern Tel Aviv, Coexistence and History Find Their Chic

Debra Kamin, August 23, 2013

Israel’s biggest city is changing, especially in its southern neighborhoods. A walk through them reveals a mixed bag of sights and citizens amid a surprising air of tolerance. Jaffa is where Tel Aviv really began. The oldest port in the world, once a capital of Canaan, then a bolt hole for both King David and King Solomon, destroyed and rebuilt time and again, the place has been ruled by nearly every great emperor in history. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
1. Why does IsraelSeen allow the use of the term "Palestinian Territories" on its site, even in an author's bio.? The only occupation is that of the Arabs laying claim to the heartland of Israel.

2. Debra, I used to teach at a mixed Jewish and Arab school in Yaffo. The tolerance is only one-way. The Jewish AND Arab teachers bent over backwards trying to effect unity. But, they were just repeating the same mistakes over again expecting different results,...just like the Israeli Government, on the left AND the so-called right.

When the '91 Gulf war broke out, efforts in Yaffo to make Jewish-Arab children's activities and clubs failed, because the Arab kids kept cheering, every time a scud hit Israel. These are only a couple of many examples.

I am not sure how much you realize just how offensive Arabs find it, when Yaffo is referred to as "part of Tel-Aviv." My guess is that you are completely oblivious to this.

"Channel 2 News: African citizen struck MK Stern."
(screen shot), April, 2013

3. Concerning "South Tel-Aviv," how fair and balanced could this report possibly be without a single mention of the problems, caused by the infiltrators, above and beyond the illegal aliens, above and beyond the "refugees."

This is not journalism, this is not even commentary. Normally, I would say that it is whitewashing.

But, with the naive application of the word "tolerance," and the complete absence of any mention of the theft, the added filth, the sexual harassment, and the aggression perpetrated by the African infiltrators (...who are apparently considered --not necessarily by Debra--"politically-correct," or rather too "politically-sensitive" simply by virtue of their skin color, which, where I come from, is called racism.), I will have to suggest the possibility of propaganda here.

May Golan for Tel-Aviv City Council

I suggest that you do an interview with May Golan, candidate for Tel-Aviv City Council. She will tell you ALL about the non-chic, and even dangerous, part of South Tel-Aviv.

San Diego Skyline
"America's Finest City"

4. Hmm... Now that I see that you are a fellow San Diegueño, I am forced to give you the benefit of the doubt, and reserve further judgment. I have gone back and re-written this response in order to tone it down,...believe it or not.

Just wondering how often you ever frequented City Heights, North Park, or even Golden Hill (before re-gentrification). My guess is that Rancho Santa Fe was more up your alley. But, I have been known to be wrong.

'Nuff said,...for now.

Sean Penn To The Rescue

י"ד לחודש השלישי תשע"ג

Noted actor, director, and writer has done a lot of crazy, liberal stuff in his day, including his visit to Iraq, his defense of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The list is just too long to post here.

Most of us first became familiar with Penn through his notable performance in the 1982 film "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," playing a stereotypical Southern Californian teenager, forcing those of us who were growing up in Southern California at the time to ask ourselves, "Do we really act that way?"

The answer for most of us was, "Yeah, but who cares?"

Sean Penn and Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli
in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"

The movie was supposedly based on Claremont High School in San Diego, although many claim the film was based on their high schools.

But, now it seems that he has set his antics aside, both on and off stage, and put his "social activism" to work, for the sake of a religious Jew, Jacob Ostreicher, who has been imprisoned in Bolivia for almost two years.

Times Of Israel: Sean Penn lobbies for haredi man imprisoned in Bolivia
Actor suggests putting pressure on sponsors of money-making Dakar Rally to reroute race until Jacob Ostreicher freed 

May 22, 2013

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Actor Sean Penn urged a congressional hearing to pressure Bolivia to release a haredi Orthodox father of five under house arrest in the country. 

Penn appeared Monday at a hearing on the case of Jacob Ostreicher of Brooklyn, who has been held nearly two years in Bolivia on accusations that he was in business with drug traffickers and money launderers. No proof has ever been provided in court....

I am still in shock, although pleasantly so, and wondering what the news reports must have left out. Does he have some kind of special pull in South America? Was he contacted, and asked to use his influence? Does Penn have ulterior motives? Given his history, what else am I supposed to think?

Penn even suggested financial pressure through the re-routing of a big money-making race. Is this just an opportunity to cancel a polution creating race through potentially, environmentally sensitive areas? Farfetched, perhaps, but I do not know what to think!

Jacob Ostreicher with his children

...Penn urged Congress to write letters to the corporate sponsors of the Dakar Rally motorcycle race, which in 2014 for the first time will go through Bolivia. As the race is a huge moneymaker for the participating countries, Penn said pressure should be exerted on the sponsors to demand the release of Ostreicher.

If Ostreicher is not freed, Penn said, the race should be rerouted to avoid Bolivia, depriving it of money and positive publicity....

His statement below hammers this idea home.

Click the photo to sign!

...The actor said he was “not only personally and thoroughly convinced of Mr. Ostreicher’s innocence, but particularly alarmed by a consensus both among Bolivian officials that the unevidenced prosecution against Jacob Ostreicher was standard operating procedure in the fundamentally corrupt Bolivian judiciary....”

Is the Bolivian governmental regime far right-wing or far left wing these days? I stopped keeping track when I was a teenager. While my family and I were traveling through South America, Bolivia had three different presidents within the span of one month.  If I remember correctly, one of the changeovers was even the result of a coup d'etat, shortly after we left Bolivia.

I ask this, because if it is far-left, then it would not only go against Penn's pattern of pals, but would also be "Hollywood Politically-Incorrect," a fate far worse for actors than just everyday "politically-incorrect." Of course, Penn has the clout to risk. But, why would he?

Is he really just doing the right thing?

And, with that I say a cautious,... If he succeeds in the misswah of pidyon shevuin (redeeming the captive) getting Jacob Ostreicher released, then more power to him,...but not too much.

South Park Shavu'os!

ד' לחודש השלישי תשע"ג

This post is dedicated to Eric and Jennifer, two of the nicest, new people I've met in real life in a long time! As they are from Denver, I just HAD to add a "South Park" connection, which pretty easy to do. Happy Shavu'oth!

*********

There is a tradition for us to eat dairy on Shavu'oth, the day on which we received the Torah at Mt. Sinai.

The tradition has been said to stem from not yet having learned the halakhoth (laws) of slaughtering kosher animals, even though we were obligated to them.

Others suggest a connection to the two loaves of bread offered on Shavu'oth. To distinguish between the two, many Jews wash, have a dairy meal, conclude the meal with birkath hamazon (blessings after the meal), wash again, and have meat meal.

Still others, like the Yekkeshe (German) Jews, having only dairy meals on Shavu'oth.

Some vegans even have something "dairy-like," such as something made with hazelnut or cashew "creams," to pay homage to this custom.

The light and fluffy nature of the dairy dishes served on Shavu'oth are often said to be the antitheses of the unleavened matzah eaten on Pesah (Passover), Shavu'oth being the culmination of the redemption process began on Pesah. As we count the Omer through this period, we rise in levels of purity and spirituality, in preparation to receive the Torah. Whereas the matzah, the lehem oni (bread of affliction) represents humility, the light and fluffy, leaven (ie. raised) items eaten on Shavu'oth represent gaivah (pride).

But, isn't pride a negative attribute? Is it not better to be humble, and strive to be so?

Yes. But, some say that there is one exception, the possession of the Torah. Even coveting another's Torah knowledge is said to encourage one to learn Torah, and not hinder it.

But, now for the most important question: What dairy dishes to make for Shavu'oth?

But, of course, being from San Diego, I have usually had something with a Mexican flavor on Shavu'oth. No one said that the dairy dishes had to be sweet, did they? Although I am sure there are those that will tell you that the Torah is sweet, which it is. Nonetheless, dairy Mexican is my general Shavu'oth custom: Dairy, or more specifically "cheesy," and light and fluffy, or perhaps one could say "poofy..." Watch and see!


No, I have yet to try making homemade cheesy poofs, but it is definitely an option for the future.

The last time I tried making one of making one of my favorites, cheese enchiladas, in 1994, and I must say that they were a complete disaster.

Photo Credit: John Sullivan

And so, I will probably stick with my quick and easy quesadilla recipe. Quesadillas should be made with dough filled with cheese, and fried.

The only tortillas I have found in Israel are white flour tortillas, imported from Turkey of all places. One of these days, I would like to try and make tortillas from spelt flour. But until then, if that's what I have to work with, then that's what I have to work with.

Begin frying one tortilla at a time. As soon as it gets soft enough to fold, add your choice of filling. grated Monterey Jack cheese is preferred, but you may have to use whatever yellow cheese you can get a hold of. Freshly grated hot pepper, freshly-grated garlic, sautéed mushrooms, chopped black olive rings, and chopped green onion are only some of the optional ingredients which can be added.

Photo Credit: Paul Goyette

Fold the tortilla over, and continue frying on both sides, until it becomes golden.

Serve with salsa and/or guacamole.

Still want something sweet, but keeping in line with a Mexican theme?

How about buneulo chips and vanilla ice cream?

Bunuelo Chips and Ice Cream
(Photo Credit: Taco Bill, Melbourne)

They are very easy to make. Simply cut tortillas into the shapes you desire, fry in oil on both sides until crisp. Then immediately coat with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Some take the chips and shake them in a paper bag with sugar and cinnamon. Serve with vanilla ice cream. The above photo has honey. I prefer chocolate syrup with this dessert.

Enjoy!

Mourning Mexican Food: Where's My Burrito?!

ז' לחודש השני תשע"ג

I had been planning to write about the profound effects of having to live without Mexican food for quite sometime. During the almost 16 years I have resided in Israel, I have yet to find anything remotely close to good, Mexican food. Argentine, yes; Mexican, no.

"Big deal," you tout?

Well, while I was searching for material for this post, I came across this quote from Hadice, posting about Carne Asada Burritos at Food.com. Of course, only those of you from the Southwest U. S. and Mexico will have any chance whatsoever of understanding its significance:

"For all of you poor, displaced San Diego-ites, the quest to find an authentic carne asada burrito is always disappointing, until now.... It's been over 4 years since I was in S.D. last and I have been craving this burrito ever since. I ate 5 of these bad boys in 2 days. I would take a bite, close my eyes, and dream of La Jolla, Balboa park or a stroll around Seaport Village. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did."

I am one of those "poor, displaced San Diego-ites," more properly known as "San Diegueños." Although I have no intention of living anywhere else besides Israel, I do see San Diego as my "hometown," or rather my "city of origin." And, although I miss very few material things from the old country, Mexican food IS one of them.

I grew up, believing that "Mexican foods" were "American foods." My Spanish-speaking father's incessant "Where's the salsa?" only reinforced this inaccurate notion. Nonetheless, these may not have been "American foods," but they were most definitely San Diegan foods. There is even a debate over the origin of the fish taco. Mexicans will insist that it's from Mexico; Americans will explain to you that its origins lie in San Diego.

I was in shock anytime I met an American, obviously not from the Southwest, who thought that anything made with a tortilla was called a taco.

"Blasphemy!" I would scream inside my head.

"The Border"

Many are surprised to hear of a steak or a nice piece of fish can be thought of as Mexican. Those same people are surprised to hear that San Diego really DOES border Mexico. After all, how many Americans actually live next to an international border? Not many.

The obvious solution to the problem is to make my own. Once in a blue moon, I do, because it's such a pain in the neck, and the ingredients found in Israel are, shall we say, less than adequate. White wheat flour tortillas from Turkey? I mean, c'mon! Do I really have to go any further?

Fortunately, I have been able to survive with the help of a salsa recipe I received from friends. The above reference to "San Diego style" I can only guess means with avocado, as the last time I checked, San Diego County supplies the rest of the the U. S. with something like an unbelievably high, 75 percent of its avocados. I never liked avocado as a kid. That's why I do not remember the expression.

Now, I do, and so I make guacamolé from time to time.

But, I digress...

There is a much easier solution to my carne asada burrito woes: shwarmah. What is shwarma, you ask? Well, it's basically meat wrapped in something made from ground grain.

Let's take a look at the similarities, each item being analogous (in my opinion) to the item in the same row:

Carne Asada Burrito
tortilla
carne asada
refried beans
(pareve) sour cream
salsa/hot sauce (w/cilantro)
hot peppers
etc.

Shwarmah
laffah
shwarmah
humous
tehinah
zhug (w/cilantro)
peperoncini
etc.

You can even get spicy carrots in Israel! And, now, jalepeño peppers are becoming increasingly easier to find.

Sure, they are not the same thing. The meat is different and their respective spiciness is of a different quality. Nonetheless, shwarmah makes a great substitute, for when the occasional urge for a carne asada burrito strikes me.

Sure enough, such narishkeit fades away over time, one local dish replacing the other.

Jerusalem In The Snow

ערב שבת קודש פר' וארא
ערב ראש החודש האחד עשר תשע"ג

The city started shutting down yesterday afternoon, on orders of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barakat. I must admit that it was probably a good idea, cutting down on traffic accidents, and possibly saving money in the long run.  Those who saw the snow come and go yesterday, never sticking to the ground are probacbly now appreciative of theis move on the mayor's part.

Unlike New York, Chicago, The occurrence of snow in the Holy City is so rare that is does not pay to invest in the equipment and people power necessary to keep the city open.  Although I have been told that the City does own six snow plows, in addition to plows which can be attached to almost any vehicle.

Many of us got the day off, given the option to work from home, or even told that they had no option, and had to work from home.

My buddy and neighbor Yitzchok Meir (Isaac Shiraz), founder of The Jewish Unity Project and Thank Israeli Soldiers, created this video, showing the rare and unusually large amount of snowfall in Jerusalem this morning.

Jerusalem Snow Day 2013 from Y Meir Malek on Vimeo.
Here's the comment I left...

Cute and well-done video, with great message. But, I'm a SUN Diegan with snow-phobia and tanorexia. Shabbos shopping was done yesterday, so b'li neder, I ain't leaving the house till the amount of white decreases by at least 80%.

My mother often tells me how much I would like Eilat, being so much like "home."  That's home, as in San Diego.  I like to travel.  But, after making my home in Israel over 15 years ago, I still have yet to make it down there.

My mother also reminds me how affected I was in the dark of winter, even during the mild, San Diego winters.

I now make my home in Jerusalem, but not for the weather.   I make my home in Jerusalem, for the people, the atmosphere, and the outlook on life, which differs sharply from other parts of Israel, particularly fellow big city Tel-Aviv.

All around Israel we need the precipitation, of any kind.  I am grateful for that which we get.

Yet, in the back of my mind, there reside visions of sunny Mission Beach and Pacific Beach, the sunset sitting on the top of La Jolla Cove, and the relaxing, dry heat of the California-Arizona Dessert, not to mention the number , the number 80, the number of days left from today until the official start of spring.

As I often explain to people, I make my home in Jerusalem, but not because of the weather.

As the saying goes, "אין כמו ירשלים"

There is nothing like Jerusalem!

תהילים פרק קמז

יב  שַׁבְּחִי יְרוּשָׁלִַם, אֶת-יְהוָה;    הַלְלִי אֱלֹהַיִךְ צִיּוֹן.
יג  כִּי-חִזַּק, בְּרִיחֵי שְׁעָרָיִךְ;    בֵּרַךְ בָּנַיִךְ בְּקִרְבֵּךְ.
יד  הַשָּׂם-גְּבוּלֵךְ שָׁלוֹם;    חֵלֶב חִטִּים, יַשְׂבִּיעֵךְ.
טו  הַשֹּׁלֵחַ אִמְרָתוֹ אָרֶץ;    עַד-מְהֵרָה, יָרוּץ דְּבָרוֹ.
טז  הַנֹּתֵן שֶׁלֶג כַּצָּמֶר;    כְּפוֹר, כָּאֵפֶר יְפַזֵּר.
יז  מַשְׁלִיךְ קַרְחוֹ כְפִתִּים;    לִפְנֵי קָרָתוֹ, מִי יַעֲמֹד.
יח  יִשְׁלַח דְּבָרוֹ וְיַמְסֵם;    יַשֵּׁב רוּחוֹ, יִזְּלוּ-מָיִם.
יט  מַגִּיד דְּבָרָו לְיַעֲקֹב;    חֻקָּיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו, לְיִשְׂרָאֵל.
כ  לֹא עָשָׂה כֵן, לְכָל-גּוֹי--    וּמִשְׁפָּטִים בַּל-יְדָעוּם:
הַלְלוּ-יָהּ.

Psalms 147
12 Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
13 For He has made strong the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within thee.
14 He makes your borders peace; He gives you in plenty the fat of wheat.
15 He sends out His commandment upon earth; His word runs very swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool; He scatters the hoar-frost like ashes.
17 He casts forth His ice like crumbs; who can stand before His cold?
18 He sends forth His word, and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters to flow.
19 He declares His word to Ya'aqov, His statutes and His ordinances to Yisra'el.
20 He has not dealt so with any nation; and as for His ordinances, they have not known them. Hallelujah.

*********

*Tanorexia - The belief that one is never tan enough; the need to be tan in order to feel right, complete, or accepted by others.

American Idol Non-Shocker; Adam Lambert Fans Not To Worry!

27 of the Second Month 5769














(Adam Lambert photo: Daniel Than via Wikimedia; Kris Allen photo: Taylor Brown via Wikimedia)

The Orthodox Jewish grandmothers and great-grandmothers who volunteer where I work in Jerusalem are the ones responsible for getting me hooked on the talent show American Idol. I am, by far, not the only one who got hooked this season, either. I have heard from more than a few American ex-pats in Israel that they, too, followed this season of American Idol, even though they would normally never condone, let alone participate, in such narishkeit.

Self-described, Jewish agnostic Adam Lambert, my San Diego "homeboy" is the reason why. Just like former Arkansas Gov. and Baptist minister Mike Huckabee was routing for Christian, "milk and cookies boy" Kris Allen from his home state, Jewish American grandmothers in Israel were routing for their fantasy grandson, Adam Lambert.

They will, of course, be disappointed, when they see Israel's airing of the results this Saturday night, that is, if someone hasn't ruined it for them already. Kris Allen won.

The news media had already predicted the results, although many also said that it shouldn't matter: The contestant with the wider range voice and the greater overall talent was not going to beat out the contestant with the tried and true, Christian-family, vote-getting profile.

(FoxNews.com) "I'm sorry, I don't even know what to feel right now. This is crazy," said a stunned Allen, 23, of Conway, Ark.

As host Ryan Seacrest said in announcing the result of the viewer vote, "The underdog, the dark horse, comes back and wins the nation over."

My theory is that Adam's raw talent and his evocation of Broadway most every time he took to the stage got these American-Israeli bubbes hooked on Adam, not to mention that he is a sweet, Jewish boy. Don't let his bad boy, rocker wardrobe and hair fool you. He comes off as sweet, polite, and, yes, humble, in addition to being incredibly comfortable on stage, the big four litmus tests applied in adopting a Jewish grandson.

The bubbes were undeterred by certain "controversial" photos and videos which would normally be considered a great shandah in many Jewish homes. "So, what? He might not make anyone a grandmother anytime soon, but the boy can sing..."

You will definitely not have to worry about Adam Lambert, after being voted American Idol's runner-up. While Kris takes Nashville and Branson, Adam will be taking Los Angeles and New York. If he doesn't make it as a rock star, he will make it on Broadway. If by some unlikely chance, Broadway doesn't work out, he can always make aliyah, and give the Israeli music industry a run for its money. Are you listening, Aviv Gefen?

7 Things About Me

3 of the Ninth Month 5769

I was tagged by Here in Highland Park.

I'll be a good sport, but the truth is that I've already done a few other memes which are very similar.

About a year ago, my friend David, still languishing in San Diego, sent me something similar, sort of a 6 x 4 meme e-mail.

Before that Jacob Da Jew "smagged" me with a 6 x 8 meme.

Like my Six Word Memoir, this meme has turned out to be mostly about where I have lived.

Here are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people (if possible) at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. (See below about "tagging.")
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.

Seven facts about me:

1. From birth until the age of 27, I lived in the State of California, 24 years in the south, three years in the north.

2. I have not left Israel for the past 10 years, 3 months.

3. During my 11 years in Israel, I have lived in Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem (Qiriyath Moshe), Beth-El (Beth), Ofra, and K'far Tapu'ah.

4. K'far Tapu'ah (4 years) is where I have lived for the longest period of time in the same house after my father's current house (16 years).

5. From my bedroom window, I can see an olive grove, a goat shed, a parchment factory, a dog kennel, and up to three donkeys.

6. Two years ago, the question arose as to whether my town (K'far Tapu'ah) should keep two days of Purim min hasafeq like Shiloh and Hevron. That question was very short-lived. We continue to keep only one day, the 14th.

7. I have been designing "authentic" Jewish clothing for a few years now. Now all I have to do if find the right material and either have them made or learn how to make them myself.

OK. Nothing terribly exciting, I know, but I'm "yotzei." OK. Here's one more:

8. I do the Set and Quiddler on-line puzzles on a daily basis. I also do Sudoku.

As far as "tagging" goes, like Rafi, I do not usually tag anyone. I will let them know about this meme, and see if any of them want to play along. In the meantime, checking out these bloggers' blogs:

1. The Jewish Fist - inquiring minds want to know, plus I want to get him some traffic
2. How To Measure The Years - because he hasn't been blogging for a while
3. Ehav Ever - recently, sort of, met him on-line
4. I don't know who else. I like doing these things, but I really don't like harassing people who don't, even though I am not really tagging them.

Sorry,...best I could do.

Six Word Memoir

Yom Yerushalayim 5768

I was tagged for this meme by Snoopy The Goon at Simply Jews, to produce my memoir in six words....

San Diego Los Angeles Israel Hogwarts

Not the kind of response you would expect from a Torah Zionist Jew, who is sometimes called a "right-wing extremist," is it?

I suppose this warrants some explanation, mind you, only "some" explanation.

If I had not been blessed with growing up in cities with two-word names, I probably would have thrown in a few more place names. The fact these cities have more than one word in their names are representative of how I see myself: complicated.

I used location names, as life has been very much a journey from place to place for me, and not just physical, but mental, emotional, and spiritual as well.

San Diego is where I was born. At the age of two, we moved to the suburbs, but I never lost my connection with the "big city," the border of which was only a few miles away. I went into town or to the beach when I could, and after college and graduate school, moved back to "America's Finest City." My education began there. My Jewish education, my secular education, and my street education.

Los Angeles is where my education continued,...my Jewish education, my academic education, and my street education. This is where I first lived on my own, so I have a connection to this city as well, the city many non-Californians seem to hate, until they end up moving there themselves.

Israel is where I finally made my home, and where I have continued my education. Yes, that includes my street education (Detect a pattern here?), as well as my "hilltop" education, along with my Torah education, which I hope was obvious to you already.

Hogwarts is a fictional place, representative of my increasing access to my developing creative side. Yes, I would like to write a novel some day. But the only thing that should seem unusual to you is that as a Southern Californian, why am I not writing a screenplay....

I do not particular like tagging people, so I'm not gong to, except maybe a few. I do like BEING tagged, though, just to let you know.

Tag List:

TNSPR (The only one I can think of so far who would tolerate a tag.)

Please leave a link to your tag reply in the comments section.

At David's Request

It feels as though I have been doing a lot of memes lately. They are a great to procrastinate and to avoid doing all of those important things in life, like finding a job, finding a wife, growing spiritually. You know, important things....

When my friend David, one of my few friends left in the "old country" (San Diego), asking me to do this one, I could not refuse. You see, David has really never asked anything of me in the 12 years that I have known him, a good enough excuse to procrastinate. After all, I did my job-hunting for the day and fulfilled some additional obligations to other people.

Now, here's what you're supposed to do, and please do not spoil the fun.Hit forward, delete my answers and type in your answers. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known facts about those who know you. Remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you.

4 jobs I have had in my life:
(I'll list the ones most people don't know about.)

• Lifeguard, Swim Instructor, Coach


• Dance Club Door Man & Bar Back
  (I have no doubt that this one blew some of you away!)


• Shift Manager in an Internet Cafe


• AOL Customer Service Agent

4 places where I have lived:

• San Diego, CA
  (Mission Village, Middletown, Uptown. Lake Murray)


• Los Angeles County, CA
  (Westwood, Santa Monica)


• San Francisco Bay Area, CA
  (Oakland, Hayward)


• Israel
  (Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, Binyamin, Efraim)

4 places I have been on vacation:

• Europe (age 4), (Father's Sabbatical Trip)


• South America (age 13), (Father's Sabbatical Trip)


• Las Vegas, NV, Phoenix, AZ, Palm Springs, CA (Fraternity Road Trips), Yuma, AZ (Padres Spring Training)


• Tiveriah, Tzfat, Gallil, Golan, Israel (chaperon on my 8th-graders school trip)

4 of my favorite foods

• Shwarmah


• Steak


• Chicken Soup - as it should be & when it's cold out


• Most Things with Coffee or Chocolate in them

4 places I would rather be right now:

• Jerusalem - in a quiet & warm apartment


• Eilat - I've never been, and would like to go


• Nahariyah - in the summer


• The Beach - in the summer

4 friends or relatives I think will respond first (possibly) :

You know what, David, I dunno. I'm not in the habit of "tagging" people anymore. i let people "tag" themselves. Hopefully they will come back to put a link to their responses in the comments section below.

Sorry, David, I guess that means I'm spoiling the fun.

On The 2007 JIB's

Erev Shabbath Parshath Tazri'a-Messor'a 5767

Well, now that the JIB Award Nominations are in, it's time for me to give you my 10 agaroth on them.



First of all, I must be slow. Even though this is the first time I bothered paying attention to the JIB Awards, I suppose I should've picked up the connection between the abbreviation "JIB" and the sailboat motif LONG ago. Please tell me that there IS a connection. It's hard for me to tell which is the "jib" and which is the "main sail" in the JIB logo, but no matter.

One of the advantages of being a native of San Diego, is that I actually know what a "jib" is. San Diego is one of only six cities in the world to play host to the America's Cup regatta. San Diego is also host to the Word Championship Over The Line Tournament (Warning: This is an R-rated tournament.) and the U. S. Open Sandcastle Championship (in Imperial Beach actually). But I digress....

Here's something I noticed in the JIB Awards FAQ's:

- So I can nominate and then others should vote or is it better for others to nominate?

We have no idea if it's a better 'strategy' to wait until you are nominated by someone or to self nominate. It won't make any difference in where you show up on the voting list whether you are nominated early or late. You may vote for yourself as well.

Strategy? What strategy? To win? I guess winning is the goal here, which undoubtedly will get you more exposure.

I am not criticizing those of you who nominated yourselves. On the contrary, I commend you. The goal here IS exposure. You will get it; I won't.

I just couldn't bring myself to nominate myself. My ego wouldn't let me, just like my ego won't let me actively request that other bloggers add me to their blog rolls. And, no, this is not a passive-aggessive way to manipulate you into blog-rolling me. Please don't, unless YOU want to. I cannot guarantee that I will return the favor, not until your blog passes the utmost scrutinous of inspections. Although I list some blogs with which I do not entirely agree politically or religiously, Mamlakhtim need not apply....

I am purposely posting this entry, now that the JIB Award Nominations are closed. So, you can't nominate me, even if you wanted to. For those of you wannabe psychologists out there, this your cue to accuse me of lacking confidence in myself. For those of you non-wannabe psychologists out there, this is your cue to accuse me of not being good enough to be nominated anyway, and "When the hell is that Ben-Yehudah guy gonna finally learn how to proof-read?!" and "He hardly blogs very much anyway!"

Well, that may change, now that I'm being laid-off as of 18 Iyyar (May 6).... But, that's another story for another tiime.

I'll just leave you with a quote, followed by a SHAMELESS plug for those of whom I nominated for a JIB Award:

"I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!" -Stuart Smalley

Note: This blogger disavows any connection whatsoever with Al Franken. So, stop the lashon hara' before it starts!

MY Nominations:

Best Overall Blog: Shiloh Musings

Best News/Current Events Blog: Tel-Chai Nation

Best Slice of Life in Israel Blog: Faith In Natan

Best Right-Wing Political Blog: Lamrot Hakol

Best Photo/Graphics Blog: Jewish Nation