Features

When it’s “hot town, summer in the city,” as the iconic song says, few potations are quite as refreshing as a nice, ice cold, glass of rosé.

 Baseball celebrated itself again this week with the All-Star Game, played in Anaheim, and Jewish fans had reason to celebrate. Milwaukee Brewers’ outfielder Ryan Braun, whose father is Israeli, started for the National League. Texas Rangers’ second baseman Ian Kinsler was an American League reserve. First baseman Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox narrowly missed making the American League roster.

Contrary to popular belief, Yom Kippur is not the saddest day in the Jewish year.

Yom Kippur, a day of judgment, is a solemn day.

Tisha b’Av is the saddest.

The fast day, which starts Monday at sundown, commemorates the destruction of the First Temple and Second Temple, 656 years apart, in ancient Jerusalem. Both sites fell, to the Babylonians and Romans, on the ninth day of Av.

Once upon a time, in the halcyon days of postwar America, the tidy Cape Cods and tranquil, tree-lined streets of central Queens offered spacious and affordable living for New York Jewish families. 

Our kids had just departed for a month of sleep-away camp. Michael and I were finally alone, and we were ready for adventure, romance, and connection. For our first night, we had it all planned out, something we had never done before:

His and hers dentist appointments.

As Michael sat in one reclining chair, feet up, bibbed, and suctioned, I sat in the next examination room, similarly bedecked. Dr. W put on his four-lens glasses and attempted to relax me:

“I’m just going to take a look, so this won’t hurt yet.”

$100,000 for a wedding? $20,000 for a bar mitzvah? When did extravagance and luxury become such primary Jewish values? I can’t remember the last simcha (Jewish celebration) I attended at which there were not tremendous amounts of wasted food, overly expensive napkins and bands large enough for a royal banquet.

What a difference a few weeks make, eh?

It was only a month or so ago that Israel’s relationship with the United States government was in serious trouble. First it was the visit of Vice-President Biden to Israel that was marred by Israel’s ill-timed announcement of new housing starts in East Jerusalem. President Obama was said to be furious. Then it was Israel’s handling of the Gaza flotilla that seemed to anger everyone in the world who was awake and breathing at the time.

Adrien Arpel, founder of the world-famed cosmetic and skin care line, revealed at Einstein College of Medicine 56th annual spirit of achievement luncheon the secret of perpetual youth.

“You lie. Say you’re 10 years younger. I’m 49 and my husband still doesn’t know.”

The 700 women at the luncheon at the Pierre smiled in agreement.