WHAT'S WORTH KNOWING...

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התקציב שהממשלה מעלה היום הוא הרסני. אין בו שום בשורה, אין בו רפורמה שתשפר את מצב המשק, אין מנועי צמיחה, אין מאבק ביוקר המחיה, יש רק סחטנות אינסופית. אנחנו נתנגד לתקציב הזה, ונעבוד קשה כדי לחזור מהר לשלטון. כי צריך יהיה לבטל את כל מה שהם עושים עכשיו לפני שהנזק הופך להיות ממשי.

https://fb.watch/kIqKfFUy_b/

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Paul Simon Confronts Death, Profoundly, on ‘Seven Psalms’

The 81-year-old songwriter ruminates on mortality, faith and meaning in an album that could be a farewell.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/18/arts/music/paul-simon-seven-psalms-review.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

 

City Planning Council Approves Expansion of East Jerusalem Settlement

Plan includes construction of 100 residential units and 275 hotel rooms in Nof Zion, a settlement inside an Arab neighborhood

 https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-03-06/ty-article/.premium/city-planning-council-approves-expansion-of-east-jerusalem-settlement/00000186-b31a-d24e-af96-f3da8ad00000

 

Destructive Middle East Rituals (Hard Questions, Tough Answers- May 22, 2023)

https://peacenow.org/entry.php?id=41632&eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=7b24310f-6286-468e-a634-5273a7ab34c2

 

Bibi Advocates ‘Unique Two-State Solution’

One for charedim and one for the rest of Israel; massive concessions to coalition revealed.

https://garyrosenblatt.substack.com/p/bibi-advocates-unique-two-state-solution?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Cardiff: Two teenage boys killed in crash before Ely riot

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-65677472

Nota bene - I am not endorsing the editorial slant of any of these articles; Some I agree with, others maybe not. I am saying they are worth knowing about.  Your recommendations for WHAT'S WORTH KNOWING are welcome.  ej5@nyu.edu

WHAT'S WORTH KNOWING...

 

On the way up to the Temple Mount, Likud is becoming Otzma Yehudit

Most ruling party members have always shunned visits to the holy site, both for security and religious reasons, but a new breed of Likud MKs are following the lead of the far-right

https://www.timesofisrael.com/on-the-way-up-to-the-temple-mount-likud-is-becoming-otzma-yehudit/

Majority of U.S. Twitter users say they’ve taken a break from the platform in the past year

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/05/17/majority-of-us-twitter-users-say-theyve-taken-a-break-from-the-platform-in-the-past-year/?utm_source=Pew+Research+Center&utm_campaign=6195bed327-Weekly_5-20-23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-6195bed327-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

 

The slow cracking of Greg the Egg

How the No. 1 boy of ‘Succession’ fans turned into just another Disgusting Brother

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/05/18/greg-succession-hbo-nicholas-braun/

 

Foreign Bodies: Pandemics, Vaccines and the Health of Nations by Simon Schama review – scientists to the rescue

The historian offers up lessons from past pandemics in an indictment of modern leaders’ response to Covid

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/may/19/foreign-bodies-pandemics-vaccines-and-the-health-of-nations-by-simon-schama-review-scientists-to-the-rescue?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

 

Orwell: The New Life by DJ Taylor review — the Etonian poser who wanted to be famous

George Orwell put his career before his dying wife, his little boy and his friends. Will Lloyd on a selfish genius

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/orwell-by-dj-taylor-review-r27nxw39p

 

Nota bene - I am not endorsing the editorial slant of any of these articles; Some I agree with, others maybe not. I am saying they are worth knowing about.  Your recommendations for WHAT'S WORTH KNOWING are welcome.  ej5@nyu.edu

WHAT'S WORTH KNOWING...

  

גזענות, שנאה ואלימות: במצעד הדגלים לא נרשמו אירועים חריגים

גם השנה צעדו אלפי נערים משולהבים מישיבות ומכינות קדם צבאיות דרך הרובע המוסלמי, קראו קריאות גזעניות וחיפשו — וגם מצאו — עם מי לריב. במשטרה בוודאי יסכמו את היום כהצלחה

https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2023-05-18/ty-article/.premium/00000188-3043-d805-a7c9-f9cb4f680000

 

Unanswered Questions About Trump and Russia

I have no reason to doubt the Durham report, but it’s still curious that Trump treated Putin so gently.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/unanswered-questions-about-trump-and-russia-helsinki-durham-report-fbi-10ce5fdb?mod=panda_wsj_author_alert

 

The Strange Career of Shlomo Sand: Polemicist Masquerading as Historian

https://israel-academia-monitor.com/2023/05/18/the-strange-career-of-shlomo-sand-polemicist-masquerading-as-historian/

 

South Africa Tries to ignore arrest warrant for Putin

Tensions high after US intelligence claims weapons were sent to Russia

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/south-africa-russia-weapons-putin-2t7fjpb5z

 

Former FBI employees accuse bureau of ‘weaponization’ against conservatives

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-former-fbi-employees-accuse-bureau-of-weaponization-against-conservatives

 

Nota bene - I am not endorsing the editorial slant of any of these articles; I am saying they are worth knowing about.  Your recommendations for WHAT'S WORTH KNOWING are welcome.  ej5@nyu.edu

"Old Geezer's Concise Restaurant Review"

Vegetarian at Mahane Yehuda Shuk Jerusalem

  Tzemah Vegetarian

1 Dekel Street 

https://www.tzemahrest.com/

02-5333444 הדקל 1, ירושלים

​Sun-Thu: 09:00-23:00 | Friday: 09:00-16:30 | Saturday:18:30-23:00 |   | 02-5333444 Hadekel St. Jerusalem

Ambiance/decor/cleanliness - *7* 

Good buzz; great location, especially if you don’t venture by car.  On a Shuk side street

Toilet/accessibility

Two available toilets. Clean. On the main eating level (one step down).

Restaraunt is partly accessible from the sidewalk. Some steps. 

Food 

Vegetarian - There is no kosher certification (a plus in my book)   *7*  

Small portions; pricy; tasty; nicely presented

Service/management/professionalism 

Well-trained, competent, bilingual, pleasant waiters and welcome staff. This was decidedly, for me, the saving grace  *8*

Noise level (Common Geezer Kvetch)

*1* constant, unremitting, high decibel – forget about conducting anything but perfunctory conversation. 

To be fair, the restaurant posts an advisory about noise on its reservation confirmation tool.

Alcohol 

Cocktails were expensive and good but stingy on alcohol. A glass of wine is prohibitively expensive. Wine (including top notch) without kosher certification served. 

Reservation policy

Draconian- substantial forfeiture if you need to cancel - but this is made clear when you reserve via the Internet or Smartphone.

Bottom line

Recommended at least once for the experience; bring earplugs; and a padded wallet. Then enjoy. Next time, I'd ask to sit at the bar and watch the open kitchen.

 

1 = terrible

10= supremely perfect

WHAT'S WORTH KNOWING....

How Opposition Leader Yair Lapid reacted to plans to shift huge chunks of Israel's budget to the ultra-Orthodox and Hardal camps as part of Netanyahu's patronage payment to stay in power:

https://twitter.com/KnessetT/status/1658076202941272064?s=20

How the (London) Times briefing section (on the leader page) referenced May 15:

Palestine: Nakba Day, which marks the ending of the British mandate in Palestine following the Declaration of the State of Israel. Protests are expected.

https://www.haaretz.co.il/tmr/news/politics/2023-05-14/ty-article/.premium/00000188-1b10-d18b-a79d-1fd8b92b0000

הכספים הקואליציוניים שאישר נתניהו הם גזר דין מוות לישראל. אשמתו לא תישכח

בין הסעיפים השערורייתיים במיוחד: הגדלת תקציב רשתות החינוך החרדיות־פוליטיות ב–40% והכפלת תקציב זרם הפטור ■ בכך מבטיח נתניהו שדור העתיד של החרדים יהיה חסר השכלה ויצביע בצייתנות ליהדות התורה וש"ס ■ עם הדמוגרפיה החרדית, זה לא מותיר לישראל סיכוי

 

Alleged leaker fixated on guns and envisioned ‘race war’

Videos and chat logs reveal Jack Teixeira’s preparations for a violent social conflict, his racist thinking and a deep suspicion of the government he served

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/05/13/jack-teixeira-discord-leaked-documents/

 

 

Death of a drug baron heralds Syria’s return to Arab League

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/death-of-a-drug-baron-heralds-syrias-return-to-arab-league-njtfgc2c6

 

Liberal Jewish groups need to own the disaster at the border

With rules they called “cruel” about to expire, arguing that the surge of illegal immigrants posing as asylum seekers is analogous to Jews fleeing the Nazis has to stop.

https://www.jns.org/opinion/liberal-jewish-groups-need-to-own-the-disaster-at-the-border/

 

House Oversight Cmte. Chair James Comer Holds News Conference on Hunter Biden Investigation

House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer holds a news conference on the panel’s ongoing investigation into President Biden’s family. He alleges the Bidens received over $10 million from foreign nationals in Romania and China

https://www.c-span.org/video/?527960-1/house-oversight-cmte-chair-james-comer-holds-news-conference-hunter-biden-investigation

 

עיריית ירושלים הסירה הדמיה של תוכניות בנייה; פעילים בעיר: זה מחשש למחאה

העירייה מקדמת שורה של תוכניות פינוי-בינוי במסגרת מדיניותה לעידוד בנייה לגובה, והמידע שהוסר איפשר להתרשם ממראה העיר אחרי שיושלמו התוכניות. העירייה: "המידע הוסר לטובת התאמות ועדכונים ויושב בהמשך"

https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/local/2023-05-10/ty-article/.premium/00000187-f9f3-d768-a7bf-fdf3ddc10000

 

Nota bene - I am not endorsing the editorial slant of any of these articles; I am saying they are worth knowing about.  Your recommendations for WHAT'S WORTH KNOWING are welcome.  ej5@nyu.edu