I'm Still Here
Ok, I admit it, I am a really bad blogger. Forgive me readers for I have sinned. It has been one month since my last post. I do have an excuse. Since the last post I have gone from Israel to Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, back to Los Angeles, then New York back to Israel. OY. Still no excuse. I will try to do better in the future but it is difficult without a routine.
I wish I can say that things are getting better here vis a vis our black hatted friends, but I can't. The protests , the insults and the deafening silence of the Hardei leadership continues. On the bright side I did get to meet one of the Rabbis at the forefront of the attempt to curtail growing Hardei influence. The meeting was set up by a friend in NYC and took place in our home here ( the lack of names is due to me trying not to use names :)).
We spoke about the growing threat to Israeli society and the inevitable consequences of where Israel is headed if nothing is done about it . I think he respected my passion on the issue or thought I was crazy.
What he has been doing and continues to do, is to try to break the monopolies that are the back bone of Haredi power and the source of a lot of contention. His organization has broken the monopoly on recognized marriages in Israel and next on the radar is kashrut. This is important because the rabbinate kashrut organization is way up on the list of corrupt organizations in Israel. It is filled with nepotism and incompetence. Many of the mashgichim will not eat in the places they certify. Instills lots of confidence, doesn't it. As of now ( and I think I mentioned before) no one is allowed to say that an establishment is kosher other than the rabbinate. The courts have decided that a proprietor can say that the ingredients are all kosher and that the food has been prepared according to the laws of kashrut but he is not allowed to say the establishment is kosher. This monopoly is also a big source for funds for them and an alternative that provides real kosher supervision is sorely needed. Hopefully the Rabbi will be successful but it will not be easy.
We then discussed how more needs to be done on a political level. I told him about my idea to have a cross party political pledge and the need to get politicians to sign on ( I have decided to call it the' share the burden pledge' for now). He thought it was a good idea but would never work. So he is with the consensus.
I have spoken to several people about this idea, some of them very involved in this issue here in Israel. All agree on the threat and the need for action, yet all feel there is nothing that can be done. I can't believe that since I just gave up my life in the USA to throw my lot in with Israel. I will not give up and will keep everyone posted. That said I am always looking for good idea's
I have decided that besides my Haredi rants I will also try to provide a service to my reading audience. I have been trying many new places to eat and will review them here. If you know me well, you know this is a break in how I do things. I am a big fan of going to the same place over and over if I like the food but YOLO (' you only live once' for you old people)
First up, Memphis Burger, in Tel Aviv. I had heard that this place makes amazing burgers and I love a good burger. I decided to go before we went to see Foxtrot, the controversial Israel film about the army and families of people in the army ( maybe a future post). It looked like a typical street-side take out place. Not the type of place I normally go to. It was a very small storefront with bar stools that seat around 4 people, and outside was seating for another 15 or so. The choices are simple. You can order a burger with a side and a drink or not. You choose between 180,250, 360 ( 2x180) or 500 (2x250) grams of meat. You can add on top, duck , entrocote or eyin ( no idea). Sides are chips, salad or coleslaw. There are 2 beers on tap in two sizes. That's it. The whole menu.
We went to the counter and I ordered the burger,fries and drink combo. My wife got the healthy option of coleslaw instead of fries.
What can I say. It was one of the best burgers I ever had. I am not sure exactly what the make up of beef was ( and the owner wouldn't tell) or what all the toppings were, but it was one of the juiciest , tastiest burgers I have eaten. The fries and coleslaw were great as well. I highly recommend if you are in Tel Aviv and looking for some great street food.
If any of you have a suggestion of a place I should check out, I am always up to a new adventure.