Entertainment at the Raleigh

Courtesy of Long Island and New York Places That Are No More, here is an old ad from The Raleigh hotel. Jackie Kannon passed away in 1974, so my guess is that this ad is from the late 1960s, early 1970s. London Lee is a stand-up comedian known as "The Rich Kid." I had the pleasure of seeing Lionel Hampton and Wynton Marsalis at The Blue Note with my husband-to-be in the early 1990s. That was a treat! In 1997, he lost all his belongings in a fire. He passed away from heart failure in 2002. Emmett Kelly was one of the most well-known clowns and was also famous for his commitment to charitable causes.


The Raleigh had a hangout for teens called the Nuru Guru Club (which sounds like a room for meditation), and a band called The Forest was playing that August. Never heard of them.

In the early 80s, I worked at as a counselor for JAPpy rich girls at Camp Olympus in Parksville, which closed its doors in 1988. I hated the job, but I loved the area and its surroundings, along with its rich history. One day, a few of us decided to crash the Raleigh and attempt to use the pool. We were chased off the grounds and almost arrested!


Originally called the Ratner Hotel, The Raleigh is still in business but in an entirely different incarnation.The Raleigh was sold to Hasidic group in 2006 and hosts many school Shabatons, reunions, and Passover Seders. There are even rooms named for Sammy Davis, Jr.! The Nuru Guru club no longer exists, but there is still a childrens' camp on the premises.


I went to a meeting of the Metropolitan Postcard Club on Sunday and became a member in good standing. I was trying to find some vintage Judaica postcards, but they were out of my budget for that day. Maybe next month.

Humor Monday--Cup o'Joe

On this cold and dreary Monday, we all need a good cup of coffee. This reminds me of a cute story about coffee that my late MIL sent to me a number of years ago.

A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning.

 The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up
 first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee."

 The husband said, "You are in charge of the cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee."

 Wife replies, "No you should do it, and besides it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee."

Husband replies, "I can't believe that, show me."

So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and shows him at the
 top of several pages, that it indeed says . . .,

"HEBREWS"

Never Forget!

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah in Hebrew). On this day, we not only remember the 6,000,000 Jews who perished, but non-Jews who were affected as well. An entire civilization in Europe was rubbed out because of the acts of the Nazi party. Careers, homes, and towns were literally destroyed. Had these horrible acts of genocide not occurred, craftspeople, doctors, lawyers, shopkeepers, and other professionals would have been able to pass their trade to the next generation.

Jews throughout Nazi-occupied Europe were forced to wear the yellow star pictured above. This was to mark them for humiliation and desegregation. 

Yom Hashoah falls on the 27th Day of Nissan in the Hebrew calendar. This day was chosen because it falls after Passover and coincides with the Warsaw ghetto uprising. On this day, the entire country of Israel stands silent to remember those whose lives were lost. All restaurants and places entertainment are shut down for 24 hours.

Want to learn more?

• Click on this timeline from the History Place Web site for events that span from the years 1933 to 1961.
• Online exhibitions are available at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's Web site.
• An excellent bibliography is maintained at The Holocaust History Project.
• Auschwitz was the most notorious of the concentration camps. Time Magazine shows photos of the site 65 years later.
• No lesson on the Holocaust would be complete without a discussion of Anne Frank's diary. Learn more at the Web site for the Anne Frank Museum in Holland.
• Brainpop provides excellent lessons for schoolchildren of all ages. See lessons on the Holocaust and Anne Frank. 
• The New York Times also provides great resources for the classroom.
• Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial museum in Israel, is conducting a campaign called "Gathering the Fragments" and is collecting all artifacts associated with the Holocaust era.
• Classroom Help has a list of recommended books for children.
• Adults should consult Goodreads for their recommended Holocaust book list.

I'd like to end today's post with a quote by the author and concentration-camp survivor Elie Wiesel:

“For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” 

Ad for Tamarack Grand Opening, 1947

Here is an ad for the grand opening the Tamarack Lodge, dated 1947 (courtesy of Old Images of New York). 

From the early 1900s to the mid-1970s, a week at the Catskills (known as the Borscht Belt) was a very popular vacation for Jewish families. There were many bungalow colonies where parents would spend the entire summer. The popularity of these family vacations waned as trips to Europe and exotic places such as Aruba and Hawaii became more popular. As a child, I never had the opportunity to stay at one of the first-tier hotels (e.g., Concord, Kutsher's, Grossinger's). I did visit my grandparents when they stayed at a bungalow colony. My friends were part of another bungalow colony for many years and they wound up getting married. Their bungalow colony still exists today.

I have an interesting story about the Tamarack. This hotel was not on par with the first-tier resorts, but it was the site of many Jewish singles' weekends. Shortly after Matthew and I got engaged, we took a trip there with another couple. Our (former) friend thought it was "Poker Weekend", but it turned out to be "Polka Weekend." Ugh! We were by far the youngest ones there. Also, it poured the entire weekend and we had to transfer out of our leaky room. The entertainment was lousy, but at least the food was decent.

I will have more posts about the Catskills. It's a shame that many of the hotels have either become condos or have been abandoned entirely. Only Kutsher's exists today. There was a brush fire at the Tamarack about a week ago. The hotel is now owned by the Western Mohegan tribe. Possible casino in the future?

New Jewish Words (that I thought would make you smile)

Happy Monday! I hope everyone has recovered from their holiday. I thought we could all use a little humor this morning, so I found some new words to add to the Jewish/Yiddish dictionary:

1. JEWBILATION n. Pride in finding out that one’s favorite celebrity is Jewish.

2. TORAHFIED n. Inability to remember one’s lines at one’s bar or bat mitzvah.

3. SANTA-SHMANTA n. The explanation Jewish children get for why they  celebrate Chanukah while the rest of humanity celebrates Christmas.

4. MATZILATION v. Smashing a piece of matzo to bits while trying to butter it.

5. BUBBEGUM n. Candy one’s mother gives to her grandchildren that she never gave to her own children.

6. CHUTZPAPA n. A father who wakes his wife at 4:00 a.m. so she can change the baby’s diaper.

7. DISORIYENTA n. When Aunt Sadie gets lost in a department store and strikes up a conversation with everyone she passes.

8. GOYFER n. A Gentile messenger.

9. KISSKA n. Smooching at a bar mitzvah and getting the telltale smell of stuffed derma.

10. MEINSTEIN slang. “My son, the genius."

 11. MISHPOCHAMARKS n. The assorted lipstick and make-up stains found on one’s face and collar after kissing all one’s aunts and cousins at a reception.

12. RE-SHTETLEMENT n. Moving from New Jersey to Florida and finding all your old neighbors live in the same condo as you.

 13. ROSH HASHANANA n. A rock ‘n roll band from Brooklyn.

 14. YIDENTIFY v. To be able to determine true ethnic origins of celebrities even though their names might be St. John, Curtis, Davis, or Taylor.

15. FEELAWFUL n. Indigestion from eating Israeli street food.

16. DISKVELLIFIED vb. To drop out of law school, med school or business as seen through the eyes of parents, grandparents, and Uncle Sid. In extreme cases, simply choosing to major in art history when Irv’s son, David, is majoring in biology, is sufficient grounds for diskvellification.

 17. KINDERSCHLEP n. To transport other kids in your car besides yours.

18. SCHMUCKLUCK n. Finding out one’s wife became pregnant after one had a vasectomy.

19. OYVAYSMEAR: What one says when the cream cheese squeezes out of the bagel and falls on your clean pants.

20. JEWDO n. A traditional form of self defense based on talking one’s way out of a tight spot.

Holiday Wishes

We are about to begin the "final days" of Pesach. These last two days are those of studying Torah and reflection. This is to commemorate the parting of the Red Sea, which occurred on the seventh day. On the final night, we light candles to remember loved ones who are no longer with us, as well as the 6,000,000 Jews who perished in the Holocaust.

On Saturday night, we can begin to eat chametz again. Yea!

Be safe and stay healthy!

Good To the Last Drop!

While surfing online, I found this vintage Passover Maxwell House ad. I'm not sure of the year, but it has to be from the late 1950s. Since the 1930s, Maxwell House has published their edition of the story of Passover. In my family, we have used the Haggadah from the 1960s. Although spoken English has changed since 1963, but we continue to use it because we enjoy hearing the same words, year after year. It's called "the longest consumer promo in the U.S.", according to their agency, Joseph Jacobs. This ad agency targets the Jewish market and represents the media in over 200 publications. You learn something new every day!

What is the Difference Between Catholics and Jews?

I got this from a friend yesterday. Makes you want to think. I grew up in a Christian neighborhood but I really didn't pay too much attention to their religion. However, we always had friends at our Seders and they were fascinated with the whole concept of Judaism. 

There are lots of similarities and differences between Catholics and Jews. First, the things that unite us: 1) God as Father and Creator, 2) that we are both chosen by God to be God's special people, 3) the Old Testament which we both use and revere, 4) all of the Old Testament patriarchs and prophets like Abraham and Moses and David 5) the struggle to be holy, 6) the place of prayer in our lives, and 7) and the need to be concerned with our brothers and sisters throughout the world.

Where we differ, however, is in our understanding of who Jesus is.Jesus was a Jew. A devout, practicing Jew. He went to temple, observed the Sabbath and holy days, prayed the psalms, observed the dietary laws, and was a respected Jewish leader. But we Catholics believe that Jesus was also the Son of God, the Messiah that the Old Testament prophets had predicted would come one day to save us from our sins.Jews are still waiting for the Messiah to come.They do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, though Jews recognize Jesus as a very holy Jew, a great Jewish prophet, but they reject the idea that Jesus was the Messiah. They are still waiting for the Messiah to come.

But with the Jews, Catholics are waiting for the Messiah to come back. Catholics believe that the Messiah will return at the end of time to judge the world...So in a way, both Jews and Catholics are still waiting for the Messiah together. The Jews are waiting for the first coming of the Messiah, while Catholics are waiting for the Second Coming...

But while we are all waiting, it's important to remember that we Catholics have Jewish roots.Our Mass is rooted in the Passover meal and in the synagogue liturgies of the first century.Many of our feasts and seasons, like Pentecost, are rooted in Jewish feast days. Many of our ideas about God and the world come from our Jewish roots...

So in a world that seems to be increasingly divided and disunited, while we wait for the Messiah to come and straighten it all out, we should focus on what unites us all....and then when the Messiah gets here, He might actually recognize those who have been waiting for Him...

Kosher Restaurants Open for Passover 2012

Want an alternative to Seder leftovers? Here is a list of restaurants in NYC that will be open during the "Middle Days" of Passover (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. List courtesy of Yeah That's Kosher:

Personally, I can't wait to sample some Kosher Chinese from Cho-Sen Gardens!

Manhattan:

• Abigael's, 1407 Broadway  (212) 575-1407
• Clubhouse Cafe, 155 W46th Street (212) 354-3838
• Colbeh, 32 West 39th Street (212) 354-8181
• Darna 2 Go, 300 East 45th Street (212) 661-1666
• Ladino Tapas Bar & Grill, 940 Eighth Avenue (At Columbus Circle) (212) 265-6520
• Le Marais, 150 West 46th Street  (212) 869-0900
• Meat Me, 726 Amsterdam Avenue  (212) 678-7000
• Mendy's Grand Central, 109 East 42nd Street (Dining Concourse) (212) 856-9399
• Mendy's Kosher Deli, 61 East 34th Street (212) 576-1010
• Mendy's Rockefeller Plaza, 30 Rockefeller Plaza (212) 262-9600
• Mr. Broadway, 1372 Broadway (212) 921-2152
• My Most Favorite Food, 247 West 72nd Street  (212) 997-5130
• myWayCup Coffee,  102 East 23rd Street (646) 368-1083
• Prime Grill, 60 East 49th Street  (212) 692-9292
• Schnitzel Express, 1410 Broadway  (212) 997-7770
• Screme Ice Cream, 176 West 94th Street  (212) 663-1362
• Screme Ice Cream, 2030 Broadway  (212) 362-2111
• Screme Ice Cream, Verdi Square @ 72nd Street 
• Screme D'Espresso Ice Cream,  317 Madison Avenue  (212) 867-7141
• Solo, 550 Madison Avenue (212) 833-7800
• Taam Tov, 41 West 47th Street, 3rd Floor (212) 768-8001
• Talia's Steakhouse & Bar American,  668 Amsterdam Avenue (212) 580-3770
• Vegetable Garden, 243 West 38th Street (212) 997-7558

Brooklyn:

• T Fusion Steakhouse, 3223 Quentin Road (718) 998-0002
• Crawfords Cafe, 1944 Coney Island Avenue (718) 998-7002

Queens:

• Cho-Sen Garden, 64-43 108th Street (718) 275-1300

Riverdale:

• The Candy Box, 5684 Riverdale Avenue, (718) 708-8008      

Long Island:

• Cho-Sen Island, 367 Central Avenue, Lawrence, NY (516) 374-1199
• Cho-Sen Village, 505 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, NY (516) 504-1199
• Colbeh, 75 North Station Plaza, Great Neck, NY (516) 466-8181
• Colbeh, One Intervale Avenue, Roslyn, NY (516) 621-2200

New Jersey:

• Six Flags Great Adventure: According to NCSY (who always runs programs) Kosher food will be available for purchase in the park.

South Park--"Jewpacabra"

Eric Cartman is what you call a mini-Archie Bunker. He is anti-Semetic, racist, and generally exclusionist. Few people take him seriously enough to challenge him. On Wednesday's episode of "South Park," you can say that Cartman got his comeuppance.


The episode starts with Cartman asking Kyle's mom about the story of Passover. Kyle becomes suspicious and asks what are Cartman's motives. Cartman tells Kyle he just wants to be come more educated in the Jewish tradition.


However, young Eric has a scheme after all. He makes up a story about a "Jewpacabra",  a vicious monster who feeds on children. He fabricates the "monster" on tape and shows it to scientists, who go along with his story. In fact, they tell Cartman that the "Jewpacabra" will be going after him since he caught it on video. Meanwhile, the owners of a major supermarket chain are scared that the annual Easter egg hunt will be canceled because of the "Jewpacabra", so they chain Cartman to a rock in a bunny suit. The scientists mistake Cartman for a monster-like creature, so they stun him with a tranquilizer dart.


Cartman falls into a dream that has him seeing the plagues of Passover. The story is told from the Egyptians' point of view. He realizes that G-d isn't kind or forgiving, but angry and vengeful. 


Meanwhile, Kyle sees Cartman lying in a pool of blood and takes him upstairs. When Cartman wakes up, he sees it as Passover miracle and he announces he's converting to Judiasm.


Has Cartman finally grown up? Or will he go back to his bigoted ways? I hope it will be the former because this was not one the show's best episodes. After 16 seasons, it may be time for some major character changes.


Have a happy holiday, everyone!

Grossinger's Ad from 1967

Good morning and Happy Passover!

Thanks to a great Facebook page called "Places in Long Island and NYC That Are No More," I found this ad from 1967 for Grossinger's Kosher for Passover frozen chicken.

Grossinger's of course, was one of the great Borscht Belt hotels. Its doors were open from 1919 to 1986. However, the golf course remains open. Many celebrities, such as Bobby Fischer, Robert Merrill, Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Red Buttons, Vice President Alben W. Barkley, stayed there, and it was the first of the resorts to use artificial snow. Entertainers such as Eddie Cantor and Eddie Fisher kicked off their careers here. 

Visit this link to see pictures of Grossinger's in its heyday: http://www.catskillarchive.com/grossinger/

Sadly, it's deteriorated: http://www.allabandoned.com/finding-the-g-spot/

Because food was an important part of Grossinger's (as well as the other resorts) many Seders took place here. In its heyday, over 1,900 guests would stay for the entire Passover holiday. Hey, if anyone cooks for me, it works! 

Freddie Mercury Would Be Kvelling

I found a great video called "Passover Rhapsody," which of course is a take on the classic Queen song. This one's courtesy of Aish.com.

Passover Video "The Seder Plate Champion"

Courtesy of Chabad, this video is called "The Seder Plate Champion" and it's very cute. The Matzoh, Moror, Bitter Herbs, the four Cups of Wine talk about themselves and what they bring to the Seder table. Enjoy!

Pre-Seder Chuckles

At least one might give you a pre-Pesach chuckle. :-)

• A group of leading medical researchers have published data indicating that Seder participants should NOT partake of both chopped liver and charoses. It seems that this combination can lead to Charoses of the Liver.

• At our seder, we had whole wheat and bran matzoh, fortified with Metamucil. The brand name, of course, is . . .”Let My People Go.”

• Old Jewish men in Miami get hernias from wearing chai’s that are too heavy. This condition is called chaiatal hernia!

• If a doctor carries a black bag and a plumber carries a toolbox, what does a mohel carry? A bris kit!

• JEWISH JEOPARDY We give the answer, you give the question:

            A: Midrash

            Q: What is a Middle East skin disease?

            A: The Gaza Strip

            Q: What is an Egyptian Belly Dance?

            A: A classroom, a Passover ceremony, and a latke

            Q: What are a cheder, a seder, and a tater?

            A: Shofer

            Q: On what do Jews recline on Passover?

            A: Babylon

            Q: What does the rabbi do during some sermons?

            A: Filet Minyan

            Q: What do you call steaks ordered by 10 Jews?

            A: Kishka, sukkah, and circumcision

            Q: What are a gut, a hut, and a cut?

And speaking of circumcisions: An enterprising Rabbi is offering circumcisions via the Internet. The service is to be called . . .”E-MOIL.”

Tomorrow, I will have my take on last night's "South Park" episode.

Hope everyone has finished their pre-Passover shopping and cleaning! Have a great day! 

Kathy

Spring Cleaning for the Soul

It's two days before the first Seder begins. Have you finished your Passover cleaning and shopping yet? 


When we clean for Passover, not only are we searching every crack and crevice for chametz, we are also cleansing our souls. We are digging out our undesirable personality traits, such as self-importance and petty pride. Passover food, let's face it, is bland, and we are supposed to be modest and humble throughout the year.


Even though religious Jews start a month in advance, fear not If you haven't! Here is a handy-dandy checklist, courtesy of the Orthodox Union:


• START EARLY - The sooner you begin after Purim, the better it is; by doing a little bit every day, the job is not overwhelming.

• Start with areas where chametz (leaven) does not usually go and declare them off limits until Passover.

• Start buying Passover food items early. Have a place ready to store them.

• In the last week before Passover, indulge in convenience foods and paper plates.

• Clean the oven as early as possible and use only the stove top or toaster oven until Passover. They are well worth the price for ease and speed in food preparation.

• Check with your rabbi for instructions on how to kosher the microwave.

• Invest in a food processor and electric hand-mixer for Passover. They are well worth the price for ease and speed in food preparation.

• Aluminum foil is a great help on Passover – it can cover counters, shelves etc. as well as wrap cooked foods. (For Kosher for Passover non-food items, consult the OU Passover Guide, featured on http://www.oupassover.org. It is also available for purchase--see below for details). 

• Don’t forget to clean brooms, vacuum cleaners, clothing pockets, car and garage.

• Be sure to consult the OU Passover Guide – there are new products every year to enhance your holiday.

• Enjoy having the entire house clean at one time and keep up a cheerful front. You will appreciate Passover more and so will your whole family.

If all this really overwhelms you, watch the humorous video below (with apologies to Gloria Gaynor):

Some religious families even hire Passover cleaning services, such as HCH Inc. They scope homes for chametz the way Roscoe would sniff for bedbugs. 

The Web site Star-K has an extensive list of products that are Kosher for Passover and those that are chametz. There is no need to buy special cleaning products because certain brands (such Ajax, Dawn, and Joy), may be used without the K for P symbol.

Happy cleaning!