Jacob Sager Weinstein's Blog, page 2
November 5, 2008
A Nu Day Dawns
I would like to congratulate my fellow Americans for making a historic choice. At long last, the greatest barrier in America has been broken.
That's right: for the first time in history, the President of the United States will have a rabbi for a cousin.
Mazal tov, Barak!
Not surprisingly, the election has received considerable interest over here. Last night, I was out at a movie and the gentleman sitting next to me heard my accent. He asked where in the US I was from, and when I told him Washington, DC, he said, in the mildest, most polite tone imaginable, "Tell me, is that a region that tends to trend towards McCain or Obama?"
I've lived here long enough to know that this is Britspeak for, "I'm dying to know who you voted for but it would be rude to come out and ask." So, by way of answer, I unbuttoned my shirt, revealing the Obama t-shirt underneath.
The English reserve melted away. He got a big grin and clapped me on the shoulder. At that point, the movie started, so we didn't get the chance to talk further, but afterwards, he told me he was going home to watch the results on TV.
So, random English guy who sat next to me at the movie, on behalf of America, let me say, "You're welcome."
That's right: for the first time in history, the President of the United States will have a rabbi for a cousin.
Mazal tov, Barak!
Not surprisingly, the election has received considerable interest over here. Last night, I was out at a movie and the gentleman sitting next to me heard my accent. He asked where in the US I was from, and when I told him Washington, DC, he said, in the mildest, most polite tone imaginable, "Tell me, is that a region that tends to trend towards McCain or Obama?"
I've lived here long enough to know that this is Britspeak for, "I'm dying to know who you voted for but it would be rude to come out and ask." So, by way of answer, I unbuttoned my shirt, revealing the Obama t-shirt underneath.
The English reserve melted away. He got a big grin and clapped me on the shoulder. At that point, the movie started, so we didn't get the chance to talk further, but afterwards, he told me he was going home to watch the results on TV.
So, random English guy who sat next to me at the movie, on behalf of America, let me say, "You're welcome."
October 2, 2008
Only in America
Probably the question I am asked most often about life in the UK is, "What is the official tartan of Scottish Jews?" In the past, I have been able to answer only with a sad sigh and a brushed-away tear. But I shall weep no longer. Rabbi Mendel Jacobs-- who bills himself as "the only Scottish-born rabbi living in Scotland" -- has received approval from the Scottish Tartans Authority for the first official Jewish Tartan. Here it is, as modeled by Rabbi Jacobs:
My only disappointment is that "Mendel Jacobs" is a sadly non-Scottish name for Scotland's only Scottish-born rabbi. Maybe it used to be Mendel MacJacob, and he changed it to sound less ethnic?
My only disappointment is that "Mendel Jacobs" is a sadly non-Scottish name for Scotland's only Scottish-born rabbi. Maybe it used to be Mendel MacJacob, and he changed it to sound less ethnic?
September 25, 2008
A Modest Proposal
Apparently, John McCain feels he is needed in Washington, DC, on Friday, and he therefore can't attend the scheduled debate. Senator Obama disagrees, and plans to attend.
Fortunately for Senator McCain, there's an easy solution. He has already chosen the one person in America he considers most qualified to step in for him if he can't fulfil his duties: Sarah Palin.
So why not send Governor Palin to debate Barack Obama?
Surely if she's qualified to negotiate with foreign heads of state, she can handle a debate with one little US Senator. And while she's busy dazzling America with her extensive grasp of international affair, Senator McCain can... well, he can do whatever magic economy-fixing voodoo is so important that he has to do it Friday evening.
It's a win-win!
Fortunately for Senator McCain, there's an easy solution. He has already chosen the one person in America he considers most qualified to step in for him if he can't fulfil his duties: Sarah Palin.
So why not send Governor Palin to debate Barack Obama?
Surely if she's qualified to negotiate with foreign heads of state, she can handle a debate with one little US Senator. And while she's busy dazzling America with her extensive grasp of international affair, Senator McCain can... well, he can do whatever magic economy-fixing voodoo is so important that he has to do it Friday evening.
It's a win-win!
August 22, 2008
Babies for Obama
I've been looking for some good Obama babywear, with no luck. The best I could find was a rather tacky looking outfit with the on-the-nose message "Babies for Obama."
So I came up with a slightly more interesting slogan. And thanks to the exceptional design talents of the folks at Hunt Smith Design, it's now available for purchase at Spreadshirt.com:
So I came up with a slightly more interesting slogan. And thanks to the exceptional design talents of the folks at Hunt Smith Design, it's now available for purchase at Spreadshirt.com:
