The Gaza Strip Shuffle

So lately I've been going out to Rehov Azza (Gaza St) almost every night. It's basically the center of Jerusalem's young-adult pick up scene. If you're out for a good time, your best bet is to head straight for Cafe Rehavia, but there are definitley other viable options to explore.

Last night my friend Yishai and I started our foray into the abyss of the Gaza Strip at Zigmond. A tiny and friendly kitchen bar, frequented often by members of the 'bitza' (Jerusalem's urban religious dating 'swamp') . We had the vegetarian Kubbeh soup, and a glass of Gazzoz shel Pa'am i.e. 50's retro soda pop. The waitress was quite nice and I recommend the place if you're up for some low-key chit-chat, and mild amusement (you dirty old dog, you!)

We next went for drinks and second-hand smoke at Nona, a popular restaurant-bar. At least I think that's what it's called. The owner is a young gregarious fellow who was surprisingly enthusiastic when I asked him if he needs a bartender. He said not at the moment, but he took my number just in case. Well, operation Shlach Lachmechah is proceeding according to plan!

Reflections of a Romantic Agnostic

With apologies to residenttraveler who I know intends to write about this very topic in his excellent blog. I Just had a long debate with the aforementioned rez and my 2 beloved cousins, which prompted me to write this post.

I'm an agnostic. I don't believe anyone has a proof of God's existence, or lack thereof. The way I see it, the notion of God is sufficiently abstract, so as to transcend any rationalistic proof either way.

Pretty standard world view. No chidush here.

We now face the question: which is more appealing: a world with God, or that without.

In my view there is something very empty and uninspiring about atheism. I'm sorry, but waking up in the morning and knowing there is no God, doesn't make me want to run in the fields and smell the flowers. To me, the search for meaning ends quite abruptly in such a world. There is no meaning{1}. The sunset is just some light on the horizon. My friends don't really love me, and I don't love them: it's just egotistical interests, survival instincts. All is random and arbitrary. Morality is left in the hands of man: a pathetic and ruthless animal.

Now this may very well be true. I don't deny it. But I find it very unromantic.

I like to think there is some emotional meaning behind all things. A beautiful sunset is something to be enjoyed, it symbolizes the end of a day, the fall of night, the tranquility of nature, warmth. When I hear an emotionally moving song, I am moved because the song was written by an author who felt these emotions and wanted to share them with me. If I were later to find out that this song was actually generated by a random process in some sophisticated computer; it would take the fun out it. I would have to cynically look at my enjoyment of the song as a chemical process in my brain. In the same way, to me, thinking there is some "author" to the world, just might give things more meaning.

Now of course, I know nature is harsh and cruel, humans are evil, and life basically sucks. I know all this. We are probably all doomed and abandoned. But c'mon, where's the fun in that?

So no, I don't know that there is a God, but I must say that the notion that there is some hidden meaning to all of this craziness we live in, makes things just a bit more romantic{2}.

Candle-lit dinner in Paris, anyone?

--Notes--
{1} I am taking things to an extreme here to emphasize my point, I do realize that many atheists do believe there's meaning to the world. To these people, God is not necessary to experience love and other emotions. Still, there's a certain discouraging je ne sais quoi about this belief, even though it may well be true. I will go so far as to understand how the knowledge that there is no God, and that we are essentially abandoned to our own fate, can be quite exhilirating, on an ironic level.

{2} According to what I see in Wikipedia on agnosticism, I might be considered a Spiritual Agnostic. Hooray, my views are unoriginal!

Life is Golda!

Move over Che Guevara, The Golda Meir T-Shirts are here!!!
The sexiest shirt in town, designed by me and my brother!



Available in Cotton, Rib, and also a stunning Lycra for ladies only!!

Order now at chookbrothers@gmail.com

Things Better Start to Get Interesting

I mean it.

Enough of this boring crap -- it's no longer funny.

I'm ready for passion, ready for battle, ready for adventure.

Bring it on, God!!

The Han Solo Commemorative Medal

My brother noticed the Israeli government's tribute to legendary singer Uzi Hitman, bears a striking resemblance to a certain carbonite-frozen Star Wars character

What would Chewie say?

It's Tuesday Night and Jerusalem is Open for Business!!

My friend residenttraveler and I started our bar hopping at Artel, a sophisticated jazz club, with a very nice manager, who opened the place when he got fed up after working 7 years as a product manager in Amdocs. Unfortunatley, the joint was packed and there was no place to sit in the whole club! I even tried the usually less-crowded second floor.

Now, I just came back from New York and had the pleasure of catching some jazz at Small's down in the Village on a Tuesday, and guess what: it was maybe 40% full. Of course any comparison is misleading, all I'm saying is that I am very proud of post-intifada Jerusalem, whose bars are full to the brim, after the big slump during the times of terror. Needless to say, one bombing can change all that so let's not liftoach peh lastan.

Speaking of terror bombings, The next place on our itenerary was the Restobar, formerly the Moment (which had a terrible bombing in 2002.) The place is still a Tel Aviv style pick up bar, with a regretably Tel Avivian menu (Hummus-Shrimps anyone?) At 11:30 PM The place was almost full with a solid 50/50 ratio between the sexes. Notable patrons were ladies in their late-twenties who come in twos and occupy a table, chatting the night away. Residenttraveler was wracked by the problem of how one can approach such a table and hit on a lady one fancies, without coming off as bumbling and obtrusive. While I have some ideas of my own, some of which I implemented tonight, I'm opening the floor for debate on this one among my many many many readers!

It's Jogging and Pizza Night!!

Well this evening I went jogging in Givat Ram (Hebrew University) with my old high school buddies. We've been meeting twice a week for the past year. Just jogging and talking about the tribulations and trials of life (in that particular order.)

Anyways. You won't believe the appetite you can work up in 40 minutes of jogging, which is why we usually end up going for pizza after every healthy and wholesome jog.

Now I can't lie to you folks: I love pizza. With all my heart.

Really.

So you can imagine how excited I was to hear that my favorite pizza joint in Jerusalem, Big Apple Pizza, has opened a new branch in Beit Hakerem.

Considerably.

The new place is just as good as the ones in town! The mushrooms as fresh, the cheese as cheesy and the sauce as red and juicy! Of course Big Apple's well guarded secret ingredient, the pizza dough remained just as mysterious.

And if you're in to the 17 year old American Yeshiva girls demographic, and let's face it: you are, then Big Apple in Beit Hakerem is the place for you!

A Night at the Tzolelet

OK, sorry I didn't post for a long time. I quit my job in July and have been traveling the world since, and only returned to Jerusalem now.

Just got back from the Yossi Fine show at the Tzolelet (Yellow Submarine).

It was, well... fine.
I mean he's a great bassist and all, and the 7 sheqel whiskey chaser that comes with ordering a beer certainly hits the spot. I must say the place was pretty hopping, and people seemed to have a good time. I asked this girl who was dancing pretty ecstaticly next to me, what the excitement was about. She said "bass oseh li et zeh" (loosley: bass turns me on). Too bad I left my bass guitar in my Mom's basement :-)

I had serious munchies all night. A nice big burger at Joy Express took care of that and left my wallet 40 sheqels lighter.