Too many Jews!

Who would ever think that a Jewish party in the city would be crowded? The party was shoulder-to-shoulder, and my friends and I took refuge at a small table and watched in awe at the passing balagan.

There was an open bar, and the bartender was not shy with the alcohol! He handed us a cup, inappropriately calling it a Long Island iced tea, when a more-suited name would have been: vodka in blue.

I swear half of J-Date was there.

There were people taking pictures, including this lovely (albeit highly airbrushed) picture of the girls. I look forward to many more, drinks for all!

Oh, the party is called "Second Saturday" at the Cellar on sutter Street in the city.

Israel Action Day

A day full of technology mishaps and heightened security!

An enlightened statement by Saratoga High sophomore, Ali Samuels, speaking about a two-week teen trip to Israel:

“Being a jew in Israel means being strong and sometimes tough.” Well-said Ali.

The Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest, David Akov, endured poor sound quality when giving his update on the crisis (former crisis now, fingers crossed). He had just returned from the Holy Land, and saw first-hand what happened there.

Our problems are not going to stop with the ceasefire, he warned. “We will be in some kind of conflict either on the ground or in the media.”

I second that. A lot of Israel supporters and Israelis are afraid to be vocal, as if were a bad thing to supprt you country and people!

In an interview after the speech, Akov said the key is to get the moderate Arabs to effect change in their own countries. Let's start with expressing our disbelief at the arrest of a Lebanese man for chumming it up with some Israeli soldiers. Maybe he thought they were nice.

I saw a lot of the who's who of South Bay Jews, including Oy-Bay.org blogmaster "Oyster" and a friend (hat tip to you sir) and all the new friends I made at Congregation Sinai.

Diane Fisher, a strong presence and leader in Israel action and executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, was, as usual, directing traffic and orchestrating everything in general.

Best of all, however, was journalism guru and Supreme Master (now I'm just kissing up) Jerry Ceppos who instructed concerned citizens on how to write effective letters to the editor.

Of course, I crudely promoted myself and probably talked his ear off, but he had the job I want, so why not try to pick his brain?