■ RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, when honoring deserving individuals, tend to focus on men more than women – or in an attempt to be fair, recognize married couples. Even then, however, the man usually gets more attention than his wife. But Aish HaTorah will be paying tribute to women only at its Boneh Yerushalayim Gala Awards Dinner on December 22. Those receiving honors include Eva Lev, founder of SOS Shabbat; Sarah Lipman, founder of Kishor Professional Women’s Network; Lori-Laya Lurie, co-founder of Magen Avraham and Bechirat HaLev; and Sherri Mandell, director of the Koby Mandell Foundation, a women’s healing retreat for bereaved mothers and widows. Part of the proceeds from the evening will be earmarked for educational initiatives and scholarships for Jewish women.
■ VISITORS TO the Israel Museum can have a choice of dairy or meat restaurants. Mansfeld, the dairy restaurant at the entrance to the museum, is quite popular among members of both the judiciary and the Knesset, who seem to like the museum’s atmosphere, despite the fact that they have their own dining facilities in their respective institutions. This restaurant is managed by Nava Bibi, who for many years ran the restaurant at Beit Anna Ticho.
For those who prefer meat, there is the new gourmet concept restaurant that goes by the name of Modern and was created by a group of investors headed by Tsafrir Ginsberg, who is also the CEO of the Cassiopeia banquet hall at the Herzliya Marina. The restaurant, built at an initial investment of NIS 6 million, overlooks the Valley of the Cross and the Knesset, and is completely modern in design. In addition to the culinary creations of chef Yaniv Luzon, it carries a wide range of alcoholic beverages including 40 different wines.
■ JANGLO AND Ezra Amichai of the Jerusalem Soul Center conducted an enchanting two-hour Hanukka night walk through the streets and alleyways of the Jewish Quarter on Sunday night, the fifth night of Hanukka. Apparently there’s something magical about the Old City at night, as can be verified by members of Midnight Biking through Jerusalem who frequently cycle through the streets and alleyways of old and new Jerusalem during the quiet hours of the night, starting at midnight.
On Tuesday, Midnight Biking through Jerusalem, led by Moshe Gold, held a benefit ride for Shekel – a community service organization for people with special needs – with some Shekel members joining the cyclists. Actually, they didn’t ride at midnight on this occasion, but started out at 8.30 p.m. from Armon Hanatziv and then rode to the Old City via Mishkenot Sha’ananim, and entered through the Jaffa Gate. Cyclists who didn’t bring bikes and helmets could rent both from Midnight Biking through Jerusalem. The bike tour that evening cost participants NIS 200.
■ SEVERAL COUNTRIES have animal rights regulations that force both
Jewish and Muslim communities to import their meat from elsewhere
because kosher and halal slaughter are banned. Actually, there’s nothing
new in opposition to kosher slaughter, as Dr. Kenneth Collins will
reveal on Sunday to those attending the meeting at Beit Avi Chai of the
Israel branch of The Jewish Historical Society of England.
Collins will discuss the Aberdeen shehita case of 1893, in which the
local Jewish slaughterer and chairman of the synagogue was taken to
court by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Only two weeks earlier, shehita had been banned by the Swiss plebiscite.
Britain’s chief rabbi and Board of Deputies were concerned that the
trial might not only bring on a wave of anti-Semitism, but also that it
might pave the way for a national campaign against shehita. Collins will
share information from the court transcripts with his audience.