Something for nothing?

Now that corruption seems to be coming out of the woodwork, a lot of public figures are being much more cautious about accepting favors.

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
ISRAELI FORWARD Guy Pnini (with ball) continued his strong play for the national team, netting 12 points in Wednesday night’s 80-65 win over Montenegro in Podgorica. (photo credit: SASHA MATIC)
ISRAELI FORWARD Guy Pnini (with ball) continued his strong play for the national team, netting 12 points in Wednesday night’s 80-65 win over Montenegro in Podgorica.
(photo credit: SASHA MATIC)
USUALLY WHEN celebrities are seen at a hotel, restaurant or shopping mall, chances are high that their bill was on the house or they received whopping discounts. Interestingly, this was not the case when the captains of two rival basketball teams decided to pamper themselves at the Inbal Hotel. Guy Pnini of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Yotam Halperin of Hapoel Jerusalem are rivals on the court, but friends away from the game. The two came to the Inbal to celebrate Halperin’s birthday and, according to a hotel representative who was specifically asked by In Jerusalem whether they paid their way, the reply upon investigation was a definite yes.
Now that corruption seems to be coming out of the woodwork, a lot of public figures are being much more cautious about accepting favors. Then again, that’s what’s sports is about; more important than winning is how you play the game.
SEVERAL BANKING changes are taking place in Jerusalem. The First International Bank announced several weeks ago it was closing its branch in Mamilla Mall. That doesn’t mean the mall will be bereft of a bank, as last week Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern attended the launch of the first of Bank Hapoalim’s private banking centers in Jerusalem – in Mamilla.
Also present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Bank Hapoalim chairman Yair Sarousi, CEO Zion Kenan and private banking division head Dalia Raviv, who said the decision to open a branch in the capital was in response to requests from many of the bank’s clients, who wanted the services of a private banking system in their city.
Changes have also occurred at Bank Leumi’s Zion Square branch.
Accounts of residents of Rehavia and surroundings have been transferred from there to the Rehavia branch – which for some account-holders may be more convenient whereas for others it is less so, requiring them to walk much further than they did previously.
ANYONE WHO played bingo in their youth and still feels nostalgic about it is invited to Kehillat Moreshet Avraham on Thursday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m., to play bingo and to introduce the game to their children and grandchildren. Admission is NIS 40, which includes two bingo cards plus refreshments. Proceeds will go to Hadassah University Medical Center’s pediatric intensive care unit; the event is sponsored by the Nechama Chapter of Hadassah. To reserve places contact Nomy Margalit, nomymargalit@gmail.com, or Miriam Wernik, jomir@netvision.net.il TOWARDS THE end of last month, there was a wonderful aroma permeating the sanctuary of the Etz Chaim congregation in the Givat Sharett section of Beit Shemesh. It was the smell of Shabbat in the fullest sense of the word; in other words, it was the tantalizing scent of cholent.
Two of the congregants, Chaya Wimpfheimer and Gilan Miller Gertz, had organized a cholent contest and, in true MasterChef fashion, had invited a panel of judges – who sat together at a table and sampled each cholent that was brought to them by a contestant.
The judges were Gloria Deutsch, who frequently writes restaurant reviews for The Jerusalem Post and who has a daughter living within walking distance of the synagogue; Dr. Emmy Zitter, head of the English department at Michlalah-Jerusalem College; and Dr. Jacob Jackson, a dentist. Moderator of the event was Alex Matluk, who came up with a cholent-related dvar Torah.
Deutsch and Jackson, realizing they had to subdue the taste of one cholent before sampling another, washed each tasting down with fine single-malt Scotch. The judges commented on the taste and texture of each offering. The winner was Annie Levy, who migrated to Israel from France some years ago and prepared a sweet, spicy dish accompanied by a rich, succulent kishka. The judges were also impressed by Dina Yaffa’s vegetarian cholent, and gave her a prize as well.
The contestants all prepared their cholent before Shabbat, brought them still piping hot to the synagogue and kept them that way on hot plates or in Crock-Pots.