DONATE

Thursday, December 28, 2017

World Peace for a Piece of Cheesecake

Norma Zager has found the key to world peace. A great read. Enjoy.



JRH 12/28/17
********************
World Peace for a Piece of Cheesecake
By Norma Zager
Sent 12/26/2017 3:15 PM

Sabbath dinner isn’t an accident. On Friday nights in the Jewish religion when families sit down to a stuff fest of meats, chicken soup, salads, starches and desserts, there is a grand design afoot.

When a group of relations is in one place long enough, it will not be long before the temperature rises and old wounds like where Aunt Rose was forced to sit at the wedding and why Uncle Sol didn’t come to cousin Lilli's funeral will surface.

God looked down at the first Sabbath dinner and in his infinite wisdom figured out that the more carbs he stuffs into his people the less strength they will have for bloodshed.

And so the tradition was born.

Not just in Jewish homes, but all religions where food is a necessity at family gatherings. Granted the Jews and Italians have risen overfeeding to an art form, but it has definitely caught on in a big way.

It has thus occurred to me at numerous times in my life the way world leaders look when they sit down to negotiate. Hungry and cranky like a small baby whose bottle is a few minutes late in arriving.  Sitting in their high chair with cross little looks on their face, lips quivering and pouting close to tears as they wait feeding.

Perhaps little Vladimir needs his borscht fix. Would a big boiled potato and some sour cream make it all better for little Vlad?  If he is stuffing his face perhaps he will stop attacking other countries.

I am never more aware that there is world hunger than when I see world leaders sit down to “talk.”

Honestly Teresa, I know the British are not big foodies, but maybe a good meal of fish and chips before chatting about terrorism?

Of course the Chinese are a challenge. By the time they finish eating and walk to the bargaining table they, are hungry again. No wonder Xi made such a deal about the chocolate cake.

Angela Angela, maybe lay off so much sauerbraten at lunchtime. A nice green salad and fruit perhaps?

If you look at some of these meetings, you will see that of everyone, Bibi Netanyahu is usually the most smiley, which is truly ironic since not a day goes by that Israel is not condemned, maligned, attacked or threatened.

So why should Bibi smile? Simply, because he is probably the most well fed of the bunch.

I am sure the Mossad has a special detail to ensure that he is never without a hot meal, a snack and some of his grandmother’s mandal bread.

If you look at Congress today you can tell in one minute who is not eating.

Obviously no one from California, as eating anything but micro greens is against state law.

If Nancy Pelosi would spend as much time stuffing her face with chocolate as she does Botox the country would be a far better place.

Chuck Chuck Chuckala. You’re a New York Jew.  Stop with the crying and kvetching and EAT!!!

Paul you’re looking thin, how about a nice Filet Mignon with garlic-mashed potatoes and green beans?

Elizabeth Warren, oh Lord where do I begin? Perhaps some corn chowder and Maine Lobster. Nope, I think a roll in the hay is required when someone is that damn sour.

Mitch, taste the fried chicken, it’s out of this world.

Bernie Bernie Bernie.  I know you’re not a practicing Jew anymore, but maybe a taste of your mother’s chicken soup with kreplach will put a smile on that puss.

It is important to remember that when someone is hungry their blood sugar drops. If you don’t believe that physical circumstances can affect a person’s personality, perhaps you’ve never met a woman PMSing and driving to a 7/11 at two in the morning for a Hershey bar.  Oh that’s right, that was me.

In order for the world to be a safer place, we need better catering. I have seen pictures of leaders in discussion, and when there is a plate of food on the table, it’s usually only cookies or donuts.  This is nourishment? I think not. Sugar rush, blood levels peak and fall. Not good for a long time peace process.

Bust out a basket of bagels, lox, cream cheese and cut up veggies.  A platter of cheeses and some scrambled eggs, and then we’ll talk. Tough to say hostile things when you’re chewing an onion roll wit a schmear.

I guarantee the state of the world would alter immediately if the meals improved.

There is no doubt in my mind that if President Trump invited Chuck to the White House and they sat down to a big Sabbath dinner, unbuttoned their pants and had an extra piece of rugalach, much more would get done.

Many believe the Jewish people have survived because of their senses of humor. Perhaps that’s big part, but I claim it’s the food. The family that eats together grows together; in more ways than one.

If the world would only take my advice, I guarantee the conversation would go like this:

Trump and Vlad stuffed to the gills on brisket, borscht and cheesecake all catered by New York’s famous Katz’s Deli.

Trump, unbuttoning his pants. “Vlad, I’m so over Assad. He is causing such problems in the Middle East.  Do me a solid here and let’s find a new guy who’ll work with both of us, and dump the butcher.”

Vlad, loosening the tie on his sweat pants “ But I need that port, you know I can’t be without such a strategic waterway. Come on, you know I love the power.”

“Vlad Vlad Vlad, I’ve got a guy, a cousin of my baker says he knows a guy in Syria that will let you keep the port and also work with our partners in the Middle East. You give a little, we give a little; we can do this. More strawberries on your cheesecake?”

“Just a spoonful. You think this guy knows what he’s talking about?”

“You’ve had three pieces of his cheesecake, would he lie?”

“No, this guy knows his stuff. Tell you what, I’ll meet with him, but I need this recipe?”

“I can make that happen. Now lets talk about little rocket man.”

“Please Donald, I’m eating, don’t ruin my meal here. We’ll discuss him tomorrow at brunch. Maybe you’ll serve those delicious cronuts?”

Peace for our time so much better than Chamberlain. But of course the British have never gotten the whole food thing.

This is the latest in the series “Postcards from America – Postcards from Israel,” a collaboration between Zager, award-winning investigative journalist and author, and Bussel, a foreign correspondent reporting from Israel.

Ari Bussel and Norma Zager collaborate both in writing and on the air in a point-counter-point discussion of all things Israel-related.  Together, they have dedicated the past decade to promoting Israel.
© Israel Monitor, December, 2017

First Published December 24, 2017
Contact:  bussel@me.com


No comments:

Post a Comment