These Are a Few of my Favorite Things

Posted on November 17, 2009
Filed Under Charlie Bernhaut, FullBooks.com, International, The Kosher Scene, Uruguay, Webmuseum, onephoto.net, violin | 3 Comments

Yes, it’s true! I am a news junkie, the need to read the news and discuss politics is an intrinsic part of my mental makeup. Just like one needs the morning cuppa Java I need to look at, think and talk about the news. Having said that, however, I do have a few other – very strong – interests and, in any case, one has to take a break every once in a while, otherwise the ugly political realities can make you crack up!

I like photography, in my youth I used to eat, sleep and breathe with it. I still love it and while it’s no longer my main means of earning a living I very much indulge in that activity, which is why this Polish site – onephoto.net – is one of my favorites in its type. My parents only spoke Polish among themselves and in a whisper, because I was not meant to understand. Photography, however, is a universal language I understand it well even if I do not even know what the captions or titles mean. Their still life, architectural, nature and macro-photography sections are tops!

Fine dining is an activity I engage in far too often for my wallet’s health, nevertheless it’s part of what makes life fun and interesting. That’s why I like The Kosher Scene, a brand new blog that features photos and reviews of my favorite restaurants in New York City and environs. As an orthodox Jew, as someone who follows a strict kosher diet, it’s not always easy to find a top restaurant. In that blog I review the best kosher establishments in my immediate surroundings.

Since earliest childhood, having been brought up in an orthodox Jewish home, I’ve enjoyed listening to the voices of cantors. The nuances of each cantor’s phrasing, and particular interpretation of the specific prayer adds to my deeper understanding of the words. I was very pleased, therefore, when I stumbled upon Charlie Bernhaut’s web site, it has a superb archive with recordings of the greatest cantors of the 20th century. Mr. Bernhaut is a promoter of cantorial concerts, having produced Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgodt’s sold out concert at the Metropolitan Opera. He hopes to revive interest in the cantor’s art, once so popular in the Jewish world.

I started playing the violin when I about 7 years old and even gave a concert at age 12, back in Uruguay, as soloist with the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal in Montevideo… just over half a century ago. I still get emotional when I hear a violin performing a classical piece, and far more so when I would play it myself. My parents, to my chagrin (but wisely, as I look back), took my violin away after that and never allowed me to play again. When I first got married I bought an expensive violin, when my wife told my parents, that violin also disappeared! I do, however, indulge my love of the violin by frequenting sites that feature such music. This Italian site is among my favorites for violin as well as classical music, in general: karadar.com

I like museums, whether they specialize in art or history. To look at the past whether that past is shown through art, artifacts or documents is fascinating to me, it connects me to other eras, other people. My favorite one on line is the Webmuseum.

As for books, there are quite a few sites. One that I like a lot is: FullBooks.com. It has thousands of full texts on line. From fiction and non fiction on just about every subject of interest to me.

Ahhh, the internet! What would we do without it?

Chaim

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3 Responses to “These Are a Few of my Favorite Things”

Abraham from New York, United States on November 19th, 2009 10:19 pm

Chaim,
How very revealing and open of you to share such intimate facts about your life!
That is wonderful and it very honest and straight and soft of you!
You are a very sensitive and caring and sharing person.
Thank you so much!
L’Chaim!!!
Barbara from New York, United States on November 21st, 2009 3:19 am

One of your best posts… you include a lot of yourself – which is wonderful and relatable.

BTW I was just telling one of my daughters today that I remember very little Polish from my childhood. Now that my Nana and mother have passed on – I don’t hear it often enough to have retained anything. 30 years ago, however, I could have carried on a short conversation in Polish.

Shabbat Shalom.
randy from New York, United States on December 7th, 2009 5:44 pm

I truly appreciate your dedication to spreading informative posts. This one was especially personal I see?!