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#8 Cooking

jewish_cookingJews love to cook. Whether it’s eggs in the morning, a ruben on rye at lunch, or baked ziti for dinner (not a traditional Jewish food, but we sure seem to enjoy it), they love cooking. As the old saying goes,  “a rose is a rose, a book is a book, a Jew is a Jew because he loves to cook.” I just made that up right now, so please don’t ever repeat it, as no one has heard of it and it will most likely cause them to question your mental stability.

There is one important part of a Jewish kitchen… there is only ONE designated cook. There might be chef assistants and helpers, but there is only ONE chef. If you’re ever confused as to who is the head chef…just listen for the one yelling the loudest (in a Jewish kitchen everyone yells… but the loudest is the chef). The head chef will dictate what will be cooked, how to cook it and when it’s time to get out of their kitchen before you go to sleep hungry.

Since the beginning of  time the kosher kitchen was dominated by the women (still is), but with so many working mothers now many Jewish men have fill the position as the kosher cook, and when the men don’t step in, usually it’s a Latin live in house keeper and/or whoever delivers. But this is rare, as most Jews will not give up the opportunity to cook because they know every meal is another chance to spend time with friends, family and loved ones.

As long as a meal brings people together, Jews will be more than happy to cook it.

#7 Delis

deli_signJews love delis! There isn’t a deli in the world that doesn’t have a Jew in it (well maybe the delis in the West Bank and part of the Gaza strip) but all other delis are packed full of Hebrews…and why wouldn’t they be? There’s so much wonderful food to choose from. With rubens and tuna melts, white fish and onion soup, and even challah bread french toast served ALL DAY, it’s easy to see why Jews love delis.

Most Jews have their own personal favorite deli. Though they will visit hundreds, if not thousands, of delis throughout their lifetime, there’s always one they favor most. If asked, sometimes even when no one asks, they will recount their experiences of perfectly golden potato pancakes and tell you all about Evelyn, the waitress who always made sure their coffee cup was full. They’ll tell you what to order at what time of the day and remind you if you ever stop by there, tell the staff Cadillac Lou said hello and he still hasn’t had a better bowl of cole slaw.

Delis are a home away from home for Jewish people and as of recent they are a great way to meet Jewish people (check your local deli around 11:00am on any Sunday and you’ll see it packed full of Kosher customers chomping away at their favorite meal). Many deli’s are actually owned by Jews…but not because of the opportunity to be a successful business, but simply so they can eat free deli food everyday. Running a booming business is great…but running a booming business that also gets you free lox on your bagel every morning is what Jewish life is all about.

As long as delis are open they will be apart of Jewish culture.

#5 Florida

florida-mapJews absolutely love Florida. Ask ten Jews where’s the Jerusalem of America and ten will tell you Boca Raton (though some might say Aventura is a close second).

Before Jews came to Florida for two reasons…to retire and to visit they’re grandparents, who had already retired. But the warm weather, cookie cutter suburbs, and business opportunities have keep Jews coming by the truck load (BMW 5 series…in case you were wondering what truck was bringing the Hebrews to their new home). Matter of fact in the last twenty years so many Jews have decided to lay roots and start families in Florida that the average age of a Jew in the state of Florida has gone from 90 to almost 78 (that’s still good for a discount movie ticket).

Will Florida ever be Israel? No, but there’s a Falafal place in North Miami Beach that would make you hink you’re in Tel Aviv. Will the rapid influx in Jewish people help elect a Jewish state governor? Maybe, but for the time being we are only concerned with the media. Will temples keep popping up in the hearts of suburban communities all across the Sun Shine State? Yes, and on some holidays the community will actually fill them up.

#4 Chinese Food

Chinese food box

All Jews celebrate Christmas. I know that might sound a little hard to believe, but it’s true. No they don’t put up fancy trees, hang wreaths and stockings, or go to midnight mass, but they do celebrate, and they do it at one of their favorite places, Chinese restaurants.

Jewish people love Chinese food. Show me a Jew that doesn’t love beef and broccoli or chug pow chicken and I’ll tell you to check his birth certificate, because he my friend, is not a Hebrew. Chinese foods is as Jewish as dreidels and sleep away camp. It’s just as important as college degrees and Bar Mitzvahs. If 75% percent of the body is made up of water, for Jews at least, the other 25% is made up of lo mein, egg rolls, and duck sauce. There’s something about the way those little China men cook that wanton soup that makes our Hebrew hearts smile. If we can’t get to the restaurant, then we’ll order take out. As long as we can get our weekly fix of fortune cookies everything is going to just fine. Chinese food is surely the chosen food of the chosen people.

#3 Coupons

CouponsCut them, clip them, or just rip them out…as long as you get the discount everything is gravy.

Jews love coupons. Not necessarily the coupon itself, but the savings that comes alone with it. Anyone who grew up in a Jewish household can tell you coupons were a big part of life. In many homes there was actually ‘coupon day’, where mom would sit around the table with the kids spending hours cutting out coupons. Now there might be some doubters that not all Jews did this, BUT even rich Jews realize the importance of .50 cents off 64 oz bottle of laundry detergent or $1 off a three pack of socks.

From a young age Jews realize the importance of a coupon. After a couple holidays Jewish kids quickly learned if you really want something from mom or dad the best way to insure you getting it was to have a coupon to go along with that request. Santa might get you whatever you want just by sitting on his lap and asking, but for Jewish kids there isn’t a Chanuka list that doesn’t have coupons stapled to the back. Eight days, eight coupons.

A lot of Jews keep coupons in their wallet and purses like cash. You never know when you might spot a 64 pack of root beer or a family size box of raisins. Whatever they’re for, usually something you don’t nor would ever normally buy, they save you money and that my friend makes all the difference.

#2 Bagels

bagelsWe don’t care how stereotypical it sounds…We LOVE bagels. The way that rounded piece of dough taste when its toasted and covered with cream cheese is Jewlious. Now of course everyone loves bagels, but the Jews have been the only ones to come out in the open and proclaim their love for the little holed delight. Whether they are covered in butter, cream cheese, or turned into a full out sandwich, they are a tasty bonus to any meal.

It’s said Jews first fell in love with bagels after they got out of the desert (lie). After 40 years of matzah they were desperate for another dough based bread and the bagel soon found itself in the kitchens of Jewish homes around the world. Whether it’s plain, a toasted poppy seed, or a everything with smear and lox, it’s a wonderful addition to any Jew’s day.

#1 Famous Jews

JewishHollywoodThere is nothing Jews like more than famous Jews. We find a deep sense of pride and self esteem knowing there are Jews who have amounted to something. Jews will often sit and talk about their favorite famous Jews, as they all have their own personal Hebrew heroes. We all know ‘the list’ of the top Jews in every field. We’re confident as long as there is one successful Jew in any field it’s possible for any of us to succeed.

We find comfort knowing we are not alone.  At 16 you might have glasses and still haven’t had any armpit hair grow in, but in ten years you could be Bill Goldberg. You might be insecure about your overbearing mom and the inappropriate things she says in front of your new boyfriend, but Natali Portman had to go through the same thing. Your teacher might not think your classroom wise cracks are amusing, but either did Jerry Seinfeld’s, Jack Black’s, Woody Allen’s, Sasah Baron Cohen’s, Sarah Silverman’s, and Adam Sandler’s. For a insecure, neurotic teenage there’s nothing like our Jewish idols to remind us we’ll be just fine.

Being Jewish, rich and famous is wonderful… especially for that rich and famous Jew’s grandmother… as she will surely win the best grandchild debate in her Boca retirement home.