By Adam Brownstein – August 3, 2025 – Tokyo, Japan The sages tell us that many ages ago there was a wondrous festival of torches that took place every year around the perimeter of the Temple in Jerusalem. Young rabbinical students and even members of the Sanhendrin were given to performing splits, cartwheels andContinue reading “The Real McCoy”
Author Archives: Adam Brownstein
Keeping the Beat
By Adam Brownstein — June 27, 2025 Even dust, when piled up, can become a mountain. Japanese Proverb ————————————– One late evening in the winter of 1967 Norman Pilcher, a senior constable at the time, knocked on the door of a sprawling country manor. Pilcher was not alone, but accompanied by 18 other members ofContinue reading “Keeping the Beat”
Japanese Garden
By Adam Brownstein — January 21, 2025 The first time I visited Kyoto was nearly a major minor tragedy. After spending several pleasant days and nights wandering the cobblestone paths of Gion, sitting in silence at the Chōraku-ji Temple and eating sumptuous hammo fish, it was time for me to return to Tokyo. I spentContinue reading “Japanese Garden”
Latke Or Leave It
January 2, 2025 By Adam Brownstein One of my earliest memories was my father imploring me to stop. The setting was our family’s rental apartment at 2727 Palisade Avenue in Riverdale, and the occasion was Hanukkah 1975. His warning centered around my attempt to set a Bronx Borough record for the most latkes ever consumedContinue reading “Latke Or Leave It”
Monkey Business
By Adam Brownstein Son, I’ve made a life out of readin’ people’s faces, Knowin’ what the cards were by the way they held their eyes. So if you don’t mind my sayin’, I can see you’re out of aces. For a taste of your whiskey, I’ll give you some advice. The Gambler Due to aContinue reading “Monkey Business”
Westin Peace
By Adam Brownstein – July 2, 2024 In his much touted book, A Brief History of Intelligence, Max Bennet begins by asking why AI has little problem besting the finest grandmasters in chess but cannot wash a sink full of dishes. I have long ago given up trying to beat my 11-year-old son in chess,Continue reading “Westin Peace”
Ahola!
By Adam Brownstein – Tokyo, Japan – May 1, 2024 One early Spring afternoon in the crux of my university days I found myself in close quarters with two middle aged couples who were wearing smiles and nothing else. Their nudity was completely appropriate given the five of us were taking in the hot springsContinue reading “Ahola!”
Going Dutch – High Holidays alongside the canals
By Adam Brownstein Dearest Readers, I dug up this quasi-gem from the old Yiddish Hustle days. It was originally published on October 4, 2016 during my quarterly trip to Amsterdam. Enjoy! On a crisp Fall morning in suburban Amsterdam, two young men wielding assault rifles are smiling at me. I grin back sheepishly, reflecting howContinue reading “Going Dutch – High Holidays alongside the canals”
Close Encounters
By Adam Brownstein / January 22, 2024 2023 was a bumper crop year for live concerts. The Fed, in its July print, indicated that the Eras Tour would inject $6.4B into the economy (the latest trailing data indicates it was more). On a personal level, my Baby Boomer father attended Taylor Swift’s sold-out show inContinue reading “Close Encounters”
Poetry: The Package on My Doorstep
By Adam Brownstein Another pod goes in the machine, and I push the button, anxious for the caffeine hit. Buzzzzzz, drip, drip, drip. The espresso wafts, and I get ready. But then, on the last chestnut drop, there is a ring at the door. It’s the Black Cat guy who wears the green and theContinue reading “Poetry: The Package on My Doorstep”
The Tokyo Yenta 