The Real McCoy

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”

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”

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”