Dave’s Gone By #888 (4/1/2023): FOOL’S ERRAND

click above to watch episode #888

Here is the 888th episode of the long-running radio show/video podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired live on Facebook, Saturday, April 1, 2023. Info: davesgoneby.com

Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon’s Rabbinical Reflection (Passover 2023); Greeley Crimes & Old Times; Colorado Limerick of the Damned (Genoa). 
00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN w/ Joyce (ducks, shopping, toy toilet, anniversary, screaming goat, accident, PAA)  

01:39:00 GREELEY CRIMES & OLD TIMES 
02:11:00 COLORADO LIMERICK OF THE DAMNED (Genoa, CO)  
02:15:00 Friends of the Daverhood  
02:33:00 GREELEY JEWISH NEWS 
02:43:00 RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #179 (Passover 2023)
02:51:00 DAVE GOES OUT

Rabbi Sol Solomon

Rabbi Sol Solomon

Genoa, CO

Dave’s Gone By Skit: RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #179 (4/1/2023): Passover 2023

click above to watch the Rebbe

RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #179 (4/1/2023): Passover Thoughts

airs April 1, 2023 on Dave’s Gone By. Youtube clip:  

Shalom Dammit! This is Rabbi Sol Solomon with a Rabbinical Reflection for this Passover week, 2023. 

My friends, we are only days away from Pesach, the Jewish holiday of Passover, when we commemorate escaping from Egypt and making our slow pilgrimage through the desert, into Israel, and later to Miami and Crown Heights. Although we mourn all the Arabs God had to kill to save us, we rejoice in the holiday because it means we are no longer slaves. We get paid for our labor, and we are vassals only to the bank, the mortgage, the car loan, the student debt, and Equifax.

Of course, Passover comes with much labor of its own: you have to clean the house, change out your dishware, cook a big and strange meal, invite people to the Seder, disinvite people to the Seder when one of them is Uncle Yakov, who doesn’t get along with Cousin Malka because of a business deal with her late husband that went south, and now she won’t even be in the same room with Yakov, even though he likes her, in fact, he likes-likes her, which he won’t admit, not even to his therapist, but you can tell.

The cleaning and work of modern-day holidaying remains a chore, but one aspect of Passover has improved significantly over the years. Remember back in the day, when you’d go shopping for Pesadiche food, and the supermarket would allow two shelves for items marked K for P? On the top shelf, you’d see gefilte fish, bullion cubes, and a bag of walnuts. And on the shelf below, dessert! Which meant matzoh smeared with dark chocolate, which is what passed for a snack in 1976; macaroons, which tasted like sponges dipped in coconut and shame; and honey cake, about which the less said, the better. 

But that was the selection. You’d head to the checkout, just hoping the gentile ahead of you wasn’t laying a pork roast on the conveyer belt for your box of matzoh to soak in. 

Yes, if you wanted Jewish food, you’d fry your own matzoh meal pancakes, you’d roast a roast, you’d shred your knuckles making charoset that everybody else would eat at the seder, so by the time the bowl got back to you, you had one speck not even big enough to stop up a bluebird’s tuchas. 

Oh, my chaverim, times were tough. But now? Jewish neighborhoods have entire stores devoted to Passover edibles. You enter surrounded by kashrut. You almost expect them to hand you a tfillin with your shopping cart. And you can barely imagine a food that doesn’t have a Passover hack. Bacon? Fried pastrami. Breakfast cereal? Apple-cinnamon Crispy-Os (that’s a real thing). French toast? Matzoh brei. Shrimp cocktail? Okay, you’re on your own there, but the variety astonishes. 

Let’s say, however, that you don’t live in Cedarhurst. Because you have a life. Your neighborhood is so goyish, they put up Christmas trees in October and leave them up until October. And yet, visit the supermarket, and guess what? Even there, an aisle will be set aside for all these Passover foods Jews don’t want to eat but we have to. And if you’re a shut-in, Amazon has an entire online Pesach portion, where you can buy everything from matzoh-ball soup to nut butter. (Those of you who are laughing at “nut butter,” grow up.) You can purchase Exodus-brand, Kosher for Pesach beef jerky! And Amazon will sell you Manischewitz granola and Lieber’s gluten-free elbow macaroni. Is that almost too secular? Don’t worry. You can still find chocolate lollycones, Joyva ring jells, and a good-ol’ bottle of Gold’s horse radish so red, it’s guaranteed to ruin any shirt sleeve you dip into it.

I complain a lot. Because I’m Jewish. And also because many things in life have progressively worsened: air travel, doctor’s appointments, cost of living, insurance, sitting in a theater with a mask on watching plays designed to make me feel guilty for being me. The world is a little crazy right now, and a little crazy always. So it’s a rare pleasure when something gets better and easier. As a child, by the third day of Pesach, I was so bored and constipated, people mistook me for Ben Stein. A Jewish kid growing up right now could eat a week of Passover food and not even realize it’s Passover.  

Isn’t that what’s great about America? Assimilate or stay insular, but either way, the culture assimilates you. You can roast your own shankbone — which is painful and not recommended — or visit a community Seder, You can celebrate as much Passover as you can take. 

So boil those eggs, gather those haggadahs, and get ready to tell the story one more time of how our ancestors went from enslavement to enfreement. And if the pandemic is still keeping you from spending next year in Jerusalem, load up a virtual background with the Wailing Wall on it, and boom, you’re there. As I said, we can long for yesteryear, but every often, we’re lucky to be living in thisteryear. 

Wishing you all a zissen Pesach, this has been a Rabbinical Reflection from Rabbi Sol Solomon, Temple Sons of Bitches in Great Neck, New York.

(c)2023 TotalTheater. All rights reserved.

Dave’s Gone By #887 (3/25/2023): THE JEW AND THE JEW

click above to watch episode #887
click above to listen (audio only)

Here is the 887th episode of the long-running radio show/video podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired live on Facebook, Saturday, March 25, 2023. Info: davesgoneby.com


Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews comedian and playwright Steve Epstein; Greeley Crimes & Old Times; Colorado Limerick of the Damned (Simla), StoryTime (Highlights poems).

Guests: writer-performer Steve Epstein.

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN w/ Joyce (bread)
00:19:00 GUEST: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews Steve Epstein
01:21:00 DAVE GOES FURTHER IN (free books)
01:30:30 STORYTIME (More Poems to Go)
01:39:30 DAVE GOES EVEN FURTHER (free implement, archives, publicity summit, power plug)
02:22:00 GREELEY CRIMES & OLD TIMES
02:44:00 Friends of the Daverhood
02:51:00 COLORADO LIMERICK OF THE DAMNED (Simla, CO)
02:56:30 DAVE GOES OUT

Steve Epstein
Epstein & Hassan
Rabbi Sol Solomon
More Poems to Go
Simla, CO

Dave’s Gone By #886 (3/18/2023): PUT A KIRSH ON YOU

click above to watch episode #886
click above to listen (audio only)

Here is the 886th episode of the long-running radio show/video podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired live on Facebook Saturday morning, March 18, 2023. Info: davesgoneby.com. 

Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews composer-lyricist David Kirshenbaum; Greeley Crimes & Old Times; Today/Yesterday Trivia Quiz (with David Kirshenbaum, Vicki Quade, Richard Vetere); Colorado Limerick of the Damned (Westminster), Dave Goes Off on new birdseed.

Guests: composer David Kirshenbaum, playwright Richard Vetere, actress Vicki Quade.

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN w/ Joyce (trigger warnings)
00:46:30 GUEST: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews David Kirshenbaum
01:42:00 DAVE GOES FURTHER IN (Sir Kensington’s)
02:02:00 GREELEY CRIMES & OLD TIMES
02:25:30 DAVE GOES OFF (new birdseed)
02:48:30 Friends of the Daverhood
02:57:30 COLORADO LIMERICK OF THE DAMNED (Westminster, CO)
03:01:30 DAVE GOES OUT

David Kirshenbaum
Richard Vetere
Vicki Quade
Rabbi Sol Solomon
clockwise L-R: Dave, Vicki Quade, David Kirshenbaum, Richard Vetere
Westminster, CO

Dave’s Gone By #884 (3/4/2023): MARCH FORTH

click above to watch episode #884
click above to listen (audio only)

Here is the 884th episode of the long-running radio show/video podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired live on Facebook Saturday morning, March 4, 2023. Info: davesgoneby.com.

Featuring: Greeley Crimes & Old Times; Colorado Limerick of the Damned (Norrie); Rabbi Sol Solomon reads the papers.

Guests: Rabbi Sol Solomon.

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN w/ Joyce (sigh machine, pre-spring, Elvis Francois, shigella)
01:04:00 GREELEY CRIMES & OLD TIMES
01:38:00 RABBI SOL READS THE PAPERS
02:06:00 Friends of the Daverhood
02:14:00 DAVE GOES OFF (breadmaker)
02:31:00 COLORADO LIMERICK OF THE DAMNED (Norrie, CO)
02:33:00 DAVE GOES OUT (German verbs)

Rabbi Sol Solomon
fresh bread!
Norrie, CO

Dave’s Gone By Interview (2/18/2023): IRENA PATAR & Rabbi Sol Solomon

click above to watch the interview
click above to listen to the interview (audio only)

Rabbi Sol Solomon chats with vintner IRENA PATAR

Topics include: SIngle Divorced Married wine, Israel, Georgia, bullying

Segment aired Feb. 18, 2023 as part of the 881st episode of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio/video podcast program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full interview with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast.

All content (c)2023 TotalTheater Productions.                                                   

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com 

More about Rabbi Sol Solomon: http://www.shalomdammit.com. 

Dave’s Gone By #882 (2/18/2023): WINE COUNTRY

click above to watch episode #882
click above to listen to the episode (audio only)

Here is the 882nd episode of the long-running radio show/video podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired live on Facebook, Saturday morning, Feb. 18, 2023. Info: davesgoneby.com. Note: Owing to Zoom issues, the first segment of the show was not deemed usable, so this shorter-than-usual episode officially starts with the interview. Enjoy!

Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews vintner Irena Patar; Today/Yesterday Trivia Quiz (w/ Irena Patar, Jesse Nash, Leslie (Hoban) Blake, Vicki Quade); Greeley Crimes & Old Times; Colorado Limerick of the Damned (Green Mountain Falls).

Guests: writer Jesse Nash; vintner Irena Patar; theater critic Leslie (Hoban) Blake; actress Vicki Quade.

Note: Owing to technical difficulties, the show had a late and then glitchy start, so we essentially re-started the episode with Rabbi Sol’s interview.

00:00:01 GUEST: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews Irena Patar
00:26:30 TODAY/YESTERDAY Trivia Quiz (Feb. 18 w/ Irena Patar, Leslie (Hoban) Blake, Jesse Nash, Vicki Quade).
01:19:30 DAVE GOES IN w/ Joyce (technology and ellipticals)
01:30:00 GREELEY CRIMES & OLD TIMES
01:45:30 Friends of the Daverhood
01:57:30 COLORADO LIMERICK OF THE DAMNED (Green Mountain Falls, CO)
02:01:30 DAVE GOES OUT

Irena Patar
Leslie (Hoban) Blake
Vicki Quade
Rabbi Sol Solomon
clockwise from L: Dave, Vicki Quade, Irena Patar, Jesse Nash

Dave’s Gone By #881 (2/11/2023): BEA HIVE

click above to watch episode #881
click above to listen (audio only)

Here’s the 881st episode of the long-running radio show/video podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired live on Facebook Saturday morning, Feb. 11, 2023. Info: davesgoneby.com.

Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews librarian Bea Franklin; Today/Yesterday Trivia Quiz (Feb. 11 w/ Bea Franklin, Leslie (Hoban) Blake, Don Perl); Colorado Limerick of the Damned (Fraser); StoryTime (“Brave Potatoes”).

Guests: librarian Bea Franklin; theater critic Leslie (Hoban) Blake; educator Don Perl.

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN w/ Joyce (free book, Oreo, commonality of experience)
00:30:30 GUEST: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews Bea Franklin
01:01:00 TODAY/YESTERDAY Trivia Quiz (Feb. 11 w/ Leslie (Hoban) Blake, Don Perl, Bea Franklin)
02:02:30 STORYTIME (Brave Potatoes)
02:25:30 GREELEY CRIMES & OLD TIMES
02:52:00 Friends of the Daverhood
03:06:00 COLORADO LIMERICK OF THE DAMNED (Fraser, CO)
03:09:30 DAVE GOES OUT

Bea Franklin
Leslie (Hoban) Blake
Don Perl
Rabbi Sol Solomon
Fraser, CO

Dave’s Gone By Interview (1/28/2023): JULIAN SCHLOSSBERG & Rabbi Sol Solomon

click above to watch the interview
click above to listen (audio only)

Rabbi Sol Solomon chats with producer JULIAN SCHLOSSBERG

Topics include: radio, producing, Orson Welles 

Segment aired Jan. 28, 2023 as part of the 879th episode of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio/video podcast program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full interview with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast.

All content (c)2023 TotalTheater Productions.                                                   

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com 

More about Rabbi Sol Solomon: http://www.shalomdammit.com. 

Dave’s Gone By #878 (1/21/2023): VET TECH

click above to watch episode #878
click above to listen (audio only)

Here is the 878th episode of the long-running radio show/video podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired live on Facebook, Saturday morning, Jan. 21, 2023. Info: davesgoneby.com.

Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews author Richard Vetere; Greeley Crimes & Old Times; Today/Yesterday Trivia Quiz (Jan. 21 w/ Richard Vetere, Eva Heinemann, Ronald Rand); Colorado Limerick of the Damned (Leyner, CO).

Guests: playwright Richard Vetere; actor Ronald Rand; theater critic Eva Heinemann

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN w/ Joyce (Joyce’s eye)
00:14:00 GUEST: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews Richard Vetere
01:07:30 TODAY/YESTERDAY Trivia Quiz (Jan. 21 w/ Richard Vetere, Ronald Rand, Eva Heinemann)
01:45:30 DAVE GOES FURTHER IN (Facebook, distractions, Air India update)
02:10:30 GREELEY CRIMES & OLD TIMES
02:44:30 Friends of the Daverhood
02:56:30 COLORADO LIMERICK OF THE DAMNED (Leyner, CO)
03:00:00 DAVE GOES OUT (ColoGuard update, aging, Knarrevik)

Richard Vetere
Eva Heinemann
Ronald Rand
Rabbi Sol Solomon
Leyner, CO