Last week we wrote of Sukkot, the harvest festival and low and behold, we had an amazing harvest moon. The moon was so low on the horizon, so bright and enchanting – I had to learn a little more about it. The first question is why does the harvest moon seem so close? Because in September the moon is orbiting the earth almost parallel to the horizon. For this reason it rises almost simultaneously with the sunset. The shallow angle of the moon’s orbit relative to the horizon is what gives us a brighter moon that rises earlier, creating light longer into the night. This makes it possible for farmers to work a longer days just when they need them for the autumn harvest, which was vital as the northern hemisphere headed into the dark, shorter days of the approaching winter. In Chinese culture this moon is celebrated by eating mooncakes and different festivities including lantern lighting and family meals. In Taiwan hats are made out of pomelo peels and people head to parks to bbq and gaze at the moon. In Japan its about an outdoor picnic with some sake (yes!!) and tsukimi – white rice dumplings. In Korea the festival is called Chuseok and includes a rice cake called songpyeon often filled with sesame, chestnuts or red bean paste. In Vietnam its called Tet Thrung Thu and is mainly for kids who parade at night with lanterns and masks. Finally, in Cambodia its Bon Om Touk – a 3-day celebration that includes boat races, various offerings (including rabbits…oy).

Finally – a huge shout out to Isabelle and her fellow Franco-phones who gathered on Thursday at Motek to speak French. Next Thursday it will be a 9:00. Now a question – are there any Portuguese speakers out there? Let us know – there may be some interest for an occasional gathering.

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. – A Joke: WARNING – CLICK ON THE LINK AT YOUR OWN PERIL: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2018/11/26/jerry-fisher-hearing-cd9-399-10

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We would like to thank all who came out for our falafel dinner last week. We were faced with some significant technical challenges as one of our electric stove tops slowly began to take an early retirement, gradually shutting down. We were wondering why it was taking so long to fry up falafel balls but the result was that we were working at half capacity. Thank you for all who showed patience and understanding. Yael is determined to do it again, this time with a proper deep fryer which should streamline things quite a bit.

This week was Yom Kippur - a big day in the Jewish calendar. For observant Jews it is a day of fasting and soul searching as we make our final pleas for mercy and forgiveness just as God decides who shall be inscribed in the Book of Life and live to see another Yom Kippur. The holiday opens with a special prayer Kol Nidrei which literally means “all vows”. The prayer essentially says that all vows between God and the individual are null and void. It also states that it is now permissible to pray in the company of transgressors. There is a view that this prayer gained special significance for the Jews in Spain and Portugal during the Spanish Inquisition when the Jews were forced to either convert to Christianity or be burned at the stake. This led to a massive number of conversos or annusim – Jews who were forced to convert but who secretly continued to practice Judaism. When they gathered to secretively pray on Yom Kippur they were especially eager to make it known to God that even though they may have taken a vow to follow a different faith and in so doing transgressed, they are asking to be released from those vows and to be allowed to pray and be forgiven. Five days after Yom Kippur kicks off the week-long celebration of Sukkot – a holiday celebrating the harvest when it is customary to build a sukkah (a booth out of palm fronds) under the stars, where you host friends and family for meals. Had we built one at Motek it would surely have been blown away by Hurricane Nolo whose outer bands are drenching us and gusting up quite a bit here in North Kohala.

Finally, one of our customers is a very nice French woman named Isabelle. She is always happy to find others with whom to converse in French and has also been known to tutor those who want to learn French. She is inviting those who would like to speak French to join her over a cup of coffee at Motek on Thursday at 10:00am, just to chat. This is appropriate as Thursday is also the day that we bake baguette. Merci beaucoup Isabelle.

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S A Joke – WARNING – CLICK AT YOUR OWN PERIL: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2018/11/28/bill-reyer-jacques-cousteaus-discovery-421

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Today people will become very passionate about where you can find the best felafel. Often times, a tiny hole in the wall will have the longest lines. Those who have tasted Yael’s felafel will agree that it is super tasty. Did I mention that it is also vegan? We will also be serving Malabi which is a delicious desert pudding made in different variations. Ours is made with coconut milk, rose water and topped with a sweet syrup and chopped peanuts. To wash it all down – lemonana – an Israeli lemonade made with nana (mint).

Then, on Sunday we will be boiling and baking some fresh bagels for our bagel’s and lox brunch. For those who would also like to order some bagels to take home, please let us know – we don’t have a lot of spare but we try to make some extra to sell separately.

Hopefully the remnants of tropical storm Norbert will have departed allowing us to dry out a little from this wet weather for a sunny weekend…

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. A Joke: WARNING – Click on this link at your own peril: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2021/03/12/steve-talmud-black-panties/

(explainer – a “shiva” is a Jewish ritual whereby people in mourning are visited by friends and family over the course of a week, paying respect for the deceased. The visit is often referred to as “a shiva call”)

Please note that Motek will be closed on Saturday, September 12^th in observance of Rosh Hashana – the Jewish new year. What year you ask? 5785….clearly, they didn’t have carbon dating back in the day when the sages came up with the calculation for when the world was created. In any event, while we will be closed on Saturday, as noted, we will be open for business as usual on Sunday.

Now for some bragging. Today a very nice couple who are here on vacation from Kentucky came into the bakery and said that they were glad that we were open because we were a “must do.” I of course had no idea what a “must do” is. They told me that they used AI to plan their trip to the Big Island and a stop at Motek was among the recommendations of the things that they “must do” while on the Big Island. Then they clarified that it wasn’t a “must do” just if you happen to be in Kohala – which would have been great – but a “must do” if you happen to be on the Big Island!! I have now moved from being an AI skeptic to being a firm believer in the benefits of AI for humanity, and for Motek!

Last but not least, we have added a new player to our roster of savory pastries: please welcome the eggplant, potato and tahini bourekas. We are also now serving bourekas plates that include bourekas, a hard-boiled egg, some slices of our home-made dill pickles and the appropriate dipping sauce of course.

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. A Joke: WARNING – Click on this link at your own peril: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2019/01/07/marvin-nissenbaum-heaven-493

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Next week is the Jewish new year – Rosh Hashana. We will be closed Saturday, September 12^th in observance but not before we bake special round challah’s (the soft, braided bread that we bake every Friday) as is customary for Rosh Hashana. Why round? Because we end one annual cycle and begin a new one, hence the round challah. There are also those who see the roundness as representing a crown, as a reminder that God is crowned the King of Kings, and still others who see the circular shape as being a wheel of fortune symbolizing life’s ups and downs, all ultimately directed by a divine hand. IT is also customary to make a sweet challah to represent our desire for a sweet year ahead. If you are interested in ordering challah please text us at 808-640-5581 or email to motek.bakery.hi@gmail.com by Tuesday so that we can plan and prepare accordingly.

Another custom at this time of year is to ask forgiveness. Observant Jews will wake up especially early for what is known as Selichot – a set of prayers seeking forgiveness. In religious neighborhoods a shammas - the person who essentially keeps the cogs of worship oiled and running smoothly, coordinating all aspects of synagogue functioning – would walk around in the predawn hours, banging a mallet or wooden stick on the shudders of homes to wake worshipers up. Not to worry, there is no shammas in N. Kohala. Rosh Hashana is the high point of a month-long period of soul searching and seeking forgiveness. A Jewish person is supposed to unburden his or herself from anything heavy that could weigh upon ones soul as part of a period of deep introspection. It is customary to ask people that you know for forgiveness for any slight, injury or insult that you may have caused either knowingly or unknowingly. People will call each other and say “I am sorry if I hurt you in any way, please forgive me” and it is incumbent upon you to say “I forgive you”…those are the rules. Even for us Secular people, the concept of unburdening your soul by asking and giving forgiveness is kind of nice. Often times, it is something that we need to ask first and foremost of ourselves as we can be our own worst adversaries. Food for thought…that and a nice round challah.

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. A Joke: WARNING – Click on this link at your own peril: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2022/01/12/mike-frenkel-condom-599-15

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This has been a great week. On Tuesday, our heroic HECO workers managed to get us back on the grid. Our little Honda generator is enjoying a well-deserved rest. As soon as storm season is over it will get a well-deserved spa day at the Honda repair shop to keep in shape for the next round. This week the weather has been spectacular and never has the idea of the “calm after the storm” been more appropriate. Unlike “the calm before the storm” which is full of apprehension and anxiety for what is surely to come, the calm after the storm is one of relief and for the most part gratitude for having come through a difficult patch. Sadly, half a world away from us on the border between Nepal and Tibet a harrowing act of nature has left a path of destruction, sadness and grief. Having visited Nepal a while back, I was impressed by its stunning beauty but also by the depths of its poverty. Insurgencies, climate change and the search for opportunities fostered a mass migration of people from rural villages into the cities. Under the best of circumstances cities like Katmandu did not have the urban infrastructure needed to support its population. Faced with a massive influx, the result was sprawling shanty town neighborhoods, mountains of waste of all kinds, poor roads and barely-functioning utilities. The people were some of the kindest you could ever hope to meet. It is heartbreaking to see the sudden destruction triggered by a massive chunk of free-falling glacial ice that led to a flash flood of mud, ice, rocks, water. As bad as it was for us here, we have a lot to be grateful for.

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. – A Joke: WARNING – CLICK ON THIS LINK AT YOUR OWN PERIL – this one has adult content and can be considered sexist….and I had to watch it twice to understand it. The joke teller is the late father of Phil Rosenthal, creator of Everybody Loves Raymond and Somebody Feed Phil: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2018/11/19/max-rosenthal-house-of-ill-repute-389

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Weather permitting we will be serving up steaming hot bowls of Hummus Masabacha on Sunday. For those who don’t know or don’t remember – we take a bunch of excellent chick peas (born and bred in the Polouse Valley, WA), soak them overnight, cook them up and serve them warm, mixed with Al-Arz tahini (amazing tahini made from sesame seeds from Ethiopia, grown the traditional way (we sell it raw at the bakery), a hard-boiled egg, olive oil, a tangy lemon-garlic sauce and a pita to swipe it up with. It’s a dish that you will find across the Middle East, and now in Kohala! AND, we will have our Uke Jammers back in full force now that Gordon has his car back. Again, all of this is weather dependent – we will let you know of any changes.

As of this writing (Friday, August 21^st) Motek has power but at home we are still in the dark and based on HECO’s update, it may be quite a while until we get it back. Like the little engine that could, our small Honda generator (about 40 yrs. old – no spring chicken) has been working non-stop for a week keeping our fridges and freezers at home alive and well. I went to True Value to pick up a spare spark plug having noticed that the current plug is a bit worn. Apparently Kohala likes Honda as they were all out of the plug that Honda’s use. So of course, I complained about the situation. In fact, in spite of being generally optimistic, I have noticed that I have been complaining quite a bit lately, as have many of our customers. This of course led me to ask ChatGPT about the health benefits of complaining. Believe it or not, there are. This is what came up:

Complaining in moderation can benefit your health by providing emotional release, lowering stress through human connection, and helping you process frustration instead of suppressing it. Strategic venting externalizes pressure and can lead to practical problem-solving. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Mental and Emotional Relief

• Releases built-up tension: Voicing your frustrations stops negative emotions from looping endlessly inside your head.

• Validates feelings: Acknowledging that a situation is unfair prevents the low life satisfaction that comes from bottling up pain.

• Avoids suppression harm: Holding back all grievances creates long-term emotional strain and isolation. [1, 2, 3]

Social and Problem-Solving Perks

• Builds connection: Shared gripes foster camaraderie and remind you that you are not alone in your struggle.

• Inspires action: Instrumental complaints with a clear goal can encourage outside help, new perspectives, and positive changes. [1, 2, 3]

When Complaining Becomes Unhealthy

• Triggers stress loops: Chronic rehashing without an endpoint is rumination, which floods the body with stress hormones like cortisol.

• Trains the brain for negativity: Habitual complaining reinforces negative neural pathways, making distress your default mindset. [1, 2, 3]

So, there you have it Bread Lovers – it’s O.K to complain and contrary to what I was taught, it might even be beneficial!!

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. – A Joke: WARNING – CLICK ON THIS LINK AT YOUR OWN PERIL: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2018/12/19/nancy-shaw-the-bagpiper-486

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Mahalo - David and Yael

Mahalo - David and Yael

This week’s mail is from Yael:

The other night, I had a dream. I was back in Tel Aviv, riding my bike through the familiar streets just like I used to, and right there beside me was Chico.

For those who didn’t know him, Chico was a special soul. He came from a shelter into my father’s life after my mother passed away. Though he wasn’t a purebred, he looked exactly like a beautiful white Labrador. When my father became too ill to care for him, David and I took Chico in. He joined our female dog, Kava, and eventually, both of them flew with us across the ocean when we moved to Hawaii.

Chico was unlike any dog we had ever owned. In our lives David and I always had dogs, and we’ve always successfully failed at training them… But Chico was different. We suspected that early in his life, he had been trained as a guide dog for the blind. He was incredibly disciplined, but he also seemed to decide that I was his person to guide. He stuck to me like glue, hanging on my every word. Sometimes I liked to think that it was because he knew I was my father’s daughter.

Having a perfectly behaved dog who lived just to please me, be next to me and do what I want him to do was an absolute joy. He was also a world-class cuddler. Despite his size, if I sat on the floor, he would try to climb right into my lap and melt into me. David—who was used to being the undisputed idol of all our previous dogs—found himself playfully jealous of the attention I was getting. He’d walk around the house, teasingly muttering to Chico: “You are such a mommy’s boy.”

Chico had a heart of gold. Years ago, when Mattan lived with us in Tel Aviv with Casper (whom everyone at the local bakery remembers), Casper was just a young, annoying pup. While Kava ruled the house with an iron paw and set strict boundaries for Casper, Chico just let the puppy do whatever he wanted. The sheer sweetness between them could melt our heart.

Chico passed away three years ago at the age of 14. With the help of our neighbor Paul, we buried him right next to Kava in our yard here in Hawaii.

As a Jungian psychoanalyst, I naturally pay close attention to dreams, trying to figure out what is it they came to tell me that I am now aware of. Chico’s visit last night has been echoing in my mind all day. Seeing us together again, navigating Tel Aviv side-by-side, felt so vivid. I remember reading somewhere that Carl Jung once suggested that sometimes, when the deceased appear in our dreams, it isn’t always a complex image, symbol or metaphor to understand.

Sometimes, they are just coming by for a visit. Plain and simple.

Thank you for the visit, Chico. You are still the best boy. 🐾❤️

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. – A Joke: WARNING – CLICK ON THIS LINK AT YOUR OWN PERIL: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2019/01/16/howie-bromberg-the-partner-499-38

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So, gas prices. For those of us who would normally gas-up at Costco, due to renovations of their gas station, we are now forced to contend with even higher gas prices. All of this is of course connected to the war with Iran who has very successfully choked off the flow of oil out of the Gulf states by closing the Straits of Hormuz. For a time it seemed that diplomacy would prevail, ending the conflict and opening up the Straits. For a short time the ships were transiting the Straits, oil prices fell and we began to feel some ever so slight relief at the pumps. Then that old saying ‘the devil is in the details’ kicked in with the U.S. and Iran not seeing eye to eye regarding control of the Straits and once again the Straits are closed. So, with the Straits being so present in my mind, here are some things that you may not know about them: 1) they are all together just over 100 miles long, narrowing down to 21 miles wide. This may seem like a lot but if you’re an oil tanker in a congested waterway, it’s narrow. There are three lanes in the Straits, each two miles wide – one for incoming traffic, one for outgoing traffic and one in the middle as a buffer; 2) they are home to a unique set of super corals that have adapted to the high water temperature (97 degrees) and salinity – these corals are being studied to see if their genes can restore corals on the Great Barrier Reef; 3) it is considered one of the nosiest marine environments in the world with the constant hum of the boat traffic interfering with the navigation of dolphins, porpoises and other marine life. This is a problem for the Whale Sharks that share this waterway and for whom the Gulf of Arabia is home to the second largest population in the world; 4) the insurance costs for ships transiting the Straits have risen to about 4% of a ships hull value – a roughly $600K in premium for one passage of a $150 million dollar oil tanker. As of writing this, the negotiators are still trying to hammer out a deal to end the war and to open the Straits, among other things. We can only hope.

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. – A Joke: WARNING – CLICK ON THIS LINK AT YOUR OWN PERIL: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2018/12/19/mike-leiderman-new-cell-phone-479

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And now for the connection between Jachnun and Hawaii – something that I learned about this week: In 1947 the U.N. voted to partition what was then the British Mandate for Palestine, creating two states – the Jewish state of Israel and the Arab state of Palestine. The Jewish leadership accepted the partition, the Arab leadership rejected it and in 1948 the new state of Israel was invaded by 5 Arab armies. At the same time, the rest of the Arab world responded by attacking and in some cases expelling their Jewish populations – altogether it is estimated that roughly 850K Jews were expelled or fled from Arab countries. Yemen was no exception. The CEO of Alaska Airways at the time was John Wooten who had purchased surplus DC-4’s and C-46 airplanes following WW2. He used some of these planes to help airlift aid into Berlin. In 1949 when he learned of the plight of Yemenite Jews under attack in Yemen, he used his fleet as part of a secret operation known as Operation Wings of Eagles, airlifting 49,000 to Israel between 1949-1950. Back then it was a perilous mission. The planes needed to stop to refuel in Amsara, Ethiopia before continuing on to Aden, Yemen. Navigation was done by a sextant and a chronograph. Fast forward to a merged Hawaiian and Alaska Airways and voila, the connection between Jachnun and Hawaii!! Here is a link to read about it: https://news.alaskaair.com/alaska-airlines/on-eagles-wings/

Finally, thank you for your patience and understanding as Motek was closed for one day due to tenting for termites. Naturally, we had just received a shipment of 2500lbs of flour that along with all other foodstuffs were moved out of the bakery, and then back to the bakery. Glad that it’s behind us.

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. – A Joke: WARNING – CLICK ON THIS LINK AT YOUR OWN PERIL: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2018/10/31/larry-greenfield-sidney-the-lumberjack-256

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Mahalo - David and Yael

Today was a bittersweet day. A member of our community, Brian Dugan, passed away on July 7^th. Today his family held a memorial service for him at Beach 69. The bitter part is of course the grief and sadness that define the passing of a loved one. Brian passed at 52, too young, taken by cancer. What was sweet was the beautiful service that brought together those of us who knew him to give a special embrace to his wife, son, mother, sister, aunt. His son Ian left us with a poignant lesson, sharing that as he visited his father in the hospital, he made sure to bring only positivity into the room until one day his father asked him – why the front? What do you really feel? Today 20-year-old Ian schooled us Kupuna as to the importance of being genuine and authentic, even – or perhaps especially – in the face of coming to terms with mortality. Thank you Dugan Family for sharing and including us.

That was kind of heavy so now for something lighter. A week ago a very nice couple drove into Motek in a fire-engine red Ferrari convertible - not the kind of car that one sees everyday in these parts. Of course, I immediately began joking around with them “Thank you for bringing my car back” and that sort of thing. Then I commented that a car like that will surely catch the eye of the police and that he must be like a cop magnet for the guys here in N. Kohala. He told me that in fact, coming in to Hawi one day he was pulled over. He hadn’t been speeding, hadn’t been drinking (God forbid), and had no idea why he was pulled over. He asked the officer what he did wrong and the officer answered, “Well, you seem to be missing your front license plate….well, actually, I just wanted to see your car.” You gotta love N. Kohala’s men and women in blue!

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. – A Joke: WARNING – CLICK ON THIS LINK AT YOUR OWN PERIL: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2019/01/16/ettie-steinberg-a-cure-for-horniness-499-42

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And now this from Yael:

Some of you may have met my cousin Stav and her family at the bakery this week. ❤️

There is something incredibly special about having family from Israel visit us here in Hawaii—literally the farthest point on earth from Israel.

When we first moved here, we knew we were moving away from the people who had been the foundation of our lives: our family, our oldest friends, and the people who knew our stories long before we became who we are today. Over the years, we’ve built a beautiful life here. We made wonderful friends, and we were even fortunate enough that some parts of our family found their way to Hawaii, too.

But having my cousin visit with her husband and their two children has stirred something even deeper.

There are about 21 years between Stav and I. I was a young adult when she came into this world; I have known her since the day she was born (and in truth, even before!). Her grandfather was my grandmother’s brother. Because they came from a very large family, her grandfather and my mother were close in age and close at heart—and that same bond passed down through the generations.

While I grew up in Tel Aviv, her father and his siblings grew up on a kibbutz on Israel’s northern border. In Israel, that was considered far apart! Yet, our lives were always intertwined. We spent holidays together, shared vacations, played, laughed, and argued as we grew up side by side. Later on, we celebrated the milestone of building our own families, and we stood beside one another through saying goodbye to those we loved.

Those years aren’t just memories—they are the foundation of who we are.

When you move far away, the people you meet only know the version of you that arrived. They don’t know the child you were, the teenager, your family stories, or the raw experiences that shaped you. The mirrors they hold up reflect your present, but not your past.

I was talking with a dear friend the other day about “before”—before we met, before we moved here. We laughed about how much there still is to tell each other, and how many chapters of our lives we never lived side by side. There is a certain charm in that. But there is also something deeply comforting about family and about lifelong friends who become family. They already know the story of you.

I’m not naïve. I know that family and relationships aren’t always easy. But when there is love, genuine affection, and a desire to be part of one another’s lives, family can become an anchor. A place where you belong.

Having my beloved younger cousin and her family here has filled our home with laughter, old memories, new memories, Hebrew, and a feeling that is hard to describe.

It’s a piece of home crossing an ocean.

Our hearts are so very full.

We only wish they could stay. 🌊✨

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. – A Joke: WARNING – CLICK ON THIS LINK AT YOUR OWN PERIL (some foul language): https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2019/01/16/gary-krakow-onions-499-49/

So, it is July 4^th and we are celebrating 250 years of our independence from England. It started on June 7^th 1776 during the second Continental Congress when the delegate from Virginia, Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion to separate from England and declare independence. Not all of the colonies were on board and there was a lively debate. Rather than vote on the motion, they chose a small committee – John Adams (MA), Thomas Jefferson (VA), Robert Livingston (NY), Benjamin Franklin (PA) and Robert Sherman (CT) – to draft a formal statement justifying the break with England. This paper was presented to the Continental Congress on July 2^nd and unanimously approved (NY abstained at first, then affirmed). This of course led to the Revolutionary War but July 4^th was celebrated none the less and apparently this included a lot of mock funerals for King George III. In 1778 George Washington celebrated by ordering double rations of rum for his soldiers (gotta love George W.).

And here in Kohala we are celebrating a uniquely local milestone – 100 years since the establishment of Kohala High School. As newcomers to Kohala (2019) the significance of this celebration is not lost. The parade, the park filled with happy smiling faces, talk story, hula, music, great food – it is much more than a centennial anniversary for the local high school. It is really a statement by members of the community to acknowledge their deep roots in this special place and a celebration of the many generations that have made it what it is. As newcomers we are indebted to the people who have made this place so special and to all who continue to do their utmost to keep it special. Listening to Kū Maʻemaʻe play last night with everyone dancing, you could feel the love and pride of a community being in the moment, enjoying each other’s company and celebrating.

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. – A Joke: WARNING – CLICK ON THIS LINK AT YOUR OWN PERIL: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2018/10/31/harry-macklowe-new-guy-at-the-pool-258

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There are times that I wish that I had a camera to record some of the fascinating interactions and discussions that happen across the counter at Motek. We are in a position where we get to meet and know a large number of people from the community which gives us a unique perspective about the folks in this part of the island. For example, today Sophie came in, shared condolences for the passing of my mother last month (very, very heart-warming) which lead us into a discussion about philosophy and the interconnected nature of the universe. We touched on the 18^th century philosopher George Berkely who claimed that “to be is to be perceived” which is to say that an object exists only to the extent that it is perceived and that physical objects cannot exist independently of the mind and someone to perceive them. Shapes, colors, and objects are only sensory perceptions in our minds. An object can exist only if there is a subject to perceive it…AND that everything - all of nature - exists because it is an idea in the all perceiving mind of God. Trippy stuff to discuss while putting a piece of dark chocolate rye cake in a box. Later, Dave-the-gardner showed up with his very chill sidekick Roadie (a somewhat overweight dog that sticks close by Dave’s side). I always count on Dave to give me an informed and intelligent perspective on daily life (i.e. politics) all in clipped shorthand and signed with a barbed statement as he heads out the door. Today the barbed statement was “there’s a sucker born every minute” (I won’t tell you the politics that we were discussing). I could go on and on – one day maybe I will. In the meantime, these discussions come home with me and bang around in my head leaving me feeling incredibly grateful to be surrounded by so much beauty and so many beautiful people.

Mahalo,

David and Yael

P.S. A Joke: WARNING – CLICK ON THIS LINK AT YOUR OWN PERIL: https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2018/10/31/larry-zicklin-hotel-room-260/

And speaking of Father’s Day – here’s a little background info about the origins and its development: Apparently the earliest Father’s Day card dates back to ancient Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) origins of honoring father’s dates back 4,000 years ago when a young man named Elmesu inscribed on a clay tablet wishes for his father’s good health, long life and prosperity. Fast forward to pagan Roman festival of Lupercalia honoring Faunas, the Roman god of agriculture and fertility with rituals designed to protect the family and honor paternal figures. Finally, there are those who connect the Father’s Day with the ancient rituals around the summer solstice where the sun was seen as the father of the universe. In medieval times the Roman Catholic church instituted St. Joseph’s Day where it ultimately became canonized as the Feast of St. Joseph honoring the earthly father of Jesus as a symbol of paternal love and protection and later honoring fathers as the heads of households (as a Jew I can tell you that if you ask any Jewish mother, they would never let this fly…).

The Father’s Day that we are familiar with was started by two women from opposite ends of the country. In 1908 Grace Golden Clayton who was the daughter of a minister in Virginia suggested that they have a service to honor fathers following a coal mining accident that killed 100 men. A year later in Spokate Washington, Sonora Smart Dodd was inspired by Mother’s Day to honor her father who was a Civil War veteran who raised his six children by himself after his wife Ellen died in child birth. She was able to convince the YMCA to set aside a Sunday in June to honor father’s. President Woodrow Wilson tried unsuccessfully to make it a national holiday in 1913 and then President Coolidge signed a resolution that there should be a day to foster closer relations between father’s and their children and to help fathers understand the weight of their responsibilities. Calvin apparently had some dad issues…. Later LBJ signed an executive order mandating the 3^rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day and then in 1972 Nixon signed it into law as national holiday. And there you have it – a brief history of Father’s Day. Wishing all you father’s a very happy Father’s Day.

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. A JOKE – WARNING – Click on this link at your own peril (rated “R”): https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2018/11/28/jonathan-avirom-laughing-nurse-564/

It happened right in the middle of work where I needed to finish dealing with the dough. I was completely in the zone. I had just finished feeding my sourdough starter, and my hands were deep in the dough—that critical window where every minute counts, and I have absolutely zero patience for distractions.

Suddenly, David calls out from the other side of the bakery “Yael, there’s someone out here. He’s a baker visiting the area, he just bought some flour, and he’s asking if he could have a bit of starter.”

Inside my head, all I could think about was the dough waiting for me. With my classic lack of patience for mid-work interruptions, I snapped back, “Oh, come on, I just fed it! It’s not ready to be used yet! You ll have to tell him it needs few more hours before using it.” Being a baker at heart, I found a small container, scooped in three tablespoons of the starter, and handed it over to David , desperate to get back to my the dough to finish what I started .

But David, being David, wouldn’t let it drop. “Yael, this is someone who really, truly has a bakery. In fact two. You should really come out and meet him.”

“Nu (which is like “come on” in Hebrew) David let me be, I need to finish with the dough!” I pushed back, trying get him off my back…

But he didn’t… and I ended up leaving my dough impatiently and going to meet the baker. He introduced himself as Richard Hart. Told me he has a bakery in Copenhagen, Denmark, named Hart Bageri and one in Mexico City, named Green Rhino.

As it turns out, he and his family are visiting the island, staying in our beloved North Kohala, and loving it! He had bought our sesame sourdough the day before- the one that’s a massive favorite around here—and they loved it so much they came back today to buy three more loaves and some spelt flour.

Of course when I came home I searched and researched about him on the net world and here is a little summary of what I found:

Master baker Richard Hart is associated with two primary, highly acclaimed bakeries:

Hart Bageri – The famous artisan bakery he co-founded with René Redzepi (of Noma) in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2018.

Green Rhino – His newer venture, which he opened in Mexico City after relocating there.

Before launching his own brands, he was also widely known as the head baker at the legendary Tartine Bakery in San Francisco.

Hart is known for his intuitive approach to bread making, his pursuit of the perfect sourdough loaf. He won a James Beard Foundation Award in 2025 for his cookbook Richard Hart Bread: Intuitive Sourdough Baking.

I was so happy when they came back today again. I felt I know him by now. I told him I learned about him and it’s all very impressive! He gave us compliments about Motek which my only regret was that David wasn’t in to hear them (he is still doing our taxes…). We talked for a bit saying how much we love people who are bakers and I told him about my favorite beach here…

Thank you David for insisting I leave my dough for few minutes and get out of the kitchen to meet the world…

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. A JOKE – WARNING – Click on this link at your own peril (but it’s funny…): https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2018/12/12/richard-levine-bubbie-has-a-baby-445/

Here’s a sweet thing. It all started with Margret. Margret is a regular at Motek. She came in one day with what looked like a canvas bag that she wanted to show me. This was no ordinary bag – the material was impregnated with beeswax and it was meant for bread such as ours. She swore by it – it kept her bread fresh far longer than without the bag. Well, that’s all we needed to hear. The next day another one of our regulars came in – Amanda the seamstress. We know Amanda from the early days when we had a stall at the Pukalani Stables Farmers Market in Waimea where Amanda has a stall to this day. So I show Amanda the bread bag (online version) that Margret showed me and asked if she could make them for us. Amanda, being Amanda, jumped right in. She then connected with Kaisa, aka “Honey Girl”. Kaisa and her partner Jerimiah are beekeepers (apiarists to be more precise) here in Kapaau. As it turns out, Honey Girl was already selling swaths of cloth impregnated with beeswax which is used to keep food fresh. So now Malama-Ki Honey Bees is going to work with Stitch-In-Time Amanda to produce special bags for Motek (with our logo of course) that will keep you bread fresher, longer. This is all just a promo as they are still figuring it out – but it will happen. In the meantime, we have begun stocking some of Malama-Ki Honey Bees honey which is absolutely amazing as far as honey goes. They have 2 varieties – one produced from hives placed along the rim of the Pololu Valley, producing a dark, syrupy honey and the other from hives place in Puako producing a thicker, golden honey. We are thrilled to be selling their honey and very excited about this hyper-local venture to produce bread bags to keep you bread – locally and freshly baked at Motek – fresher, longer. Also, tomorrow (Saturday) we will be baking a special sourdough loaf with oatmeal and honey.

Mahalo – David and Yael

P.S. – A Joke: WARNING – CLICK ON THIS LINK AT YOUR OWN PERIL (you might laugh): https://www.oldjewstellingjokes.com/2018/11/13/neil-elliot-a-divorce-360/