Who sells the Mission’s most delicious knishes? Which Oakland deli satisfies your belly and which local shuls totally rule?
(Shall we go on?)
Whose corned beef on rye brings a tear to your eye, and who can deliver the greatest chopped liver? Which Jewish actor has the “it” factor, and which microbrewery best serves San Fran Jewry?
The answers to all these questions are up to you as j. launches the first “Best of the Jewish Bay Area” readers’ poll.
Why the poll? To all those ignorant people — especially pesky out-of-towners — who claim the Bay Area isn’t a very Jewish region, the “Best of the Jewish Bay Area” is offered as a much-needed antidote.
Dozens of categories, from favorite ethnic restaurants, theaters, clubs and klezmer bands to top cantors, Judaica stores and JCCs, are included.
So are best ketubah and chuppah makers; best gay hangout, best day school and — are you ready for this? — best mohel (we’d hate to find out how you get to be worst mohel).
But we didn’t want to restrict the poll. That’s why we also include slightly eccentric categories like best chiropractor, best foreign-car dealer and best place to rent formal wear.
Not off-beat enough for you? How about: best men’s shoe store; best psychiatrist and best Jewish retirement facility (it’s whichever one has the free Metamucil mimosas).
There’s even a section for readers to include categories we didn’t think of.
The greater the number of readers that weigh in, the better and more varied the results.
Our crack team of forensic accountants will tabulate the entries and publish the winners in the July 15 issue of j.
Now, we are well aware that other big city Jewish newspapers do annual “best of” issues. Jews in New York and L.A. do tend to think the Jewish universe revolves around them.
Well, it doesn’t.
Let’s show the world that the Bay Area is another great Jewish nerve center. Fill out the “Best of the Jewish Bay Area” survey (www.jewishsf.com/best) and send it in today.
Otherwise, we’ll be forced to come up with more agonizing rhymes like: “Which kosher caterer is greater or greaterer, and who makes a blintz good enough for a prince?”