Growing up, the best part of a Shabbos meal was the Streits farfel that was served as a side dish. This past Pesach, we actually found Streits Matzo Farfel, which was not available here in Israel for the last few years. What a treat!

 “So what’s all this talk about Streits?” Emily Litella (z”l) would have asked on SNL. Chevy Chase would have scornfully explained, “straits, not Streits”. And she would have sheepishly said, “never mind.”

The Geometry of Global Risk: Navigating Maritime Chokepoints in 2026

The current geopolitical climate has transformed the world’s maritime “pinch points” from mere logistical hurdles into primary instruments of state power. As the 2026 blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has demonstrated, the global economy is exceptionally vulnerable to the closure of these narrow waterways. Understanding the stability of global trade now requires a two-tiered analysis: the immediate status of the “Big Six” traditional chokepoints and the emerging flashpoints that represent the next frontier of maritime conflict.

Section 1: The “Big Six” – Traditional Pillars Under Pressure

The “Big Six” represent........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)