SAN DIEGO—The late Herb Brin, publisher of the now defunct Jewish Heritage newspapers of California, used to delight in the name of the Chumash Indians, whose ancient territory stretched along the California coast between Malibu and Paso Robles. He liked to imagine that these Native Americans were descended from a lost tribe of Israel and that they had taken their name from the Hebrew word for "Bible."  

I found myself engaging in a similar reverie Sunday evening, Nov. 28,  at Sipz, the vegetarian "fuzion cafe" at 5501 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., where Nancy and I joined son David and daughter-in-law Hui-Wen (Cathy) for a fast dinner.

After studying the menu, I couldn't resist ordering a vanilla-flavored boba chai (tea), which, of course, I pronounced like "hie," an American approximation of the Hebrew word "chai" meaning "life." 

The spiced milk tea in question properly is pronounced "chie," as in the beginning of the word "chive." Looking at the sweatshirt that Nancy' coincidentally was wearing— decorated by sister-in-law Barbara Zeiden with the "Chet" and "Yud" that spells "chai"— I figured at least on this particular occasion, my pronunciation was right.

Furthermore, I decided that Sipz founders Win and Sylvia Le and their staff might even delight in how I pronounced the name of the beverage, given the cafe's announced goal of "respecting the world...respecting the earth...respecting one another.." 

Along with the vanilla chai boba, I tried the Wok fried drunken noodles, described as "fat rice noodles woked fried with carrots, bean sprouts, celery, bamboo shoots, baby corn with your choice of (vegetarian ersatz) chicken or beef." I  chose "chicken."  Other family members selected "cashew chicken," "house special tofu," and "chicken with basil." for their dinners.  The portions were quite generous, the food tasty, and the prices reasonable.

When the fortune cookies came, I knew my pronunciation had won favor at some celestial court. One of the fortunes promised that a great burden soon would be lifted, prompting David and Cathy to speculate that  escrow would close on the home they are selling.  Another message predicted that while life may seem a roller coaster now, better times were ahead. Yet another observed that love was the glue that held everything together.  The fourth prognosticated that a life-changing realization was in store for its readers.

To my way of thinking, each and every one of these fortunes merited a hearty "l'chaim (to life)!" 

So who knows?  Maybe the Hebrew pronunciation of "chai" tea indeed is good luck!
—Donald H. Harrison