Fabulous Food and Fine Wine at an Extraordinary Event

The following is my piece in the March 5, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link about the Kosher Food & Wine Experience in New York City:

Fabulous Food and Fine Wine at an Extraordinary Event

The excitement was building even before people made their way through the front door. “I cut my vacation short to come back for this,” said one gentleman as he stood outside on the security line. “I never miss this event,” declared another individual as he chatted with his friends while waiting for the doors to open.

The Kosher Food & Wine Experience (KFWE) is undoubtedly New York’s premier kosher food and wine extravaganza. The 14th annual KFWE, which took place on Monday, February 17th, at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan, showcased fine kosher wines from around the globe and specialty foods prepared by renowned kosher chefs and caterers.

KFWE was hosted by Royal Wine Corp., which was founded in 1848 and is owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family, whose winemaking roots date back eight generations to 19th century Czechoslovakia. Headquartered in Bayonne, NJ, Royal Wine Corp. is the leading producer, importer and distributor of kosher wines and spirits, offering more than 300 brands in its portfolio.

PJL Publisher Nachi Troodler with Ambassador Dani Dayan

Thousands of people attended the sold-out event, balancing wine glasses and plates topped with innovative cuisine as they endeavored to make their way through the room, which was filled to capacity. Conversation was made, much wine was poured, and plenty of food was consumed.

In addition to an endless sea of wine and spirit bottles representing over 60 wineries, the culinary offerings spanned the gamut – from kosher poke and street tacos, to barbecue style smoked salmon and creamy non-dairy frozen gelato pops.

It was in essence a “who’s who” of kosher restaurants and caterers, including Buffalo2go, Graze, Judd’s Memphis Kitchen, Kosher Poke, Le Marais, Marani, Reserve Cut VIP Experience, Sushi Tokyo, T Fusion Steakhouse, Taam Eden Bakery, The Hangry Heifer, The Loft, UN Plaza Grill, Urban Pops, and Wall Street Grill.

Sampling some of the scrumptious offerings was a real treat. The “Meat Pizza Rolls” (I partook of both the Sloppy Joe and BBQ Pulled Brisket varieties) by Silverleaf Caterers, which is based in New Rochelle, NY, were phenomenal.

Weiss Brothers Catering, which is based in Linden, NJ, had a large display, where I got to try a number of their dishes. Their lamb sliders were quite tender, with the mouthwatering meat nestled between two soft buns. The cholent (yes, I had cholent on a Monday), was delicious – it had great texture and an abundance of meat. Of course, I could not pass up their mini hot dogs, which were very flavorful and left no doubt that they were freshly made.

Great Falls Bistro, which is in Passaic, NJ, had an array of different dishes that they were offering, including their signature rib-eye, which was cooked to perfection and virtually melted in my mouth, bourbon gelato, which was cool and refreshing, waffle chicken, lemon squares, chocolate brownie bites, and pastrami parmesan, which was made with vegan cheese.

At the table hosted by West Wing/Diamond Caterers, which is based in Woodmere, NY, I enjoyed a chicken slider that was breaded to perfection, as well as a tasty plate of wings.

United Airlines made its KFWE debut and presented samples from its new menu, which is available to its Polaris business class clients on flights between Newark and Tel Aviv, including everything from blintzes and bagels to kale quinoa burgers served with Herzog wines.

PJL Publisher Nachi Troodler with Etti Edri of Carmel Winery

As far as the wines and spirits at KFWE, it was a veritable smorgasbord of the finest kosher wines on the market today.

“An extraordinary bounty of wines from all over the world is coming to market in 2020,” said Nathan Herzog, President of Royal Wine Corp. “This year’s most extraordinary bottlings included Château Léoville Poyferré Saint Julien 2017, Château Giscours Margaux 2017, Flam Noble 2016, Champagne Drappier Rosé de Saignée, and Herzog Single Vineyard Calistoga 2016.”

This year also marked the 30th anniversary of kosher wine production by the acclaimed House of Rothschild. “We were delighted to celebrate with the introduction of Barons Edmond and Benjamin de Rothschild Haut-Médoc Anniversary Edition 2016 and their first-ever kosher Château Clarke Listrac-Médoc 2016,” said Herzog.

Jay Buchsbaum of Royal Wine Corp. noted the steady increase in the kosher wine market in recent years. “Consumption of kosher wine is outpacing general market consumption by more than 100%, with an average price of $20+ per bottle,” he said. “Every year sees more and more kosher wines earning top scores and prestigious awards from the industry.”

KFWE seemed to have it all. Barkan Vineyards presented its Cabernet Sauvignon from the Alma vineyard in the Upper Galil, which is aged in oak barrels for 18 months and is a light and fruity wine. J. de Villebois, a family-owned winery in France, offered its Caillottes Cuvée, which is made from grapes grown on the Calcareous soils originated in the Upper Oxfordian, and is a wonderfully aromatic wine. Boondocks had its American Whiskey, which is both fruity and spicy, and has a creamy and buttery mouthfeel.

Israel-based Psagot Winery, which is fighting against anti-Israel discrimination and anti-Israel boycotts in Europe, was also at KFWE. Psagot sued the French government and challenged a ruling that Jewish products made in Judea and Samaria, including wine made by the Psagot Winery, be marked “made in an Israeli colony.”

Barkan Vineyards, which produces over 15 million bottles annually from over 2,500 acres of vineyards across Israel that are exported to more than 45 countries, also showcased their products. Domain du Castel, a family estate winery located 10 miles west of Jerusalem that was founded by Eli Ben Zaken in 1992, was pouring their Rosé, which is a fine blend of early picked Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc grapes.

Tabor Winery, whose Founder and CEO Oren Sela is 4th generation of a family of grape growers in Kfar Tabor, Israel, had its Premium series Storm (or Sufa in Hebrew), which is a full-bodied wine that is a blend of Petite Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Alexander Winery, a boutique winery in Israel that was founded in 1996 and is located in Beit Yitzhak, on the Mediterranean coast between Haifa and Tel Aviv, also drew a crowd. People enjoyed their Grand Reserve, which is part of their flagship Alexander the Great label, and is made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, grown in a vineyard in the Upper Galil that was planted in 1978, and aged in small French oak barrels for two years, and then for another two years in brand new, small French oak barrels.

Jezreel Valley Winery, which is located in Kibbutz Hannaton in Israel, offered attendees their Alfa Special Reserve, which is a rich red wine with intense black fruit aromas that is aged in oak barrels for 22 months.

I saw my friend Geoff Rochwarger, who became a partner in Covenant Winery last summer. Covenant, which produces wine in California and Israel, offers high-end kosher wines, and its immense popularity was evident from the throngs of people at KFWE who waited in line to try their various offerings.

 As I spoke to some of the representatives of the various wineries at KFWE, the significance of presenting their products at this particular event was evident.

“Carmel has been coming to KFWE since Day 1,” said Etti Edri, Export Manager for Carmel Winery. “KFWE is one of the most important, if not the most important show, because this is our way to expose our wines to all kinds of categories – restaurants, stores, etc.”

“The room is packed not just because this is one of the famous shows, but also because the Herzog family and Royal Wine do an amazing job spreading the word that it’s not just about being kosher; it’s about high-quality wine that happens to be kosher,” she added.

In addition to the unbelievable food and wine, one of the most intriguing parts of KFWE was learning about the different wineries and hearing the stories behind their formation and mission.

PJL Publisher Nachi Troodler with Aharon Ziv of Or Haganuz Winery

I had the opportunity to speak with Aharon Ziv, the winemaker at Or Haganuz Winery. Or Haganuz is a yishuv community in the upper Galil near Meron that was established in 2005.

“It’s based on the social rule of ve-ahavta le-re’acha ka-mocha (love your neighbor as yourself),” Ziv told me as he described the special characteristics of Or Haganuz. “When the Jews received the Torah, they were k’ish echad b’lev echad (like one man with one heart), they were united. This is what we try to do in Or Haganuz.”

In Or Haganuz, the sense of community is extraordinarily strong. In fact, the winery is a business that belongs to the community and the community actually owns it.

“It’s somewhat like a kibbutz, but we’re doing it because we believe it’s God’s mitzvah to do it,” Ziv said. “It has a real community feel, in that each person is working for the community, and the community is working for your needs. I make the wine the best way I can because this is something that I’m taking care of for the community.”

Aside from its solid community-centric foundation, Or Haganuz Winery is all about producing high quality wine.

“We are doing really well, because every year we produce more and more,” Ziv said as he noted that approximately 40% of production goes to export, and about 60% of the 40% goes to the United States.

“This show is important for me because I meet the people who drink the wine and hear about what they think about the wine, what they want, and what we could change,” Ziv said while explaining the vital role that KFWE plays. “This is important for me and it’s important for the winery because this exhibition exposes us to other people who don’t know about Or Haganuz.”

Ziv also offered me some perspective on the evolution of the world of fine wines, remarking that historically, most people would typically drink just for Kiddush. If you gave people in Israel dry wine to drink, they did not enjoy it, as they much preferred the sweet wine that they were accustomed to. Those days are long gone.

“Or Haganuz picks the best grapes and we use the best process to make the wine – we put it in barrels, and we age it under the sun,” Ziv said. “We make very impressive wine. In that way, we started to teach the community how to drink good wine, and now many Orthodox Jews, especially in Israel, know how to drink good wine. Every time I come here (KFWE), people tell me that they learned to drink wine because of our winery.”

PJL Publisher Nachi Troodler with Tal Bendor of Tulip Winery

 There is a remarkable story associated with Tulip Winery, which Tal Bendor, Brand Ambassador for Tulip, was happy to share with me.

Tulip Winery was founded in 2003 by the Yitzchaki family, which had three distinct goals according to Bendor. One, produce high quality wine, make good wine for a good price, and be approachable to the public. Two, do things that are different and special, as opposed to simply being generic, including making different varieties that you do not ordinarily see. Three, contribute to society.

They opened the winery in a community in Israel called Kfar Tikva (Village of Hope), which is almost like a kibbutz and is a community for adults with special needs. Established in 1964 on the Zeid Hills in the Jezreel Valley near Kiryat Tivon, Kfar Tikva has approximately 200 members with various age ranges, disabilities, and degrees of functionality. 90% of Tulip’s staff, which totals about 40 employees, are adults with special needs and mental challenges. “They are a big part of our winery and a big part of everything we do every day,” Bendor said.

Bendor told me about “Tulip at Home,” which was a drawing competition that invited all of the residents of the village to draw what home means to them. Tulip then labeled 1,000 bottles with four winning drawings and the profits from those bottles went to renovating the apartments in the village.

In 2010, Tulip Winery launched a competition called “Don’t Label Me” between four foundations for children with various syndromes, in which they needed to draw a picture of tulips. “The reason for that competition was to show that you can label wine, but you can’t label people,” Bendor said. “The story of the drawing is on the back of the bottle and people can read it and it really has an impact.”

Bendor proudly showed me one of the bottles labeled with the winning drawing, which was drawn by David Ashkenazi, a 16-year-old with Down syndrome.

When they gathered all of the contest participants in the winery and announced the winner, Ro’i Yitzchaki, the winemaker and winery owner, showed David the bottle, and he was so excited. The young man thought that his drawing was on only one bottle until they told him to turn around and he suddenly saw that the entire display had the label that he had drawn. Yitzchaki saw David’s excitement and told him that as long as he is a part of the winery, that would remain the label of their flagship wine. “Ever since then, this has been the label of our flagship wine, Black Tulip,” Bendor said.

I asked Bendor about the importance of being at KFWE and showcasing their products there. “For us, it’s very important to be there when you meet both with the vendors that support our brand and also the actual customers – to see them, see their reaction, and see their support,” he replied. “It’s through that connection to the market that we can see where we are and if we are doing things the right way. The exposure is so important.”

The savory food samples and the scintillating stories made KFWE a very memorable experience. If you enjoy good food and appreciate fine wine, attendance at KFWE is mandatory.

The Publisher’s Perspective – 3/5/20

The following is my piece in the March 5, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link:

More than a quarter century ago, I played Division III college ball. My kids poke fun at me every time I bring it up, but the fact remains that I was indeed a college athlete.

Yes, I realize that this missive sounds like it’s coming from a guy who’s trying way too hard to hold on to the past and resurrect the days when he was in the prime of his athletic career (okay, it may not have actually been a career and my prime may not have been all that I’ve cracked it up to be). However, I’m not writing about my time as a member of the Yeshiva University men’s volleyball team in a feeble attempt to relive my collegiate days. I bring it up because of an incident that recently occurred, which disturbed me greatly.

It was just going to be another match when YU’s men’s volleyball team squared off against Brooklyn College at the Max Stern Athletic Center on YU’s Washington Heights campus, which is the same gymnasium in which I played in the early 1990s. As is customary before each game at YU, the U.S. national anthem was played, as was Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem. What happened next was anything but customary.

As Hatikvah was playing and the crowd was singing along, two Brooklyn College players, Omar Rezika and Hunnan Butt, “took a knee” and knelt on the ground until the Israeli national anthem concluded. The blatant form of political protest employed by the two Brooklyn College students shocked the YU players, shocked the crowd, and shocked the Jewish community.

The barefaced breach of protocol was absolutely appalling and the players’ decision to belittle the State of Israel on the campus of Yeshiva University garnered international attention due to the sheer audacity of their disrespectful act of defiance.

What happened to the sacrosanct rules of sportsmanship that we work so hard to instill in our children? We teach our kids to respect their athletic opponents, not to “talk trash” to their opponents, and to always say “good game” to their opponents as they shake their hands after a game, regardless of the outcome. We constantly remind them that good sportsmanship is supposed to be a fundamental component of any athletic competition.

I had the opportunity to speak with YU President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman this week about what took place and we briefly discussed the complexities of the situation. In response to the students’ actions, President Berman had taken the high road, focusing on the importance and beauty of YU’s longstanding practice of singing Hatikvah at its sporting events. “It is unfortunate that some members of the opposing team disrespected Israel’s national anthem,” he said in a statement. “We are proud to be the only university who sings both the American and Israeli national anthems before every athletic competition and major event. Nothing makes me prouder to be an American than living in a country where our religious freedom, our Zionism and our commitment to our people will never be impeded and always be prized.”

In contrast, Brooklyn College president Michelle Anderson took a far different tact. Rather than speaking to the heart of the matter and directly addressing the damage caused by the students’ machinations, she completely punted. “The students’ kneeling itself is protected speech under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” she said. “The college, as a public institution, is bound by the First Amendment, which prohibits the suppression of speech based solely on its content or viewpoint.”

The First Amendment? Freedom of speech? As much as I respect those tenets of our democracy, this troubling episode cannot be explained away by invoking a constitutional argument. What President Anderson should have done was talk about basic decency and common courtesy. She should have spoken about the importance of Brooklyn College students respecting others, especially when they are visitors in someone else’s home. She should have said that what the students did was categorically wrong. She should have called out their anti-Israel behavior and condemned it. Giving them a pass was the wrong thing to do and an affront to the YU community, the Jewish community, and the pro-Israel community.

For this former YU volleyball player who never experienced anything remotely similar to this shocking incident during my collegiate career, I am aghast at what transpired at YU’s Max Stern Athletic Center. Shame on Omar Rezika and Hunnan Butt for their antics and shame on those who hide behind empty explanations and try to sweep an issue of this magnitude under the rug. The Jewish community deserves better.

Sephardic Music Concert Coming to the Main Line

The following is my story in the February 20, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link about the Bala Cynwyd Library’s Concert Series, which is set to feature a Philadelphia-based ensemble that will present an exciting concert of Sephardic music from Turkey, Greece, and North Africa:

Sephardic Music Concert Coming to the Main Line

David's Harp

One of the best kept secrets on the Main Line is a magical musical performance that takes place twice a year. While the Bala Cynwyd Library Concert Series has delighted local audiences with high quality artistic programming for an incredible 49 consecutive years, the Greater Philadelphia area is in for a real treat when the curtain rises for its next show in March.

On Sunday afternoon, March 8th, “David’s Harp” will perform at the Sylvia Glickman Memorial Concert. The talented Philadelphia-based ensemble will present an exciting concert of Sephardic music from Turkey, Greece, and North Africa. With a program of rollicking Ladino folk tunes and soulful ballads on themes of Jewish ritual, love, and domestic life, the performers will demonstrate the fluidity and blending of diverse musical ideas between Jewish and non-Jewish worlds. Their repertoire is drawn from Ottoman court music, Sephardic pizmonim, Ladino folk songs, Turkish fasil music, and Greek rebetika among many other genres. Since its inception ten years ago, David’s Harp has given standing room only concerts at the Center for Jewish History, Drexel University, Yale University, the Penn Museum, Georgetown University, the Graduate Center CUNY, and many other venues in New York, Philadelphia, and New England.

The concert will take place at 2:00 p.m. at the Levering Mill Tribute House, which is located at 382 Bala Avenue in Bala Cynwyd.

Merion Station resident Dr. Gilya Hodos, who is a member of the Bala Cynwyd Library Board of Trustees, has been running the concert for the past 12 years. Hodos, whose background is in performance and education, has held an adjunct faculty position at Penn State’s Abington campus for the past 14 years.

Hodos’ musical pedigree is quite notable. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York in Piano Performance, a Master of Music degree in Collaborative Arts from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music in Piano Performance. In addition, Hodos, who runs a number of other concert series in the area, is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music through the Music Teachers National Association who enjoys working with a wide variety of ages and abilities, from students as young as four years old, through adults returning to music or starting for the first time. She also has concertized extensively both as a soloist and collaborative artist in Israel, Germany, Australia, and throughout the United States.

“I’m really a collaborative artist,” said Hodos. “Music is my passion.”

“The series was founded back in 1971 by Sylvia Glickman – she was really a powerhouse,” Hodos added while praising the composer and musician who founded a publishing firm for female performers called Hildegard Press. “Bringing these world-class musicians and phenomenal concerts to the community is truly a labor of love. This concert brings world-class musicians right into our lap – it’s a real gem.”

Dr. Gilya Hodos

Hodos noted that David’s Harp has strong connections to the Philadelphia community. For example, the group’s founder Joseph Alpar, who is David Harp’s sole singer and a santouri and darbuka player, is from Bala Cynwyd. The group also includes Brenda Alpar, who was the music, art, and drama teacher at Perelman Jewish Day School for 31 years before retiring in 2015. June Bender is a noted local violinist in the Philadelphia area who teaches from her home studio in Ardmore, Cynthia Folio, a noted composer and flutist, is Professor of Theory and Composition and Chair of the Music Studies Department at Temple University, and Nick Millevoi is a noted Philadelphia-based guitarist and composer.

“This will be a family-friendly concert that will have a strong Jewish connection,” said Hodos. “All of the music they’re performing has a tremendous amount of improvisation in it. It’s the ultimate in how cultures meld together.”

The concert will feature a program celebrating women composers, songwriters and singers of Sephardic origins. There will be music by the Bosnian Jewish singer/songwriter Flory Jagoda, music by a famous Greek Sephardic rebetika singer, music by a female Ottoman-Turkish composer, and vocal improvisations based on music by a female Greek-Jewish singer. In order to perform this music, the performers will bring a variety of ethnic instruments, including a santouri, which is a Greek Hammered Dulcimer, and a darbuka, which is a goblet shaped hand drum from the Middle East, in addition to guitar, piano, flute, violin, and voice.

“David’s Harp is really an amazing group,” Hodos said. “They perform all over and we are so lucky that they are performing for us.”

Hodos noted that while the library’s concert series is partially funded by the Hildegard Institute with the mandate that it spotlights women composers, which was Sylvia Glickman’s passion, they truly rely on community support to sustain the series, which has been presented for the past half-century. She also pointed out the library’s connection to the Levering Mill Tribute House, which is the venue that hosts the concerts, noting that the original library in Bala Cynwyd was housed at that very site.

Politics and Advocacy Take Center Stage at Barrack Hebrew Academy

The following is my story in the February 20, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link about Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy’s quadrennial political conference on modern American democracy and a special keynote address by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht:

Politics and Advocacy Take Center Stage at Barrack Hebrew Academy

PA Supreme Court Justice David Wecht

As the students at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr began filling the cavernous cafeteria on Thursday morning, February 13th, the excitement was palpable. There was a buzz in the air as POLITICON 2020 was set to get underway.

A quadrennial political conference on modern American democracy, Barrack’s POLITICON is intended to educate the student body on a wide variety of issues within the fields of politics, law, media, and government.

After welcoming remarks from Barrack seniors Sarah Bartos and Sophia Shapiro who are Co-Presidents of the school’s Political Action Club, Head of School Sharon Levin spoke briefly to the students about the importance of voting. “What is going on in the news and in our government is so very important,” she said. “Voting is so important.”

David Senoff, a Philadelphia attorney and Akiba Hebrew Academy graduate who was involved in the first POLITICON 36 years ago, introduced the keynote speaker, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David N. Wecht, whose remarks primarily focused on the history and resurgence of anti-Semitism and the judicial perspective.

After opening his remarks by noting how glad he was to be at Barrack and making a joke that drew laughs from the crowd – “I know that Mr. Barrack bought the naming rights from Rabbi Akiba” – Justice Wecht spoke about the importance of voting and getting involved in civic affairs. “Our government is responsive to the actions of citizens, and it is imperative that your voice be heard,” he said.

As he talked about the experience of his father’s family in the Holocaust, Justice Wecht commented that, “it’s always good to know where a person is coming from.”

He also spoke about the shul where he and his wife got married, the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, where a gunman walked in on a Shabbat morning in October 2018 and murdered 11 Jews. He specifically mentioned Cecil and David Rosenthal, two brothers with special needs who were killed that day during the deadly rampage. “They were the sweetest guys you could ever meet,” he said. “Hashem yikom damam – May God avenge their blood.”

“It is very imperative that whatever you do in your lives, you seek justice,” he said, imparting another important lesson to the students. “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof – Justice, justice you shall pursue. That’s not just for lawyers – that’s for all people.”

“There have been many golden ages of the galut, of the diaspora,” said Justice Wecht. “We live in a golden age in this country… Do you think this golden age is ending? In part, it may be up to you… You should be involved in the government of this country and you should be involved in shaping the future of this country, not just as Americans, but as American Jews – as proud Jews.”

PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro

The judge referenced the growing anti-Semitism that exists in the United States, including the desecration of Jewish cemeteries, and told the students that anti-Semitism can be beaten back through their vigorous actions “to ensure this golden age of the galut does not end.”

“As students, you should all speak up, take a leadership role and never hide,” he said. “You should be leaders, not followers.”

Justice Wecht spoke about the history of anti-Semitism in Europe and the Holocaust. “Now, all these years afterwards, memories are fading, and part of your job is to remind people and never let them forget the history that our people have undergone.”

He also delved into the issue of anti-Semitism on college campuses throughout the United States, which he said has “grown like a virus.”

“I hope you will be pro-Israel activists; I hope you will be proud Jews and be involved in Jewish life on campus in some way,” he said. “This kind of abominable anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, anti-Israel activity goes on and too many Jewish students and faculty just cower, just disappear, and do nothing about it. I hope that when you go to college, you’ll be there telling the truth.”

Justice Wecht talked to the students about some of the lessons he learned from Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Elie Wiesel, who was one of his professors during his time at Yale University. “It is our duty to strengthen Am Yisrael, not weaken it,” said the judge.

The PA Supreme Court Justice also discussed the nature of the law in the United States and the importance of those laws in the lives of American Jews.

“In this country, our law embodies important constitutional values… Our constitution in this country stands, among other things, for the principle of minority protection. This is unique in the history of the galut, of the Jewish diaspora… Your right to practice your Judaism freely does not depend on a majority vote of the American people at any given time.”

Justice Wecht also touched upon the misconception that it’s only ultra-Orthodox Jews being attacked in Brooklyn, Poway or Jersey City. “Those are your brothers and your sisters, and don’t ever forget that,” he told the students.

“I hope you will not be a Jew who shirks away from your Jewish identity... You should always remember in your life, Kol Yisrael arevim zeh la zeh, all of the people of Israel are responsible one for the other, and the principle of Ahavat Yisrael, love of all Jews, Jewish solidarity.”

“Get involved in the community,” said Justice Wecht as he concluded his remarks. “Always be proud of where you come from.”

Shira Goodman, Regional Director of ADL Philadelphia

Following the keynote address, students went to various workshop sessions hosted by leaders in advocacy, governmental law, and foreign and national policy and politics. The sessions included one by Attorney General Josh Shapiro, an Akiba Hebrew Academy graduate, who spoke about the workings of the AG’s office, “Contours of Gun Policy in PA and the Nation: Understanding the Second Amendment,” which featured Max Milkman from CeaseFire PA and Jonathan Goldstein representing the NRA, and a discussion by Shira Goodman, Regional Director, Philadelphia Region of the Anti-Defamation League, about anti-Semitism today.

“Having engaged students is the key to changing our world,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro told the Philadelphia Jewish Link. “You see students leading on climate, you see students leading on criminal justice reform, you see students leading on dealing with gun violence in ways that adults just aren’t. That engagement is central to who we are as a Jewish people and it is something that is taught here at Barrack and is clearly something that is emphasized at this beautiful conference. Having this moment where students are able to focus their attention on advocating for things that they care deeply about is so important. To be clear, I don’t think it matters if you are Republican, Democrat, left-leaning or right-leaning – the key is to be engaged in your community.”

After the breakout sessions concluded, students took part in a mock primary election and had the opportunity to cast their vote for one of the Democratic presidential candidates. Pete Buttigieg (who was played by junior Micah Israel), emerged victorious, with Bernie Sanders (who was played by senior Luke Finklestein), coming in second.

The Publisher’s Perspective – 2/20/20

The following is my piece in the February 20, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link:

His story riveted a nation and unified Jews around the globe. His horrific ordeal impacted us in a profound manner, and we felt the acute pain that his family experienced over a prolonged period of time.

On June 25, 2006, Gilad Shalit was taken captive by Hamas terrorists during an unprovoked cross-border raid. The terrorists used an underground tunnel from Gaza to infiltrate Israel and attack Israeli soldiers who were on patrol. During the attack, in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and several others were wounded, then-Corporal Gilad Shalit was kidnapped and taken to Gaza.

Although the IDF launched a military operation in an attempt to rescue Gilad Shalit, they were unsuccessful. It was believed that Shalit’s captors were denying him his basic humanitarian rights and it was widely understood that he was suffering at their blood-soaked hands.

Aviva and Noam Shalit, Gilad’s parents, went for years without knowing their son’s fate. There eventually were incremental developments in the ongoing saga. In June 2007, an audio recording of Shalit was released in which he said that his medical condition was worsening. Shalit’s parents received a letter from Gilad in June 2008. A video of Shalit holding a daily newspaper and making an appeal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surfaced in October 2009, which verified that he was still alive. Throughout it all, Jews throughout the world prayed for Shalit’s safe return.

On October 11, 2011, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced to the world that a deal had been reached for Gilad Shalit’s release. Israel was going to release 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in order to bring Shalit home. In an iconic moment, Gilad Shalit was finally freed after 1,940 days in captivity. A grateful nation thanked God for Shalit’s liberation and Jews everywhere breathed a huge sigh of relief knowing that he was safe and united with his family at last.

Fast forward to February 14, 2020. Gilad Shalit, 8 years and 4 months removed from his emotional return home, got engaged to his girlfriend Nitzan Shabbat. It is an incredibly joyous occasion for Gilad Shalit, now 33, who undoubtedly endured unspeakable physical and mental suffering during his more than 5 years in captivity.

For me, and I’m sure for many of my fellow Jews, this is a remarkable moment and an incredible development that might have seemed unthinkable a number of years ago when Gilad Shalit’s whereabouts were unknown and his health and well-being were far from certain.

Hamas may have dauntlessly tried to break Shalit’s spirit, but with God’s help, they failed. The fact that he survived his hellish nightmare, was ultimately reunited with his family, and got back on his feet after his reintegration into Israeli society, is a clear demonstration of the Yad Hashem.

As Gilad Shalit, now a chatan, begins this exciting new chapter in his life, we wish him nothing but happiness, health, and continued success. Mazal Tov to one of Israel’s favorite sons!

Remembering Kobe Bryant

The following is my story in the February 6, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link about Kobe Bryant, in which I present a unique perspective of Kobe offered by a high school classmate and friend:

Remembering Kobe Bryant

From L - R: Singer and actress Brandy Norwood, Kobe Bryant and Audrey Gornish during their senior year in high school.

The shockwaves from the recent death of Kobe Bryant, a native Philadelphian, reverberated throughout the United States and around the world, but there is no doubt that the tragic helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others, rattled the Lower Merion community.

Kobe, who grew up on Remington Road in Wynnewood, was a superstar at Lower Merion High School. As a senior in 1996, Kobe led the Lower Merion Aces to a state championship title. Along the way, he shattered the Southeastern Pennsylvania high school scoring record that had been held by none other than NBA Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. When Kobe made the jump from Lower Merion High School directly to the NBA, it further cemented his status as a local luminary.

For Audrey Gornish, a fourth generation member of Philadelphia’s Jewish community who has children at Kohelet Yeshiva High School, Kohelet Yeshiva Middle School and Perelman Jewish Day School, Kobe Bryant was much more than a basketball icon.

Gornish first met Kobe when they were both students at Bala Cynwyd Middle School. Kobe was only there for a short period of time because his father, former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, moved his family to Italy so he could play basketball overseas.

When the Bryant family returned to Lower Merion, Kobe, who Gornish recalls had become fluent in Italian, spent four years at Lower Merion High School and their friendship continued.

According to Gornish, Kobe played basketball in Lower Merion after returning from Italy, but as a high school freshman he had not yet blossomed into the star player he ultimately would become. What stood out to Gornish about Kobe was his incredible work ethic and determination, and the fact that he always worked really hard to keep improving. She remembers fondly how Kobe would play basketball outside his house and keep repositioning the garbage cans and pretend that they were defensive players. “He was always playing ball and watching videos about playing ball,” she said.

Gornish, who was in Math and English classes with Kobe throughout their four years of high school, also remarked how he stood out in the classroom and in the school in general. “Kobe was a very bright light – always happy and always smiling – and he looked like he never had a bad day,” Gornish said. “He was respectful and worked hard, and he was a model student who exuded derech eretz. He was a real mensch who got along well with anyone – he was everyone’s friend.”

credit: Lisa Stein

Kobe had strong connections to the local Philadelphia Jewish community. Gornish noted that Kobe, who had many Jewish friends, spent a tremendous amount of time playing basketball at the Kaiserman Jewish Community Center in Wynnewood, where his father worked in the fitness center. Kobe’s father also served as the girls basketball coach at Akiba Hebrew Academy in the early 1990s. Gornish commented that when he was playing ball at the JCC, Kobe would happily play with anyone who wanted to play with him. She also noted that Kobe did not get his driver’s license until his senior year of high school, and he therefore had to walk to the JCC on most days.

Because Gornish’s family did not live too far from the Bryant family, her mother would often give Kobe a ride home from basketball practice. After Kobe bought a shiny black Land Rover following an endorsement deal during his senior year, Gornish joked with him and told him “you really owe me a lot of rides.”

credit: Lisa Stein

credit: Lisa Stein

Gornish remembered fondly how Kobe used to inspire her and encourage her to keep playing basketball at Lower Merion High School. Kobe affectionately gave Gornish, who was “short and speedy” as a high school basketball player, a nickname. “He called me ‘Diesel,’” she said as she spoke about the motivation that Kobe provided to her. “He was a powerhouse of positivity and one of the best people I got to grow up with.”

Kobe’s gregarious personality mirrored that of his parents, Joe and Pam. “Kobe had that megawatt smile and he was very kind and very sincere,” Gornish said. “The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.” She noted that Kobe’s two older sisters were also so nice and polite, and that they too were great ball players.

credit Lisa Stein

credit: Lisa Stein

“I want to remember Kobe as the 18-year-old who was walking down the hall with a smile for everyone,” said Gornish. “He didn’t suddenly become different. He already knew he was going to the NBA, but he still showed up to class and took finals, just like the rest of us. He didn’t steal the show and he didn’t make anyone else feel less than him. He had such humility.”

“He was a superstar and he had an amazing attitude towards winning and trying,” she added. “The guy didn’t have a mean bone in his body and he was always looking to do something good for someone else. Even when he wasn’t playing his best, he never had a temper.”

“Kobe was just one of those people that was so wonderful, you always wished them the very best. I was very proud to know him. He was a star person and an absolute mensch.”

Zagafen to Launch New Lunch Option

The following is my story in the February 6, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link about Zagafen, a Merion Station, PA restaurant:

Zagafen to Launch New Lunch Option

Since it first opened in August 2019, Zagafen, a Merion Station eatery that offers delicious dairy cuisine, has focused on solely offering a dinner option for its patrons throughout the community. That is about to change.

On February 24, Zagafen will expand its hours to include a lunch option as well. The restaurant will be open from 11:00am – 2:00pm for lunch from Monday–Thursday, and it will be open from 4:00pm – 10:00pm for dinner from Sunday–Thursday.

According to General Manager Thomas DiStefano, Zagafen’s new lunch menu is conducive to both people who are looking to have a leisurely lunch, and the business crowd, who may want a faster lunch option in the middle of the workday.                                             

The new lunch menu, which is available at www.zagafen.com, will consist of soups, various types of salads, including Caesar Salad, Kale Salad, Roasted Beet Salad and Chickpea Salad, different varieties of pizza, the Calza “Calzone,” Salmon “B.L.T., ” Tomato Mozzarella Grilled Cheese, and a Fungi & Mozzarella Melt.

DiStefano noted that Zagafen’s dinner menu will also be undergoing changes, including adding some sandwich options to further contribute to the family-friendly feel of the restaurant. Both the new lunch menu and the modifications to the dinner menu are being overseen by new Executive Chef Richard DiStefano, who is also the Executive Chef at Citron and Rose Tavern, Zagafen’s sister restaurant in Bala Cynwyd that features delectable meat fare.

In addition, to the menu changes, Zagafen’s wine, liquor and beer list is being reworked as well.

“We’re delighted to present the community with a great place to go for lunch,” said DiStefano, Zagafen’s General Manager. “The community was looking for a family-friendly place, and with opening for lunch and with the new menu, we are making it more family-friendly, but not taking away the adult atmosphere.”

“I’m excited about Zagafen being open for lunch,” said David Magerman, the restaurant’s owner. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a good option for meeting people for lunch, and I think Zagafen will be a great atmosphere for lunch for families and for business meetings. I hope the community responds to the offering and supports it, so it can remain available for a long time to come.”

DiStefano commented that in addition to rave reviews on the food offerings, the management and staff at Zagafen has also received positive feedback on the atmosphere and overall feel of the restaurant.

“It’s beautiful in here – the vibe is energetic and lively,” he said. “It’s a terrific place to spend some time with your friends and family.”