2008 Woodie Awards
The Kosher Conundrum: Relocated 2nd Avenue Deli Prompts Student Inquiries
Esther Baruh
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: Features
Tucked into the façade of buildings lining East 33rd Street, a mere stone's throw from the revolving doors of the 215 Lexington Building on the Beren campus, is the historic Second Avenue Deli. Founded in 1954 on the corner of Second Avenue and 10th Street, the deli moved to its new Murray Hill location after a 52-year run in the East Village.
The deli is currently under the ownership of Jeremy Liebewohl, nephew of the original founder of the deli, Abe Liebewohl. After Abe Liebewohl's death in 1996, his brother Jack took over managing the restaurant and kept the old-school charm of the deli going until January 2006, when a rent dispute forced the deli to close for almost two years. In December 2007, the deli reopened its doors in Midtown.
Robert Greenspan, general manager of the Second Avenue Deli, praised the diversity of customers that the deli draws. "Our target is basically any consumer who loves a great corned beef or pastrami sandwich," he asserted. "A great portion of our clientele is not Jewish."
He also likened the deli to the U.N. in terms of the various ethnicities of the employees of the restaurant. "We have everybody working here, which is wonderful," he enthused.
Open seven days a week, the deli is open for business nearly 24 hours a day. Sunday through Thursday, the deli operates from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. until 4 a.m.
Understanding the mechanics of the kashrut of the deli is imperative for the Stern College for Women community. "There's not a dairy product in the store. We use all kosher products," said Greenspan. "But we're not shomer Shabbos, so someone who is Orthodox wouldn't eat here. We're under the rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Israel M. Steinberg. He's in a few times a week and doesn't have a set schedule."
Greenspan listed Rabbi Steinberg's duties as mashgiach, which include checking all the products that enter the deli and the upstairs and downstairs kitchens, as well as verifying the bills. "The law states that as long as we're a kosher restaurant, the only supervision has to be the state agricultural inspector," elucidated Mr. Greenspan. "We take it a step further by having the rabbi there. There are customers who are kosher but not glatt kosher, and they feel a lot more comfortable knowing that we have a rabbi."
The deli is currently under the ownership of Jeremy Liebewohl, nephew of the original founder of the deli, Abe Liebewohl. After Abe Liebewohl's death in 1996, his brother Jack took over managing the restaurant and kept the old-school charm of the deli going until January 2006, when a rent dispute forced the deli to close for almost two years. In December 2007, the deli reopened its doors in Midtown.
Robert Greenspan, general manager of the Second Avenue Deli, praised the diversity of customers that the deli draws. "Our target is basically any consumer who loves a great corned beef or pastrami sandwich," he asserted. "A great portion of our clientele is not Jewish."
He also likened the deli to the U.N. in terms of the various ethnicities of the employees of the restaurant. "We have everybody working here, which is wonderful," he enthused.
Open seven days a week, the deli is open for business nearly 24 hours a day. Sunday through Thursday, the deli operates from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. until 4 a.m.
Understanding the mechanics of the kashrut of the deli is imperative for the Stern College for Women community. "There's not a dairy product in the store. We use all kosher products," said Greenspan. "But we're not shomer Shabbos, so someone who is Orthodox wouldn't eat here. We're under the rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Israel M. Steinberg. He's in a few times a week and doesn't have a set schedule."
Greenspan listed Rabbi Steinberg's duties as mashgiach, which include checking all the products that enter the deli and the upstairs and downstairs kitchens, as well as verifying the bills. "The law states that as long as we're a kosher restaurant, the only supervision has to be the state agricultural inspector," elucidated Mr. Greenspan. "We take it a step further by having the rabbi there. There are customers who are kosher but not glatt kosher, and they feel a lot more comfortable knowing that we have a rabbi."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
yosef
posted 9/07/08 @ 5:47 PM EST
did rabbi steinberg reply to rabbi hochbergs objections
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