Sixth Sense

In just a few weeks, Kosherfest will celebrate its 30^th anniversary. After experimenting with a consumer event and then a combined consumer/trade event in New York, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles, Kosherfest was launched as an exclusive trade show for the kosher food industry, the first of its kind anywhere in the world.

The sheer cost of spending Sukkot in Jerusalem limited the experience to the more affluent in years past. When one added up the costs of airfare and hotel, especially for a large family, it certainly was reserved for those who could afford it. But in the just concluded holiday, it seems that the experience went well beyond

The modern-day version of security in a shul (synagogue) includes keeping the Torahs in a safe, but more recently some synagogues lock away their tzeddakah (charity) boxes and yes, alcohol left over from a Kiddush. In one shul, several teenagers were seen sneaking into a “locked” kitchen cabinet to consume alcohol left

Kosher catering in the US has significantly raised the bar for the presentation of kosher foods. The more I see kosher caterers at work, the more I have come to respect them as a very unique group of people who have contributed immensely to the upscale status of kosher. Anyone who has watched kosher caterers at work

Intolerance seems to have found a new address, particularly when it comes to expressing anti-Jewish sentiments. Outrage, it seems, is best expressed against Jews who wish to consume kosher food. It has manifested itself in France, beginning with the 1982 horrific attack at Goldenberg’s which killed six or the 2105 attack

As my readers know by now, I am a strategic marketing consultant by profession. So it is not surprising that I have the privilege of meeting many people with new ideas in a variety of spheres, including kosher food. The universal question is: “Is this an idea that will succeed?” Fair question, since money is almost

Monticello, NY…Well, it isn’t referred to as the Borscht Belt any more, the big hotels like the Concord, Grossinger’s and Brown’s are gone and so are the iconic Jewish comedians that all but got their fame from the Catskills. Instead, there are bungalow colonies, developments and camps that estimates say are home

Anyone who has ever been to a major league baseball game knows that eating a hotdog in your seat while watching your favorite team is very much a part of the national pastime. So when I took my grandson to a Yankee game last week, the hotdog was very much part of the plan. After waiting for more than a half hour to clear

During my recent trip to Eastern Europe, I encountered a method of observing kashrus I had not seen in quite some time. A kashrus observing family naturally bought the few products that had kosher symbols but also many products that they judged to be “no problem” products. It included, of course, fruits and vegetables

As a frequent traveler to Europe, I used to enjoy kosher restaurant hopping and the unique cuisine in each European city. It was also a place to meet fellow kosher adherents from around the globe. But in several cities kosher restaurants are no longer safe havens and in fact have become primary targets from the growing