{"id":95,"date":"2016-04-05T13:52:36","date_gmt":"2016-04-05T13:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jewishstudiescolumbia.com\/myny\/?p=95"},"modified":"2016-05-03T15:38:59","modified_gmt":"2016-05-03T15:38:59","slug":"the-second-avenue-deli-the-legacy-of-uncle-abe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jewishstudiescolumbia.com\/myny\/food\/the-second-avenue-deli-the-legacy-of-uncle-abe\/","title":{"rendered":"The Second Avenue Deli: The Legacy of Uncle Abe"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Second Avenue Deli: The Legacy of Uncle Abe<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Deborah Pollack<\/em><\/p>\n

\"2ndAvenuedeli\"<\/a>
Above: The Original Second Avenue Deli Storefront on Second Avenue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the gridlock of Midtown or on the wide streets of Broadway, a white and blue truck can be found with the following slogan on the back: Follow us for the best chopped liver in town. Those famous trucks lead to the best deli in New York City, The Second Avenue Deli. The Second Avenue Deli\u00a0is not just a Jewish staple, but also a New York City staple as well. The restaurant has a long and rich history and will continually to have a long line of customers waiting for the esteemed chopped liver. From\u00a0the sky high stacked pastrami sandwiches to the appetizing corner, and of course, the noshes, the Second Avenue Deli has become the premier Jewish Delicatessen in New York.<\/p>\n

\"13rest600.1\"<\/a>
Above: People Eating at the Second Avenue Deli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The History of the Deli<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a beacon of the American dream, the Second Avenue Deli represents perseverance. The eatery is rooted in deep immigrant traditions, as well as a love for charity, and a devotion to food. Abe Lebewohl, the founder of the Second Avenue grew up in Soviet Poland. After Abe and his family survived the Holocaust, they arrived in Italy to board a ship to Palestine. At the last minute, however, Ethel Lebewohl, mother of Abe, decided that she could not bear to risk her son\u2019s life in the Israeli fight for independence. Abe, who was a strong Zionist, was hesitant but finally agreed, and the family decided to emigrate in America.\u00a0((http:\/\/www.2ndavedeli.com\/about\/deli-history\/about-abe-lebewohl\/))<\/p>\n

Upon arriving in America in 1950, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society found the Lebewohl\u2019s housing on Lafayette Street in heavily immigrant-populated Lower East Side of Manhattan. Becoming an American at age 19, Abe quickly learned English and went to work, embracing his new American culture, and was thirsty with the promise of a better life.<\/p>\n

\"about-history-abe\"<\/a>
Above: Abe Lebewohl and a Second Avenue Deli Sandwhich<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Abe worked in a Coney Island deli as a soda jerk but his tenacity quickly entitled him to a promotion: counterman. Abe worked in many deli kitchens, studying the art of traditional Jewish food, and learning the secret to the perfect pastrami.\u00a0((ibid.))<\/p>\n

Scraping together the earnings from his many deli jobs, Abe took over a small 10-seat restaurant on East 10th<\/sup>\u00a0Street in 1954. It was here that the Second Avenue Deli was born. ((ibid.))\u00a0Abe ran the entire establishment often playing the roles of cook, counterman, waiter and bus boy. And in the face of bankruptcy and economic failure, Abe took on more odd jobs and his drive guaranteed the success\u00a0of the Second Avenue Deli. ((ibid.))\u00a0All customers in Abe\u2019s deli were treated like family, his benevolent spirit was contagious, and his passion was palpable. Abe fed every homeless person who walked into the Deli hungry, which coined him the \u201cJewish Mother Teresa.\u201d ((ibid.))\u00a0Abe would send food to any politician or workers that he supported, such as delivering free food to the local Ukrainian travel agency n the celebration of their independence from the Soviet Union. \u201cWhenever anything moved or excited him, Abe sent food.\u201d ((ibid.))\u00a0Uncle\u2019 Abe Lebewohl\u2019s legacy is celebrated by the Second Avenue Deli\u2019s many regular customers, and its two successful storefronts that can be found on the East Side of Manhattan today.<\/p>\n

The Second Avenue Deli and Yiddish NY<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/a>
Above: Jack Lebewohl and Fyvush Finkel in front of the Deli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Second Avenue Deli was a hot spot for celebrities like Muhammad Ali, Joan Rivers, and Joe DiMaggio. Since the deli was in the heart of the Lower East side, which at the time was the center of Yiddish culture, The Second Avenue deli became a second home for many of the Yiddish elite as it fostered and cherished a strong tradition of Jewish foods and yidishkite<\/em>. The walls were covered with signed autographs from Yiddish singers, actors, and actresses. Even outside the restaurant, Yiddish culture could be felt. Similar to the sidewalks outside of the Chinese theatre in L.A., gold stars aligned the corner of 10th street and second avenue with names of Yiddish celebrities. What was considered the Yiddish Walk of Fame featured stars such as Yiddish comedian Fyvush Finkel, Yiddish actress Molly Picon, and the founder of Yiddish theater, Abraham Goldfaden.\u00a0((http:\/\/famousankles.com\/2008\/02\/20\/yiddish-theater-walk-of-fame-on-2nd-avenue\/))<\/p>\n

Tragedy Strikes the\u00a0Lebewohl Family<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1996, the Lebewohl family suffered heartbreak when Abe was tragically murdered in a bank robbery during his morning deposit run. The Second Avenue Deli, celebrating its 42nd<\/sup>\u00a0year, lost the mastermind behind its chopped liver, extra sour pickles, and hot pastrami platters. The 1996 New York Times article, describes the Second Avenue Deli as a New York institution \u2013 a 12-seat diner that had grown into a 250-seat restaurant \u2013 attracting New Yorkers from all walks of life, and preserving the Yiddish tradition that had faded in the Lower East Side neighborhood. ((Owner of Second Avenue Deli is Shot and Killed in Robbery,\u00a0http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1996\/03\/05\/nyregion\/owner-of-second-avenue-deli-is-shot-and-killed-in-robbery.html))\u00a0Abe\u2019s death affected not just his family and employees, but affected New Yorkers citywide. Anna Noblet, a Lower East side community member reflected on the tragedy: “He was one of us, part of the neighborhood’s history, one of the last old-timers. Why did they have to go after such\u00a0a\u00a0hard-working man?\u201d ((ibid.))\u00a0Other Lower East Siders felt Ms. Noblet\u2019s pain, an employee in the article described Abe\u2019s benevolence. Chai Ruji, an employee of the deli of 25 years said: “When my baby was born premature and we couldn’t pay the hospital bills, he gave me $1,000. And when I\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0through hell with my divorce, he paid for a counselor. And he never asked for the money back.”\u00a0((ibid.))<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a>
Above: Jack, Jeremy, and Josh Lebewohl<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite Abe\u2019s untimely death, the Deli remained open until January 2006 when it closed due to a landlord dispute. New Yorkers everywhere mourned the loss of the Second Avenue Deli. Abe\u2019s nephews, Josh and Jeremy, inspired by their Uncle\u2019s dedication, vowed to keep his tradition alive.Having spent the majority of their youth working in their Uncle\u2019s restaurant, the nephews reopened the Second Avenue Deli in a new location. Its new location on 162 East 33rd<\/sup>\u00a0Street received so much wild success that the nephews opened a second location at 1442 First Avenue.\u00a0((ibid.))\u00a0Though no longer located on the classic 2nd<\/sup>\u00a0Avenue, the Second Avenue Deli embraces Abe\u2019s legacy, and serves authentic Jewish delicacies to new and old customers alike.\u00a0((ibid.))<\/p>\n

\"201405-HD-americas-best-delis-second-ave-deli\"<\/a>
Above: Pastrami, Corned Beef, and Turkey Sandwich<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Deli Today<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today, the menu combines the foods of Jewish past and present. You can find contemporary favorites such as Cholent, Matzah ball soup, potato latkes, and potato knishes. But you also find the older favorites, such as gribnes, ptcha, gefilte fish, and kreplach. The myriad of food offered is true to the deli\u2019s motto that is printed on the bottom of the bottom of their menu, \u201cKeeping Tradition Alive.\u201d Yet today, the deli has included American favorites, such as meatloaf, French fries, hamburgers, and more. While the deli offers deals and special menus for Jewish holidays, such as for Rosh Hashanah, it also offers one for the Super Bowl. The deli has continued to evolve, combining both American and Jewish culture.\u00a0((Menu, http:\/\/www.2ndavedeli.com\/deli-menus\/dine-in\/))<\/p>\n

\"store-cookbook\"<\/a>
Above: Cover of the Second Avenue Deli Cookbook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though sometimes compared to Katz\u2019s Deli, which is also located on the Lower East Side of New York, the Second Avenue Deli remains the leading kosher Jewish Delicatessen. When entering, customers can indulge in matzah ball soup that can definitely compete with Bubby\u2019s old recipe. Customers can also try knishes, lox platters, sable, homemade challah bread, kasha,and the Second Avenue Deli of course would not be complete without an assortment of pickled cucumbers, tomatoes, and fishes. The Second Avenue Deli also has a cookbook, where families can bring the cooking of Abe Lebewohl into their homes. Abe\u2019s legacy will continue to lives on, as The Second Avenue Deli is still home to authentic, kosher, and Jewish specialties. While it is indigenous to the Lower East Side, the deli now moved a little up the block, and is able to spread Jewish traditions throughout Midtown, the Upper East Side, and all across Manhattan.<\/p>\n

Buy The Second Avenue Deli Here:<\/u> http:\/\/www.2ndavedeli.com\/store\/cookbook\/<\/p>\n

<\/a>Bibliography<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
Diner, Hasia R. Lower East Side Memories\u202f: A Jewish Place in America<\/i>. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, c2000. Print.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Lebewohl, Sharon, Rena Bulkin, and Jack Lebewohl. The Second Avenue Deli Cookbook: Recipes and Memories from Abe Lebewohl\u2019s Legendary Kitchen<\/i>. Random House Publishing Group, 2012. Print.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Levine, harry g. \u201cPastrami Land: The Jewish Deli in New York City.\u201d Contexts<\/i> 6.3 (2007): 67\u201369. Print.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Merwin, Ted. Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli<\/i>. N.p., 2015. Print.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Sax, David. Save the Deli: In Search of Perfect Pastrami, Crusty Rye, and the Heart of Jewish Delicatessen<\/i>. McClelland & Stewart, 2009. Print.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

DISCLAIMER:<\/em>\u00a0All images are linked to their original sources. Some original sources may have been deleted, in which case the images should redirect to wherever the curator pulled them from.<\/em><\/p>\n

Originally posted by mb3437 on\u00a0a previous iteration of this project.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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