Near daybreak Sunday, retired surgeon Dr. Frank Star will head north in a delivery truck and pick up 700 pounds of kosher corned beef from an Atlanta vendor.
Wasting no time, he’ll turn around and head back south to his congregation, Temple Israel, where some of his fellow members will be waiting to separate the prepared meat. A few days later, the meat will go into sandwiches.
It’s time for Deli Day — a local signal of spring that brings many sectors from the community together. Politicians and painters. Nurses and lawyers. Retired folks and clergy.
Proceeds beyond cost go to charity, both locally and nationally.
“It’s almost total involvement from the Temple members,” said Deli Day chairwoman Gloria Cohen. Temple Israel (Reform) has 126 families.
The Jewish Ladies Aid Society is the sponsoring group. But don’t let the name fool you. Lots of men from the congregation, including Star, pitch in. “It’s exciting to see so many men participating, particularly over the past few years,” Cohen said.
Down to a science
For the first time, a few representatives from Albany’s Jewish community will shadow Columbus members next week to get pointers in starting their own event.
Deli Day is at least 32 years old this year. Organizers aren’t sure of the exact beginning.
The Temple has it down to a science. In addition to separating the meat for sandwiches, other committees are responsible for putting condiments, pickles and chips into paper sacks. All members carry around tickets to sell. Some make deliveries.
And then come the desserts, the sweetest part of the day. Come Thursday, several tables in the social hall will be laden with cakes and cookies and pies — all homemade.
Rayna Goodman committed to baking 20 cakes this year. Her speciality? Cheesecake. A well-used recipe from the New York Times is posted on a magnet clip on her stove, at the ready.
“I do two at a time. It goes real fast,” said Goodman, whose husband Alfred, now deceased, once served as rabbi.
“The people who don’t bake bring supplies, or donate toppings,” Cohen said. “If you can’t do one thing, you do another.”
But in spite of the organization, tasks still need tweaking every year, said Cohen, who carries with her a thick white notebook with all things Deli Day inside. In early December, Cohen starts calling meetings. Her co-chairs this year are Jean Kent and Babette Rothschild. Some of the slight changes through the years: tear-off ticket stubs; making sandwiches in shifts, so people get the freshest possible meal; and moving the entrance from one side of the building to another.
“The thing we love is to have all our friends from the community come share the day with us,” said Cohen.
Allison Kennedy, 706-576-6237
E-Mail
Print
