KOSHER
Kosher deli returns to Tucson - for a day For a single day, on Thursday, February 17, classic deli sandwiches that have been popular in Jewish eateries in New York City and around the nation will be served in Tucson. The occasion is the holiday of Purim when 2 Chabad centers are planning a creative twist to this year’s community celebration - a deli-themed party that will be open for people of all ages and affiliations in the community. In addition to the public reading of the Megillah, celebration are planned around Southern Arizona and participants will be encouraged to come in costume as customary. Chabad Tucson’s celebration is billed as “Purim in the Big Apple” and will be held at The Shul - 2443 E 4th Street, starting at 5:00 PM. The menu will feature corned-beef, pastrami and turkey pastrami sandwiches with the typical trimmings of a deli. The event, fitting for both individuals and families, is sponsored by Bruce and Alyane Greenberg in loving memory of
their daughter Anna whose birthday was on Purim. Registration is required at ChabadTucson.com/Purim2022 Chabad of Oro Valley will also be offering a taste of the authentic New York Jewish deli on March 17, 4:00 PM at their center - 1171 E Rancho Vistoso Blvd. #131. They will be serving sandwiches with potato knishes, and Dr. Brown soda. Registration is required at JewishOroValley.com/deli A more classic fair is expected at Chabad of Vail who will be holding their first Purim celebration on March 17, 5:00 PM at their homebase. Megillah will be read outdoors and a gourmet dinner will be served. There will kids crafts and music. For more, visit JewishVailAZ.com Additional celebrations will be held at Chabad on River - 3916 E Fort Lowell Rd, and Chabad of Cochise County for residents of Sierra Vista and the Fort Huachuca army installation. Chabad rabbis and volunteers will also be visiting and bringing Mishloach Manot food gifts to residents of independent living communities.
A classic Jewish deli sandwich (photo: Mig Gilbert / Creative Commons)
Labor shortages affect Passover products Eleanor likes to begin cooking for Passover two months in advance and freezing the delicacies in her special Passover freezer, but she says she is “limited because I cannot find some Passover ingredients.” It is simply too early for the stores to stock Passover items, which most stores begin stocking around the Purim (March 17) holiday.
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As preparations for Passover ’22 (April 16- 23) go into full gear, kosher food officials are concerned over potential repercussions from supply chain problems. They fear that while most basic products are committed and some cases already in store warehouses, some products may be caught in the web of the unprecedented supply chain problems, including from overseas. Although there has been some improvement in the unloading of cargo vessels, there are still reports of backlogs. Officials said they expect some spotty shortages this Passover as was the case in
items that are very “labor-intensive” are facing shortages because of the lack of workers. Rabbi Chaim Fogelman of the OK Kosher Certification said that many of his mashgichim were forced to extend their stays in various parts of the world with one in India staying for 6 months. The main issue for the mashgichim was the Covid related restrictions in various parts of the world.
A classic Jewish deli sandwich (photo: Mig Gilbert / Creative Commons)
2021. Labor shortages are affecting many important ingredient items for Passover, according to Rabbi Moshe Elefant of the
Orthodox Union. He cited as an example grape juice used to make many products. In general, kashrus agencies noted that
Several kosher independent stores and distributors around the country ordered various brands of an item to avoid the shortages of last year. “Passover is a very stressful season for us and the last thing we need is unhappy customers because we are short of items,” one store manager said. Though there is mostly optimism that the problems would be weathered without “too much inconvenience to the Passover customer,” there is still concern.
