Kosher Blog

Steven,
It was great meeting you & having you here.

There are some pictures already up at http://www.asbee.net with many more to follow, so keep checking.

Y’all come back now. Y’hear?

sounds like a great event. how about some recipes?

BS”D

I can see from the pictures why they’re so strict with kashrus down there- I saw 2 tznius women in all of the photos on that asbee.net site. I would have thought there would have been mostly frum teams there, but I see it’s nothing like that. It didn’t look like a Jewish event at all. It reminded me of the Louisville I remember rather than what I would have envisioned of the city I associate with the Belskys and Rav Nota Greenblatt & family.

Easy with the smack talk about Louisville or we’ll look at revoking your favorite kosher son status.

Easy with the smack talk about Memphis. That is the beauty of this event. There was not a single jewish organization from the entire city that was not reprented there. Orthodox, conservative and reform were all there. There were lots of tznius women there, even if the pictures don’t show it. But this event was about bringing the entire community (and of course our great friends from out of town) together to enjoy some great kosher food and to enjoy each other’s company.

I can’t figure out what is more astonishing - That you’d smear a community like Memphis, or that you actually took the time to count…

Oy! The elbows!

BTW, it’s a modern orthodox shul, so why the surprise? Even without the rest of the community, at a modern orthodox non-religious event, you’re bound to see jeans, etc.

According to some participants, this Memphis Kosher BBQ contest is the LARGEST and best-attended Jewish event in the city. I rather think that this diversity is a VIRTUE rather than a “shandah”.

SE

BS”D

Just surprised, that’s all, not a smear, just totally unanticipated. I’d never been to Memphis, so my only interaction with it was the people whom I’d met from there. And the only Jews I’d met were Belskys and Rav Nota. My assumption was that they were representative of what orthodoxy was like down there- far more to the right of the orthodoxy of the Louisville I grew up in. Consequently, I was anticipating seeing pictures more in keeping with my fantasy of Memphis orthodoxy. Instead, I saw the pictures as presented, to which I said “Aha, that’s why they were so concerned down there with making sure that the rabbi was present for the cooking, going over every little ingredient, etc.” Because there could be no presumption that people would know much about kashrus. The event’s literature claimed that it was community-wide, but my expectations were perhaps based upon my past experience, with limited interaction of less observant Jews in things under orthodox auspices. So it wasn’t a slam of Memphis or its orthodox community, I was simply surprised, and I suppose I did not articulate it properly.

BS”D

A note about the Louisville I grew up in 35 years ago: There were 2 reform, 1 conservative and 2 “orthodox” congregations. My famly belonged to the “orthodox” congregations with the mixed seating, microphone and driving to shul on Shabbos. We thought those right-wingers in Anshei Sefard were the crazy fringe, and didn’t have all that much to do with them, and had much more association with conservative and reform. All of us teenagers grew up, went away, became more or less observant. Meanwhile, our shul in Louisville became conservative in affiliation, and my mom now belongs to the Anshei Sefard, which it turns out is, and always has been what would now be called “modern orthodox”, but the perception was that they were pretty far out there and interaction tended to be limited, and evidently still is, though now it’s different people limiting the interaction, as some from Keneseth ended up joining Anshei Sefard.

Craig,
How wonderful it is that you noticed this. It is truly a Kiddush Hashem in that the real tznius women refused to be photographed.

But seriously, in addition to the great fun, I believe it is a Kiddush Hashem. For many of the Jews taking part, this may be the only time of the year that they cook kosher or even eat kosher. Once they experience it & see how welcoming a place an orthodox shul can be, the sky is the limit.

That this keeps growing year after year shows how comfortable more & more Jews from all walks of life are feeling with our strict Kashrut rules.

As far as your comment about the tzniut & the kashrut rules… My daughter got married in Monsey right before the chicken scandal came to light. Unfortunately, I judged the chicken sellers by their coverings also.

The rules are necessary because halacha mandates them, not because of anything else.

Craig, we hope you’ll come down for next year’s BBQ contest & experience for yourself the potential for real Jewish achdus (unity).

After a day of traveling and getting settled in, I’m back.

Craig: Plain and simple, your comments were uninformed and mean-spirited. As you’ve heard from the Memphians who have been commenting, the BBQ is a true kiddush-hashem. I think Aryeh’s answer put it best.

BS”D

I’ll reiterate: Nothing meanspirited intended, just surprise not articulated well. Sorry it came off as meanspirited, and I apologise for any pain it caused or disruption of Kosherblog, or ill feelings. As to the event, I’m sure it was wonderful. Yes, Aryeh, I’m sure I’d love to come next year, but I have no idea whether I’ll be able to, and I’d expect I’ll be too busy. Now, you can all continue lambasting me all you want- I’m sure I deserve it, if not for this, then for other things. But I’ve said my apologies, and that’s all I can do.

why does it seem like craig always writes comments on this blog to instigate. you’ve got a bad case of ba’al teshuvitis and should keep your mouth shut, rather that continue with your absurd and pointless comments. yes, this is a free forum, but it makes me so angry how judgemental you are of everyone - whether it’s the way they make their bbq or the tzinius of the women at an event designed to bring the community together.

As soon as you guys (either KosherBlog or Aryeh Samberg, or somebody in the know) have the date for next year’s competition, please let us know. I’d like to try to block out the time so I can try to attend.

Ive got a name for Craig’s team…Tznius, Wannabeus
Seriously, appologies accepted, and we’d love all of you to come down and see for yourself. Next year will be the 20th annual, and this year having Steve make the effort to come and partcipate, really gave us a shot in the arm. ( Steve I’m sure your arms are still tired). I’ll be turning my pictures into Aryeh soon so keep checking ASBEE.net, I’m pretty sure the pictures and the smiles will speak for themselves, and show the jewish community of Memphis coming together for an afternoon of fun and great kosher food.

Actually, in my book Craig will always be Louisville’s favorite kosher son. He’s like all of us- just trying to do the best with what we’ve got. Can’t wait to see the Memphis pictures and I feel inspired to fire up the smoker and order some organic grass fed brisket from Wise Pastures.

More pictures of the BBQ have been posted. (Viewer discretion advised-especially if you’ve never been west of the Hudson River).

Also, here’s a link to see the local Memphis news reporting from the BBQ.

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/mediacenter/local.aspx

Then scroll down to “Mid-South Kosher BBQ Contest”

BS”D

Aryeh, had the second set of photos been released with the first, my gaffe might have never seen the light of day, and half the posts on this thread might have been eliminated. Black velvet kippot are something that would never have been seen in the Louisville of my teens. And the photos and newscast do show a fun time was had by all, a tribute to the planners and participents of the event.

Not Impt, it’s a matter of style. I speak directly, and I don’t beat around the bush, and I don’t mince words, I’m not diplomatic. Such a writing style (as well as a speaking style) has always resulted in a certain amount of backlash and animosity on the part of others, due either to misunderstanding of what I’ve written or said, or due to perfect understanding of what I’ve written or said. It’s a style that seems to run in my family, especially the bull males, and its a style that has garnered my father obm, my uncle obm and I both respect and detractors. Perhaps such directness is a bit antisocial, but what the heck.

Jon, thanks. I’ll note in passing that Louisville has had its own share of kashrus/food problems recently. My mom tells me that the snack bar at the JCC closed down, and reopened again only after many families signed a contract that they would commit no less than $50/month towards food from there, or forfeit the balance- that was the only way to guarantee a working profit, which has the only way to perpetuate the only kosher restaurant in Louisville. Then my mom said it was made milchig, limiting the desirability of eating in a kosher restaurant (I note that fleishig restaurants are almost always more popular than milchig in the Jewish world), but now the people are locked in contractually. Do I understand the situation correctly? Such are the trials and tribulations of trying to get Judaism going in the South.

Steven, It was so nice having you at the barbq contest this year. Hope it is the start of many trips to Memphis for you and hopefully your family. Everyone was talking about the guy from”Brooklyn”. You helped make our 19th Kosher Barbq a success. Can’t wait to see your pictures on the net. For all those who see the pictures and see what an exciting event this is,Y’all come to. Take care. Steve

Steve, I’m glad you had a great time here and hope you and the rest of your beautiful family will join us next year. In speaking with Stan (your host here in Memphis), I understand you ended up with some helpers from DC and hopefully they will return as well. In fact, we’re hoping that Kosherblog and your participation in the event will help spread this and maybe even make it an International competition. We should only live and be happy to suffer the tsuris of trying to find room for all the extra teams.

As our fine Chazen has said this event is a Kiddush Hashem and one of the reasons that ASBEE is now my family’s spiritual home, after having grown up at the Reform Temple here. Of the 40 teams, well over a third come from families and organizations outside the Orthodox community. But, everyone learns about Kashrut and it is such a community unifying event. Craig, don’t worry, there are plenty of folks who speak like you, but down here in the south, we welcome you in spite of that. It’s the Southern Hospitality, we get it, and try and spread the “love”. And just to make sure no one gets the wrong idea, for however modern our Shul may be, men and women sit seperately and don’t dance together, we don’t have a microphone in the sanctuary and the parking lot is closed on Shabbos and Yom Tovs.

But, then again, it’s all about the “que”. And there was some spectacular food cooked up on Sunday, by some ratehr diverse groups. From the Haddassah Honey’s to Japeth, Shem, No Ham to Kosher’s Eleven to the Moo-sic City Machers. Everyone had a fabulous time, and got to eat samples from the participants and concessions from the Sisterhood’s Cowsher Cafe. We here at The Anshei just hope that many more of you from far and wide venture next year to the home of The Blues, Southern Hospitialty and the one and only 20th Annual ASBEE-Kroger Kosher Barbeque Contest. As Granny Clampett would say “Y’all Come Back Now, Ya Hear.”

I have read with some surprise and some amusement the various comments about our ASBEE KOSHER BARBEQUE. The original Kosher barbeque and the only one in the USA. First as the longest participant who was here at the start until the present BARBEQUEin it is indeed a pleasure to see how the affair has grown not only to have teams only from our own congrgregation but the entire Memphis community. The participants are now even from outside of Memphis come together under the auspices of strict adherence to kashrut prepare BARBQUE beef ribs and brisket. This is not an affair for just the orthodox whatever the persuasion but all Jews. The contributors to the blog have added their comments vis-s-vis my few words and do not need repition. Y’all come we will be here next year….

Here is a link to the tv station that did a large piece on the barbq contest.Go to it and look for kosher barbq contest.Does any one know how to get it on youtube? http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com

This link will take you straight to the story/video: Pigging Out on Beef at Kosher BBQ Contest.

I appreciate all the comments and kind words, but I’m going to turn off the comments. There’s nothing more to add to this post. My photos and follow-ups will come in a future post.