Gary Diamond Announced President of Tri-State HFA

Slipper member Gary Diamond, the owner/ CEO of Diamond Furniture, has just assumed the role of prexy of Tri-State Home Furnishings Association. Couched another way: He knows from bed and boards.

For more weekly news in the Jewish community, please visit the Jewish Exponent. And if you have any news of your own that would interest Slipper members, please email us or call 610-660-0510.

"A Great Restaurant That Happens to be Kosher!"

When Steven Katz of Elkins Park was looking to open a new restaurant in the Philadelphia suburbs, he said that he wanted to create a place where creatively made kosher food could be affordable to people from all over.

Fast-forward 16 months, and Max & David's International Kosher Cuisine, at 8120 Old York Road in the Yorktown Plaza in Elkins Park, is not just alive and well, but thriving, and continuing to expand.

It has become a kosher "Cheers," if you will, where people know your name, and a rabbi from a local shul is probably at the next table.

Katz and his wife, Robin, both 51, own and operate Max & David's, billed as "the premier kosher restaurant and catering service in the Delaware Valley" -- a bring-your-own-kosher-wine eatery with modern, contemporary decor. But, as Katz noted, it's not just locals -- Jews and non-Jews alike -- who come in for a glatt-kosher meal; the upscale eatery, under the supervision of Community Kashrus of Greater Philadelphia, has even become a destination point for out-of-town Jews from Monsey, N.Y.; Lakewood, N.J.; and Baltimore.

Steven and Robin Katz join in a toast with Linda Grife over their glatt-kosher restaurant, Max & David's in Elkins Park.

Keeping the new venture "all in the mishpochah" is Linda Grife's job. She's Steve Katz's sister, and serves as general manager of the restaurant, which is named, she explained, in honor of the sibling's "Zeyda," Max, and father, David, whose "souls shine down on us."

A framed picture of the two hangs just outside the door to the kitchen.
Katz said that Max was a charitable "family man," and that family spirit lives on at the restaurant that bears his name.

"At Max & David's, it's a full mishpochah experience," chimed in his sister.

From All Walks of Life
Grife, 47, is the wife of Rabbi Saul Grife of Beth Tikvah-B'nai Jeshurun in Erdenheim, whose debut rock-opera CD, "Tales From the First Book," is sold at the restaurant, alongside Max & David's logo merchandise.

She remarked that the thing she loves about the the restaurant is how Jews from all walks of life -- from Chabad to secular, Aish to Reform -- come together there. She added, with a laugh, that good fries (a customer favorite -- the "M & D shoestring fries" are a combination of Idaho potatoes, golden sweet potatoes and leeks) transcend the various sects of Judaism.

Max & David's provides "a huge service to the kosher community," commented Grife, and that service isn't limited to the Elkins Park location.

When the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy moved to its new home in Bryn Mawr this past fall, Max & David's Food Services set up shop in the kosher kitchen on the Radnor campus, providing exclusive catering for on-site events.

Robin Katz is there five days a week, overseeing the new glatt-kosher, hot-lunch program available for students, staff and faculty in the dining commons. The daily lunch options, which alternate between pareve and meat offerings, include soup, full salad bar, entree, dessert and beverages. She reported that the students' favorites are Sloppy Joes on wheat buns, hot dogs, and the pareve chocolate cake with white icing.

Back in Elkins Park, patrons can make their choice from a variety of seasonally changing menu items, including smoked beef brisket, ribs, roast duck, lamb shoulder, veal, homemade chopped chicken liver with caramelized onions, salmon and other seasonal fish. Also on the menu are several vegetarian selections, like pasta primavera and mushroom risotto.

The restaurant also offers a separate lunch menu that includes soups and a variety of salads, wraps and sandwiches. A pastry chef creates pareve desserts. Take-out is available, as is catering for holidays, football season, business meetings or shivahs.

Everything is made daily from scratch, noted Grife.

The three on-site mashgichim double as chefs for the establishment, which is open for lunch Mondays through Fridays, and for dinner Sundays through Thursdays.

Earlier this month, the restaurant was named new business of the year in the Cheltenham Township 2008 business recognition awards program.

The Katzes and Grife said that they look to expand even further, with the addition of Saturday late-night dinner (after Shabbat), and a Sunday brunch buffet, coming in early 2009.

The restaurant also hosts occasional cooking demonstrations in its banquet room, where guest chefs demonstrate how to make tasty treats, such as a recent Chanukah-themed session with creative takes on latkes and other favorite holiday recipes.

The room also doubles as a private-party dining area, noted Steve Katz.

Katz said that he wanted to create a place that could stand up to Center City restaurants, both practically and aesthetically.

He thinks that he's done it, since Max & David's is not just a kosher restaurant, but "a great restaurant that happens to be kosher."

For more weekly news in the Jewish community, please visit the Jewish Exponent. And if you have any news of your own that would interest Slipper members, please email us or call 610-660-0510.

Katz Family Praised for Service to JRA

Slipper members Josh and Steve Katz, along with the rest of the family, were spotted at the Jewish Food & Community Expo at the Valley Forge Convention Center. The Steve and Robin Katz family was saluted "for their tireless service to JRA and our Jewish community." With 60 vendors as well as star chef Daniel Stern offering bites of the best, the Katzes didn't go hungry -- for food or for praise heaped on them.

For more weekly news in the Jewish community, please visit the Jewish Exponent. And if you have any news of your own that would interest Slipper members, please email us or call 610-660-0510.

1st Ever Hava NaGrilla Article Published!

This ain't no Porky's! But what it is, is the "First Ever Hava NaGrilla Magilla," with Golden Slipper Club & Charities as host, and the Jewish Exponent as media sponsor. The "First Ever Hava NaGrilla Kosher BBQ Contest & Festival" -- quite a mouthful -- will be held at the Willow Grove Day Camp in Willow Grove. Put those baked beans on a slow simmer, though; the event isn't until June 7. But now's the time to think about braving your brisket against the neighbors', as trophies will be served up for the best beans, brisket, chicken, ribs, team name, creative booth and overall grand champion. (Despite his pleas, "Stars & Society" was disqualified from the hot halvah category; mainly because there is none.) Grill yourself -- metaphorically speaking, of course -- on contest rules and the games on tap at www.havanagrilla.com, just as these "HNKBBQCF" smokin' chefs did. (There's also a kosher pickle-eating contest, face painting, a B-ball tournament -- they're even raffling off Minnie Cooper. Oh ... wait. Make that a Mini Cooper car; sorry Mr. Cooper.) Getting ready to fire away (from left) are Golden Slipper planners Tom Federman, David Segal, Brian Gilberg, Jeff Poppel and Elisa Rubin; Howard Levin, co-chair; Mike Demar, co-chair; Naomi Gorson, prexy; and Ross Rubin. See ya at the rubber chicken-tossing contest?

For more weekly news in the Jewish community, please visit the Jewish Exponent. And if you have any news of your own that would interest Slipper members, please email us or call 610-660-0510.

Slipper Member Profiled In The Philadelphia Business Journal

Edward Tannebaum enjoys the nitty-gritty of business operations, whether the company is functional or dysfunctional. Troubleshooting is what he likes best and now he’s using his expertise on behalf of
clients as CEO and president of SPI Advisors, the new strategic planning consultancy he opened in September in Blue Bell.

Tannebaum is a licensed architect but he calls himself a “Jack of all trades” because of the variety of companies he has worked with in his 30-year consulting career, offering advice on everything from cost-cutting, human resources and security to telecommunications and project management.

Tannebaum most recently served as a senior vice president of design/build project delivery at Integrated Project Services in Lafayette Hill. “All my exposure to corporate America gives me a good idea of what works and what doesn’t work in a company,” Tannebaum said. “I’m not afraid to challenge what they’re doing and be part of their business in a productive way.”

Leaving a comfortable position in another company when he was 60 years old to start SPI Advisors was no easy feat, he said. The first couple of months were scary. But the phones did eventually start ringing. Now he has several clients in drug manufacturing as well as a sustainable energy company. Tannebaum hopes to expand his clients among major corporations. “If a new client comes to us, the chances are someone’s already worked with half a dozen companies in the similar field,” he said. “It just means we can hit the ground running.”

If you have any news of your own that would interest Slipper members, please email us or call 610-660-0510. To find out more about what’s happening at Slipper visit our Calendar and Recent Events pages on our website.

Slipper Members Leaving A Legacy

The generosity of members of the Legacy Society of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is immediately apparent to all who visit the Jewish Community Services Building in Philadelphia. The names of all society members are inscribed on select walls in the atrium of the building, home to the Jewish Federation, and several other Jewish communal agencies and organizations. On Sept. 23, Federation hosted its annual reception for these philanthropic individuals and families who have made permanent endowed gifts of $100,000 or more. Long time Slipper Members Norman & Marlene Zarwin, pictured below, became new Legacy Society Members that evening. Norman is a Past President of Golden Slipper Club and past Gold Medallion honoree.

According to Howard Silverman, Federation Endowments Corporation president, "You can become a member in many different ways, each offering financial and tax benefits. These include an outright gift, a bequest in a will, an insurance policy, designation of a retirement asset or IRA, a life income plan, such as a charitable remainder trust or a charitable gift annuity, or a permanent set aside of part of a donor-advised philanthropic fund, supporting foundation or private foundation."

Silverman added, "Legacy Society gifts can be structured to benefit Federation and any other Federation partner agency, synagogue or other local, national or international Jewish organization. Federation will make distributions to all organizations that you have designated."

Also in attendence were Slipper members Ron & Jayne Perilstein, pictured below, and Michael P. Schwartz representing a Legacy Society corporate sponsor Karr Barth Associates. Michael Schwartz is a Past President of the Club & Camp and also a Gold Medallion honoree.

For more weekly news in the Jewish community, please visit the Jewish Exponent. And if you have any news of your own that would interest Slipper members, please email us or call 610-660-0510.

Prexy of GSC David Levy

Slipper member & current Camp President, David H. Levy, received a shout out in this weeks Jewish Exponent for being the managing director/employee benefits of Leon Levy & Associates. He mentions how thrilled he is to be managing alot more these days! As said by Michael Elkin "Levy's just been Elected prexy of Golden Slipper Camp. "

For more weekly news in the Jewish community, please visit the Jewish Exponent. And if you have any news of your own that would interest Slipper members, please email us or call 610-660-0510.