Bringing Jewish Dishes to the Greater Community

If it’s mid-March, it’s time for many congregations in the region to crank out the corned beef for fundraisers. Perhaps the proximity to St. Patrick’s Day is just a coincidence?

This year’s Jewish food festival season kicked off on Jan. 19 at Gemiluth Chassodim in Alexandria. The festival had been postponed from November.

Just two months later, the Alexandria congregation is holding its corned beef sandwich sale, on March 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Work days will be March 23 and 24, and tickets are already being sold. The $8 package contains a corned beef sandwich on rye, cole slaw, potato chips and pickle. Delivery is available for 10 or more, and there is a drive-thru from Beech Street for pick-up orders. Orders are requested by March 18.

On Feb. 23, Temple Beth Or in Montgomery had its 11th annual Jewish food festival, and the crowds were large soon after the doors opened at 9 a.m. President Jamie Loeb said it was the largest attendance yet, and by 1 p.m. only corned beef sandwiches remained. By 2 p.m., an hour before the scheduled end, the kitchen was empty.

The menu included brisket, Quajado, kugel, latkes, stuffed cabbage and matzah ball soup that was sold frozen for easy transport home. Carnegie Deli cheesecakes moved briskly, as did the strudel, mandel bread, rugelach and praline matzah.

Rabbi Elliot Stevens gave three tours of the building and had the largest crowds ever for his Meet the Rabbi sessions. Among those in attendance were Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey and Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange.

Greenville’s Hebrew Union Congregation is holding its Deli Luncheon on March 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tuscaloosa’s Temple Emanu-El is doing an all-new Jewish Food Festival, March 9 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Located at Emanu-El and the Bloom Hillel, the festival includes brisket plates, corned beef sandwiches and falafel. Crestline Bagels and other treats will be available. Box lunches are $10 to $13, and a sampler ticket is $5 for six items at the Sampler Bar. All sales are at the door, no advance tickets.

Springhill Avenue Temple in Mobile is holding its annual Corned Beef Extravaganza on March 17. Only prepaid orders are being accepted, and are due by March 10. Lunches are $10 for a quarter-pound corned beef sandwich on rye, pickle, bag of chips and New York style cheesecake. Local delivery is available for orders of 10 lunches or more.

Beth Shalom Sisterhood in Baton Rouge is holding its 30th annual corned beef sandwich sale on March 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will also be delivery to businesses ordering five or more lunches on March 24 and 25. The $9 lunches include a quarter-pound corned beef sandwich on rye, potato chips, pickle and homemade brownie. Tuna or egg salad sandwiches are also available by request. Members are invited to a sandwich making party, March 22 at 7:30 p.m.

March 24 is corned beef sandwich delivery day for Temple Sinai in Lake Charles. Members will start assembling the lunches on March 23, for delivery on March 24.

On April 2, the Sisterhood at Beth Israel in Jackson holds its annual Bazaar, which is a tradition going back 47 years. Traditional Jewish dishes, including deli sandwiches, falafel, tzimmes, kugel and many others, make their annual appearance.

The bazaar also includes a bake sale, raffle and a white elephant sale.

Proceeds from the Bazaar are used to support many organizations such as Meals on Wheels, MS Food Network, Community Stewpot and Food Pantry, Matt’s House, Sims House, Dream Street, Habitat for Humanity, Henry S. Jacobs Camp, Salvation Army, Women of Reform Judaism and the WRJ Y.E.S. Fund.

The Bazaar is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Dothan’s Temple Emanu-El is holding its annual Deli Day on May 1. The $12 bag lunches include a quarter-pound corned beef sandwich on Atlanta Bread Company Jewish rye bread, Kosher dill pickle, bag of Lay’s potato chips, Spicy Grey Poupon deli mustard, a Sweet and Sassy huge chocolate chip cookie and a picnic pack prepared by Dothan’s Vaughn-Blumberg Center.