Is the Zabar's Story A Jewish Story? With David Zabar
5/6/202633 min
The story of Zabar's--a NYC foodie fixture--is bigger than bagels: it includes a horrifying pogrom, a narrow escape to America, and success in the face of countless setbacks. For Jewish American Heritage Month, Noam asks: what does does this story mean to American Jews, and America at large? In a rare interview, David Zabar, a senior executive and third-generation family member, tells us the incredible story of Louis and Lilly Zabar, how Zabar's sees itself in the American tapestry, and yes... his bagel order. To check out Zabar's (they ship!) go to zabars.comYou can order Zabar's: A Family Story With Recipes here: www.zabars.com/zabars-a-family-story-with-recipe-book-by-lori-zabar/ Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsNoam Weissman· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Welcome to Wandering Jews with Michal and Noam. This podcast is our way of trying to unpack those big questions about Israel, about Judaism, and about the Jewish experience. And today I have with me David Zabar. How cool is that?
David Zabar· Guest0:19
I love being here.
Noam Weissman· Host0:22
You... Isn't it great? Okay, we got David Zabar. Now, this is part of Jewish American Heritage Month. That is our focus right now, okay?
David Zabar· Guest0:28
Mm-hmm.
Noam Weissman· Host0:28
So can we talk a bit about Zabars? 'Cause I wanna just understand Zabars first and foremost. I got, I got this book here, Family Story with Recipes, by Laurie Zabar, your sister.
David Zabar· Guest0:40
My sister.
Noam Weissman· Host0:41
Of blessed memory.
David Zabar· Guest0:42
Yes.
Noam Weissman· Host0:42
And I wanna hear a little bit about Zabars. How many Zabar stores are there?
David Zabar· Guest0:47
There's one Zabar store.
Noam Weissman· Host0:50
That's not true.
David Zabar· Guest0:50
Now- [laughs] No, no reaction.
Noam Weissman· Host0:53
There's- If you go- How is it possible there's one Zabar store?
David Zabar· Guest0:56
Well, if you go back 50 years, there were, like, two or three other stores on the West Side that were part, were Zabars also. But by the 1960s, there was one location on Broadway, corner of 80th Street. And- But why...
Noam Weissman· Host1:11
So then why do I think... When I think of New York City, I think of Zabars. When I think of Zabars, I think of New York City. There's only one store?
David Zabar· Guest1:20
One store, but we've been there over 90 years. And, and you know, uh, uh, the West Side's, you know, a lot of actors and writers