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Join the Sholom community for a special Adult Education in-person only event!

Do you love to eat? (yes, we know you do!) 

Do you love to learn? (again, of course you do!)

Ted Merwin, Ph.D., Senior Writer for JFNA and author of the award-winning book, Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli, will trace the fascinating, untold history of the delis of Chicago. This entertaining, interactive, multimedia presentation features clips from movies, TV, music, and stand-up comedy routines about the vitally important place of the deli in Chicagoland from the early twentieth century to the present. Dr. Merwin will demonstrate how the deli developed into a vibrant communal gathering space--a kind of “secular synagogue”--for generations of Chicago Jews up until today.

Before the presentation, attendees will gather to enjoy a special catered deli lunch from Kaufmann’s Deli in Skokie.

RSVP is required.   Registration fee of $18 includes a deli lunch with sandwiches, sides, dessert and juice/water/coffee.

Ted Merwin, Ph.D. taught religion and Judaic studies at Dickinson College (Carlisle, Pa) and now works as chief speechwriter for the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), based in New York and Washington, D.C.

He is the author of two books, Pastrami on Rye, which won a National Jewish Book Award, and In Their Own Image: New York Jews in Jazz Age Popular Culture. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, New York Post, New York Daily News, Newsweek, Washington Post, Haaretz, and many other newspapers and magazines.

Ted lives in Baltimore with his wife (Andrea Lieber) and three daughters. He blogs at his website, delihistory.com.