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NEW HAVEN — When the Westville Kosher Bakery and Deli closed this past June, customers from all over Connecticut felt a sense of loss. A group of New Haven rabbis and congregants from several New Haven area Reform, Conservative and Orthodox shuls decided to take action.

Wes Kalmar, rabbi of the Westville Synagogue, and chair of the New Haven Board of Rabbis, contacted area rabbis and asked each to appoint two synagogue members to attend an Aug. 9 meeting at the JCC of Greater New Haven to discuss ways to support and encourage local kosher businesses.

I feel very strongly that it is important for our community to recognize the importance of, and to support our kosher establishments. In order to do this well, there is a need for everyone in the community to be part of the process, and for people to understand how kosher supervision works. By working together, we can help our kosher establishments thrive and serve our communitys needs, said Rabbi Kalmar.

Daniel Nadis, a longtime New Haven resident and member of the Westville Synagogue, has been appointed chair of the New Haven Kosher Advocacy Group.

We have an opportunity and a problem/challenge in New Haven, observed Nadis. New Haven is at a crossroads between New York, Hartford and Boston-and we are open for business! New Haven is the center of the kosher provisions available in the state of Connecticut. We want to help the New Haven community be vibrant and grow.

Added Rabbi David Avigdor of Bikur Cholim, Kosher eateries attract people to New Haven. A warm breakfast to start the day at Stellas, a vegetarian lunch on the green at Claire’s and a Chinese dinner at Kosher Express all make working, living and settling in New Haven more appealing than any other city in the State of Connecticut. If we want these restaurants to keep their doors open, we must give them our support.
Nadis observed that local kosher merchants sometimes have a hard time making ends meet since many in the community choose to shop at supermarkets well-stocked with kosher items, or go to New York kosher establishments.

Nadis hopes the Kosher Advocacy Group will open up dialogue both with different strands within the community and with the merchants.

Rachel Hamenachem, who along with husband, Yuval, have been owners of the Westville Kosher Market for 25 years, is pleased with the formation of the Kosher Advocacy Group, but she said the areas leadership, including rabbis, need to support the initiative.

Anyone interested should contact Daniel Nadis, nadis@dircon.co.uk