Wellesley Wednesday - "The Jewish Experience through the lens of the Jewish Deli" Highlights

Hillel and Wellesley Wednesday co-sponsored a lunch and lecture on 2/14/12 entitled “The Jewish Experience through the Lens of the Jewish Deli.”  Students, Staff and alumni enjoyed classic deli sandwiches and drinks such as corned and roast beef, along with Dr. Brown’s Celery Soda.  Professor Ted Merwin, Associate Professor of Religion & Judaic Studies of Dickinson College gave a humorous and informative talk on how the delicatessen was the lifeblood and the linchpin of the Jewish community. The “Jewish soul food” and atmosphere it dished up became a quintessential part of American culture for Jews and non-Jews alike. But as Jews moved into the suburban middle class, the deli lost its bite, giving way to other ethnic restaurants and cuisines.

Merwin discussed how the deli, which originated in Germany and Eastern Europe, developed in this country into a neighborhood institution on par with the synagogue. Professor Merwin also showed how the deli became an icon of both television shows and films about the Jewish experience, ranging from Rob Reiner’s When Harry Met Sally to “The Larry David Sandwich” episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.