Sperber's Executive Chef Scott Gabriel
tends to ve ies and burgers on q huge
Passov ere
Kosher for
Passover
barbecue is
like manna
from heaven.
Above top: Barbecue organizer Naomi Levine peruses the summertime
fruits at the barbecue's dessert table.
Above: Caterer Alan Linker replenishes the summer slaw while Judy
Blustein of Southfield plate lled, is about to enjoy the barbecue dinner her
daughter, Naomi Levine, planned.
DAVID SACHS
Copy Editor
O
ver the years, Naomi Levine
has relished fond memories of
eating a kosher meal out dur-
ing the intermediate days of
Passover. This year, she has revived the
tradition and made it possible for hun-
dreds of others to join her.
Levine's father, the late Rabbi Allan
Blustein, was chaplain at the original
Sinai Hospital in Detroit and would
take his family to the hospital cafeteria
every night during Chol HaMoed to
enjoy a pesachdik meal.
Levine, now mother of two and 3rd
vice president of Congregation Beth
Ahm in West Bloomfield, wanted other
families to experience the respite of din-
ing out during Passover. So she suggest-
ed that the synagogue's caterer, Sperber's
Kosher Catering, throw a first-of-its-
kind Passover barbecue for the commu-
nity.
On April 12, the sixth night of the
eight-day holiday, 200 people chomped
down hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken
and veggies that were charbroiled on
two large, commercial grills set up in the
courtyard outside Beth Ahm's social hall.
Matzoh buns were concocted to accom-
modate the smoky burgers and dogs.
So Passover — the holiday that sym-
bolizes renewal during the spring season
— provided the first taste of fair-weather
pleasures to Jews growing tired of dingy
skies and seder leftovers.
"People are kind of wintered-out,
they're Passovered-out, so we thought
we'd do a little bit different fare of
food," said Alan Linker of West
Bloomfield, owner of Sperber's.
Barbecue aficionado Jillian Wallach,
15, a student at North Farmington
High and daughter of Beth Ahm's 2nd
vice president Stacy Wallach and trustee
Howard Wallach, was cradling Rabbi
Charles and Alison Popky's infant
daughter, Noa, in her arms after
indulging in the grilled feast. "It's so
great," she said. "It's the best thing I've
had all week."
Better than horseradish and boiled
eggs?
Renee Gunsberg of West Bloomfield,
who attended with her grandchildren
and friends, said, "I'm so stuffed I can't
move, and I didn't have to cook it —
and that's the most important part."
Levine kindled the notion of a barbe-
cue over several years. "I wanted people
to be able to get out of their kitchens at
least once during Passover," she said.
"We've had a tremendous response
from the throughout community. I hope
it's the beginning of a tradition." ❑
4/20
2001
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