32 | DECEMBER 14 • 2023 J
N

F

oodies around the 
world recognize 
Israeli cuisine for 
many specialties, but not 
especially for beef jerky; 
in fact, though, Israel has 
several producers. 
Right now, at a synagogue 
in Beit Shemesh, Chef Etan 
Ogorek oversees a team 
producing as much of that 
meaty snack as they can. 
SmorgasBOARD by Etan 
is ramping up production, 
not to sell to the public, 
but to deliver directly to 
soldiers in the field. The 
chef’s wife, Malkie Ogorek, 
also the logistics and 
distribution officer of the 
operation, explains that 
their efforts form “part of 

the larger campaign called 
‘Beef Up Our Boys’ ... We are 
producing and sending beef 
jerky to Israel Defense Force 
soldiers across the country, 
primarily on the front lines.” 
She notes that “other 
providers of beef jerky such 
as Butcher’s Cut based in 
Ramat Eshkol and Beef 
Jerky in Givat Shaul as 
well as Meat & Board from 
Lakewood, N.J.”, contribute 
beef jerky to the Beef Up 
Our Boys campaign as well. 

As Israel began a massive 
call-up in response to the 
Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 
Chef Ogorek started to 
receive calls from relatives 
of soldiers asking him for 
beef jerky. At the same 

time, Chaim Rutenberg 
approached Ogorek with a 
larger idea, raising funds 
and coordinating with other 
producers of kosher beef 
jerky to supply the product 
to as many soldiers as 
possible.
Rutenberg’s involvement 
began with a call from his 
nephew, an IDF soldier 
stationed in a remote area of 
Israel, with an urgent list of 
items needed for himself and 
his fellow soldiers. The most 
important items on the list 
were warm winter clothing 
and nutritious, lightweight, 
easy-to-pack food that 
would be readily available 
under any circumstances. 
Elisheva, Chaim 

Rutenberg’s wife, suggested 
including beef jerky as 
a food that meets these 
criteria. Beef jerky is a high-
protein, ready-to-eat meat 
requiring no refrigeration or 
cooking. Chaim thought this 
was a great idea. It took a 
while for him to track down 
bags of beef jerky to include 
in his nephew’s care package. 
The nephew’s unit of 
nearly 100 soldiers were 
thrilled with the beef jerky. 
It was the first meat they 
had eaten since being called 
up to protect the Holy Land 
on Simchat Torah. Up until 
then, these combat soldiers 
were subsisting on three 
cans of tuna a day.
Malkie Ogorek reports 
that the team receives a 
steady stream of thank-
you notes from soldiers. 
One soldier wrote that he 
is allergic to fish; the only 

ERETZ

An all-out effort to get beef jerky into the hands 
(and stomachs) of IDF soldiers.

Beef Up Our Boys

LOUIS FINKELMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

