David's Brisket House, located between Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy, is arguably Brooklyn's best kept "open" secret, reported Time Of Israel. On Thursday, June 8, the restaurant hosted a benefit dinner for HIAS, in partnership with Breaking Bread NYC, a project from food tour guides and food lovers aimed at connecting communities through cuisine.
The Yemeni Muslim Jewish Deli Dinner Party is benefitting HIAS, an organization that was founded in 1881 to help Jews fleeing Russian pogroms. HIAS has continued with its mission to welcome and place immigrants and to fight an increasingly bleak situation for new immigrants to the United States, many of whom are Muslim.
David's Brisket House, a deli which is actually better known for its all-star corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, has been serving its customers for over 50 years. Originally under Jewish ownership, the deli changed hands in the 1970s when David himself put the business up for sale. A Yemeni Muslim and a Yemeni Jew who were partners in a bagel and doughnut shop across the street, bought the beloved deli. Once the Yemeni Jewish partner retired, the Jewish deli was exclusively Yemeni Muslim-owned.
Riyadh Gazali, the current owner of the establishment, made very little to no changes to the original menu and now serves Jewish recipes with a Muslim twist. The restaurant continues to pass along its deep Jewish roots, while following laws of halal and the principles behind ritual slaughter.
David's Brisket House is a unique Jewish-Muslim collaboration, representing the diverse history of the restaurant and welcoming patrons of all cultures, embracing the diversity of the neighborhood. Given the restaurant's history, the collaboration with Breaking Bad NYC and HIAS is no coincidence - Muslims who make delicious Jewish food, and Jews who work to place deserving Muslim refugees - it's a match meant to be!
