BY JASON COHEN
When the pandemic hit
in 2020, chef David Teyf worried
what Holocaust survivors
would do for Sabbath meals or
Jewish holidays. Knowing people
were shuttered home, he
stepped up to the plate and decided
to start delivering meals
to them.
Teyf, who is the executive
chef at the Museum of Jewish
Heritage and the owner of
the event planning company
Madison Park, had both sets
of grandparents, Abraham and
Lifah Davidovich and Tesha
and Esther Teyf, survive the
Holocaust.
“Who was taking care of
the survivors?” he said. “I was
very concerned.”
While the pandemic began
to cripple the restaurant
industry, Teyf reached out to
the Jewish Heritage Museum
and Blue Card, a nonprofi t that
helps Holocaust survivors, to
gather a list of survivors living
throughout the fi ve boroughs,
New Jersey and Connecticut.
“I visualized my grandparents
smiling down on me and I
knew this was something I had
to do,” Teyf said.
He began delivering meals
around April 2020 for Passover
and continued every Shabbat
and major holiday into this
year, including Rosh Hashanah
and Yom Kippur. In fact,
this month alone he brought
560 meals to survivors.
In total, about 80 survivors
receive food from Teyf each
week and the menu always features
nutritious food, fruits
and vegetables.
“I am so grateful to The
Blue Card for thinking of me
during this challenging time
and for sending me weekly
Shabbat food packages, as well
as this special one in honor of
Rosh Hashanah,” said Robert
can we say…who didn’t want
to provide his last name? a
survivor in Manhattan. “During
this time, this beautiful
care package makes me feel
part of the Jewish community,
and able to celebrate Rosh Hashanah
fully, even if I might
not be able to gather with others
BRONX TIMES R 32 EPORTER, OCT. 8-14, 2021 BTR
physically.”
According to Teyf, it was bit
awkward delivering the food at
fi rst because many people were
afraid to even open the door.
However, as time wore on, they
began to feel more comfortable
and express their gratitude.
“Shabbat can be a lonely
time, particularly during the
pandemic,” said Galina G., a
Holocaust survivor from the
Bronx. “It’s such a joy to receive
these special Shabbat
and holiday meals from The
Blue Card and Lox Cafe each
Friday now. It brings a great
deal of light and joy into my
week.”
Teyf told the Bronx Times
he plans to continue bringing
meals even after the pandemic
ends. It’s very rewarding and
to know that he is helping the
most vulnerable population
means a lot, he said.
“To me, it’s nice when
they’re smiling and literally
giving me a blessing,” Teyf
said. “They already faced hunger.
They should not be in that
position again.”
Chef David Teyf delivers food to Holocaust survivors throughout New
York City. His act of good will began in 2020 during the pandemic. Photo
courtesy David Teyf
Famous chef delivers meals
to Holocaust survivors
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