The number of Jewish delis has declined substantially, and the remaining few are in jeopardy. Can a federal bailout be far behind? Personally, I’d much rather my federal taxes go to preserve good corned beef than bad Buicks.
The number of Jewish delis has declined substantially, and the remaining few are in jeopardy. Can a federal bailout be far behind? Personally, I’d much rather my federal taxes go to preserve good corned beef than bad Buicks.
gab says:
First time I’ve ever agreed with Bernstein.
October 8, 2009, 12:17 pmJacquesNP says:
I often agree with Bernstein, but on this I’m pretty sure the delis won’t get bailed out until long after the corned beef isn’t much good.
October 8, 2009, 12:25 pmsecond history says:
Can’t–government support of a religious institution. ;)
October 8, 2009, 12:28 pmFC says:
It is time for delis to put pastrami over profits! Merge the locally owned shops into a government-backed national chain for the economies of scale, lest we lose out to bagels from Beijing and knishes from Kyoto.
Hey, it saved the British car industry.
October 8, 2009, 12:29 pmanonymous says:
Why Jewish delis and not all delis, DB?
Hmmmmm?
October 8, 2009, 12:42 pmerp says:
If the government took over Jewish deli’s, the pastrami and corned beef would be made of soy and the pickles would be salt free lest anyone’s dietary requirements be offended.
October 8, 2009, 12:47 pmGene Madison says:
If we bailout the corned beef sammich shops, (That should include my favorite, a Reuben.) will each citizen be entitled to special rates, and do they make a Reuben Sub… Mmm… 48″ Reuben.
Perhaps there could be a reality tv show? TLC may be looking…
October 8, 2009, 12:54 pmguy in the veal calf office says:
If we get a bail-out of Jewish Delis, Los Angeles must be first in line. Juniors? Broadway? (or the execrable Jerry’s?). In a pinch, you can trek to Langers.
When I’m dying for it, I have to fly it in on dry ice from Russ & Daughters and that’s a lot of carbon emissions, so we definitely need the Feds to help them set up a franchise out here.
October 8, 2009, 1:13 pmtvk says:
What makes you think that bailout money would go to good corned beef?
October 8, 2009, 1:28 pmdisintelligentsia says:
No – they’ll have a graduated schedule of sandwich prices fixed according to your income – but you’ll need to bring in your 1040 and two forms of ID to eat lunch there.
October 8, 2009, 1:39 pmroy says:
Maybe we can offer people $1.5 towards the purchase of a fresh sandwich if they trade in some moldy bread.
No, bad idea, people would just eat this month instead of next month.
October 8, 2009, 1:52 pmjn heath says:
This is precisely why J. Scalia worries about the legal profession taking intelligent people away from real, productive work:
“I mean lawyers, after all, don’t produce anything. They enable other people to produce and to go on with their lives efficiently and in an atmosphere of freedom. That’s important, but it doesn’t put food on the table, and there have to be other people who are doing that. And I worry that we are devoting too many of our very best minds to this enterprise.”
October 8, 2009, 2:32 pmrmd says:
Because that’s the only way we can guarantee that our tax $$ won’t go to pork projects. There’s probably a lox pun in there somewhere too but it’s not coming to me.
October 8, 2009, 2:39 pmJ Richardson says:
If it would mean we’d get a Kosher deli in the mountains of NC, I’m all for it.
My Uncle Peter (McEntyre) would always go to his local Jewish deli in Queens and send me a whole pastrami for Christmas. Interesting gift from a first generation Irish-American.
October 8, 2009, 2:48 pmanonymous says:
Because that’s the only way we can guarantee that our tax $$ won’t go to pork projects. There’s probably a lox pun in there somewhere too but it’s not coming to me.
Oh! So you’re telling me the Jews have the deli bailout money all sewn up — lox, stock, and barrel?!
;-)
October 8, 2009, 2:51 pmstash says:
Favorite deli conversations I’ve witnessed:
“Are the fish fresh?”
“Yes.”
“Were they caught today?”
“Caught today, caught yesterday–they’re all dead, lady.”
——————-
“Give me a pound of corned beef and make sure it’s lean.”
“You want to pay a dollar more a pound for the extra-lean?”
“No. Use a knife!”
I am thinking NEA grants would be more appropriate than a “bail out” for this great theater.
October 8, 2009, 3:12 pmJohn425 says:
(Sigh) We once had a Jewish Deli in the Seattle area but the aged owners started employing newly-arrived Russian Jews as deli counter helpers. One of these young men asked me if I wanted mayonnaise and lettuce on my pastrami on rye. The deli closed a few months later, never to re-open.
October 8, 2009, 3:38 pmGene Madison says:
There’s a place called the Triangle Pub in West Seattle, they use red cabage instead of saurkraut, but surprisingly.. the Reuben is excellent. Worth looking up if craving something different.
October 8, 2009, 4:25 pmHerb Spencer says:
See you at Canter’s next Thursday for lunch!
October 8, 2009, 4:28 pmCJColucci says:
It’s precisely because the corned beef is still good, unlike the Buicks, that you don’t need a deli bail-out. Not yet, anyway.
October 8, 2009, 4:43 pmSandy MacHoots says:
No, to make it work you have to turn in a perfectly good sandwich, which will then be douse in kerosene so no one can eat it.
October 8, 2009, 4:52 pmLeo Marvin says:
The operative word is “good,” which translates to two other words: “Carnegie Deli.” And for that purpose I agree with stash that the NEA would be the appropriate agency.
October 8, 2009, 5:14 pmstash says:
I think RMD “wins” for noting that anything spent on a Jewish deli bailout won’t include pork.
I will add that this is true however you slice it. There may be counter-arguments, but that is what happens at a deli. And, I am afraid that if the government takes over deli’s, it will change the lox. On the other hand, politics would make sure that there would be plenty of red herring–in whine sauce. I hope people excuse this rye humor and remember the immortal words of Phyllis the deli-waitress: “Hot soup behind you!” Words to live by.
October 8, 2009, 5:18 pmVader says:
“Personally, I’d much rather my federal taxes go to preserve good corned beef than bad Buicks.”
There is no bad corned beef or good Buicks.
I wonder, though, if pork for Jewish delis is really kosher?
October 8, 2009, 8:02 pmJono39 says:
We failed to save the bagel which has become cake. Why should corned beef, brisket, and pastrami be spared?
October 8, 2009, 10:25 pmreadery says:
But they have to be kosher or halal if you want to be sure they won’t just churn out more government pork.
October 8, 2009, 11:05 pm