8th Day Caterers recently announced that it has signed with Heichal HaTorah to be the exclusive provider of catering services at the Jewish Center of Teaneck at 70 Sterling Place in Teaneck. This marks another milestone for the catering company, which was started by Bergenfield native Dovid Lisker fifteen years ago.
“Heichal wanted to find a well-respected caterer who would provide an affordable yet elegant simcha at every level. In 8th Day, we have found a company that can work with everyone and within a range of budgets,” said Rav Aryeh Stechler, Rosh Yeshiva and Dean at Heichal HaTorah, which owns the Jewish Center of Teaneck.
The Jewish Center of Teaneck is the second-largest facility in the Teaneck area. 8th Day is hoping to attract simchas both large and small from the immediate and surrounding communities. They have already catered numerous weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, and other celebrations, at the Jewish Center. The 5,200 square foot large ballroom at the Jewish Center can sit up to 400 people without a dance floor and 300 with a dance floor. The smaller ballroom, at 2,700 square feet, can hold 200 without a dance floor, and 150 with a dance floor.
In addition to a complete makeover of the kitchen, installing new ovens, stoves, appliances and equipment, Lisker is helping redesign the spacious Stein Ballroom. “We have purchased ‘up lighting,’ which allows us to dim the overhead lights and give the entire ballroom a beautiful glow; we are also looking into different options of redoing the floors,” he said. If you book the room by January 31, 2018 you will receive the up lighting at no charge, which is a $1,500 value.
Mr. Lisker got into the catering business almost by accident, fifteen years ago. As a teenager he was asked by Shimmy Stein to help out with kiddushim and smachot at Beth Abraham in Bergenfield. Having just returned from a year of yeshiva in Israel, someone approached him asking if he’d be willing to do a bris at an affordable price. He said yes. “Shimmy was in the kitchen that morning helping me scramble eggs.”
At that bris, someone popped his head into the kitchen. “Who’s in charge?” he asked.
“That depends on why you’re asking. If something’s wrong, speak to Shimmy!” he replied.
But nothing was wrong. On the contrary, this person was looking to hire him to cater his son’s bris later that week. “The community was growing by leaps and bounds. Young families were moving in and having children. We did bris after bris after bris. Eventually we were able to get our own space and move beyond Beth Abraham.”
Four years ago, 8th Day moved into a full-service commissary with three kitchens. Over the years they moved beyond brisim, expanding their menu to do engagement parties, bar and bat mitzvot, and even weddings. Although they have been doing meat catering for seven years, there are still people who have no idea they are doing more than brisim. “We’ve even done bar mitzvahs for some of the boys whose bris we did thirteen years ago,” Lisker noted proudly. They’ve also expanded geographically. “We’ve done simchas as far away as Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.” 8th Day has evolved from a one-man show to a company with many employees.
“I started the business with the twin focus of keeping prices down along with keeping quality up—both in terms of food and presentation. My goal is to be able to let people make beautiful simchas at a reasonable price.”
Lisker is also planning a vendor event and tasting at the hall in order to reach out to the community and present his vision to the public.
“This new partnership will allow both the Jewish Center of Teaneck and 8th Day Caterers to break new ground and solidify our position as a premier venue for smachot in Bergen County and beyond,” said a spokesperson for Heichal. “Dovid Lisker’s creativity and commitment to excellence make him the perfect partner for the continued resurgence of the JCT.” To find out more about the room rentals please call 8th Day Caterers at 201-214-0803 or email at [email protected].
