The Men’s Club of West Orange’s Congregation Ahavas Achim B’nai Jacob & David (AABJ&D) held a “Solidarity With Israel Wine Tasting” on Saturday evening Nov. 4. The 125 people in attendance had the opportunity to sample 29 of the 66 wines available for sale. Along with wine, attendees were treated to a small taste of Israel with foods including hummus, matbucha, babaganoush, falafel and cigars, along with dessert. There was also a raffle with a magnum of Mia Luce as the first prize, a magnum of Barkan Platinum as second prize, and a bottle of Shiloh Secret Reserve as third prize.
Event organizer Jaicky Tammam noted that the focus was only on Israeli wines and wineries to which he had a personal connection, either through the winemakers or people involved with the winery: Carmel/Yatir, Shiloh, Vitkin, Teperberg, Tura and Jezreel.
Tamman had previously run the Congregation AABJ&D Pesach wine sale for several years pre-Covid through the shul Men’s Club, and had the idea two weeks ago to do something now to benefit Israel. He approached his son-in-law Eldar Ben-Zikry, who is co-president of the Men’s Club with Jason Buskin. Both thought it was a great idea and an event was born.
Ben-Zikry and Tammam handled the food arrangements while Reuben Ehrlich created an order form and took the orders. The organizers thank the Zughafts from winebasket.com for their support of the sale.
“We all make kiddush every Shabbat—make kiddush on Israeli wine and help the Israeli economy!” expressed Tammam.
The group has taken orders in excess of $11,000 but expects more to come. They hope to be able to donate around $5,000 to One Israel Fund, Magen David Adom and the Lone Soldier Center. Orders are being taken until Nov. 12. Visit www.aabjd.org/event/mens-club-%20Solidarity-With-Israel-Wine-Sale.html or email Tammam at [email protected].
Deborah Melman is a staff writer at The Jewish Link.
