Page 8-The Cai]tadian Jewidi Nev?s-Friday, August 13,1971
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jy Modesfy urged on young women by lubavffcfier rdbbf
SAVE 105-a
Vatiran Shopty mittr, Raymond Luar
Shopsy anniversary
Secret process priceless formula
Among the many celebrities whose photographs dec> orate the walls of Shopsy's Delicatessen are Danny Kaye, Victor Borge, Jimmy Durante, Ella Fitzgerald, Wayne and Shuster, Twiggy the model, and mine host, Sam Shopsowitz. It's quite in order to find Sam's beaming, gargantuan features in this olympian company for he, too, is a personality of considerable stature, not to mention girth.
Bob Hope is reported to have told Sam, after a generous helping of chopped liver, "Two more weeks of this and I'll like you!"
The late Mickey Lester, alluding to Sam's theatrical propensities, often referred to him as " my friend, George Bernard Shopsowitz;." Had he not l}ecome president of Shopsy's Foods, he might have gone to Hollywood with Percy Faith's orchestra and, for all we know, achieved stardom as the Liberace of the accordian.
It was in the Polish town of Kielce that great-grandfather Shopsowitz, an inn-
by Vincent Gejler
keeper, first dreamed up the recipe for Shopsy's aromatic meats. Fifty years ago his father, who brought the priceless formula toTor-onto in his wallet (he wouldn't trust Brink's E:$ress), opened a humble little delicatessen store on Spadina Avenue, just above Dundas.
Although Sam and brother Izzy sliced meat behind the counter, Sam had his eye on show business and practiced faithfully on the piano and accordion. He managed to assemble a small orchestra, and later played with Percy Faith's band.
"The store was not exactly ah instant success," said Sam, recalling the early twenties. "My parents worked hard; it was true pioneering, and we stayed open from nine in the morning until three' o'clock the next morning. They were among the first to introduce Jewish style delicatessen into an Anglo Saxon city that had never tasted it before.
"We began to serve a broader clientele when manufacturers from the garment area started dropping in for
Israel diplomat returns to launch bond drive
Ambaaiador Mtchaal S. Comay
Michael S. Comay, Israel's Ambassador to Great Britain, has good reason to feel nostalgic about his forthcoming visit to Canada. He will fly to Toronto on Sep-tembier 12 \o be principal ^aker. at the Eglintoh Lodge B'nal B'rith Dinner that evening to launch B'nal B'rith participaUon in the 1971 State of Israel Bond Drive In Toronto, arid topresent the Shalom Award to Sam Kaporov-sky of Egiinton Lodge "tor distinguished leadership in the Israel Bond efforts".
Comay will have ah onpor-tunity that evening to renew,: acquaintances with many old friends among^tbronto Jewry. He c^me to Ottawa in 1954
direttly from the UN to serve as his country's first dlfdo-matlc representative toCan> ada. It was during his tenure as minister thatthe Canadian and Israeli governments ele-* vated their respective ministries to-the istatus of embassies, arid he was designated the first ambassador from Israel to Canada.
Following his service in Ottawa, MX. Comay was named assistant durector general of Isirael's foreign, ministry; then permanent representatWe of Israel at theUnited'Nations; andcur-renfly he holds the strategically-important p6st as Israel's ambassador/to Great Britain. : /
lunch with buyers from the big merchandising firms. The word spread gradually and our non-Jewish trade showed an upward swing. Radioper-formers, aldermen, writers — people like Lou Jacobi, Mickey Lester, Hi Bossin and others — made the place a local Lindy's. To the Yiddish actors at the old Standard Theater it was the Sardi's of Toronto."
In 1945, while Sam was up to his ears in musical plans and ambitions, his father died, leaving behind a thriving food store that Sam describes as "a labor of love."
As it happened, the little deli continued to prosper; customers were ravei](Ously devouring everything on the table, and Sam was needed. In 1946 he entered the business as a full time impresario of fine foods. Over theyeafs the family iehterpi;ise kept on expanding at a rate that was downright alarming to Sam, . the musician. Today, at fifty-two, he heads a successful corporation with'a busy plant marketing about seventy-five food products. But he has no intention of giving up the accordion; with Leon WeinstelQ on the violin he often turns up at benefits to play for a worthy cause. Nothing will stop this pair; in fact, they recently shanghaied Moxie Whitney, Royal York Hotel orchestra leader, and made an album to be called "The Unholy Trio".
Who would have believed that a modest little sandwich shop on Spadina, an area certainly not, the Mecca of sophisticated boulevardiers, would attract so many of Toronto'5 elite?
Ask him that familiar question,"To What do you attribute your success?" arid he replies^ "I attribute everything to my parents, their love for people, their love for their work. It was their guidance, their basic Jewish philosophy and ethics— it was this heritage that built Shopsy's."
From tiihe to time, rumors get ai-oimd that Shopsy's has been sold to one of the giant packing companies, but Sam is quick to issue a categor? Icsd denial. "1 love my woric," he says — "and I like the food, - too" he adds with an evocative smile.
He's an energetic community worker, active in the U JA, Variety Club, Toronto Sym? phony Board, Participation House, and other organica-' lions.
On Wednesday, August 11,. the Shopsowitz dynasty celebrated fifty years of progress. To re-create the Spadina Avenue of 1921. coffee was five cents, sandwiches went for eight cents. Waiters hustled around in 1921 suits, and vintage cars chugged along .outsicfe. Iq the Xamous cafeteria, sictors and sports stars, headliners from all walks, stood in line as usual tor a plate of Shopsy's succulent morsels. ; In some Restaurants the seats are lined with expensive carved leather, in others with luxurlousplushy fabrics, but at Shopsy's the seats are always Ibied with satisfied customers.
New York. - A strongplea to Jewish women to take an uncompromising stand and exert their influence among other women to abide by the laws of Tznius (modesty), was issued here by the Lob-avitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Meha^ chem Mi Schnieerson.
In a letter to a group of young womeri who had been iactive in this endeavor, the Rabbi wrote that "when cue sees an area of neglect within the communis, the way to deal with the matter is notas some misguided individuals might think, toacceptthesit-
uatim or even make concessions, in the hope of not antagonizing individuals or groups. On the contrary, it is necessary to mend the broken barriers, and to erect additional fences'to close the
gap."
With obvious reference to
the laxity in modesty of at-r tire, .especially during the summer months, the Rebbe writes::
"I particularly Urge you to continue your good efforts in the area of Tznius, whicl^ allthougfa basically reflected in the manneir of attire, also
concerns general conduct and even conversation.
"I brust that each and everyone of you will consider it as a special mission and message from the Torah to dp so, to take advantage of these vacation days to strengthen all matters of goodneiss
and holiness in one'slifeand in one's surroundings.
"It is weU to bear in mind," the Rebbe concludes, "that since the Creator of man expects one to fulfU a certain task. He provides the necessary abUity and capacity to fulfil the task in the best possible way.'
open every night until 10
CHARGEX • FREE PARKING BABY BONUS^ CHEQUES CASHED lAYAWAY
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