Andrew Silverstein is a New York-based freelance writer and the co-founder of Streetwise New York Tours. In 2023, he was named “Best Freelancer of the Year” by the American Jewish Press Association.
Andrew Silverstein
By Andrew Silverstein
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Culture Just when you thought you were ready for Passover, a kosher poultry shortage could fowl everything up
This Passover, observant Jews may not just be forgoing leavened bread; they might also have to skip chicken. Jewish supermarkets, butchers, and restaurants are facing a nationwide kosher poultry shortage which means this year’s matzo balls might lack that heavenly schmaltz. Park East Kosher on Manhattan’s Upper East Side is coaxing some shoppers to roast…
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Culture What the 1950 census can tell us about Jewish life in America
Jewish genealogists and researchers are eagerly awaiting midnight April 1, when the U.S. 1950 decennial census will be made public by the National Archives and Records Administration. Seventy-two years to the day the enumeration began, the entries of the 151 million Americans tallied will be made accessible online. The data will give a snapshot of…
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Culture Are virtual minyans and avatar rabbis the future of Judaism?
Some Reform and Orthodox Jews are finding a place to practice their religion in the Metaverse. Could a virtual Passover celebration be far off?
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Culture It was the most successful Jewish ad campaign of all time — but who was the model?
You don’t have to be Jewish to love Levy’s rye bread ads. Duane Blue Spruce of the Laguna and Ohkay-Owingeh Pueblo tribes keeps a copy of a Levy’s ad pinned to his office wall at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Lower Manhattan, where he works as a facilities planning coordinator. Blue…
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Culture Does the cheesecake shortage of 2021 mean that Christmas is becoming more Jewish?
Promptly at noon Friday, I went to a Philadelphia cream cheese website to sign up for the “Spread The Feel” campaign. Amid an ongoing cream cheese shortage, Philadelphia’s parent company Kraft Heinz is paying customers $20 to not make cheesecake for Christmas. In exchange for an email address and basic personal info, Kraft will reimburse…
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Culture Yes, Kraft will really pay you $20 to eat halva instead of cheesecake* (*some restrictions apply)
Kraft Heinz, the producer of Philadelphia cream cheese announced they will pay select customers $20 each to not bake cheesecake for Christmas. The promotion comes as New York area bagel shops and other cream cheese users are running out of Philadelphia. A Forward investigation revealed that the cream cheese shortage is connected to limited water…
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Culture In the cream cheese fiasco of 2021, a new suspect emerges — is it the water?
While Manhattan bagel shops are scrambling to meet their schmear demands, for Paul Denise, the Superintendent of Public Works in Lowville, New York, the cream cheese crisis of 2021 reflects a much larger concern: balancing competing water needs in his community. Lowville, a village of 3,200 people near the Canadian border, is home to one…
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Culture Why the story of cream cheese is the story of Jews in America
When it comes to “bagels and lox,” the cream cheese is essential but goes without mention. Like the marinara sauce in “spaghetti and meatballs,” it plays a leading role but gets no top billing. Still, a tart, bright red tomato sauce gets noticed. Cream cheese, however, inspires no secret nonna recipes. Even Jewish gourmands who…
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