Len Berk
By Len Berk
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Culture A schmaltzy fish tale for the hard of herring
The Forward’s lox columnist explains the origins and varieties of one of his favorite delicacies
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New York Voices Where have all the hanging ducks gone?
A much-delayed pilgrimage to Flushing's Chinatown reveals just how much the world has changed
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Culture The friend collector, iconoclast, clam lover and golf aficionado I’ll never forget
The Forward's lox columnist fondly remembers his friend, the inimitable Arnold Langer
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Culture Jackie Mason — my cameo role in his comedy success story
It was the 1980s. Jackie was at the height of his career, performing all over the world to rave reviews. There was no one else like him. If he so chose, he could destroy you with only two words. My friend Paul Herzich, who was deeply affected by Jackie’s 1963 album, “I’m the Greatest Comedian…
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Culture How a Brooklyn music teacher, the Lone Ranger and two temples changed my life
When did I discover that I could sing, that I could harmonize? Was it a special gift? I remember singing in elementary school. I tried out for the role of Nanki-Poo in “The Mikado” and wound up in the chorus. And, in “I Hear America Singing.” I played the lead role — Walt Whitman. Mrs….
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Culture The world’s most famous lox slicer faces life as a celebrity
“You’re the guy that slices lox!” she screamed as I passed her on my way to the garage after a day’s work at Zabar’s. She was very excited. “Did you see it?” she asked. “See what?” I said. “You’re on my phone; come here and I’ll show you.” Earlier that day, shortly after I arrived…
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Culture A young man, an old man and the secrets of clamming
Sammy held the dark, odd-shaped, deep brown clump of stuff in his hand, showed it to me and said, ”Grandpa, is this doo-doo?” “NO-NO, no doo- doo, absolutely not,” I said. “It’s pure, clean, good mud. And that’s where the clams live.” “”Yuck, mud’s not clean; how can mud be clean?” Sammy and I had…
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Culture At Zabar’s, mastering the art of the schmooze
I looked up at the clock on the far rear wall in my section. It was 4 o’clock and he hadn’t shown up yet. I worried a little and continued waiting on customers. He completely left my mind for a while and then, suddenly he was there, in the front of the store, reaching up…
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