Len Berk
By Len Berk
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Culture “The end is actually the beginning” — and other life lessons from the Zabar’s lox counter
September 1996. It’s unsettling. You’re over 50, you’re Jewish, you walk into Zabar’s expecting that old time Yiddish flavor behind the counter, but all the lox men are Chinese. Well, almost all: a sprinkling of Hispanics, an African American here and there, and yes, an occasional Jew. What was I to do? So, I sold…
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Culture “She didn’t like it salty” — A tale from the Zabar’s lox counter
Her left arm was securely held by the health care worker who accompanied her. They approached the fish counter very slowly and carefully. With total disregard for who was next in line, she looked me in the eye and spoke. “I don’t want salty” she said in a belligerent tone. “I don’t want salty,” she…
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Culture The unkindest cut: Last call for a Zabar’s lox slicer
It was March 13. The pandemic was in its early stages. No one knew what was yet to come. I was three quarters through the slice when my supervisor came behind the counter. I stopped slicing and looked up at him. “I don’t think I want you here next Thursday, Len.” he said. “We’ll talk…
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