Gallery Guide for all ages JEWISH DELIJEWISH DELITHE THE “I’ll Have She’sWhatHaving”
Welcome
“Deli” is short for the German word delicatessen, meaning “a place to find delicious things to eat.” Learn about the foods Jewish delis serve and the roles they have played in American culture.
Let’s begin! Walk around the gallery in a clockwise direction to find the objects featured in this guide. What objects do you think it has held? LOOK FOR A SMALL, WORN SUITCASE.
The first delis were created 150 years ago by Jewish immigrants to the United States from Germany, Russia, and other European countries. As they settled in, many began to sell food in their new communities, starting businesses that grew into the restaurants we know today.
This suitcase belonged to Sam Hurwitz, who in 1905 left his home in Lithuania to come to America in search of a better life.
Imagine you are moving from one place to another. What would you bring? Why?
Draw or write a list of items.
Deli•berationsWhatwouldyoucarry with you?
Sam was one of more than two million Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe to the United States between 1880 and 1924. The things Sam, and many others, carefully packed in suitcases like this one reveal the traditions, hopes, fears, and dreams they carried with them.
Street vending remains a part of city life to this day. What street foods have you tried?
n (SpanishElote for “corn”) n Fruit cups with mango and chili n Hot dogs n Ice cream n Popcorn n Pupusas n Soft pretzels n Tacos n
If you were walking through New York City’s Lower East Side at the time, you would hear vendors calling out the names of their delicious treats.
SpecialDeli•very
More than one hundred years ago, many Jewish immigrants supported their families by selling goods from carts like these.
FIND THE PUSHCART.
This food fusion was helped by the diversity of New York City—at the time, the most diverse place in the nation! Today, Los Angeles is home to people from more than 140 countries around the world, each with their own food traditions.
LOOK FOR THE PLATES OF FOOD.
What LA foods and flavors could you add to your very own sky-high sandwich? Draw or describe.
Look closely at the dishes in front of you. Have you tried these foods? Maybe, maybe not, but these are longtime deli favorites that combine Central and Eastern European dishes with items that were easy to come by in the United States at the turn of the twentieth century.
Deli•caciesAmixofoldand new
Handle that Deli•catelydough all-purpose tsp salt granulated
FIND THE SMALL VIDEO SCREEN TO WATCH HOW BAGELS ARE MADE!
flour 2
4 tbs
sugar 1 ¼ cup water 1 packet of fast-acting dried yeast Homemade Bagels ingredientsMixtheActivateyeastthebagelKnead the bagel dough theBoiltheFormbagelsbagelsSTEP n STEP n STEP n STEP n STEP n STEP n theBakebagels Oy gevalt! This bagel recipe got mixed up! Can you fix it by writing numbers 1 through 6 in the correct order? Find the answer key on the last page. What’s your go-to bagel flavor? n Everything n Sesame n Poppy n Chocolate Chip n Onion n Egg n Blueberry n
Bagels have been around for more than four hundred years. They were first made in Poland and have since grown into an American staple.
Ingredients: 3 ½ cups
Imagine bringing all that food to a padded vinyl booth. Careful not to drop your heavy tray filled with cups of coffee, glasses of water, and huge platters of sandwiches, pickles, and coleslaw! And don’t forget the mustard!
Phew, this is hard work. Next time you’re at a restaurant, thank the waiter and all the people who make the food, clean the kitchen, and make you feel welcome. And while you’re at it, thank your loved ones for feeding you!
Deli•veredtoyourtable
Now it’s your turn to play server! Write your name on and wear the name tag below. Fill out an order ticket from the corner of the gallery.
No deli would be complete without the people who cook and serve the food! These workers make the deli more than a restaurant, but a place of community.
LOOK FOR KAYE’S UNIFORM.
Small Bites Desserts Drinks Menu Special
If you had a deli or restaurant, what special meals would you serve? Design your own menu filled with your favorite foods and family recipes.
Main Dishes
What’sfavoriteyourdeli Deli•ght?
Just like the deli, which is a home away from home for many, you too can create community with the people you love by sharing beloved dishes and creating memories.
While You’re Here
Check out Talking Back to Power: Projects by Aram Han Sifuentes, an exhibition that highlights American immigrant experiences and explores themes of justice and inclusion. more of a food fix? Pop over to the exhibition Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America to visit a special display called “Immigrant Kitchen,” then grab a bite at Zeidler’s Café or Judy’s Deli. Don’t forget to stop by Audrey’s Museum Store to shop exclusive deli keepsakes!
Want
Share your menu! Share your photos! #DeliExhibit@Skirball_LA#JewishDeli
“Immigrant Kitchen,” on view in Visions and Values
While this exhibition is a celebration of food, we know that many people in the world, including young people, don’t have enough to eat. Scan the QR code to learn about organizations that help with food insecurity and how you can lend a helping hand.
Mazon is a national advocacy organization working to end hunger in the United States and Israel.
No Us Without You LA assists families of undocumented hospitality workers who are affected by COVID-19. They serve food relief packages to more than one thousand families (4,500 people) every week.
Photos: Suitcase, cart, matzo ball soup, uniform, and “Immigrant Kitchen” tableau by Robert Wedemeyer © 2022 Skirball Cultural Center
Bagel recipe answer key (from left to right): 4, 6, 5, 2, 3, 1. Steps in order: Activate the yeast, mix the bagel ingredients, knead the bagel dough, form the bagels, boil the bagels, bake the bagels.
Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste in Southern California by rescuing fresh surplus produce and connecting this abundance with people in need.
The United Nations World Food Program provides food to those fleeing crisis and conflict situations, including the Ukrainian people.
When You Get Home
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049 skirball.org • (310) 440-4500
The LA Street Vendor Campaign provides direct assistance to street vendors and small businesses affected by COVID-19.