r o i n Seiving L Supplement to Jewish News June 28, 2021 jewishnewsva.org | June 28, 2021 | Senior Living | JEWISH NEWS | 11
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Learn more at sentara.com/Top15 Sentara.com/Top15 12 | JEWISH NEWS | Senior Living | June 28, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org
Senior Living Dear Readers,
S
ince Seniors were hard hit in so many ways by
may “qualify” to be seniors, but seem to not regard their
Tidewater Jewish Foundation on page 20 is food for
the pandemic—isolation, stress, weight gain (oy!),
age as anything but a number. Gerald Einhorn, Linda
thought about how to use an IRA for charitable purposes
muscle loss (another oy!), fear of going to the doctor, and a
Spindel, and Miriam Seeherman, are inspirations at any
and reduce taxes at the same time.
disproportionate death rate from the virus—this summer
age. The article by Lisa Richmon is on page 14.
feels metaphorically more like spring as we move forward, or back to our more normal daily lives. Now as we make that re-entry—some quicker than others—there seems to be so much to do…from travel to
Of course, there are more articles in this section,
Speaking of numbers, Olga Payes is about to cele-
as well as some great advertisers who offer ways to stay
brate her 100th birthday and her friends from the Soviet
financially, legally, and physically healthy…as well as new
Jewish Resettlement Program want everyone to know.
places to live.
Their message is on page 21.
dinners with friends to doctor appointments to returning
The Seniors programming at the Simon Family
to the theaters to celebrating everything—including just
JCC is gearing up and the regular attendees are beyond
being together. The activity is certainly a refreshing move
ready. See what’s planned and when it all begins again on
away from Zoom and Netflix.
page 15. And, then, consider joining these very energetic
For some, sitting still, is just not in their DNA. In this section, for example, we talk to a couple of people who
people. For those who are 70½ or older, the article from
Thanks for reading and be safe,
Terri Denison Editor
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jewishnewsva.org | June 28, 2021 | Senior Living | JEWISH NEWS | 13
Senior Living Slowing down is not an option for seniors on the move Lisa Richmon
W
ho says an 85-year-old retired dentist would never launch a third career crafting specialty ice cream cakes during a pandemic? What would stop a lifelong community activist from leveraging decades of knowledge gained as a board member (inside and outside the Jewish community) from becoming United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s president at age 75? Or a community volunteer and activist from learning a new skill—writing her story at 87? Jewish News asked Gerald Einhorn, Linda Spindel, and Miriam Seeherman, three seniors who know how to level up an active lifestyle, what makes this stage of life most rewarding and challenging. “I would say that a good thing about being older and active is that because of the years of experience I feel like I have a lot more to bring to any situation. Even when I’m trying something new it’s always sort of like something else that I did before, and I have a better idea of how to go about solving problems related to it. And, of course as you get older, you are much calmer,” says Einhorn,
owner of Gerald’s Ice Cream at Hilltop in Virginia Beach. Linda Spindel is the former president of both Jewish Family Service and Ohef Sholom Temple who has also served on boards of non-Jewish non-profits. Everything she invests in has her signature moxie with heart, humility, and humor. “There’s no better feeling than doing for others,” says Spindel. ”In the 20 years, I’ve invested my resources in programs I care about—I get way more than I give.” Self-preservation is another motivator for staying active. “I heard many years ago, ‘if you rest, you rust.’ I’m taking no chances!” says Spindel. “I am a huge believer in the power of the elevator speech and making the best of all the experiences I’ve had and apply what I’ve learned to different programs,” she says. “I must say that the COVID pandemic has been a challenge like no other. My community and cultural activities, which have been an integral part of my life for the last 80 plus years, ground to a halt,” says Miriam Seeherman, 87. “I could either sit and do nothing, or adapt. I chose to adapt, learning new things and tackling new projects.” Active all of her life, in leadership positions within the Jewish community, cultural, and nonprofit organizations, sitting wasn’t an option for Seeherman. “I play bridge and mahjong, attend many cultural events, and enjoy the occasional meal out, as well as time with family. I continue to serve as a member of the JCRC and the Federation.”
Dianne and Gerald Einhorn.
14 | JEWISH NEWS | June 28, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org
“At my age I have often thought about being technically challenged, but in the past year and a half, I’ve mastered FaceTime, Facebook and Zoom to keep in touch with friends and family. I never thought I’d be a “techie,” but the new skills I’ve acquired have been quite rewarding. I’ve virtually attended UJFT and Beth Sholom Village board meetings and Ohef Sholom Temple Shabbat services. I’ve “gone” to the Metropolitan Opera, to concerts around the world, to a lot of interesting lectures, to baby showers, birthday parties, and family seders. While not as great as being there in person, it keeps me up to date and feeling connected,” says Seeherman. “Gerald and I are coming up on our 45th wedding anniversary and one-year anniversary for our ice cream store,” says Diane Einhorn. “This is Gerald’s third career!” Einhorn was a dentist for 46 years, a fine-dining restaurateur at Terrapin, and now he owns and operates Gerald’s Ice Cream Bar. “For me personally,” says Diane Einhorn, “I have seen my purpose as helping Gerald, and it has been quite the journey. He is a remarkable man in so many ways and at so many levels, and I have felt blessed to have shared a life with him and to get to experience so many interesting activities via his drive and talents. “Sometimes body limitations can be a pain,” says Dianne. “That is the biggest challenge.” Another challenge Seeherman accepted came from one of her granddaughters. “About a year ago, she asked me to share some of my life experiences. She was curious and asked questions such as, ‘How is life different today compared to when you were a child?’ or, ‘All about Love and Marriage,’ first pets, early work life, high school experiences, etc.,” says Seeherman. “The stories weren’t for her ears only; she wanted me to write them down so she can publish them in a book to share with all of my children, grandchildren, and extended
Linda Spindel.
family. Despite the pressure (I’m known as a speaker, not a writer), the project has been extremely rewarding in letting me go back in time to revisit places, emotions and events—some of which I hadn’t thought of in years.” Spindel has no plans to slow down. In two years, at the age of 75, she is slated to become the next UJFT president. Her signature style is a mix of practicality, creativity, simplicity, and humility. “Laura Gross is the new UJFT president who hasn’t had her first meeting,” says Spindel. “They have two years to come to their senses.”
Miriam Seeherman.
Senior Living Adult programming at the Simon Family JCC to return in-person Robyn Sidersky
F
or more than a decade, the JCC Book Club has met, and in that time, has read more than 150 books. There’s no surprise, then, that this group did not let the pandemic slow them down. Not only did the group continue to read and meet over Zoom, but the JCC Book Club grew its membership. The JCC Book Club, JCC Seniors Club, weekly card games, and other programming — are all returning to take place in-person. “We have a very eclectic group of people in our book club,” says Sherry Lieberman, the club’s facilitator. “Everybody contributes.” Lieberman says that although she usually chooses the books, many members love to suggest books, and those are considered, as well. The books range from Jewish content and Jewish authors to bestsellers to classics. The group often reads selections from The Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival, and then goes to events to hear the authors speak. They read the
Joan Johnson paints kindness rocks as one of the JCC Seniors Club activities at the Sandler Family Campus. The rocks were part of a Seeds of Hope Mental Health & Wellness Art Project that was a partnership between several organizations, including the Coastal Virginia Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Virginia Beach Season for Non-Violence Collective and the Vibe Creative District in Virginia Beach.
memoir The Apple and the Shady Tree: The Mafia, My Family, and Me and heard the author, Lisa Novick Goldberg speak about the book via Zoom on June 14. A lot of the members had questions for Goldberg and had the chance to ask her there. Lieberman says her favorite part of the book club is the discussion. She notes that the discussions make her think about aspects of the book she might not have considered. “The discussions are very lively and enlightening for everybody,” she says. Lieberman hopes the book club continues to thrive when they are back in person. The JCC Book Club meets on the third Monday of each month and welcomes new members. Now, it will have options for both in-person and virtual participation. For the first official time since the pandemic began, on August 18, the JCC Seniors Club will gather for lunch and to visit with friends. Patsi Walton, the club’s president, is currently working on a calendar of programs. In addition, several exciting day trips are being planned including the Chrysler Glass Studio in Norfolk, the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center in Portsmouth, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and others. The JCC Seniors Club meets for lunch, good conversation, and a program on the third Wednesday of each month at noon. Game playing is another activity that is returning to in-person programming. Bunco will be offered the first Monday of the month, 1–3 pm; Bridge will be offered the first and third Tuesday of the month (beginning in September); and Mexican Train will be every Friday, 1–5 pm. Mahjong games are coming soon, with dates and times to be determined. All skill levels are welcome. More information about the activities can be found at jewishva.org. Have ideas for programming or activities? If so, contact Jill Grossman, director, Arts + Ideas, at jgrossman@ujft.org or 757-965-6137.
Commonwealth Senior Living at The Ballentine Over the years we have found that families often wonder if the changes they notice in a loved one are related to dementia or if they’re a natural outcome of aging. While this can be a difficult time, Commonwealth Senior Living has been helping families along this journey for almost 20 years, and we can help yours too.
We’ve created the guide to help families: 10 Signs a Loved One May Need Memory Care. Call to request a complimentary copy of our helpful guide today.
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16 | JEWISH NEWS | Senior Living | June 28, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org
hose early days of retirement can be exciting as retirees are finally rewarded with a little rest and relaxation after all those years of toil. But it can be a bit unsettling as well when the regular paychecks stop appearing in the bank account. That’s why anyone who’s still a few years away from retirement should ask themselves: Am I ready for that moment both financially and emotionally? The answer could come down to whether a solid retirement plan is in place—or a plan at all. “Regardless of how much you accumulate for your retirement, poor planning or lack of planning can put you at risk of exhausting your resources,” says Tad Hill, a retirement planner and author of Retire with Freedom: The Five Steps to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep After the Paychecks Stop. Hill says people nearing the end of their working years should follow this five-step process for a more secure retirement: • Create an ideal picture of retirement. What is desired out of retirement? To travel? Volunteer with a charity? Spend time with the grandkids? The first step isn’t about a financial portfolio, Hill says, it’s about forming a clear image of the big “why” of an ideal retirement. “Otherwise, even though your money may last the rest of your lives,” Hill says, “you may never achieve your dreams because you’re unclear on your dreams.” • Put a personal situation to the “stress test.” With the help of a financial professional, give a retirement plan a “stress test.” That can include reviewing how to best maximize Social Security benefits and examining how a portfolio might perform under a variety of market scenarios. “Analyze all the factors that could affect your retirement plan over
the next few decades and create a strategy for dealing with those risk factors with as much certainty as possible,” Hill says. • Design the plan. Designing a retirement plan, Hill says, is much like creating the blueprint for a house. “These blueprints identify the strategies available to help minimize risk, increase certainty, avoid excess taxes, and ensure an adequate retirement income,” he says. Some of the concerns that need to be addressed include income planning, investment planning, health care planning, tax planning and legacy planning. • Build the plan. Once the design is agreed upon, it’s time to implement it. “That can mean making changes to your current structure, adding some things and getting rid of others,” Hill says. “Maybe risk-prone aspects of your current approach that we need to eliminate were discovered in the design step. We also often identify new strategies that you aren’t using that can really make a difference.” • Seek continued guidance. Even a great retirement plan may need tweaks and adjustments over the years. “Times change, people change and situations change,” Hill says. With his clients, he holds a regular yearly consultation to help ensure they are on the right pathway to retirement success at all times. “You need to look at whether there are things that have changed in your life that need attention,” he says. “Are there decisions you need to make about a pension or Social Security? Is your spending tracking at the amount you thought it would?” “There are no guarantees of anything in life, including how your retirement will work out,” Hill says. “But taking action to create a solid and wellthought-out plan for this important part of your life is a critical first step.
Senior Living Sheitel macher expands to Virginia
L
inda Brudermann is an experienced sheitel macher with more than 25 years of experience serving the Orthodox communities of Brooklyn, N.Y. Brudermann’s passion is to find the right style for any special occasion, as well as to help many deal with hair loss due to cancer and alopecia. She says her greatest satisfaction comes from seeing clients happy and confident.
Brudermann had a storefront called Visions in Wigs with her sister in Brooklyn until her sister retired in 2007. She renamed the business Wigs on the Go, a specialized pickup-and-delivery service. Now, Brudermann and her husband have moved to Virginia, and she hopes to expand her business in this area. For more information, call 757-574-0023.
Seniors hit the road in RVs A new report by Outdoorsy looks at the surge in RV sales throughout the United States, as an increasing number of Baby Boomers hit the road in retirement. RV dealers generate annual sales of $57.7 million in the Virginia BeachNorfolk-Newport News metro area, which breaks down to $33 per person, per year. Out of all large U.S. metros, Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News reports the 13th least annual RV sales per capita. Unlike other segments of the travel and tourism economy, the market for recreational vehicles has been thriving in the face of COVID-19. Compared to other travel options like flying or staying in a hotel, traveling by RV makes it easier to maintain physical distance and lower the risk of exposure to coronavirus. Early indications are that the appeal of RVs has continued to grow during the pandemic, and industry experts are anticipating a nearly 25% surge in RV shipments in 2021. But the increased demand for RVs is not surprising, as the market has been growing consistently over the last decade. For example, according to a recent Census Bureau report, RV dealership sales increased by more than 81% between 2012 and 2017, the most recent
year for which Census data is available. The market has been driven by an aging population, as more Baby Boomers hit the road in retirement, but also by strong interest among Millennials and Gen Z consumers interested in camping and outdoor experiences. RV shipments also demonstrate the longer-term increase in demand. Data from the RV Industry Association shows that shipments of RVs have reached alltime highs in recent years. From 1981 to 2020, the number of RVs shipped rose from around 133,000 to 430,000. Remarkably, much of this growth has occurred just since the last recession in 2009. That year, shipment numbers dropped to their lowest levels since 1991 at around 165,000. Between that point and 2020, shipments increased by approximately 160%. For those with time who are ready to explore, an RV might be the COVID-safe answer.
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jewishnewsva.org | June 28, 2021 | Senior Living | JEWISH NEWS | 17
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Senior Living How do you know you’re ready for retirement? It’s not just the finances
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n intriguing finding once emerged from a RAND Corp. survey on Americans and their working conditions. It turned out that 40 percent of employees 65 and older had previously retired, but something lured them back to the working world. In some cases, financial troubles might have been the cause. But often the reason is that people neglect an important component in their retirement planning. They don’t think about what they will do with their extra time, or how they will give their life the meaning and purpose work provided, says Patti Hart, co-author with her husband, Milledge, of The Resolutionist: Welcome to the Anti-Retirement Movement (www. antiretirement.com). “Money is certainly important, but it’s not the only thing that determines whether your retirement is a success,” Patti Hart says. “It may be that you are financially ready to retire, but are a long way from being emotionally ready.” The Harts offer tips for figuring out when to retire and for making sure you’re successful when you do: Know important catalysts. “Identify milestones or signs that will let you know you are ready to embark on a new post-work life,” Milledge Hart says. “Yes, that could be when you’ve accumulated a certain amount of savings. But it might also be related to when your spouse quits their job, or when your children graduate college and head out on their own.” Maybe the plan is to work until one’s health gives out. “Knowing your catalysts can mean the difference between successfully transitioning to a fulfilled life after your career is over, or boomeranging back to the full-time workforce simply because you didn’t know why you quit to begin with,” he says. Plan ahead to avoid separation anxiety from work. For many people, moving from the excitement and fulfillment of a career to the quietness of retirement is too much, Patti Hart says. They develop a form of “separation
anxiety,” longing for their old way of life rather than venturing boldly into the new one. “You need to make a plan for what you want to do in your new post-career life so you aren’t floundering when you get there,” she says. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable. At work, people are thrown into uncomfortable situations and have no choice but to face them head on. In retirement, it’s easier to avoid discomfort, but doing so diminishes confidence, and the potential to miss out on opportunities for personal growth and fun, Milledge Hart says. “It would seem counterintuitive to think that being uncomfortable brings happiness, but it does,” he says. “Go at life as if it’s an adventure—because it is. When you accomplish something you didn’t think you could, you get a jolt of endorphins that drives you to your next challenge.” Learn to be ‘your own best friend.’ Even when people want to try a new hobby or activity, they sometimes are afraid to do it alone. “In retirement, you might not have the social network you once did,” Patti Hart says. “You may long for a good friend you can rely on. But if you think about it,’ she says, “you already have that friend—yourself.” So when preparing for retirement, be ready to go solo on occasion. “When you get to this stage, you will often find that some things on your list are on your list alone,” she says. “No one in your universe shares your interest or has the time to join you. That’s all right. If you are going to continue to grow, you need to sometimes feel like you did something completely on your own.” “Don’t convince yourself that in retirement you are going to be destined to a life of watching evening game shows and baking pies, unless of course that is what you love to do,” Milledge Hart says. “Nothing is off limits, so reach for the stars. Look forward rather than backward, and embrace the new you.”
Senior Living E
Combating increased impacts of isolation among older adults with sensory loss
ighty-three percent of older adults live with at least one form of sensory loss, according to a survey by Home Instead, Inc. While those with sensory loss have always faced an increased risk of feeling isolated, the pandemic has further reduced their ability to fully connect with the world around them, leading to a diminished quality of life. “Over the last year, we have grown increasingly more aware of the negative effects of social isolation,” says Lakelyn Hogan, Ph.D., gerontologist, and caregiver advocate at Home Instead, Inc. “Older adults living with limited or diminished senses are faced with the added stress and difficulties brought on by prolonged isolation from their loved ones. And it’s especially important to consider their needs, as they may have an especially difficult time staying connected.” Now more than ever, it is important
for family members, caregivers, and the overall community to be mindful of the signs of sensory loss and take proactive steps to ensure these individuals feel embraced and engaged. Each of the five senses plays a role in keeping people connected to the world around them. When these senses are weakened, it can become difficult and frightening to navigate an environment that is not designed to accommodate impaired vision, hearing, mobility, and more. Some older adults have been able to use video chats and phone calls to stay in touch with family during the pandemic. In fact, according to a recent study by Home Instead, Inc., one in four—28%—feel more comfortable using new technology than they did one year ago. But that technology may not work for seniors with failing eyesight or hearing. For them, isolation remains a threat.
Prioritize thoughtful connection
E
veryone can play a role in ensuring the aging population feels supported and connected during these times. Consider these ways to help connect: • Contact older loved ones or neighbors regularly and create meaningful interactions to ensure they feel valued. • During phone calls, be sure to speak up and enunciate your words clearly. • When possible, visit in-person from a socially safe distance. • Lead with empathy One simple way to make those with sensory loss feel included is to practice empathy. Doing so helps create a more inclusive and aging-friendly world for loved ones, neighbors, and others in the community. It’s not difficult to find opportunities
to lead with empathy in everyday situations. For example, when in line at the grocery store if an older adult is having a hard time grabbing their credit card from their wallet, instead of getting frustrated, take a deep breath and remember that they may not have sensitivity in their fingers. To get familiar with the signs and symptoms, Home Instead offers simple DIY activities to simulate sensory loss— things like walking with corn kernels in your socks to experience the feeling of walking with neuropathy or putting masking tape on your glasses to better understand vision with glaucoma. Be patient. Simple patience goes a long way and the result is generally positive for all… seniors and youngsters, alike.
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jewishnewsva.org | June 28, 2021 | Senior Living | JEWISH NEWS | 19
Senior Living How an IRA Charitable Rollover gift can reduce taxes Thomas Mills
F
or those who are 70½ or older who have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and want to make a lasting impact on Tidewater’s Jewish community, an IRA Charitable Rollover with the Tidewater Jewish Foundation might be worth considering. By tapping into this asset, individuals are able to make a larger philanthropic impact than previously possible and enjoy significant tax advantages. An IRA Charitable Rollover, also known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), is a withdrawal from an individual retirement account that is sent directly to a qualified public charity. A primary benefit of this option is that it keeps
those funds out of the donor’s adjusted gross income (AGI). Required minimum distributions (RMDs) must be taken from the IRA and will add to a donor’s AGI by April 1 of the year following the year in which they turn 72 (70½ if they reached 70½ before January 1, 2020) regardless of whether they are still employed. “While a Charitable IRA Rollover may not be directed to a donor-advised fund, there are several ways to give through the
Charitable IRA Rollover to leave a legacy gift, such as to direct dollars to a specific nonprofit organization, unrestricted funds, field of interest funds or other designated funds,” says Naomi Limor Sedek, TJF president and CEO. “Our Foundation professionals happily work with donors to structure Charitable IRA Rollovers to achieve their desired impact.”
Historically, donors who give large amounts to an organization would itemize their deductions. Under the tax law, many are often better off using the much larger standard deduction.
Historically, donors who give large amounts to an organization would itemize their deductions. Under the tax law, many are often better off using the much larger standard deduction. By not itemizing, however, they get no tax benefit from their philanthropic gifts. This is often 20 | JEWISH NEWS | Senior Living | June 28, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org
where an IRA Charitable Rollover can be advantageous. With this option, the donor receives the gift’s tax benefit, only now it is in the form of an IRA withdrawal (rather than an itemized deduction) and the ability to exclude that income on their tax return. In addition, the much larger standard deduction will still apply. Basic facts about IRA Charitable Rollovers • Donor must be 70½ years old. • Donors can transfer up to $100,000 a year from an IRA, which will not be taxed as income. Limit is per person, not per IRA. • Gifts must be made directly from the IRA to the organization. If not, the tax benefits will not be received. • IRA Charitable Distributions cannot go into a DAF (donor advised fund) but may go into an endowment or permanent fund for the benefit of one or more agencies. Consider contacting Tidewater Jewish Foundation to learn more about how to make the greatest impact possible with a gift that makes sense for each donor, family, and community. For more information, contact Naomi Limor Sedek, at nsedek@ujft.org or 757-965-6109. This information is not intended as tax, legal, or financial advice. Gift results may vary. Consult your personal financial advisor for information specific to your situation.
Senior Living Happy 100th Birthday Olga Payes! Dear Olga, On July 15, 2021, we will honor and celebrate your century of life. This is an incredible milestone, but not nearly as incredible as you are. May your 100th Birthday be filled with never-ending joy and pleasure. May you continue to enjoy the journey of life. We wish you good health, perfect peace of mind, and everlasting happiness from your beautiful family: your daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Olga Payes. Happy 100th birthday! Your loving friends from the Soviet Jewish Resettlement Program in Tidewater, Virginia
Dr. Harry Pariser opened Tidewater’s first dermatology practice in downtown Norfolk in 1946. Dr. David Pariser and Dr. Robert Pariser joined their father in the practice in the mid-70’s. Today our offices are located in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, Suffolk and Williamsburg. As we’ve grown, our services have expanded to include Mohs surgery, a variety of light therapies, and a full range of cosmetic dermatology services. Our affiliation with Virginia Clinical Research enables our medical providers to remain on the cutting edge of medical advancements and provide you with the most up-to-date medical care.
Editor’s note: Olga Payes moved to Tidewater from Belarus in 1996 as part of the Soviet Jewish Resettlement Program (now The New Americans Program). She made the move with her daughter, Irina Babichenko and her family. Payes still lives in the Wards Corner area of Norfolk, and as her friend, Galina Kastin notes, “She’s very independent…especially for her age.”
Alan Tripp, 103, co-created Senior Song Book, an album of original songs at age 102 Sophie Panzer
(Jewish Exponent via JTA)—One year before his death, 102-year-old Alan Tripp received national media coverage for being the writer, broadcaster and marketer of Senior Song Book, an album of original songs, along with his writing partner Marvin Weisbord. The album was covered by CBS, NPR, The Washington Post and even The Kelly Clarkson Show. “Aside from boundless creativity, Alan was a hopeless romantic. He wrote verses non-stop and enjoyed charming an audience,” Weisbord said in a statement. Tripp was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, and graduated from Northwestern University. He worked as a newspaper reporter in Chicago, a radio broadcaster in New York, a copywriter for a New York advertising agency and a columnist for an
ad business trade journal before moving to Philadelphia. He spent four years in the Army Signals Corps and served during World War II. He became president of the ad agency Bauer, Tripp, Foley, Inc., which produced live weekly TV musicals and oversaw local and national TV ads. He relocated to New York in 1966 and served as president and CEO of Product Resources International before returning to Philadelphia in 1987 to be near his family. He was married to his wife, Maggie Tripp, for 73 years. He died of COVID-19 at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr retirement community on Dec. 24. He was 103. This article was originally published in the Jewish Exponent as part of its COVID-19 obituary coverage.
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Senior Living What is an egg cream and why is it so Jewish? Rachel Ringler
A
n egg cream was my father’s kitchen claim to fame. He assembled them with great flourish—Fox’s U-Bet chocolate syrup, cold milk from a glass bottle, and a long, hard shpritz of seltzer followed by a vigorous stir. Even today, when I drink or think of it, it takes me back to my family’s Brooklyn roots and him. To my surprise, I have discovered that I am not alone in my nostalgic connection to this fancy-named, but pedestrian drink. According to Pete Freeman, co-owner, co-founder and chief soda jerk at Brooklyn Farmacy and Soda Fountain, nostalgia is at least half of the egg cream’s appeal. There was a time when every New York diner and ice cream parlor offered them. As Elliot Willensky wrote in his book, When Brooklyn Was The World: 1920–1957, “a candy store minus an egg cream, in Brooklyn at least, was as difficult to conceive of as the Earth without
gravity.” In 2021, there aren’t many candy stores or pharmacies with marble counters where you can still order an egg cream. But those eateries that offer the beverage do so with pride and purpose. When Matthew Grogan partnered with Patsy and Carol Grimaldi to open Juliana’s Pizza, rated best pizzeria in New York in 2017 by Zagat’s, they crafted a menu that would bring back foods from
the Grimaldis’ youth: pizza made with fresh mozzarella in a coal-fired oven; seltzer from glass bottles and egg creams made with U-Bet chocolate syrup. Prepandemic, they sold about 40 egg creams a week to customers of all ages, many of them curious tourists. Aside from nostalgia, though, what is the egg cream’s appeal? When you break it down, it’s just carbonated chocolate milk with foam on top. If you’re thirsty, Freeman says, it satisfies you on a physical level. But on a cultural level, “it is tied to being Jewish.” The egg cream was born in the poor and crowded Jewish communities of the Lower East Side and Brooklyn. According to Barry Joseph, author of Seltzertopia, in the 1920s and 1930s Louis Auster—the Jewish immigrant credited with creating the egg cream—would report selling 3,000 egg creams a day. On hot days the number would soar with the temperature—up to 12,000! Plus, two of the egg cream’s three ingredients have strong Jewish connections. Jews dominated the seltzer trade in New York City, and Jews loved to drink it. According to Sara Gardner in her article, Why Jews Love Seltzer, seltzer is a pareve beverage “beloved by Jews, observant and assimilated alike.” It was “a welcome digestive aid to the heavy Eastern European fare” people ate in delis. Fox’s U-Bet chocolate syrup was produced by a Jewish man, Herman Fox, in his Brooklyn tenement home at the beginning of the 20th century. Fox was a gambler who lost his money in a Texas oil well investment, but turned things around when he struck gold with his syrup. While his money stayed in Texas, the Texan term “you bet it’s good” became part of his syrup’s name. In the 2018 documentary Egg Cream, food historian Andrew Coe describes egg creams as a cheap copy of the soda fountain drinks from the fancier neighborhoods of New York. Coe says the drink “gave people a sense that they were having a fancy, uptown kind of drink for a very downtown kind of price.” Even the name
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sounds rich, he says. But it’s also misleading; the standard egg cream has no egg and no cream.
Just as there is no consensus on the origins of the name, there are myriad ways to make the drink.
Some say the name is a bastardization of the Yiddish word “echt,” which means genuine or real. Grogan, of Juliana’s Pizza, heard that when Auster was making the drinks he would “call to his staff and ask them to bring up more of the [grade] ‘A’ cream which, given New York accents, morphed over time to ‘egg cream.’” Freeman of Brooklyn’s Farmacy believes the original egg cream really was made with egg. In the ’20s, he says, refrigeration was bad. Soda jerks would whip
egg whites and dollop them on top of the chocolate soda. In so doing, they could turn a 2-cent chocolate soda into a 5-cent egg cream. Only later, he believes, was egg replaced by milk when good refrigeration became more widespread. Just as there is no consensus on the origins of the name, there are myriad ways to make the drink. Freeman first mixes milk and seltzer for a white, foamy head; the purity of the foam is important to him. Then he adds the chocolate syrup. Grogan, however, makes his egg cream with—cream! He mixes the cream with Fox’s U-Bet syrup and then adds Brooklyn Seltzer Boys seltzer for a thick, rich head. For Freeman, the egg cream is not just a drink—it’s a mission. When he and his sister opened Brooklyn Farmacy, the egg cream was disappearing from menus and people weren’t giving it the attention he felt it deserved. “Your legacy can only survive if one generation passes it down to the next,” Freeman says. “You can bemoan that or do something about it. Parents and kids now come to our shop. Our egg creams are codified in those kids’ memories. They will grow up and share it with their children. And the egg cream will live on.” This article originally appeared on The Nosher.