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Manischewitz: The Matzo Family: The Making of an American Jewish Icon
In this highly readable volume, we travel back to the European roots of a remarkable family who crossed the ocean from Lithuania with little baggage but their religious faith and a young man's ambitions.
I'm going to bake matzos this year...We ll see how it goes, said Behr Manischewitz. One bright spring morning in 1888 a young immigrant father named Behr makes this offhand announcement to his modest wife Nesha. Within record time, the ambitious young Talmudic scholar has a burgeoning bakery and is on his way to success. But the years go by and the growing family is ever more complicated, colorful and sometimes explosive. The women of the Manischewitz family who mostly operated behind the scenes played a critical role in providing the mortar that held the family together. As for the men, they covered a broad some more able than others, some more affable than others, some more religious than others.
What united them, men and women alike, were bonds of kinship, as well as a firm allegiance to the Jewish people. With these qualities they kept the family business alive and in the family for over 103 years until 1990 when it was sold to various conglomerates as were other ethnic American family food Ronzoni, Franco-American, La Choy, and Lender's.
Laura Manischewitz Alpern recounts the family's history through the lives of its leading men and women. Her insider' s tale of the family that transformed the world of matzo and became a symbol of 100% kosher reminds us why the name Manischewitz remains magical still. Man, oh Manischewitz, what a story! From the Introduction by Jonathan D. Sarna, Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History Brandeis University
I'm going to bake matzos this year...We ll see how it goes, said Behr Manischewitz. One bright spring morning in 1888 a young immigrant father named Behr makes this offhand announcement to his modest wife Nesha. Within record time, the ambitious young Talmudic scholar has a burgeoning bakery and is on his way to success. But the years go by and the growing family is ever more complicated, colorful and sometimes explosive. The women of the Manischewitz family who mostly operated behind the scenes played a critical role in providing the mortar that held the family together. As for the men, they covered a broad some more able than others, some more affable than others, some more religious than others.
What united them, men and women alike, were bonds of kinship, as well as a firm allegiance to the Jewish people. With these qualities they kept the family business alive and in the family for over 103 years until 1990 when it was sold to various conglomerates as were other ethnic American family food Ronzoni, Franco-American, La Choy, and Lender's.
Laura Manischewitz Alpern recounts the family's history through the lives of its leading men and women. Her insider' s tale of the family that transformed the world of matzo and became a symbol of 100% kosher reminds us why the name Manischewitz remains magical still. Man, oh Manischewitz, what a story! From the Introduction by Jonathan D. Sarna, Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History Brandeis University
- GenresBiography
202 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 22, 2013
Manischewitz is not only a recognized brand name, but it is also a slice of life within Jewish households. Manischewitz: The Matzo Family: The Making of an American Jewish Icon, by Laura Manischewitz Alpern, gives us a book that is an extremely refreshing read on many levels.
The family history, itself, is inspiring. Coupled with the beginnings of the Manischewitz company, Alpern brings the reader a glimpse into the family's journey from LIthuania to America. She expands on the family ideals, their firm religious beliefs and their dreams of doing well in America.
From the Dov Behr Manischewitz and his Yeshiva studies, to the need to support his family, in a new environment with the help of his wife, Nesha, the book is filled with letters, company data and even photographs that helped Alpern document her family's business.
Nesha, although relegated to the kitchen throughout most of the book, had a strong undercurrent in her husband's decision making. He looked to her for advice, and she readily gave it, although her role is not necessarily shown as having equal status with him.
I found it interesting to learn how the matzos were initially baked and sold to the Jewish community. Behr's staunchness in producing a kosher product is what gained him recognition within his environment. From small beginnings he eventually figured out a way to increase his making of matzos within a factory setting. And, from there, the business expanded through the years to making wine and other products. Manischewitz was a name you could count on for over one hundred years.
In 1990 the business was sold, but the name lingers on in the world of kosher products.
I enjoyed reading how the family was close knit, and how their bonds were the backbone of the company. While reading it, I munched on matzo with orange marmalade.
I recommend Manischewitz: the Matzo Family: The Making of an American Jewish Icon, by Laura Manischewitz.
The family history, itself, is inspiring. Coupled with the beginnings of the Manischewitz company, Alpern brings the reader a glimpse into the family's journey from LIthuania to America. She expands on the family ideals, their firm religious beliefs and their dreams of doing well in America.
From the Dov Behr Manischewitz and his Yeshiva studies, to the need to support his family, in a new environment with the help of his wife, Nesha, the book is filled with letters, company data and even photographs that helped Alpern document her family's business.
Nesha, although relegated to the kitchen throughout most of the book, had a strong undercurrent in her husband's decision making. He looked to her for advice, and she readily gave it, although her role is not necessarily shown as having equal status with him.
I found it interesting to learn how the matzos were initially baked and sold to the Jewish community. Behr's staunchness in producing a kosher product is what gained him recognition within his environment. From small beginnings he eventually figured out a way to increase his making of matzos within a factory setting. And, from there, the business expanded through the years to making wine and other products. Manischewitz was a name you could count on for over one hundred years.
In 1990 the business was sold, but the name lingers on in the world of kosher products.
I enjoyed reading how the family was close knit, and how their bonds were the backbone of the company. While reading it, I munched on matzo with orange marmalade.
I recommend Manischewitz: the Matzo Family: The Making of an American Jewish Icon, by Laura Manischewitz.
April 7, 2016
A somewhat abbreviated history of the Manischewitz family from a relative given in a narrative format. The immigrants started with literally nothing coming from Lithauania and founded and prospered in a business that was predominantly based on matzos. Behr the family patriarch utilized his fervent principles and dedication to Judaism to create and progress the business through many difficulties to ultimate prosperity.
October 3, 2009
Great memoir. Easy to digest, unlike matzah:) Ha ha corny joke.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews