By COLlive reporter
Photos by Levi Percia
Most restaurant owners will tell you they put their hearts and souls into the food establishment they built. Aharon Moualem can say he has done it literally.
Growing up in a secular Israeli family in Ramat Gan, Moualem didn’t know or care much about his Jewish faith.
When he moved to New York 8 years ago and opened a dairy restaurant in the Upper East Side, kosher was an after-thought.
But 2 years ago when he opened his restaurant on Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn, he didn’t bother to make it Kosher.
Then came the visits which changed everything – including the restaurant.
“These rabbis started to come visit every Friday and slowly they taught me more about Judaism,” Moualem said about Gershon Abergel and Zalman Korf who would take the short commute from Crown Heights for their Mivtzoim route.
“I always felt like something is missing in my life,” the restauranteur admitted, saying he was more than ready for a spiritual makeover. “Now, every day I am learning and getting stronger in my Judaism.”
Beginning to feel guilty about the non-kosher food he was serving, Moualem says he “knew that it’s just a matter of time before I change it over.”
Abergel and Korf helped him make that transformation, and put him in touch with the OK Kosher Certification, one of the world’s most respected symbols of kosher approval.
The eatery is now called The Shuk, and to celebrate its opening last week, a chassidic farbrengen was held with Rabbi Yisroel Shimon Kalmenson of Lahak, publishers of the Rebbe’s teachings.
“I hope to host a chassidus class every month or so,” an excited Moualem said.
Their Mediterranean cuisine includes rib steak, shawarma, chicken shish kabob, falafel, fish entrees and a salad bar. They also carry a selection of “Kosher Style” food, such as NY deli sandwiches, matzah ball soup and even cholent on Thursdays.
Located near the court-houses and the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, he hopes the kosher restaurant will be a regular stop for Jewish people in the area.
That includes you, Marty Markowitz.
The Shuk
129 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
718 522-4500
Kashrus: OK, glatt kosher, mashgiach temidi
Finally, a place in the area that I can eat in,
and the food is great.
Good luck!
The place is beautiful. I will see you there Monday…
חזק וברוך גרשון! פעלת בענק!
next move is that the bocherim on mivtzoyim can have lunch there, while doing mivtzoyim. not bad.
will they have CHK meat or shor habor
something with a chabad hashgacha
wishing the owner much luck in all aspects of his life
physical and spiritual
mchayil el chayil
renewal of place for all who want a place in court area as all places closed in past…! hope to support u w clients ! yechy
The awning was made by Signitny.com a local CH Sign company
Lubavitch meat is a good idea. Hatzlacha rabba. Mazeltov for the great move in your life. Hatzlacha!
There is no such thing in USA “Lubavitch” meat. There is “Crown Heights” meat. As we all remember, when the Crown Hoights Beth Din was created – the Rebbe did nob let them use the name “Lubavitch”, being that only tyhe Crown Heights community voted them in, not “Lubavitch” world wide.
that’s a new incentive to convert to kosher.. free advertising, with many customers coming from it
So nice.
Thanks so much for the switch,, it will be wonderful to have a kosher restaurant in the neighborhood.
YUMMY TOO!
Kol Hakoved to you! WIshing you lots of hatzolcha, brocha and parnassah.
Proud of you! The angels must be cheering and of course the Abishter in sheer delight! Yaasher Koach with blessings