Newt Skips the Kosher Lox

By COLlive reporter

Is it a coincidence that Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich‘s long and winding bus tour in Iowa has stopped at many food businesses?

In an article, The New York Times recorded all the locations the Gingrich campaign trail has visited. “I have certain weaknesses as you can tell,” Newt joked at an ice cream shop. “Food is No. 1, 2 and 3.”

One eatery the Times didn’t mention was the Maccabee’s Glatt Kosher Deli in Des Moines, the Lubavitch-owned kosher restaurant in the Kingman Place Historic District.

“He does enjoy a good meal,” said R.C. Hammond, a spokesman for Gingrich.

Gingrich stopped into the deli on Polk Blvd. on Sunday morning to meet with Rabbi Yossi Jacobson, Director of Lubavitch of Iowa and other Jewish community members.

“We cannot welcome candidates in a shul or (non-for-profit) organization, but our deli is a neutral location,” Jacobson explained in a conversation with COLlive.com.

In addition to Jacobson, Gingrich was welcomed by local rabbis, members of the community and visitors of the deli.

“He spoke about the security of Israel and how it is facing dangerous challenges and that the support of the United States should be unconditional,” Rabbi Jacobson said.

Gingrich answered some questions and was thanked for his steadfast support of Israel. By Lubavitchers, Gingrich is remembered for awarding the Rebbe the Congressional Gold Medal as Speaker of the House in 1995.

But unlike the description in the Times of Newt gaining weight from all his eating, in the kosher deli he only drank coffee.

“He spent 45 minutes with us. And when he left we gave him a bagel and cream cheese for the way,” Rabbi Jacobson said.

Why not lox?

“At 10:45 AM, he said it was too early for lox…”