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Jewish tavern that is set to open in Somerville this month gets its kosher certification

Lehrhouse, where the Jewish learning and discussion will flow along with food and cocktails from around the world, is set to open at 425 Washington St. in Somerville on March 13.

KVH Kosher, which certifies kosher establishments in the Boston area, announced today that it has certified the tavern as kosher.

Rabbi Charlie Schwartz and Joshua Foer thought up the idea of a place that sort of marries the idea of adult-ed at the local JCC with heartier food from Jewish communities around the world and craft cocktails. Jewish Insider reports that during the day, Lehrhaus will be open just for more serious Torah discussions and classes, but that at night, it will be open to the public - with more bite-sized learning about Judaism.

Head bartender Naomi Levy is planning a drink menu that will focus on the Jewish diaspora:

The Passover macaroon-inspired “Azzimo” (Bourbon, Amaretto, Amaro, Coconut & Chocolate Bitters) highlights the progression of the ubiquitous treat from Italy to America. “Colonia Roma” (Mezcal, Ancho Chili, Apricot, Tamarind, Lime & Soda) celebrates the dynamic flavors of the Syrian Jewish communities in
Mexico City. And “Tribe of Dan” (Niter Kibbeh-infused Rum, Housemade Banana Liqueur, Pineapple & Lime) reimagines a tropical cocktail combined with the flavors of Ethiopia.

Chef Noah Clickstein will offer kosher pescatarian fare and reimaginings of some classic deli offerings:

The Beet Reuben reinterprets the deli classic with house-smoked & pastrami-spiced beets.

Because it's kosher, Lehrhouse will be closed Friday nights and Saturdays.

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Comments

I haven't heard any right-wingers carrying on about this bar and MGL 272 s 92A, only the new lesbian bar gets their hackles raised. I wonder why?

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Came here to reassure our local staunch defender of civil rights that they would probably allow Gentiles in too.

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trumps antidiscrimination law.

Your right to express religious sentiments and plan religious events is just about unlimited, even in the context of a public accomodation

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A public bar ain't a temple, friend.

But you're right, the first amendment protects this bar's right to "express religious sentiments," just like the free speech clause protects the other bar's right to "express their sexual preference."

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Not about expression, but about discrimination based on sex. Yes they still call it sex in the law.

Unless you believe that males can express a sexual preference as a lesbian.

I'm just telling you what the law is.

If it was up to me, you could have men's- and women's-only bars

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What is wrong with you?

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Let's have him keep explaining his opinions, we might figure that out.

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Weird how gay bars have existed for years and the only people who claim discrimination based on sex are right-wing homophobes with an agenda.

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explaining the facts and the law to the likes of ye, plus you've derailed this topic enough

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Oh, no I refuted your insincere argument!

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LA Tool & Die, part of the famous Working Mans Trilogy that represents really groundbreaking work in the genre of gay porn, there is a great scene where a homophobe working for shady characters goes to a gay bar, presumably to collect extortion money. Hank, played by Richard Locke, kicks his ass once he starts trouble. Richard Locke, you may remember, was a giant of early gay porn.

Check out this relatively safe clip on Youtube of the scene, please note Hank's amazing quote after he kicks the homophobe's ass
https://youtu.be/W6KWt5DQWqI?t=36

So yeah, gay bars are fine unless you start causing trouble which pretty much applies to any other bar really.

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If it was up to me, you could have men's- and women's-only bars

Unless I missed something, I haven't seen anything on this here website that suggested that someone was trying to open any sort of discriminatory establishment.

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Of "trump" and anti-discrimination in the same sentence somehow makes me feel dirty.

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So why bring it up

And about Old Bay. Oi ve! Don't get me started. When I was a wee crab crawling around the Chesapeake Old Bay was the best. All spice, no salt. Could not beat Old Bay for seasoning up anybody's carapace.

But when McCormick bought Old Bay they changed the recipe. Now it has plenty of salt. The can proclaims it's the same taste. But this hardened crab knows better.

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I wonder why they decided to go dairy instead of meat. There's a shortage of kosher meat restaurants in the Boston area. Chinese, shawarma, and weekday lunch at Milk Street Cafe downtown are pretty much it.

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They open Monday, I suspect you could go and ask (and if you do, report back!).

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I was just updated that it's opening March 13.

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to be able to serve White Russians.

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If they're going to serve other gentiles I don't see why they wouldn't serve Belarussians. *rimshot*

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As I understand it, kosher certification for meat is a huge PITA because the rules are much stricter and the meat itself is expensive. It is easier to get kosher dairy (and things like eggs, fruits and vegetables are kosher by default).

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Almost certainly because kosher meat is very expensive. (Any meat is expensive, and kosher meat is even pricier because of the cost of the extra supervision.) Besides, there are a lot of vegetarians in Somerville.

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I hope the economic reality of being closed for the sabbath is not going to be too burdensome for them. We've all seen how rough the market is for dining right now even for places open for all the peak weekend hours. That's a serious commitment to their faith, and I respect that.

Also, those beets sound fantastic. I hope they have Dr. Brown's for fountain sodas, and a strong pickle game to really seal the deal.

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Opening for Saturday service will look different in December when sunset is before 4:30 pm than it will in June when the sun sets after 8:00 pm. On the one hand, I'm curious what their strategy is to keep the sabbath and capture critical business. On the other hand, this can't be the first business to ever adapt to this challenge.

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There's not much kosher food outside Brookline for the observant Cambridge-Somerville crowd. And most of the Brookline places don't open at all on Saturday nights.

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As it turns out, they're not open Saturday nights for now. A news article says they will be open Saturday nights in winter.

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Kosher wine I have heard of but Kosher hard liquor is a thing too? How is the label marked to show it's Kosher?

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It would be marked the same as any other kosher food or beverage.

However, most types of liquor don't require kosher certification, as long as they don't have grape products or other flavorings added. If you really want to know the complicated details, see https://www.star-k.org/articles/kashrus-kurrents/1139/kashrus-in-high-sp... .

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Not Jewish, but I'm really glad that I now have an option to invite my observant Orthodox friends to dine with me in my neighborhood.

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Because it's kosher, Lehrhouse will be closed Friday nights and Saturdays.

Ah.

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