HOD BEZALEL

Lodge Bezalel's Pirates of the Cow-Rib-Bean
Takes 3rd in Chicken at AKBF Competition

A drumstick saved the Pirates of the Cow-Rib-Bean from walking the plank at the 2021 Atlanta Kosher Barbecue Festival.

The team, which features brothers from Lodge Bezalel and members of the Congregation Or Hadash Men's Club took third place in the chicken competition. Lodge Bezalel Pirates included Wor Bro Gary Fish, newly initiated Bro Marc Gault and prospective member Jason Goldman. Aaron Diamant represented the COH Men's Club, and Bro Paul Flexner and Wor Bro Stan Schnitzer represented both organizations.

Team members met on Thursday night before the competition to prep their award-winning chicken as well as their brisket and ribs. They reconvened after Shabbat to spend the night tending to their grills and preparing their chili for the fourth category in the competition. Bros Ron Scheinzeit and Wayne Joss pitched in during the festival to help prepare tastings for the estimated 5,000 attendees.

Before the festival's opening, some 150 children and adults took part in the first HOD/Maccabi Fun Run, a joint international effort of the Hebrew Order of David and Maccabi International. Among the runners were Rabbi Lauren Henderson of Congregation Or Hadash, which provides meeting space for Lodge Bezalel, and members of both COH and Lodge Bezalel and their families.