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ROYAL FLUSH Three CT kosher caterers launch a new full-service culinary enterprise By Stacey Dresner WEST HARTFORD — For decades, Margery Gussak Catering, Abel Caterers, and The Crown Market were friendly competitors in the Connecticut kosher catering market, each providing their own special kosher cuisine and service at weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, and other Jewish celebrations and events. Now Andrea Gussak and Meredith Abel-Berei — second-generation members of the Gussak and Abel families — have joined gastronomical forces with The Crown Market to form Royal Catering and Events. �...

Jewish Ledger Friendship Circle members celebrate the end of a challenging year with good ‘buddies’ and great music WEST HARTFORD – Six years ago Keighan Kosimoff became a member of Friendship Circle. A project of Chabad of Greater Hartford, Friendship Circle brings together young people with and without disabilities for a variety of Judaic and social programs. Its goal is make members aware of “the greatness in themselves and in others, empowering everyone to develop a more accommodating and welcoming Jewish community for all.”  Keighan, 14, who is autistic ...

Jewish Ledger West Hartford day school gets set to welcome new head of school By Stacey Dresner WEST HARTFORD – Rabbi Jonathan (“Yoni”) Berger has been named new Head of School at Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford. He succeeds Andrea Kaspar, who is relocating to Europe with her family. Rabbi Berger will start at Schechter on July 1.  Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Berger, 45, grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, where his father, Kenneth Berger, was rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom and his mother, Cheryl Berger, was a Jewish day school teacher at Solomon...

Jewish Ledger World War II hero Sergey Dratva celebrates 100th birthday By Stacey Dresner WEST HARTFORD – Sergey Dratva has seen and experienced many things in his life-time – from fighting on the frontlines as a Russian soldier during World War II and watching the collapse of the former Soviet Union, to arriving in the United States in the 1990s and becoming an American citizen. Dratva celebrated his 100th birthday on April 15 with his family and a few close friends at his home in West Hartford. At the celebration he was presented with a proclamation from the mayor...

Jewish Ledger Hate crimes and security high on JFACT’s 2021 legislative agenda By Stacey Dresner HARTFORD – Halfway through the Connecticut General Assembly’s 2021 legislative session, the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut (JFACT), the government and community relations arm of the Jewish Federations in the state, is hard at work lobbying in support of several bills and issues that impact the Jewish community. One of JFACT’s greatest priorities has been educating Jewish agencies around the state about a new state security grant for houses of worship an...