BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The smell of pastrami and the sound of klezmer music filled the grounds on Sunday as Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel hosted Deli Day, a community festival featuring food, music, dancing, and tours of its historic synagogue.
The event offered kosher-style noshes including pastrami, corned beef, hot dogs, pickles, lox and bagels, and knishes, along with Jewish baked goods such as rugelach, mandelbrot and macaroons. Beer, wine and soda were also available, along with kids’ activities and synagogue tours.
Organizers described Deli Days as a longstanding Treasure Valley festival celebrating Jewish food, music and culture. Deli Days was first held 40 years ago in 1986, when the synagogue was located on State Street, before its 2003 move to the Bench. The tradition went on hiatus for a number of years through COVID, and returned in 2024, rebranded as the Idaho Jewish Festival. This year, the full Deli Days returned.
Deli Days is the congregation’s largest community event of the year and is fully volunteer-run by congregants of Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel, described as the oldest continuously operating synagogue west of the Mississippi.
Plans were made to manage crowds and minimize lines, though organizers noted some items could sell out before the festival closed at 7 p.m. Organizers said entertainment, drinks, synagogue tours and noshes would last until closing.
The entertainment lineup included PJ Library Story Time from 11:15-11:30 a.m. and again from 4:30-4:45 p.m., followed by performances throughout the day: Brand-LeMond Family Band and Scyrus’ Klezmer Trio from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Rikud B’Sasson, an Israeli dance group, from 12:30-1 p.m.; Elana and Noah Salzman from 1-2 p.m.; the CABI Choir from 2-2:15 p.m.; the Switch in Time Jazz Orchestra from 3-4:30 p.m.; and The Moody Jews of Boise from 5-6:30 p.m.