Wesley Hamilton
Temple Beth El’s Food-a-Rama is the place to be on Election Day. For half a century, the synagogue at 2702 Arbor Drive has celebrated democracy by transforming into a temporary delicatessen that attracts people of all faiths and political persuasions.
Corned beef sandwiches. Potato knishes. Matzo ball soup. Fresh chopped liver. Kosher hot dogs. Cabbage rolls. A small army of volunteers comes together once a year to make deli items using recipes passed down through the generations by Temple Beth El members.
Before Leslie Kemp could even vote, she was pulled out of school to help the Sisterhood of Temple Beth El prepare sandwiches for the annual luncheon.
“It’s a little hard to decipher some of the old recipes. These ladies knew what they were doing, so it’s a pinch of this and a little of that. A few of the details we have to figure out for ourselves,” says Kemp, who has been the chair of Food-a-Rama for the past seven years.
The first Food-a-Rama was held Nov. 8, 1966, when incumbent Republican Gov. Warren Knowles faced a challenge from incumbent Democratic Lt. Gov. Patrick Lucey. (This was before elections for governor and lieutenant governor were combined onto a single ticket.) Temple Beth El was a polling place that year.
It’s like a bake sale, but better. Food-a-Rama has complete lunches and other goodies to go.
“The women of the Sisterhood just began feeding people. It was a way to make a little money by making sandwiches and other food for people who came into vote,” explains Kemp. “Eventually it snowballed into a big production. Now, the whole temple becomes a delicatessen for a day.”
The synagogue is no longer a polling place, but more than 1,000 lunches are typically served at Food-a-Rama. Organizers make all items from scratch: potato salad, coleslaw, cabbage soup, Mediterranean vegetarian platters, cheesecake, chocolate cake, cookies, pies and brownies.
The temple’s social hall is converted into a “restaurant” so people can eat lunch on-site. Patrons can also carry out lunch, buy items à la carte or have food delivered (five lunches or more). Dine-in hours are 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The bakery is open 10 a.m-1:30 p.m. Deli sales (which include frozen matzo ball and cabbage soup, chopped liver, challah and corned beef) have been extended this year and run 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. or until all is sold out.
Kemp expects a particularly big crowd this year. “We always see more people during presidential [election] years. The fact that it’s our 50th anniversary, it should be even crazier.”
Proceeds from the event benefit a number of organizations including Temple Beth El, community food pantries, Camp Shalom, Domestic Abuse Intervention Services and the YWCA-Madison’s Third Street women’s housing program.
While Food-a-Rama is billed “as a delicious reminder to vote,” it’s held annually in November, regardless of whether there is an election.
“I get phone calls near spring elections wondering when the deli will be open. I have to remind people that we only do it once a year. There’s no way we could do it twice a year,” says Kemp, laughing. “People hear ‘election,’ and I start getting calls about matzo ball soup.”
Food-a-Rama has also become an Election Day tradition for politicians in the Madison area. Dave Cieslewicz was a frequent attendee during his tenure as mayor. Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and Congressman Mark Pocan are also regulars.
“Russ Feingold is a frequent visitor whether he’s in office or not. If she’s in town, [U.S. Sen.] Tammy Baldwin usually comes by. Mayor Paul Soglin has been coming for a long, long time,” says Kemp.
Despite the visiting dignitaries and significance of the day, Kemp says Food-a-Rama is really about enjoying good food and company.
“It takes people’s mind off the election. For this year in particular, I know I’m glad to have a break from politics.”
