Supporters and friends of Ted Riter, the interim rabbi at Beth Israel in Jackson, are spreading the word about an incident this afternoon at a local eatery.
According to a post from Riter (pronounced “writer”) making the rounds on social media, the exchange between the rabbi and an employee of Greek Gyros & Salads, whom he called the owner, went like this:
(Riter): I’d like the lunch special and a Greek salad to go.
Owner: A full size or a Jewish size? Me: (With a quizzical look) What does that mean?
Owner: It’s small. Jews are cheep and small. Everybody knows that. Me: Did you really just say that?
Owner: What are you a Jew?
(Riter): Yes
Owner: #%#&$&@(%&(@#&% Get out of here.
Riter added: “30 minutes later, I’m at home eating an Amy’s spinach wrap and Sabra hummus, and thinking about all of the calories I just saved.”
A male employee who answered the phone at the restaurant, who declined to give his name or the names of managers or the owners, denied that Riter was tossed from the spot, saying that Riter left after the employee made a joke.
According to the male employee, another worker taking Riter’s order asked if he wanted Greek salad or Jewish salad.
“He took it the wrong way,” the employee told the Jackson Free Press. “No one knew he was Jewish.”
The employee who spoke with the JFP said the employee who interacted Riter has not been reprimanded and he suggested that Riter might be engaging in a publicity stunt.
“Evidently he doesn’t have a sense of humor,” the employee said.
Warren Yoder, a Jackson social-justice activist, hopes the synagogue takes action.
“Stuff like this can’t go unchallenged,” Yoder said.
Reached by phone, Riter said he initially hoped it was a joke, “but when he launched into expletives, I knew he wanted me out of there.” Riter noted that this all happened just ahead of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year—a time for atonement and understanding.
Riter also stressed that in the three months that he’s lived in Jackson, he’s been welcomed with open arms.
“It’s not in keeping with how I’ve been received by the rest of the community,” he said of the incident.
Previous Comments
The owner is Yianni Allis. And what he did to this poor man is only the tip of the ice burg of things I saw while working there for over a year.
#6804 | Author: Vpruitt89 | Date: Sep 23 2014
What kind of joke was that? Furthermore when someone has been “accidentally” offensive the appropriate way to response is to apologize not double down on the offensive behavior.
#6805 | Author: multiculturegirl37 | Date: Sep 23 2014
For those who might not recognize the name, this restaurant is generally called Wraps. I didn’t realize it had another name. I’ve eaten there. I’ve heard how rude the owner can be although I’ve never experienced it. If you look at some of the sayings that’s he’s posted on the wall it’s actually not surprising. Some of them are crass and bigoted.
#6807 | Author: kdg1908 | Date: Sep 24 2014
The concept of “joke” seems to escape this business owner.
#6808 | Author: jaltman | Date: Sep 24 2014
Wraps on Northside has never had good food or prices anyway…I prefer Kiefers myself…better food, nicer atmosphere, better prices and most definitely better owner and employees…
#6809 | Author: kechera2727 | Date: Sep 24 2014
Judging by [this interview][1] (see 1:28), both the anonymous male employee who spoke to you and the anonymous male employee who had not been reprimanded were, in fact, Allis himself. If that’s the case, and if he was unwilling to fill you in on that fact, I wouldn’t consider his version of the story very credible (as he would be effectively using the anonymous, telephone version of himself to create low-tech sockpuppet accounts). [1]: http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/09/23/rabbi-says-asked-leave-restaurant-jewish/16116385/
#6810 | Author: Tom Head | Date: Sep 24 2014
I’ve never been there, and don’t plan on it. I’ve heard of too many people speaking about just how rude the owner of this establishment is.
#6825 | Author: js1976 | Date: Sep 26 2014
I’ve been there. Never again. I’ve heard some of his attempts at humor to other customers while I’ve been in there and just chose to ignore them. But, now I realize that it is not humor. He is simply a racist.
#6833 | Author: msnative1943 | Date: Sep 27 2014
He probably would not like me either since my Sabbath is sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. I am not Jewish, but generally these types of people don’t care anyway and if they won’t serve the rabbi, I certainly am not giving them the chance to serve me.
#6861 | Author: Turtleread | Date: Oct 4 2014