Deli in Heaven

A few weeks ago, I went to a Subway and ordered the cold cut sub. The $5 deal. Maybe you have heard the commercial on the TV?

It had one thin film of a greasy cold cut (nano-thin) piled high then with veggie condiments. Basically, a salad bar in a sub roll. It was fine but hardly the Paleo Diet. I needed more than cucumbers stacked like poker chips. The Pastrami sandwich above brought on the meat. Where did I obtain such a meaty meal? Philly, Baltimore, New York City. Nah, Lancaster County, off of Fruitville Pike. 

The Jewish Diaspora has officially reached Lancaster County. Sure, we have had Synagogues in town for a couple hundred of years but until there is a Jewish Deli, the religious life has not crossed into the Gentile world. Apparently there had been a Jewish Deli before back in the 1970's but is passed from the scene like the Lost Tribe of Israel. Pastrami--like corned beef--traditionally would be cured by a lot of salt and not cooking, before the modern era. Makes Jesus's teaching about salt being a preservative much more understandable. The world is full of rot, the salt of the Gospel is to preserve and promote the meat of culture.

You take the Jew out of Jesus, and like that $5 Subway sub with that thin layer of meat, not much Jesus left. The two are one of the same slice of humanity.  I am sure at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb, there is going to be a Jewish Deli. And Sushi, and Stromboli, and Falafels, and Enchiladas, and Pad Thai, and Nigerian Stew. Every tribe and tongue. Probably even Borscht...but I will pass.                 

I got in a brief conversation with the owner about how this Deli landed in Lancaster like Noah's Ark on Mt. Ararat. These things don't happen without a back-story. From Philly, he was in the movie business around here for a couple of years, and then moved on. He started bartending and made a martini of renown. One thing lead to another and a customer or customers encouraged him to open his own establishment. Originally aiming for fine dining, he adjusted the plan and opened a New York Style Deli instead. 

I read some of the reviews on Yelp and one reviewer was all fired up about the violations of Kosher Law at Mort's. Man, I could care less about expired Levitical rules. The bottom line is how is the food? Kind of see a playing out of other themes in the New Testament between Jesus and his opponents. He brings life and more abundantly and his enemies are more concerned about the religious wrappings of it all while ignoring what is inside.  Well, go gnaw on the wrapper...I am going for the meat.