Beth David Synagogue’s December Luncheon will be held on Saturday, December 14. Eliot Fiks will speak about “44 Years of Natural Goodness: Eliot Fiks and his Whole in the Wall Restaurant.” The community is invited to attend. Morning services will begin at 9:30 am, with the luncheon and program following the conclusion of services. The luncheon is free and open to the public.
Fiks is a restaurateur, pesto manufacturer and nutritional consultant. As the founder and continuing owner of Whole in the Wall, he will share what inspired the creation of the restaurant and what the secret of its success involves.
“How many Binghamton restaurants do you know that have been in existence and in the same location for 44 years?” said luncheon organizers. “On December 6, the Southside’s Whole in the Wall restaurant, located at 43 South Washington St., will have celebrated its 44th anniversary.”
The child of Holocaust survivors, Fiks was born in Brooklyn and credits his favorite grandmother Babi with being his inspiration; one of her pots hangs on the wall of his restaurant. “A fire, three floods, economic downturns and the pandemic, and we are still kicking!” Fiks remarked. “Our menu is coded for gluten-free and vegan, and we are a proud member of the Gluten-Free Chef to Plate Program; we also manufacture a line of all-natural pesto, available in over 100 stores in 19 states.”
A graduate of Binghamton University who crafted his own major in social change, Fiks writes poetry, opinion pieces, sings, plays guitar and composes music. In 1999, he was awarded a National Humanitarian Award for Stone Soup, a food donation project that he started, that is still in existence today. “Besides being a successful entrepreneur,” organizers say, “Eliot is smart and has a unique story to tell about creativity and resilience. Come hear him share his personal journey, and how it got him from there to here!”
Beth David’s luncheon speaker series takes place the second Saturday of the month after Shabbat morning services, and is open to the community. There is no charge for the luncheon. Since the monthly series’ continuation depends on the generosity of contributors, Beth David welcomes and appreciates donations to the Luncheon Fund in order to keep the program going. Donations can be made in honor of or in memory of someone, or to mark a special occasion. Those wishing an acknowledgment to be sent to the person being honored, or to the family of someone being remembered, can indicate that, along with the necessary information. Donations can be sent to Beth David Synagogue, 39 Riverside Dr., Binghamton, NY 13905, Attention: Luncheon Fund.