W2D-020 Irish Jewish Museum-7.txt
MAN CAN NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE

(Or the importance of the apple danish in the lives of FAS trainees)

Whilst cataloguing some of the archival material in the museum I came across an article on one Morgan Hackett and his Bretzel bakery situated just around the corner from us in Lennox Street. The heading caught my eye for one of two reasons, one because it involved food and two because it said that "Ireland leads the way with Kosher pizza"." What, I wondered, was special about a Kosher pizza.

I 'm not quite sure who was the first of our merry little bunch to actually venture down Lennox Street, I think it may have been Frank with his weakness for doughnuts, but that was it. WE were hooked. Thereafter, everyday at 11 o'clock sharp one of us would take orders and undertake the pilgrimage down to the Bretzel so as to feed our compatriots.

This is not only an important stop-off for FAS trainees but also an important focal point for the whole of the Dublin-Jewish community. Mr. Hackett inherited the bakery from his father Christie who as an assistant to a Kosher baker learned the skill first and the religious significance of his work later. He passed on his skill to Morgan who is now one of the most popular bakers in Dublin's inner city.

Morgan is also a very popular man at times of weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and other events and one of his favourite orders for such occasions is his St. Honeres Gateau. St. Honore is the patron saint of bakers and with Morgan being a devout Catholic it seems an appropriate name.

The shop itself has become a meeting place on Sunday mornings for long standing customers and members of the community. They meet there for a chat and to buy their favourite pastries and breads. Working on this course has opened my eyes to the cultural elements of the Jewish religion but my favourite bit so far was my introduction to the Kosher apple danish. Ray Farrell
