The Beach Bakery — the only kosher eatery in Westhampton Beach — will no longer be serving kosher goods.
The decision comes, said bakery owner Simon Jorna, after a disagreement with the Hampton Synagogue, which Jorna said he had enjoyed a great relationship with for 20 years.
The last straw came, after he learned that the synagogue had hired another company for one of their events, paying them more than they paid the Beach Bakery all year, Jorna explained.
"We were supposed to be their exclusive caterer," Jorna said. "When I caught the Rabbi lying, I realized this is the end of our story."
Without support from a local synagogue, Jorna said he can't keep a kosher kitchen, which he had intentions of expanding through a renovation project projected to start at the end of the month.
Eateries serving kosher, explained Jorna, must be inspected by a rabbi.
Jorna did say that he is still moving forward with his expansion — it just won't include a kosher kitchen.
"I will miss my customers," said Jorna, adding that he he hopes that they will still stop in for a cup of coffee or tea and say, "hi."
"I've already gotten a few nice emails from customers thanking me for the all the good years, but regretfully can't come in anymore," he said.
Calls for comment from the Hampton Synagogue were unreturned, however, 27east reports that Rabbi Marc Schneier, sent a letter to all the members of his synagogue, stating that the synagogue will no longer provide kosher supervision to the bakery.
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