Restaurateur Valued in Jerusalem

By COLlive reporter

It was 1987 and 6 young Yeshiva students, who were Shluchim at Ohr Elchonon Chabad in Los Angeles, decided to skip the Yeshiva lunch and dine at the Milky Way Restaurant on Pico Boulevard.

Leah Adler, the proprietor of the restaurant was impressed with the students, and in her signature generous spirit offered some special dishes ‘on the house’.

She did more than just offer complimentary delicacies to the bochurim; she listened to them, discussed life with them and in general made these out-of-town young students welcome in her restaurant as if it was her own home.

Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, executive director of the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, was one of those six students. He still remembers Adler as “an extraordinarily kind, wise, and giving person.”

Born in Cincinnati, Adler developed a love of music, learning Piano at age five. She studied at the Music Conservatory and graduated from the University of Cincinnati. She opened her own art gallery in Scottsdale and later her restaurant in Los Angeles.

In 1945, she married Arnold Meyer Spielberg, and they had four children — Steven, Anne, Sue and Nancy from whom she had 11 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.

“Leah, or Lee Lee as she was known, cared personally for her customers she listened to their stories, to their problems and rejoiced in their joy,” Shemtov shared.

When Shemtov heard the sad news of her passing this year, he knew that Mayanot should honor this unique person.

Both Mayanot Men’s and Women’s campuses held a Shloshim memorial ceremony on Thursday, March 23rd, 2017. A guest speaker from Los Angeles was Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon, founder of Kosher Supervision of America (KSA).

The Mayanot women’s program studied Mishnayos in her merit, while the men’s program participated in a Siyum masechta and special fabrengen with several guest speakers who all knew Leah Adler.

Rabbi Lisbon, who certified Adler’s restaurant, described her unique qualities and emphasized how her kindness, open-heartedness and listening ear are qualities many can learn.

“She was a gem of a human being,” he said. “She had an incredible personality and truly made an impact on you, even if you only spent a short time with her. Her character, her warmth of spirit, and her ma’asim tovim were remarkable.”

When Adler and her second husband Bernie Adler first wanted to provide fine kosher dining in Los Angeles, they approached Rabbi Lisbon and told him they would only embark on this project.

“At the time was uncharted waters,” Rabbi Lisbon said. The Adlers wanted to receive a letter of blessing from the Rebbe. The Rebbe indeed sent his blessing and the letter is prominently displayed in the restaurant to this day.

Moshe Stein met Adler during the Machane Israel Development Fund meeting in 1990 with the Rebbe at Lubavitch Headquarters – 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, NY.

“It was absolutely phenomenal,” Stern told Mayanot students. “Lee was really inspired by her meeting with the Rebbe, she was beaming like a ray of light, shining… I am so grateful for that memory.”

Faigy Zilberstein, an old friend of Leah Adler, came to Mayanot and shared her memories with the students at the Women’s Program, which was greatly appreciated by all.

This special Shloshim event was coordinated with the help of Adler’s son-in-law and daughter, Shimon and Nancy Katz.

Shemtov and the Mayanot family sent their condolences to Adler’s children and their spouses and their families; Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, Shimon and Nancy Katz, Danny and Anne Opatoshu, and Jerry and Susan Pasternak.

This summer, Mayanot will be hosting over 4,000 Birthright Israel participants and is dedicating the volunteer activities in Adler’s merit, “the activities which so greatly reflect her life, l’zchus – Leah Faigel Bat Shraga Feivel. May her nesahmah have an aliyah and may her memory be a blessing and an inspiration for all of us,” Shemtov said.

For more information about Mayanot and its many learning programs please visit: Mayanot.edu