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Eric Finkelstein, 41, reinventing the Jewish luncheonette
Eric Finkelstein, 41, is the co-owner, along with his partner, Matt Ross, of the hip local sandwich chain Court Street Grocers, as well as the HiHi Room, a “neighborhood restaurant” in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Last fall, the duo was tapped to revitalize an iconic, old-school luncheonette across from the Flatiron Building, which first opened in 1928 and had been known for decades as Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop. Now dubbed S&P Lunch — the name, Finkelstein says, honors the restaurant’s original owners, Charles Schwadron and Rubin Pulver — the eatery retains its old-school vibe, and the menu is packed with Jewish staples like pastrami, matzah brei and chopped liver, plus a killer egg cream to wash it all down. “This is the kind of food I grew up around and with,” says Finkelstein, who grew up in a Jewish family in Hollis Hills, Queens and now lives in Jackson Heights. In just a few short months since its opening, S&P has become a must-visit dining destination, nabbing a spot on the New York Times’ list of the 100 best restaurants in the city.
For the full list of this year’s 36 to Watch — which honors leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers who are making a difference in New York’s Jewish community — click here.
Who is your New York Jewish hero?
Don Rickles/Carl Sagan
How does your Jewish identity or experience influence your work?
So much of what I do is a result of my experiences as a child, chiefly with my grandparents.
Was there a formative Jewish experience that influenced your life path?
Going to kosher markets/butchers in Queens/Long Island as a kid, with my mother, before Shabbat
What is your favorite place to eat Jewish food in New York?
Russ and Daughters/Liebmans Deli
What is your favorite book about New York?
“A Walker in The City” by Alfred Kazin
In one sentence, what was your best experience as a Jewish New Yorker?
Honestly, when we were entrusted to preserve the former Eisenberg’s space
What are three spots in NYC that all Jewish New Yorkers should visit?
North Shore Towers in Little Neck, Queens; Taste of Samarkand in Rego Park, Queens; the Jewish Museum.
How can people follow you online?
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The post Eric Finkelstein, 41, reinventing the Jewish luncheonette appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
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US Strikes More Than 90 Iranian Military Targets on Kharg Island, CENTCOM Says
A satellite image shows an oil terminal at Kharg Island, Iran, February 25, 2026. Photo: 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via REUTERS
United States forces executed a large-scale precision strike on Kharg Island in Iran on Friday night, the US Central Command said on Saturday.
“US forces successfully struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, while preserving the oil infrastructure,” CENTCOM said.
The strike destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and multiple other military sites, the US military said in a post on X.
President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to strike the oil infrastructure of Iran’s Kharg Island hub, unless Tehran stopped attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
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North Korea Fires Ten Ballistic Missiles Toward the Sea of Japan
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and wife Ri Sol Ju inspect an honour guard before leaving Pyongyang for a visit to China, this January 7, 2019 photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang January 8, 2019. Photo: KCNA via REUTERS.
i24 News – North Korea fired roughly ten ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Saturday, the South Korean military reported, marking a new act of defiance amid Seoul and Washington’s annual joint military exercises.
The launches, originating from the Sunan area near Pyongyang, were detected around 1:20 p.m. local time, according to a statement from the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The missiles were directed toward the East Sea—the Korean name for the Sea of Japan—though details on their range or trajectory were not immediately available. Earlier, the South Korean Ministry of Defense had already confirmed the launch of at least one unidentified projectile in the same area.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense also verified the incident, noting that a suspected ballistic missile had been launched from North Korea.
The launches come amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Since Monday, the United States and South Korea have been conducting their annual joint exercises, which will continue through March 19 and involve approximately 18,000 South Korean troops alongside an unspecified number of U.S. forces.
Pyongyang has sharply criticized the drills, calling them a rehearsal for invasion. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned this week that the exercises could trigger “terrible and unimaginable consequences.”
The missile tests also coincide with fading prospects for inter-Korean dialogue. Kim Jong-un recently dismissed outreach efforts from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, labeling Seoul “the most hostile enemy.”
The show of force occurred just hours after South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, during a visit to the United States, mentioned a potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un—a meeting Washington still considers possible.
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Dutch Authorities Investigate Explosion at Jewish School Claimed by Extremist Group
Police outside a Jewish school following an explosion that caused minor damages, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 14, 2026. Photo: REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw
i24 News – An explosion struck a Jewish school on Zeelandstraat in Amsterdam-Buitenveldert during the night between Friday and Saturday, Dutch authorities confirmed. Emergency responders, including police and firefighters, acted swiftly, and officials reported that the building suffered only limited damage. No injuries have been reported.
Mayor Femke Halsema described the incident as a deliberate attack against the Jewish community in the city, emphasizing that the authorities are treating the case “very seriously.” Security camera footage showing the individual who detonated the device is under investigation.
In an unverified online video, previously little-known group identifying itself as Ashab Al Yamim later claimed responsibility for the blast. The group released online footage appearing to show the small explosion followed by a fire outside the school. Its logo was also seen in videos related to an attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam earlier this week.
Dutch investigators are coordinating with the judiciary to determine the full circumstances of the attack and whether additional suspects were involved. Authorities noted that the organization had not been previously known to security services.
The explosion comes amid rising security concerns for Jewish institutions across Europe, following heightened tensions in the Middle East. The group behind the claim has also alleged responsibility for previous incidents targeting Jewish sites in Europe, including attacks in Liège, Belgium, and Rotterdam, though these claims remain unverified.
Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centers across the continent have stepped up security measures in recent weeks amid fears of potential threats to Jewish communities.