Leeds chippy batters down faith barriers

[Missing Credit]

Originally intended to be halal only, the idea for an interreligious chippy came about after Rabbi Gilbert, who is also the rabbinical registrar of the Leeds Beth Din, was on his way to a bakery one morning and saw the shop under construction.

“That was when I first met Yamin and Munir, who really are very warm, welcoming and respectful,” he says. “They informed me that they were opening a fish and chip shop using the old Yorkshire remedies such as beef-dripping. ‘Pity,’ I said. ‘We haven’t had a kosher fish and chips around here since about 1975.’”

Rabbi's son, Ben Gilbert, works at the restaurant and oversees the kashrut requirements[Missing Credit]

About two weeks later, Rabbi Gilbert received a call from the pair requesting an initial meeting to discuss the feasibility of making it kosher. “I warned them it would be very expensive and aggravating, but they were very keen,” he recalls.

Among the requirements of making the shop acceptable under both Jewish and Islamic dietary laws is to have separate designated fryers – to ensure no cross-contamination, plastic disposable cutlery and paper mats.

Flour is sourced from the kosher bakery located just behind the shop, and all seasonings and vegetable oil are kosher and halal-approved.

Shared solutions are employed where appropriate, such as sticking to classic white fish with fins and scales visible and using no alcohol during preparation, and a full-time kosher supervisor (mashgiach) is required on site when it’s open, except for Friday, Shabbat, fast days, and during Yom Tov.

And Yamin and Munir are keen to ensure everything is kept to a high standard. “When they see me now, it’s all ‘good morning rabbi, how are you, rabbi?’ and ‘is there anything we can improve on?’,” Rabbi Gilbert says.

The takeaway, which also has seating for diners, is also proving to be a hotspot socially, offering both elderly and younger members of the community somewhere to go. “Until now, there wasn’t much in the area in the way of places we can go to in the evening together with the family,” Rabbi Gilbert says. “And for some of the younger members of our community, too, this is all a new experience for them.”

Marlow's British Kitchen in north Leeds[Missing Credit]

Yamin, 31, and Munir, 30, initially debated the proposition for kosher facilities, unsure if the undertaking would be a worthwhile investment.

Speaking to the JC, Yamin explains: “When it became clear that there was local interest in making it kosher, and we had this offer from Rabbi Gilbert to help make it happen, we said to ourselves, ‘You know what, let’s go for it’.

“And, honestly, it’s the best thing we’ve ever done.”

He says the shop “has had such great feedback from the Jewish community particularly. All the rabbis in the area have been so wonderful, especially Rabbi Gilbert.

“We’ve developed a real friendship with him and become so close to the point that I’m proud to say we’re on a first-name basis.”

[Missing Credit]Arabaab Munir, Rabbi Anthony Gilbert, and Jenade Yamin (Credit: courtesy)

Also employed by the shop is Rabbi Gilbert’s son, Ben, who works as a fryer and as the shop’s kosher supervisor, as well as a couple of local non-Orthodox Jewish boys, who work as waiters alongside Yamin’s wife, who wears a hijab.

“My wife helps out serving, and the Jewish community all love her,” Yamin says. “They come up to me all the time to tell me how great she is.”

He says the shop has become a “mini melting pot,” and of that, they “couldn’t be prouder. What with all that’s going on thousands of miles away [in the Middle East], it’s just great to bring positivity closer to home and to our local community.”

Rabbi Gilbert adds that it’s the “best example I know of Muslims and Jewish people, Christians, all different faiths and none coming together organically, and all over good old-fashioned British fish and chips.”