Over the past 70 years, Oberlander products have become Passover tradition; as essential as eggs and potatoes.
Recognized and trusted implicitly by all. In fact, even in homes where every other dish is made from scratch, you’ll find a box of Oberlander Finger Cookies. As a 3rd generation family-owned business, Oberlander Bakery boasts a history as wonderfully rich as the cookies we sell.
The year was 1946. Zelig Oberlander arrived on the shores of NYC, having survived the war that took his beloved wife and children. At 36, Mr. Oberlander was far from a young man. But found the strength to remarry and rebuild his life.
In those days, factories and sweatshops throughout the city were open on Saturday-the Sabbath. And so, as a practicing Jew, Mr. Oberlander struggled to find work to support his family.
It was then he stumbled upon a problem that presented opportunity. Attempting to determine the level of Kashrut at his local Jewish bakery, he was shocked to be told, “Don’t worry. This is kosher in America”
Appalled, Mr. Oberlander decided to lead the change. Along with his friends and partners Shloimy Weiss and Moshe Franczois, he opened up his first bakery on the outskirts of Williamsburg located on Bedford Avenue and South 8th. (You may recognize the names of his friends – both partners eventually branched out and produced bakery lines of their own).
From a tiny little kitchen the size of a garage, they began producing a line of baked goods and “Lokshen” – noodles.
Several weeks before Passover in 1947, the space next door to their bakery became available, Mr. Oberlander took the leap and opened up a Kosher for Pasover bakery, with a separate kitchen to ensure Kashrut.
The going was far from smooth. Several years later, the original bakery burnt down in a fire, and they were forced to rebuild.
They relocated to 130 Grand Street on the outskirts of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Their children sold a valuable coin collection so they could expand.
Slowly, with hard work, determination and help from Above, the business grew into what it is today – a specialty bakery, selling kosher for Passover baked goods only.
Oberlander Bakery is currently owned and operated by Mr. Oberlander’s grandchildren, who are committed to the same values of honesty and commitment to quality that the company was built on.
Over the past 70 years many bakeries have come and gone. Oberlander Bakery stays. A taste that stands the test of time. A tradition that spans generations – and unites us all.
© 2019 Oberlander Passover | Project by GO! Group