An Open Letter To Dave Portnoy
By Yochanan Gordon
Dear Dave,
I want to begin by saying that I’m an admirer of your passion for pizza and that I find your reviews genuinely entertaining. That acknowledgment might seem unnecessary to someone with 5.6 million Instagram followers, but after watching your CBS interview about the antisemitic incident outside Mississippi’s Boardtown Pizza and Pints last Friday, I realized that even you could use a reminder that people are watching—and appreciating—what you do.
You spoke about how antisemitic comments, once rare and laughable, have now become a daily occurrence. That’s deeply troubling. Yet knowing your personality and determination, I have no doubt you’ll fight back—not only for yourself, but for Jews everywhere. You’ve built a platform with real influence, and your voice matters.
But when it comes to Judaism, history has shown that actions speak louder than words. More powerful than sending the perpetrators of such hatred to “sensitivity training” in Poland is a Jew doubling down on his Jewishness. Assimilation once promised to make us safe and invisible among the nations. But it never did—and never will.
Two years ago, our people suffered the worst massacre since the Holocaust. And yet, even after years of terror, Jews have emerged from Gaza’s tunnels with a renewed sense of faith and purpose. I wrote about this last week, but it bears repeating:
Bar Kuperstein recounted how one of his captors phoned his mother during his captivity, demanding she pressure world courts if she wanted to see her son again. They expected fear. Instead, she responded calmly and firmly: “My son is not in your hands—he’s in the hands of the Creator of the world. In fact, you are too.” There was silence. Then the terrorist replied: “Kol hakavod, giveret.” All honor to you, ma’am.
That’s the power of moral clarity. In that moment, a Jewish mother’s faith broke her son’s captor. And when Bar was freed, he stood in Tel Aviv’s Freedom Square, joyfully putting on tefillin in public—a living symbol of defiance and light.
Antisemitism, painful as it is, is often the world’s way of reminding us of our mission: to lead, to illuminate, to bring G-dliness into a dark world. When we forget that role, the nations of the world remind us—sometimes cruelly—that we’ve strayed from our purpose.
Our captives are home now, and many are embracing Jewish practice with renewed devotion. Michael Rapaport has spoken passionately about putting on tefillin every day. And you’re not alone in feeling this pull toward something deeper.
Sarah Hurwitz, former chief speechwriter for Michelle Obama, has written about her own Jewish reawakening in an essay titled “The Unapologetic Jewish Story.” She describes how the surge in antisemitism jolted her from a quiet, cultural affiliation to a life of active learning and connection. “I want to fight antisemitism,” she wrote, “but being an anti–anti-Semite is a pretty thin version of being a Jew.” Her response wasn’t to shout louder, but to live richer—studying Torah, rediscovering Jewish wisdom, and reclaiming pride in the story she once kept at arm’s length. Her journey mirrors what many Jews are feeling today: that the surest way to confront hate is to live more vibrantly as a Jew.
I believe this moment calls for the same from you—to show the world that their hatred only strengthens Jewish pride. And while you’re at it, maybe review a few more kosher pizza shops. We’ve got some great ones here in the Five Towns, and you’d be welcomed warmly.
Show the haters that their darkness only fuels your light. Let them see that their antisemitism didn’t silence you—it made you more proudly Jewish.
Wishing you blessings and continued success,
Yochanan
Yochanan Gordon can be reached at [email protected]. Read more of Yochanan’s articles at 5TJT.com.
