Beachwood BBQ Event Nets $2,500 for IDF Battalion 980: A Cousin’s Mission
On September 15, attendees gathered to learn the art of barbecue while raising more than $2,500 to support the Israel Defense Forces Battalion 980. The fundraiser was organized by Beachwood resident Rick Tannenbaum in collaboration with Hank Kornblut, owner of Mister Brisket, and featured a barbecue class for about 15 participants.
The idea for the fundraiser emerged when Tannenbaum’s cousin, Amit Tannenbaum, sought assistance to support Battalion 980 with basic needs, as the battalion had been relying on personal funds. In a news release, Tannenbaum shared, “(Amit) asked us to raise some money, and I love barbecue. I’ve always wanted to host a barbecue class, so I saw this as a perfect opportunity to help him and do something I enjoy.”
Initially aiming to raise $500, Tannenbaum was thrilled to see the total amount far surpass his expectations.
Amit Tannenbaum joined the event briefly via Zoom and expressed his gratitude. His emotional response was evident when he smiled during the call, particularly when discussing the fundraiser and the Shabbat dinners shared with his battalion.
The event took place at Mister Brisket in Cleveland Heights. Attendees learned how to trim and split brisket and chicken from Aaron Huentelman, the competition meat manager at Mister Brisket, and enjoyed a variety of barbecue dishes following the demonstration.
