By COLlive reporter
Shlomo and Shifra Klein, the Lubavitcher husband-and-wife team behind Fleishigs Magazine, have sold the popular kosher food publication and are moving on to new ventures.
The Kleins launched Fleishigs in 2018, returning to the kosher publishing world they had helped pioneer years earlier with Bitayavon, which they founded in 2011. Bitayavon later merged with Jamie Geller’s Joy of Kosher, which was eventually rebranded, and its magazine was discontinued.
Fleishigs became the only monthly Jewish publication devoted exclusively to food, while facing steady competition from the substantial and often expanded food sections of the weekly Mishpacha and Ami magazines.
The brand also launched Kosherpalooza, a major annual food festival in New Jersey, which was later discontinued.
In a video announcement on Motzoei Shabbos, the Kleins revealed that the transition took place earlier this year, with a new team now running the publication they built into a prominent voice in the kosher food and travel world.
“Earlier this year, we passed Fleishigs Magazine to a new team, with new people running the magazine,” the Kleins said in announcing the change.
While stepping away from running Fleishigs, they said they have no intention of leaving the kosher food industry. “We will be involved in the kosher food world, which we are passionate about,” they said.
The Kleins, residents of the Five Towns in New York, described their years at Fleishigs as “one of the best experiences of our life,” saying they were grateful to have played a role in revolutionizing the kosher food and travel markets.
They thanked the many chefs, restaurants, brands, contributors, readers and others who worked with and supported Fleishigs over the years, while saying they are now “starting a new chapter.”
That chapter will include several ventures, among them SSK & Co., a new business focused on connecting mainstream brands with the kosher consumer market. Its services will include custom campaigns for brands seeking to reach kosher consumers, distribution assistance and influencer representation.
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The announcement drew messages from prominent figures in the kosher food world.
“Your fun and creative approach to kosher food has truly revolutionized the industry! I can’t wait to see what’s next!” wrote Chanie Apfelbaum, the cookbook author and food personality behind Busy in Brooklyn.
Elan Kornblum of Great Kosher Restaurants called the news “major.” “Shlomo and Shifra, wishing you guys nothing but the best in this new chapter,” Kornblum wrote. “I’m excited to see what you guys do and if I can help in any way, please reach out. Everyone is rooting for you.”
At Fleishigs, editorial leadership is now being shared by sisters Vicky Cohen and Ruth Fox, both veteran figures in food and recipe development.
“Today, I’m thrilled to begin a new chapter as one of the editors of this magazine,” Fox wrote in an introduction to readers. “Even better, I’ll be sharing the role with my sister, Vicky, who has spent the past 15 years developing, styling, and photographing recipes.”
The sisters were raised in Barcelona, Spain, in a Sephardic Jewish family and have each built careers around food, although in different areas.
Cohen is a recipe developer, food photographer and stylist who co-founded the food blog “May I Have That Recipe?” and co-authored the cookbook “Tahini and Turmeric.” Her work draws heavily on Mediterranean food as well as global cuisines.
Fox is a recipe developer and cookbook author as well as a trained nutritionist and dietitian. She specializes in developing recipes and menus for people with varying dietary needs and restrictions and also works as a medical interpreter in the Philadelphia area.
“Our paths might have been different, but they’ve always led to the same place: the kitchen,” Fox wrote.
She said readers can expect some changes under the sisters’ leadership, but not a departure from the publication’s core identity.
“Over the coming months, you may notice a few subtle changes: a fresh look here, a new voice there,” she wrote. “But the heart of this magazine will remain the same: celebrating Jewish food, the joy of making it, and the people who bring it to life.”
Meanwhile, Shifra Klein has indicated that her next chapter will extend beyond food. She recently posted a video promising a “new series” focused on parenting, offering another indication of the projects she plans to pursue after Fleishigs.
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For the Kleins, the sale closes the chapter of running Fleishigs but not their involvement in the industry they helped reshape. With SSK & Co. and other ventures underway, they said their work in the kosher food world will continue in a new form.
