Bagel Boss Offers Special Bagel As Fundraiser For Israel

JERICHO, NY — There are numerous fundraisers to support the families of the wounded and dead in Israel.

Bagel Boss has found a unique way to help.

They are selling bagels in Israeli blue and white colors. Each bagel is $2 and goes directly to the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Foundation. The organization is known for its humanitarian aid efforts.

Online customers can purchase a dozen blue and white bagels for $59.95, with shipping included for delivery anywhere in the U.S.

"We feel with everything going on, what could bagel guys do?" Andrew Hazen, CEO of Bagel Boss, told Patch. "So at the end of the day, we make [a] great product."

Hazen said making the special bagels, which will be available at most of the 15 stores, "is the least we can do. People could give their support and be able, at the same time, to have some comfort in our product."

Hazen, who grew up in South Bellmore, began with the company in 1988. His partner Adam Rosner is a fifth-generation bagel and bialy maker, while Rosner's father Alex's family brought the recipes from Bialystock, Poland.

"I feel horrible for what's going on there," Hazen said. "It's a true travesty, almost unexplainable in words. Being that we can't do much else to go over there to help fight, this is our way of giving back. It's heartbreaking."