You did it! What you chose in 2014’s Best of Everything Jewish survey

By Joel Magalnick, Editor, The Jewish Sound

Admit it. You all have fun speaking out on the things you love in our community, whether they’re Jewish or not. That’s why we had more responses this year than in the decade we’ve been doing this. Right? We are pleased to announce the winners. Enjoy, and do your best t

o make them all a part of your lives!

Best Local Jewish Organization, School or Agency: Once again, Jewish Family Service takes the prize for being so many things to so many people, particularly those dealing with crises and who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Take a moment to appreciate, because you probably have no idea about the breadth of all they do for our community.

Best Congregation: Temple Beth Am, the Reform congregation in Seattle’s Wedgwood neighborhood wins it!

Best Youth Organization: NCSY, which for the past decade has been engaging teens and pre-teens in our Orthodox community and beyond, takes the prize.

Best Jewish Camp: At just 8 years old, URJ Camp Kalsman may not have the built-in traditions that last through generations (yet), but that doesn’t mean it’s any less fun for the kids who go there.

Best Place to Volunteer: Jewish Family Service wins best Jewish organization because of the seriousness it devotes to its volunteer program. JFS, take a bow.

Best Jewish Supplemental School: Jewish High, the supplementary program run by the folks at NCSY (see above) helps high school kids understand the importance of living a Jewish life.

Best Adult Education Program: Congregation Beth Shalom knows that the best way to a Jewish life is through its kids, but it also knows that adults are hungry for knowledge as well. To life, to life, to learning!

Best Place to Hang Out and Meet Other Fun Jews: Jconnect, Hillel at the University of Washington’s young adult program, which has been turning out mensches since, well, I was young enough to be a part of it, undoubtedly deserves the honor.

Best Jewish Book of 2014: He came. He talked. He kicked some you-know-what: Ari Shavit, author of “My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel,” impressed a thousand of us during his visit last spring.

Best Jewish-Themed or Israeli Film of 2014: “Zero Motivation,” which told the story of a group of female Israeli soldiers stuck pushing pencils hit the nail on the head of office life.

Best Jewish Actor/Comedian of 2014: Jon Stewart, he of Daily Show and “Rosewater” fame, won hands down. But we can’t leave this category without mention of the loss of two of our greats, Joan Rivers and honory Jew Robin Williams.

Best Local Jewish Band: Shawn Weaver can be found every Shabbat and holiday making music at Temple Beth Am, and his band, Shawn’s Kugel, takes the tunes out of the sanctuary.

Best Smoked Fish: Goldberg’s Famous Delicatessen is, well, famous for its lox and whitefish salad. They’ve got a location in the Convention Center now, so you downtown folks have no reason to miss out on what everyone’s talkin’ about.

Best Bagel: Eltana does it Montreal-style. A bit less bread, a bit more hole, and just the right amount of sweetness. Try one with their green onion and za’atar cream cheese. Oh man, I’m getting hungry.

Best Challah: I’ve been preaching the wonders of Grateful Bread in Wedgwood for years. They came in third, of course, after “mine” and “my mom’s.”

Best Pizza: Once again, despite being closed due to building construction, Island Crust reopens with a championship medal under its belt. Also, Razzi in Greenwood got kudos for its gluten-free pies.

Best Middle Eastern: They’ve moved around more than a food truck, but Zaina, now comfortably ensconced on Lake City Way, appears to have earned its moniker “Greatest Falafel on Earth.”

Best Mobile Lunch Truck: We’ve profiled Greg Wagner of The Ultimate Melt previously, and his take on grilled cheese takes top dog.

Best Coffee Shop: Howard must be so proud, knowing his own community gives Starbucks top honors.

Best Sunday Brunch: Any brunch spot that has all the berries, nuts and whipped cream you can eat is tops in my book, right Portage Bay Café?

Best Sushi: Finally this little neighborhood spot in Lake City gets its due. Toyoda Sushi has super fresh fish and a tataki no one can shake a chopstick at.

Best Brewpub, Distillery or Wine Bar: You Seahawks fans know what I’m talkin’ about. I see you at the SoDo Elysian after the game, before the game, sometimes during the game…

Best Farm-to-Table or Chef-Driven Restaurant: Maria Hines’s reputation started here at this amazing Wallingford spot, Tilth, with fresh-farmed veggies and so much more.

Best Happy Hour: The longtime home of legendary bartender Murray Stenson, Zig Zag at the Pike St. Hill Climb can’t be beat for drinks that will knock your socks off. And not just because they’re generous with the gin.

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant: We’re guessing that as they reintroduce themselves to our kosher community, Island Crust Café won’t have installed a jungle gym, but it’s a great place for kids all the same.

Best Bakery: In West Seattle and on Capitol Hill, Bakery Nouveau makes even the biggest mouth-stuffer of store-bought cookies weak in the knees.

Best Chocolatier: She’s won this category before, and for good reason. Fran’s Chocolates are consistently and endearingly delicious — not to mention a life saver for many of us.

Best Ice Cream: Molly Moon has had a rough go of it, what with the Great Ice Cream Scare of 2014, but she and her six locations (including one inside Hello, Robin! Cookies) are up and humming, spreading joy into the tummies of young and old alike.

Best Place for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah Party or Wedding Reception: You may think that URJ Camp Kalsman in Arlington is just for summer, but if you’ve never gotten married on this beautiful expanse of land, you should give it a try.

Best Local Party Band or DJ: Nick Barrat (a.k.a. DJ Nicky B) has years of expertise in getting shy kids on the side of the room onto the dance floor.

Best Place to Buy an Engagement Ring: Ben Bridge Jeweler has been making women’s ring fingers extra shiny for over a century.

Best Ketubah Artist: Serving mainly Seattle’s Northend, Temple Beth Am member Cathy Shiovitz turns an otherwise boring legal document into beautiful artwork.

Best Event Photographer or Videographer: You’ve seen her work in these pages — it shines! Imagine what Meryl Alcabes can do for a Bar Mitzvah.

Best Florist: Once again, Anna Brandt of Distinctive Design knows just the right level of color and simplicity to make your simcha gorgeous.

Best Caterer: Leah’s Catering has been doing it kosher for close to two decades, and her poached salmon still leaves us in awe.

Best Wedding Cake Baker: Holly Levin “The Cake Lady” makes wedding cakes that not only look beautiful, but (for once) actually taste good, too.

Best Local Sports Team: From one of our respondents: “You’re kidding, right! Sea-HAWKS!” But let’s also send props to the 613s, Northwest Yeshiva High School’s team that excels in everything from hoops to volleyball. And I admit curiosity about these 9-year-old soccer players in Bellingham (or thereabouts) who call themselves the Flaming Armpits.

Best Judaica: Need a mezuzah? We’ve got a tie between Fireworks, with locations all over town, and the Temple B’nai Torah gift shop in Bellevue.

Best Clothing Store: Nordstrom. Did somebody mention there was a sale?

Best Kids’ Clothing or Toy Shop: Top Ten Toys in Greenwood entertains, educates, and steers away from the plastic garbage.

Best Pet Store: Local pet supply supplier Mud Bay wins, paws down.

Best Independent Shoes & Accessories Shop: Chick’s Shoes on Mercer Island knows a good fit when they see it.

Best Local, Independent Shop: Since moving from Pioneer Square to Capitol Hill a few years ago, Elliott Bay Book Co. has fueled a renaissance in its neighborhood and within its own book-lined walls.

Best Bookstore: Here’s a very little known fact: I was the very first customer at Third Place Books in Ravenna, though I paid by credit card so my dollar bill isn’t on the wall. You’ll also find them in Lake Forest Park and, before long, Seward Park.

Best Theater Company: We Jews love our theater, and we love it most when we watch those fine actors at the Seattle Repertory Theater.

Best Fitness Club: Where else? The Stroum Jewish Community Center on Mercer Island has invested a lot in its equipment, and you can almost always find someone for a pickup game of basketball or, um, croquet.

Best Family Doctor: Gary Spector once again wins for his gentle demeanor and diagnosis of good health.

Best Dentist: I nearly got into an accident in Bellevue recently because I was blinded by the white teeth of all those people who visit Wendy Shultz Spektor. Need we say more?

Best Lawyer: Maybe we should go to court and pit longtime local attorneys Louis Treiger and Sharon Perlin against each other to break the tie.

Best Accountant: Sam Mezistrano is your man to keep your money where it belongs. And no, I don’t mean under your mattress.

Best Real Estate Agent: Rhona Feldman will help you buy and sell your house, and she does a darn fine job of that, but where else will you find a realtor that can also teach you Israeli dancing?

Best Contractor or Builder: Jeremy Benezra of Benezra Construction will build out your kitchen, your new wing, anything you need. Just give the man a phone call and a hammer.

Best Car Dealership: I’ve never bought a new Toyota, but from the number of new ones I see on the road these days, Michael’s Toyota must be doing something right.

Best (or Worst) Political Antic of 2014: Whether Israel won the war in Gaza this summer is debatable, but anything to do with that, or Seattle city councilwoman Kashama Sawant saying there was nothing wrong with the Palestinian protests at Westlake that equated Israelis to Nazis, won this category.

Most Important Political Issue of 2014: The Israeli/Palestinian conflict took precedence over gun control, the environment, education and much more.

Most Important Local Jewish News Item of 2014: Again, from our respondent: “So many new leaders in one year,” this person stated. From Jewish Family Service to the Jewish Federation (which goes back to 2013, actually) to the new leaders at our day schools and the many new rabbis at local congregations, this respondent called it “a chance to reshape Jewish Seattle.”