Sarina Roffé, Grandson David Roffé, husband David Roffé,
Noah Rinsky and Nick Heller, aka New York Nico.
Joe Nahem spoke of how his creativity began as a teenager when his cousins, aunts and uncles in the community gave him carte blanche to decorate a room in their home. This was the start of a long and fruitful career. A high school dropout, he went back to school to get his GED and degree from Parsons School of Design. An early job made the cover of the New York Times Sunday Homes section. Before he knew it, he was decorating the homes of the rich and famous.
David Roffé, who recently has had internet fame as the face of Old Jewish Men, shared how, under the direction of creator Noah Rinsky, he was able to make real life for older men entertaining for young people.
David Roffé and Joe Nahem, members of Brooklyn’s Syrian Jewish community, were inducted into the BJHI Brooklyn Jewish Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The Hall of Fame recognizes the leading Brooklynites who have truly made a difference in the world. BJHI was created to document the stories, culture and accomplishments of Jewish Brooklyn.
The 6 Honorees of the Sixth Class of 2024 are an esteemed and diverse group who have made tremendous, lifelong contributions to: Entertainment, Interior Design, Jewish Humor, Human Rights, Social Services and preserving Jewish history, in addition to contributing to the incredible and unique Jewish Life and History of the Borough of Brooklyn.
Roffé and Nahem are joined by Rabbi Avi Greenstein, Rabbi Aaron Raskin, Noah Rinsky, and Tatiana Varzar. Sarina Roffe, Co-Chair, and Howard Tech, BJHI founder, led the ceremony. The ceremony began with Ellen Levitt, author of Lost Synagogues of Brooklyn, and Ron Schweiger, Brooklyn Historian, talking about the importance of Brooklyn’s Jewish history.
Clips from @OldJewishMen Instagram account were shared with the audience, which had many rolling with laughter. In one clip, David is seen wearing his tefillin in Crown Heights on Erev Yom Kippur asking Hasidic men if they have put on Tefillin that day. “I want the mitzvah of you putting on tefillin. Why can’t I have the mitzvah? Why do you always get the mitzvah?”
Rabbi Avi Greenstein and Rabbi Aaron Raskin could be seen in the audience laughing. They also showed a commercial for Katz’s deli. While the deli is not a kosher deli, it is strongly identified as Jewish based on its name and the menu items such as pastrami and corned beef. His grandson David S. Roffé, also appears in the commercial with the family dog, Snowball. Again, Roffé is not seen eating any items, he just talks about them.
Known as the Costco oracle, Roffé is often seen online talking about real life issues, such as the lack of public restrooms in Manhattan, or the price of Costco chicken. He is never seen eating unkosher food but makes jokes of real life issues that affect people.
Joe was interviewed by his older brother Edward and they spoke of working in the family business and how they identified strongly with their Brooklyn roots and family heritage.
This was the sixth in-person Hall of Fame ceremony, bringing the total membership to over 60, including such leading Brooklynites as Joseph Shamie, Dan Hedaya. Clem Soffer, Julie Budd, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Mimi Sheraton, Alan Dershowitz, Fyvush Finkel, Judge Rachel Frier, David Greenfield, Marty Markowitz, Elizabeth Holtzman, Rabbi Joe Potasnik, Jake Ehrenreich, Eleanor Reissa, Bruce Ratner, Lainie Kazan, Neshamah Carlebach, Merle Feld, Judge Judy Sheindlin, Malcolm Hoenlein, and Norman Siegel.
Joe/Joey Nahem was born and raised in the Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York, where he started out working in his parents’ retail stores. The third of four children, Joe showed a natural talent for interior design as a teenager, often decorating spaces in the homes of his relatives.
After graduation from Parsons School of Design, Joe and his late business partner, Tom Fox, started Fox-Nahem Design in their early twenties. After 4 decades of experience, Joe and his team change with the times, without falling victim to fads, and curate rare vintage pieces, as well as works with artists, craftspeople and artisans from around the globe.
The design firm has been included in a number of top design lists: AD- 100, Elle Decor A-List, New York Magazine’s Top 100, New York Spaces Top 50, and Luxe Magazine’s Gold List. The firm’s projects have been in magazines such as Architectural Digest, Elle Décor and a recent feature of Robert Downey Jr’s Malibu Home in the NY Times T-Magazine. Joe’s designs can be found in the former home of Jacqueline Kennedy at 740 Park Avenue, and the famed Dakota. Fox-Nahem, The Design Vision of Joe Nahem was published by Abrams.
Joe is proud of his Syrian Jewish heritage, his Brooklyn roots and his family’s legacy.
David Roffé began his acting career at the Upright Citizens Brigade. For years he dabbled in short films as a hobby, just for fun until he met Noah Rinsky, who had posted an ad looking for an old Jewish man. Dave fit the bill. A naturally funny and occasionally grumpy old man, David makes being an old Jewish man from Brooklyn a fun and lovable experience that is even at times… poignant. Whether he’s protesting the price of the Costco hot dog, reviewing hard salami and pickles or screaming about the lack of public toilets in New York City, Dave was made to entertain.
Since joining Old Jewish Men three years ago, David has become the face of the brand and is recognized wherever he goes in the world. He starred in the movie Sauna Dreams, as well as commercials for Meta, GrubHub, Mike’s Amazing Mustard, Sperry Topsider, Kalshi, The New York Mets, and has appeared on Live with Andy Cohen and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Most recently Dave was in a commercial for Katz’s Deli that was directed by New York Nico.
Married to Sarina Roffé, the father of three was born and raised in Brooklyn and has several grandchildren that he loves to be with. Known as the ‘candyman’ in the family for his love of candy, as well as snuggling with his dog Snownball.
BJHI was created to tell the amazing story of the Jewish community of Brooklyn, and the BJHI Brooklyn Jewish Hall of Fame recognizes the leading Brooklynites who have truly made a difference in the world. Visit brooklynjewish.org for more information.
