Advertisement Rabbi, restaurant owner discuss 'Jewish Salad' incident Ellis apologizes, claims misunderstanding Share Shares Copy Link Copy

It wasn't much of a "Salad Summit," but a meeting between a Jackson rabbi and the restaurant owner at the center of a "Jewish Salad" controversy did result in an apology.Friday's meeting between Wraps owner John Ellis and Rabbi Ted Riter lasted about five minutes. The two men shook hands and sat down at a table at the back of the shop.Ellis said he's received about a dozen nasty phone calls since Riter first talked about his experience at the restaurant on Tuesday. Riter ordered a Greek salad and was insulted when Ellis allegedly asked, "the regular size or the Jewish size?""He said, 'You know Jews are small and cheap? Everyone knows that,' and I said to him, 'Did you really just say that to me?' And he said, 'Are you Jewish?' I said, 'Yes,'" Riter said of his exchange with Ellis.In an interview Wednesday with 16 WAPT News, Ellis said it was a misunderstanding. He said the restaurant sells a Jewish salad and a Greek salad. During Friday's meeting with Riter, Ellis said the rabbi must have misunderstood him because of his Greek accent."I know what I heard and I was insulted and you did curse at me and tell me to get out," Riter said.Ellis apologized again and asked to name a salad after the Riter, an offer the rabbi refused.Ellis claimed that he has received phone calls from people threatening to march on his business. He asked Riter to call the people off, but Riter said he had nothing to do with it."When people have asked if there should be a march or something like that, I've discouraged it," Riter said. "I don't want that kind of extra anxiety to be created between you and your establishment and the community.""Sometimes we are under a lot of stress. We are (short-staffed) and I work by myself primarily, and speed is of the essence, and maybe that's what my problem sometimes is," Ellis said. "My sincere apologies."The Wraps menu didn't include a Jewish salad when a 16 WAPT News crew was at the restaurant Wednesday, but a Jewish salad was listed on the menu Friday.28268484