In August 2014, The Duchess and I had lunch with Leonard Cohen and Kezban Özcan at his home in Los Angeles. A review of my notes from that event turned up this conversational tidbit that I inexplicably never published.
On viewing the feast prepared for us, I facetiously asked Leonard,
Now, how is it that a nice, very Orthodox1 Jewish guy like you can serve up this delicious but incredibly nonkosher spread?
Leonard then leaned over toward me and somberly explained,
Allan, I am very, very Orthodox. I’m just not very, very reverent.
This guy cracks me up.
Other Posts About The 2014 Visit:
- Calling On Leonard Cohen & Kezban: The Cat, The Cane, The Conversation
- Lunch At Leonard’s In LA – Leonard Cohen & Kezban Özcan Host Nosh For Duchess & DrHGuy
- Playing Straight Man To Leonard Cohen: The Secret To His Post-2008 Renaissance
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- For the record, Leonard attended a “right-wing Conservative” synagogue as a child (Source: Leonard Cohen of Montreal: Interview by Michael Benazon. Matrix: Fall, 1986) but described himself as having been “Orthodox Jewish raised. (Source: Gesprek met Leonard Cohen, de boeteprediker van de popmuziek; Het Oude Testament is mijn handboek by Pieter Steinz, NRC: December 4, 1992) [↩]
Glad you got to bask in his humble magnificence…..what a cosmic card he was!! xo Was