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.

Also See: “I would never say anything else but that I am a Jew… I am a partially observant Jew. I light candles and observe some of the 613 precepts that I am obliged to observe.” Leonard Cohen

Other Posts About The 2014 Visit:

• Directions To Leonard Cohen’s Home: …Turn right & drive until you see a house with the Lord Byron Of Rock ‘n’ Roll waiting for you in the front yard
• 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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1. 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) [↩]