Ezra (Azura) Scherpler, the founder of the Jerusalem Azura restaurant based in the Mahane Yehuda Market, died passed away Wednesday at the age of 87. Scherpler opened the restaurant in 1952 and it quickly became a Jerusalem culinary institution to which people from all over the country made pilgrimages. Over the years, the Azura restaurant became a cultural icon, and the singer and composer Yossi Banai even wrote a song that bears the restaurant's name, in which he sang about Scherpler himself.
The place is named after Scherpler, nicknamed Azura, who was the founding father of the restaurant. The restaurant serves homemade Turkish-Jerusalem cuisine cooked in a slow cooker over oil wicks, which have become the trademark of the business. Ezra had 9 children and his son Elran opened another restaurant in 2015 in Tel Aviv, based on the same culinary traditions.
Jerusalem is mourning Ezra "Azura" Shrefler, 90, who established an eponymous restaurant in Mahane Yehuda in 1952 after emigrating from Turkish Kurdistan. He leaves behind a 70-year-old institution that is still packed every day, 9 children & hundreds of admired & cribbed recipes pic.twitter.com/NmCNAc8cf5
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) December 14, 2022
"The Mahane Yehuda market is saddened by the passing of the late Ezra Scherpler, the founder of the Azura restaurant," said chef Tali Friedman, chairman of the Machane Yehuda market merchants' committee. "Scherpler and his dishes had a great influence on chefs in the market and outside of it, he was a significant culinary anchor and a source of pride for all market merchants and for the people of Jerusalem in the last decades.
Epic breakfast at Azura Jerusalem- thank you for the tip @tmorrissyswan and @schmalznpepper 🙏(love twitter recommendations) pic.twitter.com/72nxstP10d
— Xanthe Clay (@XantheClay) April 14, 2019
Friedman’s statement further added: "His big and wide heart and that of his family members, who manage the beloved Jerusalem institution with a high hand, stands out to this day in every dish that is served at Azura, always in abundance, always with a great soul, always with joy. And the merchants of the market, lost a great man today, humble and pleasant who was a unifying and beloved factor. We will work to perpetuate Azura's name as befits a person who loved and connected with his heart's blood to the market of Mahane Yehuda. May his memory be blessed."
Shavi Azura, the son of Schrepler who runs the branch in Jerusalem, told reporters: "He was one of the pioneers of the restaurants in Mahane Yehuda and was a milestone in Jerusalem cuisine. We, his children, thank him for what he taught us."
Artist Solomon Souza painting an homage to Jerusalem's beloved Ezra "Azura" Shrefler in the courtyard of his restaurant, in the heart of the Machane Yehuda market, on the day of his passing. https://t.co/kbSTnQxo2X pic.twitter.com/o9ppNsooim
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) December 14, 2022
Even world-renowned Israeli chef, Asaf Granit, along with his partner Ori Navon, released a joint statement on Schrepler’s death: "Very sad. For many years we have been privileged to receive plates full of wonderful food and Jerusalem-worthy hospitality from Azura's wicks and pots. A magnificent and deep heritage of traditional root cuisine. Mahane Yehuda Market and all of Jerusalem bow their heads. The beloved Schrepler family, the inspiration and goodness we received from you accompany us wherever we go. May his memory be blessed."
