Other Books by David Muller
Trajectory
David Muller is President of Loho Vetz, Inc., the Muller Family Office based in Niagara Falls, Ontario. David is also the founder of Photorealism, North America’s largest art dealership solely devoted to the photorealist genre of art. David, an Orthodox Jew, was the founder of Al Safa Halal, North America’s largest Islamic food company, which he conceived of and ran for twelve years before selling it to a multi-national food conglomerate. During those twelve years, David spoke in mosques and Islamic conventions around the country. As David describes it, “there was no Jew in North America who had been in more mosques, or more Imams’ homes, than I had”.
In this book, David recounts his family’s recent trip to the ancestral home in Slovakia, and then recounts his ancestors’ harrowing escape from the Nazis and the rebuilding of their lives in Canada. He offers stories of his ancestors’ lives, his own life, and lessons he has learned along the way.
Let’s Go Look at the Golden Book!
Bobby, Danny and I meet at the Weiszes’ house at 2947 Barker Street (which later becomes 6947 Barker Street when the City of Niagara Falls adds 4000 to each address). We grab a palacsinta with apricot jam from Steffie-neni’s kitchen and then pile into Lutzi Bacsi’s big orange Thunderbird. We pass by an apartment that says Dolly on one door and Rosza on the other. We get to the synagogue at 1328 Ferry Street (later 5328 Ferry Street). This week is my turn to start the prayers. I fidget at the shtender and wait for the signal from Rabbi Gross. The opening brachot are on page 45. Mizmor shir is on page 60. Ashrei is on page 76. Shochain Ad is on page 86. Barchu is on page 88. The morning Shema is on page 92. The Amidah for Shacharit is on page 96. Taking out of the Torah begins on page 117. Beriech Shmai is on page 118. Yekum Purkun is on page 128. Musaf begins on page 137. Ain Keloheinu is on 157, Aleinu on 158, and Adon Olam on page 162.
Growing Up With Houdini
On February 17, 1984, I interviewed in the bond trading department at Goldman Sachs in New York City for a summer job for the summer between my two years of graduate business school.
The way the interview day was structured was that I interviewed with each of eight partners individually first. Then at the end of the day was a group interview: the eight partners and me.
Since I had gone to business school straight out of college, I really had nothing on my resume to speak of.
However, at the bottom of my resume, it stated, “spent summers as a tour guide and resident magician at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame, Niagara Falls, Canada.”
The Jew in the Mosque: The Story of How an Orthodox Jew Came to Own North America’s Largest Islamic Food Company
David J. Muller tells the story of how a request for halal offal eventually led to the largest Islamic food company in North America:
Although I cannot prove it, there is probably no Jew in America who has been in more mosques than I have – no Jew who has been in more imams’ homes than I have. I have also attended dozens of Islamic conferences and conventions, and even spoken at some. And because of this unique opportunity I have had, there are probably few Jews who have had a chance to get as close a view of Islam in North America as I have.
Please Don’t Buy This Artwork: What I Learned in My Decade as an Art Dealer
Most art galleries do not own the art that is on their walls. When I went around asking the stores to buy our works for resale, they laughed at me and then explained how it works. They explained that there are dozens, hundreds, thousands of artists trying to get their artworks to be sold by art retailers. Thus, the gallery not only does not buy the art, they actually charge the artist, or in our case the dealer, a wall rental fee to have the art on the wall. Then, if the art sells, the retailer pays the artist or dealer an agreed-upon percentage of the sale price, usually anywhere from 35% to 50%. In other words, we had to give the artwork to the retailer for them to hang on the walls of the gallery, and only if and when the store sells the artwork do they then remit a portion of the sale price to us. The percentage of the sale price that the retailer would remit to us was a negotiation, separately with each retailer. When a piece sold and the retailer remitted our share to us, we would then ship a replacement piece to that retailer. In the meanwhile, we had to pay them a weekly fee for having the art on their wall.
Stuck in My Head
For those reading this in the future (which I guess is the case by definition), we have now exited the Coronavirus pandemic and life is back to normal. Thus, it seems a perfect time for me to compile this list of bright, upbeat, cheery songs.
Although there is uncertainty in the world, I feel that I have never been in a better place in life. Being confined inside with the love of my life for the past two years has been a greater blessing than I could ever have wished for. Our children are all thriving and happy. I am blessed to have a spiritual guide in my life. My businesses are doing well. My staff is terrific. So compiling a book of great music is right in line with my mindset. And Chautauqua has been a big part of our music experience, from seeing Peter, Paul and Mary (several times), John Denver, and this year, Sheryl Crow and James Taylor.
I hope the songs never end.