Presence

Breaking News. Presence has learned, from various inside sources, that one of the contestants on the next season of The Apprentice is an Orthodox Jew. We have confirmed that the contestant Dan, from Miami, Florida, is none other than Daniel Brody (married to Baltimore's own Amy L.):

Dan (Miami, Fla.) Clothing Company Owner
Dan, 31, is the founder of Brody Sport, a designer brand of active-wear currently sold in prominent boutique shops and popular department stores. Dan has successfully launched several businesses during his entrepreneurial career beginning with a college venture, NYC Cafe "Grandma's Cookie Jar." This wholesale retail bakery boutique served as one of the earliest bakery suppliers for the city's Starbucks stores. Dan also owned YoCookie, a ready-to-bake cookie-dough brand shelved in more than 30 grocery stores even before "Grandma's Cookie Jar" was successfully sold. Dan's next venture was Swan Hat, one of the only "Made In The USA," headwear companies still in existence today. Swan Hat has a healthy department store base and the company's Straw Headwear division annually outfits the New York State Teachers Union - Labor Day Fifth Ave Parade, as well as other union parades and events throughout the country. Dan is passionate about religion and family and feels that you must make an exerted effort for those you love and give back to those in need. - from The Futon Critic

Sources tell us that Dan told friends he was away on business in China for 8 weeks while the show was shot. There is mention of Dan's Judaism on the show, including details of his dietary restrictions (he had his own Foreman grill in the apartment); no information as to how far along Dan got. It's interesting to consider how the show adapted to Dan's Sabbath observance; I would assume that a typical season of The Apprentice films seven days a week.

Update: Further blog-digging seems to indicate that Dan's Sabbath/Holiday observance did indeed cause problems on the show. No details whether or not this made it into the final cut. I personally think it would be AWESOME if Dan ended up getting fired for refusing to work on Shabbos or Yom Tov. The typical Tamir-Goodman-esque discussions of what constitutes a Kiddush Hashem are inevitable.

If you visit The Apprentice Season 5 home page, Dan is in the top right corner of the candidates picture. In the picture below, Dan is #12 (click to enlarge).

I don't know Dan personally (he was an NCSY advisor in Seaboard region while I was there; I believe he once shot me during a paintball game). I do know some of his family in Baltimore. Either way, it will be interesting to watch (I don't watch The Apprentice normally, but I suppose I'll check it out now), and despite the fact that things are probably already decided, good luck Dan!

The new season of The Apprentice debuts on Monday, February 27 from 9-10 p.m.

Posted by Greg at February 14, 2006 12:26 PM in Jews | TrackBack