US Man Receives Watermelon-Eating Contest Prize 29 Years After Winning

Nearly three decades after winning a watermelon-eating contest at a Lag BaOmer event organized by Chabad emissaries in Massachusetts, Binyamin Reiss finally received the promised prize. The contest took place in 1997 at a traditional festival in Massachusetts, where Reiss, then a child, won first place and was supposed to be awarded a new Tanya book. However, amid the festival's chaos, the prize was forgotten and never given to him.

Over the years, Reiss grew up to become a well-known figure in the Jewish community, nicknamed "The Herring Man" for his gourmet kosher food business across the US. Recently, while visiting Worcester, Massachusetts with his family, he stopped by the local Chabad House and casually mentioned the forgotten prize to Rabbi Mendel Fogelman, the local emissary. Rabbi Fogelman promptly retrieved a brand-new Tanya book from his office and presented it to Reiss.

The book was a special edition printed in nearby Holden, close to the original contest location, adding a meaningful touch to the long-awaited prize. This unexpected reunion highlighted the enduring value of promises made to children and the importance of Torah study, proving it is never too late to fulfill a commitment.