Yaakov’s Beef Jerky all started at a summer camp called Yeshivas Hakayitz. During my time there, I had an amazing counselor named Reuben Gampel. One day, after I had some store-bought beef jerky delivered to camp, Reuben mentioned he made homemade jerky all the time—and said it was way better than the store brands. Being someone who loves experimenting in the kitchen, I had to try it.
Later in camp, during a fast day to keep the kids busy, one of the rabbis gave everyone a small piece of meat, and we made a simple batch of beef jerky with limited ingredients. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it lit a spark in me.
After camp ended, I told my parents about the experience, and we took a trip to Cambridge to get some meat. On Tisha B’Av 2024, I made my first official batch of beef jerky. The flavor came out better than I ever imagined—spicy, sweet, and full of bold barbecue taste. That flavor became what’s now known as Spicy Honey Barbecue.
I kept experimenting, sharing my jerky with friends and family. Then Reuben, the counselor who first inspired me, sent me one of his own recipes. That turned into Space Bomb, a super flavorful, savory blend that quickly became another favorite.
At first, I only made jerky for family events, just to see people's reactions. But then, around Chanukah, I made a batch with a friend who loved it so much he offered to buy it. That was the first time I sold a batch—and once I saw the demand, I started buying my own meat and officially launched Yaakov’s Beef Jerky.
Since then, it’s been an incredible journey. I’ve developed new flavors, grown a loyal customer base, and even started selling exciting new products like Salami Chips. I never expected it to grow this much—but here we are, and it just keeps getting better.
At Yaakov’s Beef Jerky, everything is made with care, quality ingredients, and a whole lot of flavor. Whether you're a first-time taster or a regular, I hope you enjoy every bite as much as I love making it.