Friday, March 15 – Sunday, March 17, Congregation Beth El
Best-selling and award-winning author Joan Nathan will be the featured guest speaker for the 2024 Milton “Mickey” Kramer Scholar-in-Residence program this month. This three-day event is open to the public.
Nathan is the author of 12 books, including Jewish Cooking in America and The New American Cooking, both of which won James Beard Awards and IACP Awards. She is a frequent contributor to The New York Times and Tablet Magazine and has appeared as a guest on numerous radio and television programs including Today show, Good Morning America, and The Martha Stewart Show.
“Joan Nathan, known as the matriarch of Jewish cuisine, has preserved Jewish history, traditions, and culture through our common love of food. Following a recipe from one country to another is like following the wandering Jew,” says Deb Segaloff, president of Beth El’s board of directors and program committee chair. “I had the honor of working with Joan in her test kitchen years ago. She is the real deal…she seeks out recipes and the cultures they represent like an archeologist.”
The Milton “Mickey” Kramer Scholar-in-Residence program began in 2004 to honor the memory of Congregation Beth El’s esteemed trustee and community leader, “Mickey” Kramer, who was committed to Jewish learning within the community.
The Scholar-in-Residence weekend promises a rich array of topics and flavors for attendees. Friday’s festivities kick off at 5:45 pm with a Rock Shabbat service, followed by an Israeli-themed Shabbat Dinner featuring recipes from Nathan’s collection. At 7:30 pm, attendees will hear Nathan share insights into Jewish traditions and cuisine, setting the stage for an enriching weekend.
Saturday morning’s agenda will include a 9 am Torah Study followed by a 9:45 am Shabbat Service that delves into the captivating history of Jewish cooking in America. Nathan, acclaimed for her research in this area, will share stories and recipes from her best-selling, culinary classic cookbook Jewish Cooking in America. The morning will culminate with a Kiddush luncheon highlighting additional Nathan recipes.
The weekend will conclude on Sunday, March 17, with a 9 am brunch, providing attendees with a chance to interact with Nathan. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear about her upcoming cookbook, My Life in Recipes: Food, Family & Memories, which journals her personal discovery of Jewish cuisine from around the world. It is slated for release on April 9, 2024. More information may be found at Penquin Random House.
Attendance for events requires RSVPs. Ticket prices for Friday’s Shabbat dinner are $18 for adults, $8 for children aged 6-13, or $45 for a family. The Saturday Kiddush and Sunday brunch are sponsored and will be free of charge for those attending the services. All meals for the weekend will be prepared by Beth El’s Sisterhood and other dedicated volunteers.