Schmaltzy Tel Aviv Stories: Kubaneh, Herring, Challah & Sabich

Illustrations by Geffen Rafaeli (@dailydoodlegram)

This spring, we hosted our first ever Schmaltzy in Israel (think: The Moth, but with freshly baked Yemenite kubaneh and Iraqi sabich). Hosted by author Adeena Sussman, in collaboration with PJ Library at the Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, we gathered to devour stories of Jewish food.  

Our storytellers included Israeli culinary personality Gil Hovav, the great-grandson of Eliezer Ben Yehuda, whose large family all coveted the small pot of kubaneh that his grandmother made on Shabbat mornings in Jerusalem. Author Tami Shemtov shared what it was like to grow up with a father whose first name was the same as a popular Israeli street food, while culture editor Jessica Steinberg recalled trying herring and a sip of her father’s schnaps as a little girl at shul. Finally, acclaimed baker Uri Scheft unfolded a story about his path to becoming a baker.

Listen to all of the delicious stories here:

Thank you so much to all of our storytellers for sharing their tales with us — and for an incredible spread of noshes — and to everyone who joined us. We hope to see you all at the next Schmaltzy.

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