A big part of my identity is Judaism. I am ethnically Ashkenazi, which is the group of diaspora Jews who hail from Eastern Europe, and are religiously Jewish. Food is a big part of Judaism. A joke in the community is that are holidays are, "They tried to kill us, we won, let's eat." My favorite holiday, Passover (or Pesach), revolves around a meal, called a seder. I know it isn't kind to my stomach to be focusing on these beautiful foods that I can't have because I'm away from home, but in this article, I'm going to list my favorite Jewish foods.
1. Latkes
Latkes are a potato pancake fried in oil that is commonly eaten around Hanukkah time. On Hanukkah, Jews eat foods fried in oil to celebrate the miracle of the Maccabees' oil lasting for eight nights instead of the single night that they expected. These crispy beauties are amazing when eaten with sour cream and apple sauce.
2. Kugel
Kugel is a delectable casserole dish that can be made from potatoes, noodles, or apples. The dish can be made savory or sweet, but a sweet noodle kugel like the one in the picture is my favorite. I love to joke that a Jewish kid's favorite argument is whose parent or grandparent makes the best kugel. My mother makes an amazing kugel around Yom Kippur time (the Day of Atonement) when we break the fast.
3. Matzo Ball Soup
Although I have it listed third here, I would have to say that matzo ball soup is my absolute favorite Jewish comfort food. This delicious chicken soup is served around Pesach, as the matzo balls are made from matzo meal, which does not contain chametz. Chametz is bread, which we are forbidden to eat during Pesach. Another debate among Jews is whether dense or fluffy matzo balls are better. I am on team fluffy.
4. Challah
Challah is a braided, egg washed sweet bread that is eaten and blessed every shabbat. I remember when I went to shabbat (the Sabbath) services as I child, I would get so hungry and would be so excited for the end of the service so we could say the HaMotzi (the blessing over bread) and each have a piece of challah.
5. Hamentashen
Hamentashen are a sweet, filled cookie enjoyed around Purim. These cookies, often filled with fruit jam, poppyseeds, or chocolate are a bit morbid. They are shaped like Haman's (booooo) three cornered hat. Haman was an antisemitic adviser to a king who wanted to kill the Jews, but Mordechai and his sister Esther saved the day. Again, they tried to kill us, we won, let's eat.
6. Bagels, Cream Cheese, and Lox
No other food makes me think of synagogue and family get-togethers quite as much as the golden trio: lox, bagels, and cream cheese. Do I really even need to explain? The combination of the chewy bagel, the savory cream cheese, and the smoky lox (salmon) makes for a bite unlike any other.
Now, excuse me while I go be hungry and make a grocery list.
