News Summary
Beverly Hills kicks off Jewish American Heritage Month with a vibrant event at the Farmers’ Market featuring cultural activities, culinary competitions, and performances. Community members enjoyed a stop-motion animation workshop, klezmer band music, and baking contests for rugelach and gondi/matzo ball soup. The event showcased the rich traditions and contributions of the Jewish American community, with winners receiving market money prizes. Throughout May, more activities promoting Jewish culture will take place, enhancing community engagement and awareness.
Beverly Hills Kicks Off Jewish American Heritage Month with Cultural Events and Culinary Competitions
The city of Beverly Hills and its Community Services Department are celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month throughout May, kicking off the festivities with a vibrant event at the Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market on May 4. Hundreds of community members gathered to enjoy an array of cultural activities and culinary competitions that showcased the rich traditions and contributions of the Jewish American community.
The opening event featured a variety of interactive activities, including a stop-motion animation and illustration workshop, as well as a tzedakah-box making session led by the Skirball Cultural Center. Attendees were treated to live performances from the klezmer band Mostly Kosher, which added an entertaining musical backdrop to the day’s festivities.
Among the highlights were the culinary competitions, where participants showcased their baking talents in contests for rugelach and gondi/matzo ball soup. A distinguished panel of judges, including Mayor Sharona Nazarian and other city council members, evaluated the entries. Nearly 20 contestants went head-to-head in the rugelach contest, while six participants prepared their gondi/matzo ball soup recipes on-site.
The winners of the rugelach competition were as follows: 1st place went to Brooke Kahn, 2nd place to Franne Goldberg, and 3rd place to Elaine Maltzman. In the gondi/matzo ball soup competition, Devorah Leah Illulian took home 1st place, followed by Matt Cowman in 2nd, and Farah Kohan in 3rd. Each winning entry earned its creator market money prizes of $200, $100, and $50, respectively.
Throughout May, the city plans to host a series of events to continue celebrating Jewish American culture. On May 15, attendees can look forward to “Jewish Tales of Wonder, Wit and Wisdom” at the Beverly Hills Public Library, as well as a staged reading of “Lebensraum” at the Greystone Theatre. Another event, “The Jewish American Foodie: A Conversation,” is scheduled for May 19 in the Beverly Hills City Hall Municipal Gallery.
Additionally, every Thursday in May, a selection of films exploring Jewish themes and cultures will be screened at the Roxbury Park Community Center. A noteworthy tapestry art installation titled “Unfolded Narratives” by artist Jenny Yurshansky will be displayed at the Beverly Hills Public Library throughout the month, featuring stories shared by members of the community. Workshops related to the tapestry included creating paper fortunes that were ultimately transformed into quilt squares.
Other events throughout May include the Shalom Stories at the library, film screenings, and a Critical Conversations Speaker Series that will focus on Jewish culture and allyship. As the month progresses, the city intends to deepen community engagement and enhance awareness of the invaluable contributions of Jewish Americans.
This celebratory month aims to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of Jewish American history, culture, and contributions within the broader American society.
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Additional Resources
- Beverly Press: Beverly Hills Kicks Off Jewish American Heritage Month
- Wikipedia: Jewish American Heritage Month
- The Times of Israel: House Speaker Paul Ryan Uncovers Jewish Heritage
- Google Search: Jewish American Heritage Month
- Beverly Press: Beverly Hills Celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Jewish American
- Aish: Kirk Douglas’ Jewish Mountain
- Google News: Andrew Garfield Jewish Ancestry
