Jewish museum group brings challah baking event to seven cities
The culinary arm of ANU is expanding its second annual festival to North America and Europe, featuring workshops and a new DIY kit.
By Jabari Long ·
Foodish, the culinary division of ANU Museum of the Jewish People, is organizing Global ChallahFest, a seven-city tour focused on the preparation and cultural significance of braided bread. The initiative is set to launch in New York City on November 6, 2026, and will conclude in Tel Aviv on November 29.
The tour follows a specific geographic path through the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel. After the New York opening, the event moves to Chicago, Washington, Boston, and Atlanta. It then travels to London before returning to the museum in Tel Aviv for the final weekend of activities.
This marks the second year of the festival, but it is the first time the program has expanded beyond Israel. The organizers describe the event as a method for connecting Jewish communities globally. Merav Oren, who founded and runs Foodish, stated that the goal is to provide young people with experiences that allow them to reinterpret traditions. "You cannot build a living Jewish culture by asking the next generation to simply remember it," Oren said. "You have to give them something they want to be part of."
The guest lineup includes prominent figures in the Jewish culinary world. Jake Cohen, a cookbook author and television personality known for his social media baking videos, will participate in the New York opening. Joan Nathan, an award-winning cookbook author, and Einat Admony, a chef and restaurateur, are also featured. Cohen described the event as an invitation to make Jewish tradition personal. "Baking something to share with others is one of the most intimate ways to build the kind of community you want to be part of," Cohen said.
Activities vary by city but generally include culinary workshops, photography exhibitions, and community gatherings. The New York program includes a meet-and-greet at William Greenberg Desserts and an introduction to the ChallahFest DIY Kit. This kit offers creative methods for reimagining the traditional loaf. The city's schedule also features an open Q&A with Nathan and a Kabbalat Shabbat gathering with Admony.
Other locations have distinct programming. Washington, D.C., will host a panel on challah, culture, and identity featuring chef Pati Jinich. Boston will hold a student challah-baking competition. Atlanta will bring together local bakeries for tastings and gatherings. London will feature an intergenerational panel with food historian Claudia Roden, cookbook author Adeena Sussman, and chef and DJ Falmer.
The festival concludes at ANU with a photography exhibition by Sivan Roshianu and Alexander Lachnish. The show presents challah through a new visual lens. During the final weekend, a curated lineup of bakeries will present exclusive interpretations of the bread. Participating bakeries include Mattarello, Ronale by Zohar, David Laor, and Russell's Bakery. Their offerings range from an ancient Andalusian pastry to a croissant that combines Jewish tradition with French patisserie techniques.
The event aims to explore Jewish life through the familiar culinary tradition of challah, which typically headlines Shabbat and holiday meals. The program brings together chefs, cookbook authors, artists, bakers, and community members. Information regarding dates and details is available on the ANU Foodish website.
