Following the amazing JOY of KOSHER Israel Launch Party at the Cinematheque in Jerusalem in December we decided that we all enjoy getting together with friends over good food too much to let too much time go by before getting together again.
So! We’re starting something new in Israel that we hope you’ll want to join. It’s a way to connect with friends, new and old, in REAL LIFE. Fancy that!
We are looking for 12 volunteers across Israel to HOST our community cookbook club dinner parties:
If you volunteer and are selected to host you will receive a FREE copy of our first selection… (listen for that drum roll)… my brand new cookbook JOY of KOSHER Fast, Fresh, Family Recipes by Jamie Geller (me!). The book retails for $30 US and 125 NIS but as a host you will receive your copy for FREE! (I know we said that already but just wanted to clarify for all y’all). You will then have the perfect excuse to host a fabulous Joy of Kosher dinner party with your favorite foodie friends.
Q What Does a Host Do?
A:
- Have a wonderful time! Schedule your party any time between February 21 and March 9.
- Invite at least 5 friends. (More would be better. That way there will be more food to taste.)
- Cook from the book. Each guest will cook a recipe from the book to bring to the party.
- Take pictures of the party, including the food and your friends and email the photos to us and tell us about your party, no later than March 17th, for inclusion in a future article on JoyofKosher.com.
Scroll to continue
More Love
How To Cook Turkey London Broil
How to cook turkey london broil? 1. Marinate 2. Roast in a 375˚ F. oven for approximately …
73 Israeli Food Recipes You Need To Try
Yom Haatzamut is just around the corner (in 2021 it will be celebrated from the night of …
A few more suggestions to help you host your cookbook club:
Q: Who makes what?
A: Usually the host makes the main course and assigns each guest a dish to make and bring to the party. But this is not a hard and fast rule. (There aren’t so many hard and fast rules in my kitchen.) So, as the host you have the option to plan the menu and assign each dish, but it’s also fun not knowing what everyone will make. So you can just assign each guest a category – soups, starters, sides, salads, mains or desserts. (Someone can even bake a bread or challah from the challah chapter!)
Q: Can I share the book with my club?
A: Sure. You can either pass around your cookbook, or each person can buy his or her own copy (pretty please!) – they are available in Israel at all good Jewish bookshops, or if you can’t find one email us and we’ll track one down for you.
Q: What do we do at the party?
A: Eat and discuss amongst yourselves. And eat some more. Seriously, we want you to talk about the food and about the book. You can rate the recipes you each made, discuss what you liked or how you would tweak each dish. Hopefully everyone will have had a chance to read through the stories in the book too, so along with the food discussion, you can talk about your own experiences with some of the issues I write about – epic kitchen disasters, for instance, or the “what’s for dinner” debate, your favorite family heirloom recipes, and there’s lots more. (Like sleep deprivation, mother of the year award, play date lunches, brisket a love story, dessert before the meal, the power of a smile etc….) As host, you can lead the discussion with a story of your own, if you like; then go round the table to share the thoughts and experiences of others. We’re especially interested in hearing the best (and best value) food subs you make in Israel for American products.
Q: How can I volunteer to be a host?
A: Put your name and town/city in the comments below. Around February 6th we will select 12 people at random from across Israel to be our hosts and mail you the book so you can start planning.
We did this in the US and everyone had a great time, check out this cookbook club recap article to see what they did.
Update on 2/13 – So excited to see so many areas of the country included!! I wish I could give you all books and I hope you all consider hosting book club parties anyway. We spread it out and picked randomly and here are the winners – look for an email today:
1. Beth Saar, Ra’anana
2. Mina Yocheved, Eilat
3. Yael Maoz Rehovot
4 Sonia Esther Soltani Tel Aviv
5. Bracha Goldman Beersheva
6. Sara Mor – Bet Shemesh Nofei Aviv
7. Sue Epstein Efrat
8. Hadassah Levy Eli
9. Daniella Tannenwald Modiin
10.Tziona – Hispin (Golan)
11. Dave and Miri Bender – Tzfat
12. Marissa – Netanya
Thank you Daniella – I LOVE LOVE LOVE what you are doing with W.O.M.E.N (if only I lived in Modiin!)
Thanks Naomi from Tel Mond!
thanks Esty so much for entering!
Fabulous – thanks Melanie for entering!
I love that you will be doing this together as a couple (and in Tzfat!!!!). Thanks for entering and please feel free to post your Bed and Breakfast info and link here so everyone will know about you!
I would love to learn more — we will be in touch!
thank you so much for entering on behalf of the Golan English Speaking Women’s Group! (how incredible that you live in the Golan!!!)
so happy you think it’s a fun idea — I just love bringing people together. thanks so much for entering.
love the “achdut” thank you for entering!
Hi I live in modiin and would love to host. I have an enormous network and also host, once a month a W.O.M.E.N evening (women of modiin empower and network)
I could encorporate the dinner and the evening of Women together – this way more exposure to the book and the delicious food. We have a close group of women – housewives and business women. its just awesome and always a success. warmest regards and thanks for the possible opportunity
Sounds yummy! I would love to host in Tel Mond.
Hi I live in Rehovot and would love to host! We have a nice warm community and the ladies here would love a fun night together! This sounds like the Perfect opportunity 🙂
Ooh this sounds lovely! I know lots of foodies who learn at Pardes with me and I would love to host a dinner party! I’m in Katamon, Jerusalem.
uhm – tend to agree – sounds awesome especially the way you painted the picture — great, great luck!
WHAT – WOW!!!!!!!!! Incredibly inspiring! Thanks so much for entering!
Thanks Beth for coming to the Jlem party and for all of your support – it truly means SO much to me. Bestest of luck!!!!!!
Thank Nadine from Modiin (that kinda rhymes 🙂 good luck!
Thanks Ariela from RBS – great luck!
where is Oranit? thanks for entering!
sure you can!!!!!!!!!!! There are plenty of veg recipes to choose from. great luck!
Thanks Hailey – great luck!
There are a few for sure! Thanks Selah from Nahariya!
Thanks Jeane from Zichron Ya’akov! Great luck!
Thanks Gillian!!!! I also mainly host on Shabbat 🙂
awesome Sarah from Netanya – thank you so much for entering and representing your neighborhood!
Thanks Ilana in Modiin – good luck!
Thanks Alana – great luck!
couldn’t agree more Hadassah!
Thanks Ilana – great luck!
Esther!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a story!!!! Thank you SO much for entering! And say hey to your Greek flatmate! OH and WELCOME HOME! Wishing you an easy amazing klita.
Thank you so much for picking me! Can’t wait to tell flatmates and start plotting guest list,menu and colour scheme for the table. Thanks for the kind wishes. Very happy to be home! Shabbat shalom, Esther PS something to look forward in the post!
Esther I am so so so happy you won and thrilled you are so excited. I can’t wait to see what you do. Hope you make LOTS of new friends!!!!
We’d love to host an evening like this! Both wife Miri and I love to cook and host guests, both privately, and on Shabbat/chag, as well as for our modest Bed and Breakfast here in Tzfat. We’ve been thinking of doing something like this for awhile, and this would be a fun event for all.
I love when a couple cooks together! Best of luck to you and your husband. Thanks to you both for entering!
Thanks Cindy from Sheinfeld – great luck!
Hey Sue – aren’t these clubs fun! I just love the idea. Tamar Genger, Exec Editor of JoK.com had the idea to do it with our new book after seeing articles in the NY Times about such clubs. Thanks for representing the Gush. Great luck!
double duty – love it! great luck Debbie!
ooooh block party (lots of people live on a block in RBS :-)! great luck
fab – thanks Davina – great luck!
LOL! Go for it – we think it’s a great idea and hope that we can even facilitate future cookbook clubs. I went to Alexander Muss High School in Israel in Hod Hasharon. Great luck!
Cool Norma – great to have a professional perspective. Great luck and thanks for entering.
Gotchya! – great luck!
Thanks Gabriella love that you are an adventurous cook!