It has been a while since we have heard from him, but some of you might remember our Joy of Kosher Rabbi, Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff. He has answered quite a few of our burning food and holiday Jewish questions and you can see them all in our Ask The Rabbi blog. Rabbi Lawrence loves to answer question and has had plenty of practice over the past 13 years working as a Rabbi and as the director of the Jewish Enrichment Center in NYC. In his first book, Rabbi Lawrence puts it all out there for us and he goes well beyond food, Jew Got Questions?
Jamie and Rabbi Lawrence go way back and in fact, his wife Anita is the source for one of the recipes in the Joy of Kosher Cookbook. In honor of the Rabbi’s new book, we are sharing Anita’s Lachmagine recipe as written in the cookbook. I have heard Anita’s name mentioned in many conversations with Jamie and I know she has inspired her cooking in many ways. Specifically for this recipe Jamie appreciates the shortcuts Anita allows, like using prune butter and tomato paste instead of temerhindi and prepared pizza rounds instead of making your own.
When we invited the Rabbi into our kitchen, Anita said, “Rabbi in the kitchen – Not!!” The Rabbi admits to not being much of a cook, the joke in their house goes “what does daddy make for dinner? Reservations!” It seems to me his wife makes up for his lack of kitchen know how, but she has learned a thing or two in the kitchen from her Persian mother in law. Rabbi Lawrence says, “on an average Shabbat in my home we have a choresh bodem jon (meat and eggplant stew – delicious) and a potato kugel (which I never saw till my 20s) on the table together! Plus plenty of rice, especially on Pesach, when we sephardim do eat rice, and now my wife is permitted to eat as well!”
Since we usually share recipes in our kitchen, Anita has graciously provided a recipe she learned from her mother in law. A recipe with a Persian flavor, made like a turkey stew, the Rabbi prefers this dish reheated the next day, so make extra. Get the full recipe for Robele here.
Even though the Rabbi has answered more than 300 pages worth of questions, I have to ask a few more.
What is your earliest food memory?
I have many food memories from my childhood, the ones that stand out are Holiday related. On Rosh Hashana my mother would make large platters of head meats. We had tongue (which I’m sure is delicious but I still can’t bring myself to eat) and an actual lamb’s head on the table. And rice! So much rice! White rice, green rice (made with dill) yellow rice (made with saffron) and then for dessert…rice pudding!
How did you decide which questions to put in this book?
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I truly get asked many questions. For the most part I am dealing with unaffiliated Jewish men and women in their college years then 20s and 30s, I get asked every type of question. When I wrote the book I decided to pick the topics I get asked about the most. I would say I spend most of my time answering questions on dating, marriage and shalom bayit. People are interested in spirituality and Kabbalah, so I had to include a chapter on that, dealing with red strings, evil eyes, reincarnation and what Kabbalah is really all about.
Leading trips to Israel and Poland a few times a year and working for the Alumni community of Birthright Israel in NY I am posed many questions about Israel and the Jewish connection to it. And the Poland trip led to every asking about “why bad things happen to good people” which as you can imagine is the hardest question to deal with. That is probably the longest answer I had to answer in the book. Second to that question is why Jewish men and women should marry Jewish. With intermarriage rates at over 50% here in America I have to deal with inter-dating couples all the time. That question was very challenging yet important to answer.
Rabbi Lawrence’s book was inspired by unaffiliated Jews, but everyone will enjoy reading this book. You will likely learn something you didn’t know before and have better answers for questions people might ask you. Right now you can win a copy of Jew Got Question signed by Rabbi Lawrence!! All you have to do is post a comment or question (maybe yours can be featured in the next book) in the comments below and enter with Rafflecopter.
Get a glimpse of the Rabbi and even Anita in some of our cooking videos.
California Avocado Salad
Challah Kugel
How to Make A Watermelon Baby Carriage
How to Cut and Plate a Melon
Oh no! I eat raspberries all of the time mostly organic but some times not. I did not know about bugs in raspberries!!! I am so upset. I also have a very bad immune system.I always wash my raspberries in vinager water and then put them in a glass bowl and eat them with Greek yogurt all week. Yikes, I never saw any bugs!!
I volunteer at the Heritage Center (senior adult program) at the JCC of Greater Kansas City in Overland Park, Ks.. We serve a hot kosher lunch 5 days a week. Our professional chef is not Jewish but knows more about Kashrut and our customs than most Jews! I would love a copy of the book for her.
Rabbi, I’ve read with interest that if you have maternal Jewish ancestry, you are Jewish. What is the case with paternal ancestry?
Wishing you lots of success with your new book.
b”H we have the answers as well.
The comment about the ” evil eye” really hit home! I grew up
with that evil eye everywhere! I was taught that is why as Jews we
don’t do baby showers or buy anything for the baby until birth. Is that true?
This book looks so interesting! Looking fwd to reading it.
As a young, Jewish woman living in the USA this book would be most helpful to me! I would love a signed copy, but will definitely purchase the book if I don’t win. Thank you for taking the time to make Jewish traditions more approachable.
Must we inspect dried fruit for bugs if the package has on OU? I was told we need to open dates etc. to inspect….
Rabbi, I have a question. I know that animals are not supposed to be buried in a Jewish cemetery, but what about their ashes? I have cats that I had cremated after their deaths. I know Jews don’t get cremated but I never considered the cats Jewish. My son passed away a number of years ago and he was particularly close to some of the cats. My question is if it is OK to spread or bury their ashes close to my son’s grave. In nature birds. bugs and small mammals die everywhere, even in Jewish cemeteries. I don’t think that 4000 years ago people made sure that there were no animal carcasses around before they buried a loved one. Therefor, I am confused by the prohibition. Sorry this is so long and I thank you in advance for reading and answering.
Read the preview on Amazon and although already bought downloaded the digital edition, I love having autographed reall books. My husband would be interested in it, too.
I’ve got lots of questions… need the answers!
sounds like a great read. would love to win.
WOW! I went online today just to look for a savory challah kugel/kishka. Look forward to trying it, and your continued success.
Well asking me for recipes may not be the way to go as you read above! Jamie Geller can suggest a ton! However just one thing struck me with your question, you described yourself as a non Jew, but if you have maternal Jewish ancestory then you are Jewish. Worth looking into that. Thanks for the question!
Thank you : I appreciate your response, validation, and advice. I also look forward to reading your book.
Hey Jayne: If your ancestry is of Ashkenazi descent then go with the classics, kugels, briskets, soup and matza balls, chulent, and more, check out our listing here: http://www.joyofkosher.com/recipe-cuisine/cuisine-ashkenazi/ for Sephardi foods check out this listing: http://www.joyofkosher.com/recipe-cuisine/cuisine-sephardi/ HAPPY COOKING!
I’ve heard wonderful things about the Hajioffs from a friend who went to Stern College and had him as a teacher.
I went to yeshiva with Rabbi Hajioff. I can personally attest to how entertaining he is.
Thanks for the opportunity to win the book. It sounds like a wonderful resource. I would like to read some of the dating and marriage questions as my children are approaching these issues.
This from the OU. As a disclaimer my wife informed me that this is the reason we don’t do raspberries in out home, but only blueberries.
INSPECTION:
Due to the very delicate nature of raspberries, they cannot be placed in water nor may they be extensively handled. Therefore, we recommend the following procedure as the most practical and effective way of checking raspberries:
1. Stretch a white cloth or sheet of white freezer paper over a light box or on a countertop with ample overhead lighting. Raspberries should be dropped one by one onto the white surface. This will dislodge at least some of the insects that may inhabit the berry.
2. If insects are found in a pint of berries, the pint might be infested and may not be used. There is no washing procedure that will guarantee removal of all of the insects.
3. If after dropping the berries no insects are found, the berries should be visually inspected one by one. Pay careful attention to the cavity of the berry where insects often hide.
This would be the perfect book for my daughter.
Sounds interesting.
This is a must have book!
Jamie, how did the Rabbi influence you to lead a fully observant lifestyle–can you elaborate on this cool story?
Book sounds interesting. Would love to read it.
I’d love to win!
Would love to win this book. I need some inspiration right now.
I cant wait to read this book!
Love the idea and would love to see what questions are inside.
Questions are good — answers are even better.
Love the title of the book, imagine I love the contents even more!
How long do you need to soak raspberries to get the bugs out?
Are there any recipes that you could recommend
for a non-Jewish woman to make to serve her family in veneration of her maternal,Jewish ancestry?
I am a baal chuvah and am very interested.
I would love to read this book. There is a lot you can learn from a rabbi!
Can’t wait to read it!
This is a challenging question. Feel free to email me privately as I need some more info before I can answer this. [email protected]. Best Wishes
rabbi lawrence has helped me find an identity in judaism and jamie has taught me how to make some great dishes — completely wonderful article where the two worlds meet!
What si the best way for Jewish parents to handle their feelings and concerns when their son has chosen to marry a nonJewish woman who will not convert?
As a gal in my early 30s, I am particularly interested in the focus of this book’s questions. Would love to read – thanks!
This book looks fascinating! Would love to read!
I have the Joy of Cooking, this would be neat to win.
Thank you Rabbi Lawrence for writing a much needed book. You will help many Jews and I believe, keep them Jewish. Yashar Koach!
what a great title and super cute cover art!
Hey Zahava. I came here to the US from London England after I received a scholarship to study in yeshiva and get me rabbinical ordination. I was planning on going back and actually had a job waiting for me. Well as the expression goes, we plan and G-d laughs, I met my wife and I ended up staying for 17 years!
Amazing old friend! So proud
Rabbi, give us your wife’s khoresht bademjoon recipe, too! Behatzlacha on the book. Thanks, Jaime!
Sounds very interesting
The book look very interesting
Have heard Rabbi Lawrence speak- he is great!
How did the Rabbi end up in America if he is from England originally?