Dear Andy,

Today we mourn those ruthlessly murdered during the attack on the Bondi Beach Chanukah celebration in Sydney.

We also stand in solidarity with the Jews of Australia and other Jewish communities around the world who are lighting candles tonight, continuing Jewish life and tradition and standing proud in the face of hate.

In the spirit of resilience and resolve, join us tomorrow, Monday Dec. 15, at noon EST for a live discussion with acclaimed cookbook author Leah Koenig as we’ll together explore Chanukah stories from Rome and Leah’s own family and the importance of widening our lens and embracing diverse global Jewish communities and culinary traditions.

Leah is an IACP Award-winning author of seven cookbooks, including the acclaimed The Jewish Cookbook and Modern Jewish Cooking. Her newest cookbook, PORTICO: Cooking and Feasting in Rome's Jewish Kitchen, was the IACP 2024 International Cookbook winner and a finalist in the National Jewish Book Awards.

Make sure you’re following us on Instagram to catch our conversation with Leah tomorrow at noon EST.

Leah's writing about food (as well as parenting and the natural world) can be found in The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Food & Wine, Epicurious, and Food52, among other publications. She also writes a weekly newsletter, The Jewish Table, which shares recipes and stories from the world of Jewish food.

We look forward to being together with you, especially at this painful moment of rising antisemitism and violence. JDC continues to support Jewish communities facing this scourge and is committed to kindling the Chanukah lights of hope and celebrating our proud Jewish heritage.

Am Yisrael Chai,

The JDC Team