Some say we eat to live, while others say we live to eat. I would be lying if I protested the latter. In reality, there is truth to both statements. From a biological standpoint, food is a necessity—it’s the fuel that keeps us running. From a religious standpoint, food is an integral part of our culture—holidays, weddings and other simchot revolve around food and the fulfilling of the Jewish dietary laws of kashrut and blessings over the meals.
From a psychological standpoint, the kosher kitchen, the Shabbat meal and the term “balabusta” define the identity of the Jewish woman. As such, it was most appropriate that Torah Links’ evening of entertainment and inspiration for women centered around the quick and kosher recipes of Jamie Geller, a woman who found her spiritual identity in kosher cooking. Torah Links is an organization whose mission is to share the gift of Torah with men, women and children who are ignorant of their Jewish background.
Jamie Geller was the guest speaker at Torah Links’ event at the JCC of Greater Monmouth County where she shared her inspirational story and her recipes.
Jamie’s story began like that of many other Jewish young adults in the Tri-State area. She was disconnected from her Jewish heritage until she met Rabbi Lawrence of Torah Links. For Jamie, Torah Links inspired a complete and total transformation.
A former CNN journalist and HBO executive, Jamie thought she had found the recipe for success that comes with fame and fortune. But her mother (like all Jewish mothers) knew that without a good Jewish husband, her life would never be complete. So she sent her off to Torah classes in midtown Manhattan in search of a soulmate. Jamie found a soulmate and more—she found her soul and became conscious of the fact that “we are more than just our physical being.”
With her new found spiritualism, Jamie became a baalat t’shuva (one who returned to Judaism) and the first HBO executive to have Shabbat written into her contract. But along with the glamour and celebrity interviews came the realization that money and fame do not automatically lead to happiness. So she left HBO and embraced her new job as a wife and homemaker wholeheartedly—the problem was, she couldn’t cook. In her own words, she was “the bride who knew nothing.”
Jamie described her first experience in the kitchen as a disaster, leading her husband to introduce her to a knife. “You mean you need to peel and cut the vegetables before you put them in the soup?” she asked.
With time and the birth of three children, Jamie learned that cooking needed to be done quickly and deliciously. That epiphany led to Jamie’s new cookbook Quick and Kosher: Recipes From the Bride Who Knew Nothing and her Quick and Kosher cooking show on Aish.com.
Jamie shared some scrumptuous recipes and graciously provided demonstrations of some of her favorites. Dishes included long grain and wild rice salad, Mexican taco salad and carrot muffins. Not only were the dishes pleasing to the eye, they tickled the tongue and ignited the senses. But the best part was the prep time—less than 10 minutes per recipe!
The evening did not end there. Torah Links, in conjunction with the JCC and some gracious sponsors and volunteers, created a magnificent evening of catered food, (much of which came straight from Jamie’s cookbook), boutique shopping and artfully wrapped baskets which were raffled off at the end of the evening.
Orna Sabbah, Torah Links Director of Communications, Naomi Elbogen and their team of volunteers, Rachel Abitbul, Lucia Benatar, Sima Goldofsky, Alice Kessler, Micky Tanzman, Shouli Teichman, and Rina Zimmerman, spent weeks distributing flyers, making announcements in synagogues, soliciting donations from local establishments, wrapping baskets and preparing Jamie’s delectable dishes. Vendors such as Cypress Grille Kosher Catering (Branches) and Shaklee’s Kosher Herbal Vitamins made shopping an enjoyable experience.
Torah Links will continue its women’s events with “Cooking by Heart,” a three-part series of cooking classes with Chef Robert Charles of Crazy Horse Catering to begin in January and conclude in March. Please come join us for kosher cooking in the kitchen or Jewish learning in the classroom. To get involved with Torah Links, please contact Rabbi Moishe Lichtenstein, Director of Torah Links, Eastern Monmouth County at (732) 660-0280.
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Dr. Florette Cohen-Abady is currently a professor at the City University of New York and the editor of the Sephardic Bikur Holim’s newsletter.
