The Washington Post: Yom Kippur Break-the-Fast Traditions Around the World

A sea of white saris flutter in the fleeting breeze, a quick reprieve amidst the October heatwave just outside a high school gymnasium in Ashdod, Israel. Chairs lined up outdoors, along the wall of the rented gymnasium, for the overflowing worshippers.

Indian girls in tailored white dresses, made by a neighborhood seamstress, with silky white ribbons in their jet-black ponytails. Mothers' fanning themselves with the Hebrew-Hindi transliterated prayer book, shushing the kids at the nearby playground, while the Hazan's (Cantor) voice on the loudspeaker, vibrates through the airwaves with hymns, during Yom Kippur's Neila, closing prayer. As the sound of the Shofar (ram's horn) breaking the fast nears, the sea of white will quickly dissipate to break the fast at their homes.
The scenes are from decades ago when Indian synagogues in Israel were few and far between. It is traditional in the Bnai Israel (Sons of Israel) Indian Jewish community to wear white for Yom Kippur, symbolic to cleansing and purity, as we atone and are forgiven for our sins on this holiday.
The above story is not the Yom Kippur article I have written for The Washington Post, but wished to share my childhood Yom Kippur scenes with you, my readers here. Head over to the article "Kreplach, a Hole-y Alternative to Break-Fast Bagels for Yom Kippur" in The Washington Post where you'll read the story and get the links, at the bottom of the article, to the five recipes and photos. A step-by-step photo gallery how to, for the Kreplach, will be published shortly. Look out for a hard copy of The Washington Post Food Section out tomorrow. I was super excited that my article and photos landed on the first page of the Food Section. Tomorrow, when the paper is out in print, I will share a snapshot here. So follow on IG and stay tuned.
Thanks to Paula Wolfert, the author of Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco, among numerous other cookbooks, for facilitating my connection with multi cookbook author Claudia Roden. Thanks to Claudia Roden for kindly sharing her Kreplach recipe and quotes from her The Book of Jewish Food and to Italian blogger Jasmine Guetta of Labna; Amore in cucina for sharing her family's traditions. Last but not least thanks again to my friend Lora, of Savoring Italy, for gifting me her copy of The Book of Jewish Food. 

18 comments:

  1. Wonderful food and beautiful pictures! I love Claudia Roden and Paula Wolfert.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful round up of foods. Your photos are stunning as always.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Loved your post and talking about tradition. I have learned so much!

    ReplyDelete
  4. congrats on another fab post proud of you

    ReplyDelete
  5. You transported me into your memories, I could see everything clearly in front of my eyes Shulie.
    At the same times I am listening to some music fitting to this post and your food pictures helped my appetite to grow. =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha I can envision you reading and listening to the appropriate music. :) TY so much my friend.

      Delete
  6. These pictures are GORGEOUS! Congrats on the article :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow! These pictures are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  8. So interesting! and well done! I have to agree the pictures are stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh Shulie, your photos are spectacular. Also, congratulations on being featured in the food section of the Washington Post!!! How cool is that?!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Shulie, wonderful for you! I think you have my dream job! Loved that kreplach post and this one is a stunner! Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a beautiful post Shulie:)

    ReplyDelete