Pop Up Shabbat

I attended a previous Breaking Breads pop up earlier this year, and when I saw they were going to throw a Pop Up Shabbat, I was quick to sign up. The dinner was hosted by Martha Holmberg (current CEO of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, award winning cook book author including the co-author of the best-selling cookbook Six Seasons: A New Way With Vegetables with Joshua McFadden) and Kristin Spear (founder of FaithHaus) with special guest Devra Ferst (a New York City based food writer and editor who has written for Bon Appetit, Vogue, NPR, Conde Nast, and more). Dinner proceeds of the Pop Up Shabbat, and in lieu of gratuity envelopes were provided, that benefit Sack Lunch PDX, a Portland team of Chefs Cycle, a nationwide fundraiser for the No Kid Hungry campaign.

Have you heard of Shabbat? Shabbat is an observance in the Jewish culture that occurs every Friday night which brings family and friends together to celebrate Sabbath, the seventh day of rest that lasts from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Shabbat dinner on Friday night is in many ways similar to a family’s traditional Sunday Supper – but imagine that this is celebrated as a cornerstone of Jewish culture, almost like celebrating a mini-Thanksgiving but more focus on giving thanks and enjoying friends and family then a belly busting meal).

The only portion of Shabbat I’ve really experienced is the fact that both times I flew to Israel, I flew on Shabbat which meant planes full of everyone except the Jewish and very clear roads on the highways and many businesses being closed since I traveled and arrived on their day of rest. So I was excited to be able to experience Shabbat in a way that was about the sharing portion with others instead of the seeing everyone Jewish seemingly disappear into their own community.

Shabbat begins with blessings over candles to usher in the Sabbath. I had never seen before and learned because of this dinner that the blessings are led by the woman head of the household and she covers her eyes while reciting the welcome prayer and then waving the light in to welcome the Sabbath in.

You can see before the blessing the traditional braided challah bread covered by napkins, representing the dew collected on the manna in the morning and which was then distributed during the Exodus from Egypt. The braids of the bread symbolize arms intertwined arms, aka love.

The bread, as well as the entire meal, was literally breaking bread in which we shared everything family style at communal tables together and brought together by the bread and the food. After the blessing we passed the challah bread around the table, each taking a chunk out from the bread. We shared the following foods prepared by Martha Holmberg and Devra Fest except where noted.

• Challah Bread, which came from Tabor Bread
  
• Salads of Yirakot, Smokey Eggplant, Fattoush, and Roasted Cauliflower
  
• Sides of 2 kinds of Hummus and Israeli Pickles and Olives
  
• Pita bread from Tusk
  
• Main dishes of Siniya (Lamb Meatballs) and Chicken with Za’atar, Couscous
  
• Dessert platter of fresh fruits and Halvah, Mint Tea
  

Alcohol for purchase was the only item billed individually after the meal, and options included Michael Solomonov’s Salad Martini, wine from Love & Squalor Winery either by the glass, bottle, or pairings with dinner, and Hopworks Pilsner beer with Cardamon and Rosewater (a special blend served at Dar Salam). I went with the Salad Martini.

If you are interested in the Breaking Breads Dinner Series, check out the Breaking Breads website and sign up to be on their mailing list to be in the know! They are still figuring out their cadence but I really enjoyed both events I have attended. Food brings everyone and anyone together, and it is a great way to bring people from all walks of life and give them a little insight and experience of another culture or faith.