Every Friday night, my family sits down at the table to have Shabbat, or the Jewish day of rest, dinner together. Living away from my home and family in California, I long for those nights filled with love, blessings, and delicious food, in particular the Challah bread. My dad grew up Jewish and my mom converted from Catholicism after meeting him, so keeping the religion of Judaism alive among my siblings and I has been important to both of my parents. In my personal life, a way I do this is by recreating traditional Jewish food. For the past couple years I have been scouring the internet and skimming through cookbooks to find the perfect recipe for Challah, a braided bread loaf that is eaten on Shabbat and other Jewish holidays. Though I am still on the hunt for that knockout load, by baking these Challot (plural word for Challah in Hebrew) I feel as though I am practicing Judaism in my own way and am able to share the religious tradition with friends, hopefully brightening their days with some sweet and doughy carbs. I think back to my dad's family doing the same action, baking and eating Challah, years ago in Brooklyn, Romania, Russia, and beyond. I don't consider myself the most religious person, however, wherever I may be, in Manhattan, Los Angeles, or elsewhere, I know that I am connecting to my individual form of Judaism when I'm making or tasting Challah.  

– Ivy Schneider

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more