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    Pizza Taste Off

    By Rabbi Shari Shamah, Jewish Life Specialist

    INTRODUCTION:

    While some want to claim that the Jews invented Pizza (an Israeli professor posited a theory in 1983 that the first mention of Pizza was in the 14th century from an Italian Hebrew scholar to translate the Rambam’s word for flatbread into a Hebrew word that spelled out Pizza), that theory has mostly been debunked. Nevertheless, when it comes to Pizza, Jews have a variety of tastes and opinions. This program allows participants to learn about the Jewish connection to pizza while also tasting and voting on different kinds of pizza. It’s a celebration of all thing’s pizza! 

    MATERIALS:

    • Source Sheet on Jews and Pizza 
    • 3-4 kinds of pizza (Suggested options include: Cracker Crust, Deep Dish, New York, Detroit Square) 
    • Note, you can order different varieties for pickup or delivery before your program for an easy program. Or, if there isn’t sufficient variety in your area/a Kosher option is needed, you can make your own pizza for tasting. Here are recipes – Cracker, Chicago Deep Dish, New York thin, Detroit Square. If doing this approach, you can start making the dough and pizza days in advance of your program and freeze them until you need them. 
    • If the above doesn’t work for you, another option is to get 4 different flavors of whatever pizza is available in your area and taste those. Or, do make your own pizza competition to see who has the best flavor combos. 
    • Stickers for voting 
    • Plates/napkins/knives to cut pizza into small portions and serve 

    PROGRAM OUTLINE (1 hour): 

    • Welcome, rules, and on background Jews and Pizza 
    • Pizza sampling and questions about Jews in Pizza sheet 
    • Voting on pizza favorites 
    Welcome, Rules, and Background 
    • Share the background info on the first mention of pizza, the Jewish contribution to tomatoes and other connections. Ask, do you think the Jews really played a part in the history of pizza? 
    • Overview of the different types of crust 
    • Explain your rules for voting and pass out stickers for voting 
    • Teach blessing for pizza 
    Pizza Sampling and Questions about Jews in Pizza
    • What role could pizza play in our Jewish lives? 
    • How does geography impact your pizza preference? 
    • Is Matzah pizza legit? 
    • What about pita pizza? 
    • What role does Kashrut play in pizza styles? Do you need traif (non-kosher items) on a pizza to taste good? 
    • Is there a connection to pizza and community? 
    • Is cold pizza for breakfast delicious? 
    Voting for Pizza