Food, Hosting, Jewish Holiday, Shabbat
Jewish Brunch Trivia
INTRODUCTION:
- Hand out sheets to participants as they arrive, and encourage them to talk to each other to figure out the answers. Every food item mentioned should be served at the meal – telling them the answers are on the table makes this game much more accessible. Perfect for a weekend brunch or breakfast-for-dinner event.
- Be sure to use the blank sheet (below) for your participants, and keep a note of the answers below for yourself.
Jewish Brunch: Which food item at your meal goes with each fact?
| Hint | Your Guess |
| This food, developed as a schmear alternative that would be soft even when cold, became vastly popular in kosher bakeries that used it to create delicious pareve desserts. | margarine |
| Although writing is typically prohibited on Shabbat, Mishnah Shabbat 12 says one can write with this food because it’s not considered permanent. | berries or fruit juice |
| A Haggadah produced by a major company in 1932 as an advertisement for this food’s kosher status is now one of the world’s most popular. | coffee |
| Most words change meaning and pronunciation over time, but not this word – which has been basically the same for the last 8,000 years | lox |
| Although standard versions of this food are generally considered kosher, there’s an extra “super-kosher” standard called “cholov yisroel” that involves an observant Jew observing its collection process | milk |
| This food was offered as a main part of the Temple incense sacrifice, considered one of the holiest because it barely took physical form. | cinnamon |
| Although many people think this drink is a modern invention, the Talmud actually discusses the importance of labeling it clearly so others don’t think you’re drinking milk at a meat meal. | almond milk |
| A special variety of this food, named after the city of Jaffa where it was first produced for export, was developed by Arab farmers and became an integrated Jewish-Arab business venture in the 1800s | orange |
| Some people eat this food at Hanukkah because its Hebrew name sounds like the phrase “and miracle” | waffles |
| This food, developed initially in Poland, is only considered “authentic” if it’s fast-boiled before it’s baked | bagel |
| An Israeli farmer holds the Guiness World Record for the heaviest ever grown, at 289 grams (10+ oz) and over 7 inches long. | strawberry |
| This food, expensive delicacy to newly-immigrated Jews, became essential to second-gen New Yorkers with more financial security | cream cheese |
| This food is traditionally eaten in tough times to remember the circle of life and the hope of rebirth, like at Shiva and during the Passover seder. | egg |
