INTRODUCTION:

The first time I had shakshuka, I was a rabbinical student living in Israel and visited my relatives for the weekend. They served me this dish of tomatoes, eggs and vegetables for breakfast and I fell in love. I was not the only one. Shakshuka is a beloved staple of Israeli cuisine. In this program, participants will learn the origins of this dish, share their stories of other similar comfort foods, and enjoy an easy to make vegetarian dinner together.  

MATERIALS:

• Shakshuka recipes: Traditional red, green, spicy, Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipe 
• Bread for dipping (pita, challah, crusty sourdough) 
• Shakshuka origins sheet 
• Questions for discussion (on sheet) 
• Note cards with shakshuka facts (use origins sheet) 
• Shabbat ritual items 

PROGRAM OUTLINE (1 hour):

• [part one] Welcome, Shabbat blessings 
• [part two] Shakshuka origins, discussion 
• [part three] Eating  

[part one] (15 mins)

• Gather your group and bring in Shabbat with your Shabbat rituals 

[part two] (15 mins) 

• Invite participants to learn more about where this popular Israeli dish comes from using the Shakshuka origins sheet.  
• This can be done using a trivia type format where you call out questions you make up using the sheet and ask for answers, or by using note cards on the table. If you go the note cards on the table route, you can print facts onto small cards and have them scattered throughout the area where you’ll be eating. Remind participants to look for the cards as they meet new people and eat. 
• Using the questions on the sheet, or others, invite people to share their connections with the dish. 

[part three] (10 mins) 

• All this talk is making us hungry! Enjoy Shakshuka and good Moishe House company.