Ezra’s on top of his game with his quick wit in this holiday episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss as he interjects funny asides and holiday stories into the conversation with co-host Carly Berna. He quips about old diners, dry cleaning, peanut oil, and “looking a little pudgy.” He also shares an embarrassing episode of “typical Jewish family boasting” that he endured one Chanukah and a running Jewish joke about the last Chanukah gift.
Find out how all this relates to the holiday foods of Chanukah and Christmas. Carly and Ezra ask each other about the traditional foods of the others’ December holiday and share the origins and symbolism behind them.
You’ll hear about
- latkes
- bunuelos
- sufganiyot
- gelt
- rugelach (and two ways to pronounce it)
- chestnuts
- fruitcake
- eggnog (the favorite drink of one particular famous American)
- candy canes
- gingerbread
- yule logs
- and more
Along the way
You’ll learn about the Chanukah legend, differing Jewish food traditions according to Jewish background, where the Chanukah dreidel game came from and what the Hebrew letters on each of the dreidel sides mean. You’ll hear the Christmas treat that Ezra says “hugs you from the inside,” nostalgic Christmas foods from Carly’s growing up, and her healthier-made favorite now. You’ll find out some dishes that overlap both Chanukah and Christmas menus.
They also:
- Reveal something interesting about the Christmas classic “Handel’s Messiah”
- Refer to a special video edition of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss where they compete against each other in a Chanukah and Christmas Food Blind Taste-Test
- Share encouragement that transcends their holiday differences, and
- Bring it all home with the most significant remembrance of the season
Words you might learn in this episode
Ashkenazi, Maccabees, Judah/Yehuda Maccabeus, latkes, Sephardic/Sefarad, bunuelo, ponchik, sufganiyot, gelt, “Nes gadol hayah sham,” gimel, rugelach, perogies, Yeshua, Adonai Echad, shalom, Buna Bet
Scriptures referenced
Isaiah 9:6–7, Deuteronomy 6:4, John 3:16, Matthew 15:24, 2 Peter 3:9
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