Special Book Release Event is Part of Jewish American Heritage Month

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (May 8, 2024) – Michael Solomonov and Joan Nathan, two of the most important voices in Jewish food, will appear at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History (The Weitzman) on May 16 at 6 p.m. ET for a one-night-only culinary conversation in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month.

This event, Joan Nathan “My Life in Recipes” Book Release, will be held in person before an expected sold-out crowd and live-streamed worldwide. Solomonov has said: “There is no greater authority on Jewish cooking than Joan Nathan.”

Joan Nathan, frequent New York Times contributor and James Beard Award-winning author of 12 books, has just released her new cookbook. “My Life in Recipes: Food, Family, and Memories” looks back at Nathan’s life and family history—and at her personal journey discovering Jewish cuisine from around the world. She last appeared on stage at the Weitzman in 2017 for the release of her “King Solomon’s Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World,” book. 

In 1994, Nathan’s “Jewish Cooking in America” won both the James Beard Award for the best American cookbook and the IACP/Julia Child Cookbook of the Year Award. In 2017 this book was named a “Culinary Classic” by the IACP. The same James Beard Award was later bestowed on her 2005 cookbook “The New American Cooking.”

Michael Solomonov is a beloved champion of Israel’s extraordinarily diverse culinary landscape, and the chef widely recognized for bringing Israeli cuisine to diners across the U.S., and around the world. He is Chef of the trailblazing restaurant Zahav, co-owner of Philadelphia’s CookNSolo Restaurants with Steve Cook, co-author of three cookbooks, and the recipient of five James Beard awards.

Nathan and Solomonov will appear on stage together to discuss Joan’s culinary discoveries and share insights into the diverse flavors and techniques that define Jewish cuisine.

This event is part of Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which celebrates the inspiring history of Jewish Americans, serving as an antidote to antisemitism by amplifying the true, joyful, and powerful stories of Jewish life in America. JAHM is powered by Philadelphia’s The Weitzman and a national coalition of more than 200 cultural, educational, religious, advocacy organizations, museums, and library systems across the country.

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ABOUT JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is a national month of recognition of the more than 365-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture, celebrated each May per Presidential Proclamation. JAHM serves as an antidote to antisemitism by lifting up  the indelible contributions American Jews have made, and continue to make, to our nation’s history, culture, and society. JewishAmericanHeritage.org 

ABOUT THE WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY

Established in 1976, and situated on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History is the only museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience. The Weitzman presents educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore, and celebrate the history of Jews in America. It proudly stewards one of the largest collections of Jewish Americana in the nation. Standing as a joyful bulwark against antisemitism, bigotry, and hate, The Weitzman serves to connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire. www.theweitzman.org