A Kabbalah of Food: Stories, Teachings, Recipes

Inspiring, mystical, and often surprising Chassidic tales combine with teachings and favorite Jewish recipes to nourish body and soul.

Stories and food have always been central to Jewish life, and in this book, they are uniquely tied together. Thirty-nine Chassidic tales, revolving around food and eating and accompanied by spiritual teachings, delve into the mysteries of the Kabbalah, the joy of the Chassidim, and the power of religious faith and acts (mitzvot). Sixty-three recipes highlight Kosher cooking and the special foods traditionally prepared for Shabbat and the major Jewish holidays, including such favorites as knishes, latkes, gefilte fish, brisket, kugel, bagels, and challah bread. Many of the recipes are suitable for children to learn to cook.

Rabbi Hanoch Hecht is the spiritual leader of the Rhinebeck Jewish Center in Rhinebeck, NY; the director of Chabad of Dutchess County; and the administrator of Camp Emunah, one of the largest girls' camps in New York State.

A member of an extended family of notable rabbis in the United States and around the world, Rabbi Hecht is the son of Rabbi Shea Hecht, a well-known activist in the Lubavitcher community in Brooklyn, NY, and the grandson of the late Rabbi Jacob J. Hecht, who was the assistant and translator for the famed Lubavitcher Rebbe. Rabbi Hecht is also known as the Six-Minute Rabbi, and is the innovator of the renowned Six-Minute Torah, a speed series of classes on Judaism geared toward businesspeople with busy schedules.

A recipient of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce's 40 Under 40 Shaker Awards, Rabbi Hecht has taught Kosher cooking at the Culinary Institute of America and was the first rabbi to appear on The Food Network's Chopped, competing with a priest, a nun-in-training, and a pastor. His recipes exploring Kosher and modern Jewish cuisine have been featured in publications all over the globe. Rabbi Hecht lives with his wife Tzivie and their family in Rhinebeck, NY. This is his first book.