Adeena Sussman – From Cooking to Connection
Summary
Rabbi David Ingber interviews cookbook author Adina Sussman about her culinary journey from California to New York and Tel Aviv. They explore how food serves as a language for identity, memory, and hospitality, rooted in the Hebrew concept of *tov* (goodness). Sussman discusses her books, including *Sababa* and *Zariz*, which blend American and Israeli influences to celebrate abundance, improvisation, and the deep connections found at the table.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The concept of 'Tov' and Adina Sussman
Adina's upbringing in California and her mother's cooking
Shabbat traditions, challah, and early culinary influences
Moving to Israel, culinary school, and career beginnings
Home cooking vs. restaurant life and working with chefs
Relocating to Tel Aviv for love and the local food scene
Life in the Carmel Market and community connections
Writing 'Sababa' and the art of hospitality
Cultural fusion, Jewish history, and food as identity
The meaning of 'Zariz' and writing after October 7th
Cookbooks as spiritual texts and viral recipes
Future projects and Judaism as a civilization
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