In this delicious episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah sits down with New York Times bestselling cookbook author and Tel Aviv-based food writer Adeena Sussman for a conversation about food, culture, and the rituals of living in Israel today. Living steps from the Carmel Market, Adeena paints a vivid portrait of daily life in Tel Aviv, how Israelis continue daily routines amid rocket alarms, and what it means to compartmentalize in a country where normalcy and uncertainty coexist.Adeena reflects on feeling like an insider-outsider as an “American Israeli,” and how the shuk itself mirrors Israel’s layered religious and cultural diversity. She shares how October 7 transformed her Shabbat cookbook tour into community-centered gatherings and fundraisers, and why she views cookbooks as narrative literature that provide cultural context. She also speaks candidly about her responsibility in culinary storytelling, documenting Yemenite, Iraqi, Moroccan, and broader Middle Eastern Jewish cuisines while crediting provenance and seeking permission for adaptations.Jonah and Adeena also explore her path to co-authoring cookbooks with a number of chefs and celebrities including Chrissy Teigen, her Substack (including a viral post after attending Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s funeral), and the personal accountability she feels towards readers who bring her recipes into their homes. The episode covers her family history and Shabbat hospitality, including her mother Steffi’s influence, and what makes food suitable for Shabbat. Adeena introduces her upcoming cookbook “Zuriz” (“quick”), a collection of 100 one-page recipes designed for real life. This conversation doesn’t just talk about food as sustenance, but as a means of storytelling and connection.Topics Include:Adeena Sussman’s move from New York City to Tel AvivBecoming one of today’s most influential voices in Israeli cuisineWriting Sababa and Shabbat cookbooksLiving with Chrissy Teigen and John LegendHow Israeli Elections Really WorkWriting Cookbooks That Tell a StoryAdeena Sussman’s Recipe Development ProcessLearning the Roots: Respectful Research Across Middle Eastern Jewish CuisinesIsrael and California’s Abundant Local ProduceNYT Bestseller Pressure & What Stays Exclusive to the BooksCulinary influences from Mizrahi, Sephardi, and Ashkenazi traditionsTel Aviv’s food scene and local markets like Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel)Links to Things Mentioned in the Episode:Adeena Sussman InstagramZariz CookbookShabbat CookbookSababa CookbookTrump moves closer to a major war with IranThe Electoral System in IsraelCarmel MarketReal-time red alerts in IsraelShielded by Fire: Middle East Air Defense During the June 2025 Israel-Iran WarFood Network's New York City Wine & Food FestivalUnited HatzalahChanie ApfelbaumBusy in BrooklynNaama ShefiRachel SimonsJake CohenBengingiBreads Bakery Adeena Sussman: Came to Israel for love, stayed for foodAdeena Sussman SubstackA Stain on Israel’s Soul: Remembering Hersh Goldberg-Polin and the Beautiful SixTears From The SkyEllie Krieger CholentFirst Tango with Mango: Iraqi AmbaIsraeli produce is the best. Here’s why:Sisters fight cancer, honor mother by rolling out the doughSheet Pan Latke BoardSupport the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcastSubscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletterFor Sponsorships, please email:[email protected]://beingjewishpodcast.com/merchTo contact us & all things BJJP:www.BeingJewishPodcast.comFollow Jonah on:Instagram - @JonahPlattX - @JonahPlattFollow Being Jewish on:Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcastTikTok - @BeingJewishSubscribe to Ora, A Luxury Jewish Lifestyle and Culture Magazine. https://oramag.co/Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker, Production Interns: Sasha Nelson, Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt

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