Kitchen Encounters: The Cholent Kickoff

SAY IT WITH CHOLENT At the Abrams Hebrew Academy where students range from unobservant to traditional to observant children chant “cholent cholent” as they make their way around the lunchroom tasting the cholents that appeal to them during the school’s annual “Cholent Bowl.” Positive energy fills the air. Every class is convinced their cholent will win (Photography: Todd Trice)

T he Abrams Hebrew Academy of Yardley Pennsylvania holds the distinction of hosting nine years of Cholent Bowls. Cholent Bowl as in Super Bowl. To counter the hypnotic effect of the Super Bowl on the students nine years ago director Rabbi Ira Budow and principal Rabbi Yehoshua Ottensoser came up with the idea of a competition the Friday before Super Bowl Sunday hence the name — Cholent Bowl.

“Our real goal” admits Rabbi Budow “is to teach the children about Shabbos through giving them a warm feeling for it. The week running up to the event we have all the classes from kindergarten through eighth grade busy smelling discussing and tasting Shabbos.” The highlight something the children look forward to all year is of course the cholent competition on Friday.

The classes prepare their cholents on Thursday relates Rabbi Ottensoser. The teachers are the ones responsible for coming up with the recipe though most often it’s a joint effort with the teacher encouraging the class’s input. Some classes put their cholents up as early as 9:15 Thursday morning and they don’t get eaten until 12 or 1 p.m. the next day.