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Well, I can think of a few things he consumed, like the miraculous loaves and fishes and the wine from the wedding feast at Cana. But Tolly's press release puts the answer in much more now vernacular: "Let's be real here -- Jesus was a dude who loved to feast. And challah bread offers an (edible) way for all families to relive one of Jesus's favorite meals on Good Friday."
I don't pretend to be a New Testament scholar, but I have read it and I swear there is no reference to "Jesus's favorite meal." But, hey, what do I really know about the "dude who loved to feast"?
Tolly Moseley is promoting a new book, Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith, by Lois Tverberg and Ann Spangler (Zondervan), which was released to bookstores last week. It's not a cookbook, but there is a recipe for challah, since it was apparently one of the favorite foods of the holy dude.
"A lot of Christians don't realize," Tolly explained to me, "the complete Jewish background of Jesus."
There are direct references to challah in the Bible (Numbers 15:18-21 and Leviticus 24:5) to this delicious bread, described in the Food Lover's Companion as "a traditional Jewish yeast bread...rich with eggs and has a light, airy texture."
There are plenty of excellent recipes for challah in cookbooks or on the internet, but I'm particularly fond of the first-rate loaf sold, for four bucks, at the New York Bakery & Delicatessen at 7016 Troost. It's great for sandwiches and, dude, it makes the very best French toast.
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You're right, challah is absolutely delicious.
But just to be accurate, the references to challah in the Bible were actually to an offering of dough given to the priests.
The reason braided challah has the same name is because an offering is still given when they are made. Traditionally, a piece of the dough is separated out and burned the oven to remember the ancient practice.
The press release didn't make it clear that braided challah bread came along only a few hundred years ago. We included a recipe in our book because it is served every Friday evening for the Sabbath meal, which Jesus would have eaten.
Thanks for your mention of our book in your blog! We appreciate it.
Lois Tverberg
Hi Charles!
Dude, glad you liked the pitch! I should make this very important clarification for your readers, however: challah bread is traditionally eaten during Shabbat on Fridays. However, unleavened bread is eaten during Passover, rather than challah. Just wanted to clear that distinction up.
All best, and look for your copy of the book, Charles!
Tolly
__________________________________
Tolly Moseley
Senior Publicist
Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicity
tmoseley@phenixpublicity.com
I once saw a contemporary artist's rendering of "The Last Supper" where the table was laden with boxes of Little Debbie Snack Cakes, bags of potato chips, jars of pickles, bowls of ice cream, buckets of fried chicken and so on. It was supposed to be a metaphor on modern eating habits, but honestly, it looked like a real feast to me.
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