A Moment with Claudia Roden

Cairo-born Claudia Roden’s first cookbook, A Book of Middle Eastern Food, published in 1968, was described by James Beard as a “landmark in the field of cookery.” Four books and many awards later, Roden in 1996 published A Book of Jewish Food, which critics praised as “masterful,” “stunning” and “invaluable.” Roden, who lives in London, is presently at work on a book about Spanish cuisine. She recently returned from Spain to talk with Moment’s Abe Opincar… Following The Book of Jewish Food’s publication in English, were you criticized for including more Sephardi than Ashkenazi recipes? I’m often accused of giving more space to Sephardi cooking. It’s because Ashkenazi food is basically one culture with some differences. But, on the whole, the basis is the same. Sephardi food is extremely varied. In India, for example, there are four communities, all with unique foods....

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What Does Judaism Say About Organ Donation?

Secular Humanism For Humanistic Jews, there is no greater value than the sanctity of life. We honor the traditional notion of pikuah nefesh, the concept that one must act to save a life even at the expense of transgressing other prohibitions, not because this is halachically mandated but because it’s the right thing to do, independent of any religious system. It is beyond dispute that organ and tissue transplants save and extend the quality of lives. The ultimate act of altruism is for a living donor to make the gift of an organ to a spouse, a sibling or a friend. And there is no greater legacy for the deceased than to serve as a life giver to others. Rather than deepen our pain at the time of our loved one’s death, this ultimate act of generosity...

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