By Sandra Roberts
Congregation Beth Shalom will host its first Jewish Food Festival called Noshfest Brandon on Sunday, November 4. The event will take place at 706 S. Bryan Rd. in Brandon, from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free with donations of non-perishable food items to support local food banks (in lieu of admission fee).
The event will serve as an outreach to both the Jewish and non-Jewish community. In addition to providing a warm and welcoming introduction to Congregation Beth Shalom of Brandon, NoshFest Brandon will celebrate Jewish history, holidays and traditions.
Noshfest Brandon will provide traditional and tasty Jewish cuisine such as potato latkes, kugel, corned beef sandwiches, brisket, challah, bagels and cream cheese, rugelach, mandelbrot, and of course, chicken soup.
At the festival, you will learn about the meaning of each holiday, see how it is celebrated, and also sample some of the food.
Entertainment will include the music of The Mike Eisenstadt Band, dancing, dramatization of a Jewish wedding, games, Torah tots with the Rabbi, a shofar blowing contest, a hot dog eating contest, crafts for the kids, tours of the synagogue, and more.
“Tzedakah” (tze – DAH- kah) is the Hebrew word for the acts of charity: giving aid, assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. In Judaism, it is an obligation to give to those in need. As a community, they are asking everyone to contribute tzedakah by helping to support the food bank at the synagogue, the Portamento of Hope Café, and Tampa Jewish Family Services.
“Tampa Jewish Family Services is pleased to participate in Nosh Fest Brandon and appreciates being a beneficiary of the event. The donation of canned food items will help our agency serve hundreds of families in need each month in Brandon and all of Hillsborough County,” says Michael Barnett, CEO of Tampa Jewish Family Services.
For more information about the festival please visit www.noshfestbrandon.com or contact the synagogue office at 681-6547.
