Charity Cookbooks from All 50 States
American Jewish Charity Cookbooks
Coming from all fifty states, and Washington DC, this collection offers a glimpse in the ways that Jewish and American foodways and communities have interacted during these years. Each state and community has a story to tell about the struggles they have faced, the milestones they have achieved, and their experiences as Jews and Americans in this land of opportunity.
There are kosher cookbooks from traditional and Orthodox communities, as well as from Reform temples and unaffiliated groups. Many books included are not kosher, and include recipes for crab dips, shrimp cocktails, ham and cheese pinwheels, and Oysters a la Newburg. Written primarily in English, but with some Yiddish and German, these cookbooks represent the religious, socioeconomic, and sometimes even political orientation of their respective communities. And this is exactly what these are, community cookbooks.
This section starts up where the pioneers left off. From 1928 through today (or better yet, tomorrow), Jewish organizations have understood cookbooks as a popular and effective fundraising tool. With the opportunity to bridge communities and family traditions, cookbooks are a way for families and communities to share their treasures with each other.
Alabama-Delaware
This page includes cookbooks from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, and Delaware.
There is more information included with each of the titles, click on images to learn more about the individual cookbooks and see more from within these items.
Florida-Kansas
This page includes items from Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Kansas.
There is more information included with each of the titles, click on images to learn more about the individual cookbooks and see more from within these items.
Kentucky-Montana
This page contains cookbooks from Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachussetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, and Montana.
There is more information included with each of the titles, please click on images to learn more about the individual cookbooks and see more from within these items.
Michigan
This page contains items exclusively from Michigan. While not known as one of the largest Jewish communities, Michigan has produced (in a non-scientific count) more Jewish charity cookbooks per capita than other state in America. With about 100,000 Jews in the metropolitan Detroit area, and a handful elsewhere, Jewish communities in this state have published a disproportionately high number of cookbooks compared to their size. This is partially explained by the incredibly large philanthropic role that Detroit's Jews played. Supporting local projects, both Jewish and non, as well national and international efforts, metropolitan Detroiters are known as givers.
There is more information included with each of the titles, please click on images to learn more about the individual cookbooks and see more from within these items.
Nebraska-North Dakota
This page includes items from Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Ohio.
There is more information included with each of the titles, click on images to learn more about the individual cookbooks and see more from within these items.
Ohio-Texas
This page includes items from Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.
There is more information included with each of the titles, click on images to learn more about the individual cookbooks and see more from within these items.
Utah-Wyoming
This page contains cookbooks from Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
There is more information included with each of the titles, please click on images to learn more about the individual cookbooks and see more from within these items.
Pioneering Charities 1888-1927
The Commercial Cookbooks