Shabbat Is For Everyone! Jewish Cooking as Universal Spiritual Practice with “Food Rabbi” Jake Cohen

It’s Hanukkah! This week on Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah is joined by culinary expert, social media darling, and New York Times-bestselling cookbook author Jake Cohen for a conversation about Jewish food, ritual, and the unifying power of gathering around the table. Known for zhuzhing up traditional Jewish cuisine with a distinctly modern yet reverent flair, Jake reflects on how food has become his spiritual practice and creative outlet for expressing Jewish identity. Jake shares how hosting Shabbat dinners became his primary avenue to building community and all the celebrity pals he has welcomed to his table, from Benny Blanco to Shoshana Bean to Katie Couric to Isaac Mizrahi. He opens up about his journey from being a self-described “High Holiday Jew” to becoming a leading voice in contemporary Jewish food culture, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, hospitality, and incorporating Jewish values into everyday life. The conversation also touches on Jake’s three best-selling cookbooks — Jew-ish, I Could Nosh and Dinner Party Animal — which aim to make Jewish cooking accessible, joyful, and inviting to Jews and non-Jews alike. Jonah and Jake explore the intersection of Jewish and queer identity, the importance of inviting dissenting opinions to your dinner table, how to host an epic dinner party, and Jake’s hopes for a more connected and peaceful future. It’s an episode filled with comfort, laughter, and the unmistakable warmth of Hanukkah. Follow Jake Cohen On Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jakecohen On Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jakecohen Jake Cohen's Website - https://www.wakeandjake.com 00:00 - The Jake Cohen Vibe 05:44 - Becoming a Food Rabbi 07:42 - The Dinner Party Animal 10:22 - Jewish Food and Pride 15:46 - Grandmother’s Food Legacy 23:36 - Navigating the Jewish Internet 28:55 - Explaining Jewish Life 34:10 - Future of Jake Cohen 36:50 - NY Times Recipe Drama 40:00 - Authentic Jewish Food 46:04 - A Modern Jewish Voice #JakeCohen #JewishFood #DinnerPartyAnimal #JonahPlatt #BeingJewish