Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on October 18, 2021

JTA Jrgen Krauss, the basically a Jewish dad on the latest season of The Great British Bake Off, lived up to his reputation during Desserts Week when he produced a Passover-inspired pavlova complete with a traditional charosettopping.

The dessert also sustains a different tradition: the internationally popular shows habit of not getting Jewish content quite right, when host Noel Fielding badly mispronounces charoset while describing Krausss creation.

Krauss, who is from the Black Forest region of Germany, is married to a British Jew, and their family belongs to a Reform synagogue in Brighton, wherethe Jewish Chronicle reported he has taught a challah-baking classto children. In the first episode of this season, a Passover Seder plate is visible behind him in a scene introducing viewers to his home and family.

That proved a prescient symbol in this weeks episode, which arrived on Netflix Friday for American viewers. Judges charged the contestants with producing a flavorful pavlova, a delicate dessert made with just whipped egg whites and sugar.

Pavlovas are naturally kosher for Passover because they lack flour, and Krauss leaned into that as he designed an inspired-by-Passover version with a charoset topping and pyramids of chocolate-covered matzah.

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Krauss makes his charosetin the Sephardic style, using dates, oranges and cardamom while eschewing the apples and nuts that are common inAshkenazi versions.The Seder plate staple symbolizes the mortar that the Hebrews used as slaves in Egypt.

Jurgen Krausss Passover Pavlova was warmly received on The Great British Bake Off (Screenshot via JTA)

The fan-favorite series has drawn criticism before for its handling of Jewish foods. In Season Five, the instruction to make a plaited loaf left some viewers wondering if anyone on the show knew about challah. Then last year,rainbow-bagel and babka challenges did not delve into the Jewish significanceof the bakes.

This time, the show did spend time there. After judge Prue Leith wonders whether the topping will be too sweet against the pavlova, Krauss explains charosets symbolism.

Its the mortar used by the Jews to stick the pyramids and Pharoahs cities together, he says.

Its carrying a lot, this little pavlova, Leith responds, smiling.

It is, it is, Krauss answers with a laugh.

After Krausss creation earns a favorable review judge Paul Hollywood announces, Jrgens back! host Matt Lucas, who is Jewish, offers one more reaction.

Mazel tov, Lucas tells him before moving on to the next baker one who channeled the colors and flavors of Easter.

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Jrgen brings Passover to Great British Bake Off - The Times of Israel

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