On December 16, “Recipe for Change: Standing Up To Antisemitism” won the Emmy Award for Best Daytime Special. The program, subtitled, “Dinner, Discussions and Jewish identity,” celebrates Jewish culture through the lens of food and conversation.
“In my lifetime, there has never been a more critical time for a program like ‘Recipe for Change’ than the present, with the extreme rise in antisemitism here in the U.S. and globally,” Todd Shotz, the show’s consulting producer, told the Journal. Shotz is the founder of the Jewish education company Hebrew Helpers, as well as a filmmaker and Jewish technical advisor for film and TV.
“Being recognized in this way by the Television Academy felt so incredibly rewarding after I have spent the last 25 years educating about Jewish values, history and practice and aiming to produce projects which champion a cause I believe in,” he said.
Produced by LeBron James’ The SpringHill Company and YouTube Originals, “Recipe for Change: Standing Up To Antisemitism” invites the viewer to three Shabbat dinners: two in Los Angeles, one in New York City.
Hosts Ilana Glazer, Moshe Kasher and Idina Menzel partner with renowned chefs Nancy Silverton and Einat Admony, and culinary historian Michael Twitty. Silverton, Admony and Twitty offer their take, along with their signature dishes.
Guests range from actors and creatives to advocates and entrepreneurs. They include Skylar Astin, Michael Ian Black, Rachel Bloom, Tommy Dorfman, Alex Edelman, Hannah Einbinder, Jordan Firstman, Lori Gottlieb, Bryan Greenberg, Hari Nef, Josh Peck, Zac Posen, Ruth Reichl, Rachel Sumekh and Michael Zegen, along with rabbi Sharon Brous and ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. Rachel Dratch also joins in as an on-the-street reporter.
These meals provided the perfect forums for the hosts, chefs and guests to celebrate their Jewish heritage, identity and culture, as well as discuss the rise of antisemitism and its impact on the Jewish community.
The original plan was to shoot two dinners. Then, they decided to add a third.
“The last dinner was really helpful to us, because we could figure out what we needed, what questions we wanted to make sure to ask again to get more of the information [out there],” Shotz said. “Trying to cover 4,000 years of Jewish history, culture, tradition, practice, ritual, dispelling myths and [libels] against us was … a herculean task.”
“Recipe for Change: Standing Up To Antisemitism” premiered in April 2022 and has been viewed nearly 980,000 times.
They considered doing the meals as Passover seders, as a way to encapsulate the Jewish experience, Shotz explained. They ultimately decided a Shabbat meal would be more evergreen. “What is more fundamental to the Jewish people than Shabbat,” Shotz said.
Showrunner and executive producer Joel Relampagos said he loved making the viewers feel like they were a part of these meaningful dinners. It was a full team effort.
“There were so many beautiful, powerful, personal stories that were shared and it was important to us that viewers felt they were experiencing it with us.“ – Joel Relampagos
“We really wanted those watching to feel like they have their own seat at the table and are a part of these needed conversations,” Relampagos told the Journal. “There were so many beautiful, powerful, personal stories that were shared and it was important to us that viewers felt they were experiencing it with us. How I only wish that viewers could have tasted the delicious foods!”
“My favorite part of the project was to be able to bring together unique voices from different industries and backgrounds but highlight the similar Jewish experiences,” Camille Maratchi vice president, unscripted and documentaries of The SpringHill Company, told the Journal.
Maratchi, who served as co-executive producer on the program, calls it an “honor and a privilege” to work at The SpringHill Company, whose mission is to build content like this.
“Empowerment is at the center of everything we do and this show is a clear example of that,” she said. “I’m proud of the show we put together and am thankful to the many people who helped put it together both in front of and behind the camera.”
“Standing Up To Antisemitism” is the second installment in the “Recipe for Change” series. The first one, “Stop Asian Hate,” was nominated for an Emmy last year.
“When we started ‘Recipe for Change’ it was in response to the rise of Asian hate,” she said. “We set out to make a show about marginalized people to help raise awareness and combat hate while celebrating the people and culture through conversation and food.”
This installment, “Standing up to Antisemitism,” has the same goal.
“We didn’t realize how significant and important the work would become so I hope that this show can continue to be a guide and a teaching tool about the Jewish religion and culture,” she said.
Shotz found creating this valuable conversation starter to be a meaningful experience. “One that we hoped could both build bridges between our community and others as well as dispel some of the misinformation about us that is out there,” he said.
Relampagos hopes the show continues to make those from the Jewish community feel seen, heard, inspired, proud and represented. And that it educates and raises awareness for those who are not Jewish.
“I want those who are non-Jewish to understand the importance of being there to support and uplift their Jewish friends, colleagues and chosen family,” he said. “Solidarity is always important and I hope that people see how needed allyship truly is, as well.”
He adds, “If we truly want change in this world, every single one of us can be an essential ingredient in that recipe.”
Watch “Recipe for Change: Standing Up to Antisemitism” on YouTube.
