The Telegraph

25 Most Influential Jewish Newswires
May 1, 2009
View the article.



1. Jewish Internet Defense Force (JIDF) · Israel
These self-described fighters of anti-Semitism and terrorism on the web have a massive following, to whom it delivers (mostly) streaming news.
2. JewishTweets (jewishtweets) · New York, NY
From the National Jewish Outreach Program--the brains behind Shabbat Across America--comes a strikingly comprehensive Jewish content aggregator.
3. Haaretz (haaretzonline) · Israel
The Israeli periodical maintains a strong presence on Twitter.
4. Yedioth Achronot/YNet Newsfeed (ynet_co_il) · Israel
While not officially affiliated with YNet, this Hebrew RSS feed ranks high in terms of number followers and frequency of re-tweets.
5. The Jerusalem Post (Jerusalem_Post) · Israel
The English language periodical from Israel has a second Twitter account that ranks in the top 10 (see #8).
6. JTA (jtanews) · New York, NY
7. IsraelNewsNow (israelnewsnow) · California
8. Jerusalem Post (jerusalempost) · Israel
9. The Marker (Haaretz) (themarker) · Israel
10. Pletz.com (pletz) · Brazil
11. Jewish Breaking News (JBN) · New York, NY
12. igoogledisrael (igoogledisrael) · Israel
13. Israel21c (israel21c) · Israel
14. Ron Kampeas (kampeas) · Washington, D.C.
15. NY Jewish Week (NYJewishWeek) · New York, NY
16. The Fundermentalist (fundermentalist) · New York, NY
17. GoodNewsJews (GoodNewsJews) · (unknown)
18. Israel NewsWire (inwnews) · Chicago, IL
19. Jew Key News (jewkeynews) · New York, NY/Los Angeles, CA/Israel
20. The Jewish Chronicle (JewishChron) · London, England
21. IsraelTechNews (IsraelTechNews) · Israel
22. jew_news (jew_news) · (unknown)
23. World Jewish Daily (WrldJewishDaily) · Chicago,IL
24. Religion & State in Israel (religion_state) · Israel
25. Vos Iz Neias (vosiznies) · New York, NY

Jewish Journal

March 18 2009
View the article.

Local Composer Wins Soup Contest

A Los Angeles amateur chef has won the 2009 “Better Than Your Bubby’s Chicken Soup Challenge” sponsored by the National Jewish Outreach Program.

Michael Cohen, 31, a Hollywood composer who scored “The Hebrew Hammer,” beat out four contestants in the final round of the nationwide search for the best chicken soup recipe. Cohen’s recipe, “Elat Chicken Soup,” named for the Pico Boulevard market where he buys his ingredients, features a mix of chickpeas, eggplant and Middle Eastern spices.

Noted food experts, including kosher cookbook author Jamie Geller and syndicated columnist Lenore Skenazy, judged the finals, which were held on March 12 at Abigail’s on Broadway, a New York City kosher restaurant.

Cohen received a round-trip ticket to Israel for his prize-winning recipe. He has won $40,000 in previous national cooking contests over the past four years.

Liberty Post

Sunday, February 22, 2009

View Article Here

Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Challenge


The Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Challenge is sponsored by The National Jewish Outreach Program. Visit us at http://www.njop.org/. Happy cooking! How do you make your chicken soup?

EVA News

Tuesday, 03 February 2009

View Article Here

National Chicken Soup Contest 2009

NJOP launches "Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Challenge" Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Challenge Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Challenge In times like these, I think the whole country could use a bowl of chicken soup The Jewish tradition revolves around family and festivity. Through the Chicken Soup Challenge, we hope to reinforce the notion that Jewish life is fun - and delicious - and that our heritage, like our recipes, can be passed carefully from generation to generation.

New York, NY February 3, 2009 - Start your stovetops! It's the "Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Challenge" - a search for the best chicken soup recipe in America. The National Jewish Outreach Program (www.njop.org) is looking for both traditional and unusual formulas of this famous elixir. So whether it is your grandmother's famous recipe or your version of chicken soup fusion, NJOP wants to taste your Jewish penicillin. Visit http://betterthanyourbubbys.blogspot.com/ for contest details. Cooks across America are invited to submit their original recipes for a chance to win great prizes including a free trip to Israel, kitchen décor consultation with Art de Triomphe interior design and other great prizes. Five finalists will be selected under the direction of celebrity chef Jeff Nathan, the executive chef of New York-based Abigael's and their soups will be tasted and judged by a prestigious panel of judges.

The contest coincides with NJOP's 13th annual SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA, which will be held on March 20, 2009. Just as traditional "Jewish" food is a unifying element to Jews of all background, SAA is an unparalleled display of unity as tens of thousands of Jews celebrate Shabbat across the country. The special event is held annually at hundreds of locations across North America and welcomes participants of all denominations.

"In times like these, I think the whole country could use a bowl of chicken soup," said Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, director of NJOP. "The Jewish tradition revolves around family and festivity. Through the Chicken Soup Challenge, we hope to reinforce the notion that Jewish life is fun - and delicious - and that our heritage, like our recipes, can be passed carefully from generation to generation."

In 2004, NJOP conducted its first Chicken Soup Challenge and named NY-based Rosely Himmelstein as winner. Only recipes that can be made in accordance with kosher dietary laws will be eligible. Email entries to contests (at) njop.org or call 1-888-SHABBAT. Deadline for entry is March 2, 2009.

About NJOP The National Jewish Outreach Program was established in 1987 by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, and has become one of the world's largest and most successful Jewish outreach organizations. NJOP offers free programs at more than 3,670 locations across North America and in 37 countries worldwide. Through programs such as SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA/ CANADA and READ HEBREW AMERICA /CANADA, NJOP has successfully reached more than 1,054,000* North American Jews, and engaged them in Jewish life. For more information about Shabbat Across America, visit www.njop.org and www.ShabbatAcrossAmerica.2.0.com.

Jewlicious

March 13, 2009
View Article Here

NJOP Scores BIG with Chicken Soup Contest

Written by ck

The National Jewish Outreach Program, an Upper West Side-based Modern Orthodox Kiruv organization, has spearheaded an number of innovative projects aimed at reacquainting Jews with their Judaism. These include Shabbat Across America, Passover Across America and Read Hebrew America. While these have gotten the organization some attention, they really hit the jackpot with Better Than Your Bubby’s - The Chicken Soup Challenge. The contest, aimed to coincide with NJOP’s 2009 Shabbat Across America initiative, underscores how Jewish food unites Jews of all denominations. Today the New York Times reported the winner - one Michael Cohen of Los Angeles who won a slew of prizes including a free trip to Israel, with his Israel influenced Elat Chicken Soup. You can get his recipe as well as those of the runners up, at the contest site. You can get more information about the upcoming Shabbat Across America from the project’s page on the NJOP Web site. Other than a free trip to Israel, what more can we expect from Mr. Cohen?

The announcement was made by phone to Mr. Cohen, 31, who lives in Hollywood and writes music for film, television and video games. He said he started cooking a lot when he got his own place a few years ago, and had entered a number of recipe contests. The chicken soup was an Israeli-inspired recipe that he had created himself.

“Is he single?” a woman in the audience asked when his bio was read.

“I am,” Mr. Cohen replied on the telephone.

“Tell him one of the prizes is being set up,” the woman said.

Another Jewish tradition, which also evolves while staying the same.

Aw yeah. No one does Jewish like the New York Times does Jewish. What? You wanted a post about Bernie Madoff going to jail? Sorry. Jewish penicillin trumps massive fraud every time!

7th Space Interactive

February 06, 2009
View Article Here

NJOP launches "Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Challenge"

It’s the “Better Than Your Bubby’s Chicken Soup Challenge” - a search for the best chicken soup recipe in America. The National Jewish Outreach Program (www.njop.org) is looking for both traditional and unusual formulas of this famous elixir. So whether it is your grandmother’s famous recipe or your version of chicken soup fusion, NJOP wants to taste your Jewish penicillin. Visit http://betterthanyourbubbys.blogspot.com/ for contest details.

Cooks across America are invited to submit their original recipes for a chance to win great prizes including a free trip to Israel, kitchen décor consultation with Art de Triomphe interior design and other great prizes. Five finalists will be selected under the direction of celebrity chef Jeff Nathan, the executive chef of New York-based Abigael’s and their soups will be tasted and judged by a prestigious panel of judges.

The contest coincides with NJOP's 13th annual Shabbat Across America, which will be held on March 20, 2009. Just as traditional "Jewish" food is a unifying element to Jews of all background, SAA is an unparalleled display of unity as tens of thousands of Jews celebrate Shabbat across the country. The special event is held annually at hundreds of locations across North America and welcomes participants of all denominations.

"In times like these, I think the whole country could use a bowl of chicken soup,” said Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, director of NJOP. "The Jewish tradition revolves around family and festivity. Through the Chicken Soup Challenge, we hope to reinforce the notion that Jewish life is fun - and delicious - and that our heritage, like our recipes, can be passed carefully from generation to generation."

In 2004, NJOP conducted its first Chicken Soup Challenge and named NY-based Rosely Himmelstein as winner. Only recipes that can be made in accordance with kosher dietary laws will be eligible. Email entries to contests@njop.org or call 1-888-SHABBAT. Deadline for entry is March 2, 2009.

About NJOP
The National Jewish Outreach Program was established in 1987 by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, and has become one of the world’s largest and most successful Jewish outreach organizations. NJOP offers free programs at more than 3,670 locations across North America and in 37 countries worldwide. Through programs such as Shabbat Across America/ Canada and Read Hebrew America /Canada, NJOP has successfully reached more than 1,054,000* North American Jews, and engaged them in Jewish life.

For more information about Shabbat Across America, visit www.njop.org and www.ShabbatAcrossAmerica.2.0.com

Absolute Ruhe

New York Times

Soup for Good Souls, Jewish or Otherwise
March 13, 2009

Circulation: 1,000,665

Visitors per month: 10,000,000

View the article here.


Soup’s On! (And It’s Not Your Grandmother’s)

Do the Jews have a claim on chicken soup?

A mock court once thought so, ruling that chicken soup deserved the title of “Jewish penicillin.” (The opposing side argued that the soup belonged to everyone, and that Greeks, Italians and Chinese could all claim to use chicken soup in time of illness.)

And chicken soup may actually indeed have elixir-type properties for a cold (not just the soul). A 2000 study found that chicken soup (a recipe passed down from a Lithuanian grandmother) inhibited the movement of neutrophils, the most common type of white blood cell that defends against infection, which may reduce upper respiratory cold symptoms.

So while many a chicken soup recipe has been passed down from Jewish grandmothers, some felt it was time for the soup to be updated — time to move past garlic, noodles, carrots and matzo balls. The organizers of a national chicken soup contest urged contestants to think progressively in the “Better Than Your Bubby’s” soup competition. (”Bubby” is how the contest organizers spelled it; we prefer “Bubbe.”)

“It’s something that is traditional, but can be made new for every generation,” said Ilya Welfeld, a spokeswoman for the National Jewish Outreach Program, which sponsored the contest.

The soup was a metaphor for the Jewish-American experience and the core mission of the organization. “Just as we pass the recipes on for generation to generation, we pass the Jewish heritage from generation to generation,” said Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, the director of the program. (The group’s latest approach in outreach: Twittering at @jewishtweets.)

Hundreds of recipes came in, with ingredients like peppercorn, couscous, sweet potato, barley, seltzer. (No cream though, as the recipes had to be kosher, but soy milk was O.K.) There was the Mexican chicken soup, Tunisian chicken soup, Asian fusion chicken soup, Hungarian “sweet and spicy” chicken soup. The also reflected a range of new world and old world cooking. One of the finalist recipes, for example, included a line to “remove any feathers.”

A panel of seven judges sampled the finalists.

The five recipe finalists were sampled on Thursday afternoon at Abigael’s on Broadway by a panel of seven judges that included Jeff Nathan, the owner of Abigael’s, and Jamie Geller, who has been called the “Jewish Rachael Ray.”

The winner of the last contest, Rosaley Himmelstein, arrived but declared she was loathe to give up her title as the Queen of Chicken Soup, which she has had for five years.

“What are my grandchildren going to say: ‘My grandmother used to make the best chicken soup?’” said Ms. Himmelstein, who puts her trophy out on her table when she has guests.

The five finalists were Michael Cohen of Los Angeles; Jackie Gregston of Hallsville, Tex.; Wolfgang Hanau of West Palm Beach; Elizabeth Kratz of Bergenfield, N.J.; and Diane Nemitz of Ludington, Mich. (Not all the finalists are Jewish.) The winner not only received glory (with the recipe disseminated as part of Shabbat Across America), but also a free trip to Israel, among other prizes.

Only one of the finalists made it to Abigael’s: Ms. Kratz, who had submitted what she called “Hungarian sweet and spicy chicken soup.” The creation was inspired by her husband’s parents, Hungarian Holocaust survivors who had moved to Vienna.

“For Hungarians, paprika is one of their four food groups,” she said. “It adds a complexity to the recipe that you wouldn’t have in a tradition soup.”

Ms. Kratz offered to summarize the importance of chicken soup to Jews in America. “Chicken soup is a symbol,” she said. “It’s a symbol of a mother’s comfort and a mother’s love.”

The judges sipped and sampled the soups, which were made by restaurant staff members. Then, they rated the soups on equal parts appearance, creativity and flavor from a scale from 1 to 5.

The winner was “D,” a recipe called “Elat chicken soup,” by Mr. Cohen, which included English cucumber, eggplant, all-spice, tumeric and cumin.

“I’ve never seen a chicken soup done that way before and it still be called chicken soup,” said Ms. Keller, who awarded Mr. Cohen’s soup a 5 for creativity but a 1 for appearance. “There was a lot going on.”

This reporter tasted the soup, which had a very Middle Eastern flare to it, and agreed that there indeed was a lot going on.

The announcement was made by phone to Mr. Cohen, 31, who lives in Hollywood and writes music for film, television and video games. He said he started cooking up a storm when he got his own place a few years ago, and had entered a number of recipe contests. The chicken soup was an Israeli-inspired recipe that he had created himself.

“Is he single?” a woman in the audience asked when his bio was read.

“I am,” Mr. Cohen replied on the telephone.

“Tell him one of the prizes is being set up,” the woman said.

Another Jewish tradition, which also evolves while staying the same.

Jewish Standard

Outreach Group Soups up Shabbat
March 20, 2009
View the article here.

Chicken soup has long been called Jewish penicillin. There’s just something about the golden elixir that cries out Yiddishkeit, which is what the National Jewish Outreach Program banked on with its “Better Than Your Bubby’s” chicken soup contest last week.

The contest was a lead-in for NJOP’s annual Shabbat Across America, a national program to be held tonight at almost 600 synagogues, to introduce unaffiliated Jews to the basics of Shabbat. The winning soup recipe was to be distributed among the participating shuls, including at least eight in this area, in time for the dinner.

Elizabeth Kratz’s Hungarian Sweet and Spicy Chicken Soup was a runner-up in last week’s “Better Than Your Bubby’s” chicken soup contest. PHOTO by Jerry Szubin

Last Thursday, Jeff Nathan, head chef at Abigael’s in New York, prepared recipes from five finalists and judges crowned Michael Cohen of Los Angeles the winner. The East Coast got some respect, though, as Elizabeth Kratz of Bergenfield was named a runner-up for her Hungarian Sweet and Spicy Chicken Soup, a dish she said she’s been working on for about a year.

“I’ve been told my chicken soup recipe was good and possibly unique and special but I didn’t know for sure,” Kratz told The Jewish Standard last Friday.

Her recipe includes three types of peppers. While cayenne pepper brings “a little bit of bite” to the soup, the paprika adds a little sweetness. Kratz said her husband Alexander and his Hungarian parents were the inspiration for the recipe.

“Hungarians see paprika as one of the four food groups,” Kratz said. “It’s kind of true. My husband loves the sweet spiciness of the soup.”

This was Kratz’s first foray into competitive cooking — and, she said, likely her last. She’s “not really a recipe contest person” and finds herself more interested in simply the appreciation of what she called traditional Jewish recipes.

“I enjoyed the cooking contest aspect of it and I thought the NJOP did an amazing job in terms of publicity and letting people know why chicken soup is a wonderful part of the Jewish tradition,” she said.

A free-lance writer, Kratz said that good writing is the backbone of any good recipe because the chef has to convey its every nuance. She hopes to write a cookbook filled with healthful, classic Jewish recipes with what she called modern twists.

“I’m a big fan of healthy cooking and don’t like to use a lot of fat or sugar in my recipes,” she said.

The five finalists were chosen from more than 70 entries, but while organizers were pleased with the attention the contest garnered, their intent was not just to highlight soup.

Chicken soup is a means to an end, said Rabbi Yitzchak Rosenbaum, associate director of NJOP and a Teaneck resident.

“Chicken soup is universal and yet very particularly Jewish, especially in terms of Friday night Shabbos,” he said.

The first — and until this year the only — chicken soup contest was held five years ago and organizers wanted to capitalize on the wide recognition of the dish. It’s much better known than potato kugel, cholent, or other Shabbat staples. The overarching goal was to garner publicity for Shabbat Across America and draw more people to the Shabbat experience, Rosenbaum said.

“Chicken soup is a vehicle we use to heighten people’s sensitivity to Shabbat,” he said.

Although he was not one of the judges, Rosenbaum did get to taste the soups and thought the two that stood out the most were the winning entry and Kratz’s.

Another contest has not been scheduled, but after the positive feedback from this year’s contest, Rosenbaum said, it could happen.

Jewish Week

Chicken Soup Goes Hollywood

March 19, 2009
View the article here.

At times like these, with cold temperatures and a bleak economy, everyone can use the nostalgic warmth of chicken soup. With so many recipes out there, probably one for every Jew, the National Jewish Outreach Program set out to find the best, at its second-ever “Better Than Your Bubby’s” Chicken Soup Challenge.

Held at Abigael’s on Broadway last Thursday, the contest featured the top five recipes, chosen from hundreds, expertly prepared by executive chef Jeff Nathan. The contest also highlighted the importance of tradition, of so-called “Jewish penicillin” and of Shabbat, as a way to promote NJOP’s 13th annual Shabbat Across America this weekend.

“For Jews, it’s tradition,” and economical, said Rabbi Yitzchak Rosenbaum, associate director of NJOP. “You can get taste without too much expense. When you made good chicken soup, you still had a chicken to eat. You did your best for Shabbat.”

So what’s wrong with the traditional way? Nothing, Rabbi Rosenbaum said.

“If you’re eating the same thing every week, you get bored,” he said. “Jews absorb [cooking traditions] from surrounding neighborhoods. Even though we love it, we want to add something of our own.”

The finalists’ recipes included a classic recipe, a Hungarian version with paprika and a soup with barley and mushrooms. The winner, Elat Chicken Soup by Michael Cohen, center, of Hollywood, Calif., included many of the traditional ingredients, potato, carrot and dill, as well as chickpeas, cucumber and eggplant.
“I was inspired by the contest, and wanted to do something with an Israeli twist,” said Cohen.
“I bought the ingredients at Elat market, down the street from my house,” hence the name. He wasn’t expecting to win the contest, or the grand prize round-trip ticket to Israel. “Now I’ll have to figure out when to use my ticket.”

Palm Beach Post

Local man a finalist in national chicken soup contest
March 18, 2009

Circulation: 134,350

View the article.

West Palm Beach resident Wolfgang Hanau was just named as a finalist in a national search for the best chicken soup recipe in America!

Wolfgang entered the contest with his “Mamma’s Chicken Soup” original recipe.
Originally from Bavaria, Wolfgang, lives in West Palm Beach and has traveled extensively. He and his wife Diana, from the Dominican Republic, are highly conscious of eating foods free of artificial preservatives and chemicals.
Wolfgang sees it as “our possibility to preserve all the natural resources” we have been blessed with. As Wolfgang explores the world, he comes up with creative recipes inspired by regional cuisines.”
The contest is sponsored by the National Jewish Outreach Program just in time for its annual Shabbat Across America/Canada Program to be held around the country on March 20th. The recipes are being unveiled just in time for families planning for Passover.
Here’s his recipe: “Mamma’s Chicken Soup” Wolfgang Hanau, West Palm Beach, FL
Ingredients: 1 large broiler 4 1/2- 5 lbs, cut into 8 pieces 12 cups water, or just enough to cover chicken and vegetables 4 stalks celery with their leaves, cleaned 4 carrots, peeled but left whole 2 parsnips, peeled 2 Kohlrabi, peeled 2 leeks or substitute with a large onion, if leeks are not available 1/2 bunch parsley, leave stems on 1 bunch dill, stems included 2 tablespoons Kosher salt 2 teaspoons white pepper 2 cloves garlic, peeled, but left whole
Wash chicken pieces well and remove any feathers. Pull away any excessive fat . Do not remove the skin, it adds flavor to the soup. Place chicken in a 8-10 qt. soup kettle and add 12 cups cold water. Wash celery and cut each stalk in half crosswise and add to pot. Cut each carrot in half crosswise and then cut down in the middle add these to the pot. Cut the parsnips and Kohlrabi in half lengthwise and add these to the pot. Trim the ends of the leeks , cut in half lengthwise and wash carefully under running cold water, separating the layers to remove all the sand. Cut leeks in half crosswise and add to the pot. Wash parsley and dill and add to pot along with a little salt and pepper and garlic cloves. (Leave the final adjusting in seasoning after the soup is finished.)
Bring to boil and immediately lower heat to a simmer. (The key words to cooking soup is “simmer gently”. A violent boil will make your soup cloudy.) Cook for 10 minutes and skim away the scum that forms on the top. Continue to simmer gently for 1 hour longer. Skim away any fat that has risen to the surface of the soup or degrease the broth in a degreasing pitcher. Of course if you have the time, you can simply chill the soup until the fat congeals and remove it that way.
There are several ways you can serve the chicken soup. My mother would remove the greens and vegetables and the chicken pieces. The soup would be strained to a clear broth and served as its own course with the noodles, Matzo balls or Kreplach. The soup greens would be transformed into delicious latkes and served as a side dish along with the boiled chicken. I like to serve everything together in a large bowl, the broth the veggies, the chicken and throw in a couple of kreplach. I call it “Chicken in a Pot” and there is nothing like it for curing colds, tummy aches or just for a plain bad day.

"Great Kosher Restaurants Magazine" Pre-Purim Newsletter

Do you have the best Chicken Soup?
February 19, 2009






Enter your best recipe and you may be the grand prize winner - a round trip ticket to Israel. Other prizes will be awarded.

Some pretty serious palettes will be gathering at Abigael's on Broadway for the final tasting in March.

* Jeff Nathan, Executive Chef and co-owner of Abigael's on Broadway
* Melissa Clark, a James Beard Foundation award winner & food writer
* Jamie Geller, Author of the successful cookbook, Quick & Kosher
* Lenore Skenazy, Op-ed columnist appearing in more than 100 papers
* Elan Kornblum, Publisher of Great Kosher Restaurants Magazine

Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Challenge"
Contest Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void Where Prohibited.

To Enter: Email your original chicken soup recipe to contests@njop.org
Include the name of your recipe, your full name, phone, cell phone and mailing address.

Entries can also be mailed to National Jewish Outreach Program, Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Challenge, 989 Sixth Ave, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Entries must be postmarked by March 1, 2009. Multiple entries are permitted.

Please visit http://betterthanyourbubbys.blogspot.com/ for information about the chicken soup challenge. Only recipes that can be made in accordance with kosher dietary laws will be eligible.

Recipes must be for one gallon volume (serve 6-8). Ingredients must be natural - no bouillion cubes, no seasoning base, no MSG, no additives or preservatives. Meat products must be only poultry, no beef or veal stock permissable. All recipes must be typewritten. Judging will be based on the clarity of instructions and the flavor of the soup.

Eligibility: The contest is open to amateur chefs, those who do not earn a living as a chef and who are legal residents of the United States. Employees and directors of the National Jewish Outreach Program and its advertising and promotional agencies, and their immediate families and members of their households, are not eligible to enter this contest. All entrants must be able to travel to New York City in the event that NJOP requests the presence of finalists and/or winner at an event. If such travel is required, NJOP would pay roundtrip coach airfare and provide accommodations and said finalists and winner must be available for in-person media interviews. The final event will take place some time in March 2009. If unable to travel during said time or participate in the finals, entrant may be disqualified and an alternate may be selected. Finalists and winner must be available for media interviews, by phone, throughout 2009.

Prizes: One Grand Prize Winner will receive one round trip ticket to Israel, coach class. All expenses not specified herein, including but not limited to accommodations, meals, transfer, taxes and gratuities, are the sole responsibility of the Grand Prize Winner. Other prizes may apply.

Key Dates: The contest begins on February 1, 2009. Deadline for entry is March 2, 2009. Five finalists will be chosen on or about March 9, 2009; and the Grand Prize winner will be selected by a panel of judges on March 12, 2009.

Terms and Conditions: The five finalists (subject to eligibility verification) and the Grand Prize Winner will be chosen by a panel of judges selected by the National Jewish Outreach Program, whose decisions will be final on all matters relating to this contest. Finalists will be notified by telephone or mail, and will be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release and (where legal) a Publicity Release. The Grand Prize Winner will also need to make herself/himself available for media interviews if appropriate.

Except where prohibited by law, the winner's entry and acceptance of the prize constitutes permission for the National Jewish Outreach Program to use winner's name, photograph, likeness, statements, video/DVD submission, biographical information, voice and city and state address in all forms of media without further compensation. Winner and entrants also agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the National Jewish Outreach Program and each of its officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents from and against any claims, damages or liability due to any injuries, damages, or losses to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in any contest-related activity or participation in this contest.

List of Winners: For a list of winners, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope after March 25th to National Jewish Outreach Program Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Contest, 989 Sixth Ave, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018. You can also send an email to contests@njop.org.

Sponsor: National Jewish Outreach Program, 989 Sixth Ave, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018

Avi's List

Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Recipe Challenge
View the article here.

Event Date : 03/20/2009

The National Jewish Outreach Program is calling all Chicken Soup experts for their nationwide search for the best kosher Chicken Soup Recipe in America. The "Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Recipe Challenge" is seeking the best of the best in chicken soup recipes. Whether you have an awesome traditional recipe that has been handed down from generation to generation or a sassy modern version full of flavor, The NJOP wants to try it. The best entries will be judged by celebrity Chef Jeff Nathan, New York Times food writer Melissa Clark, and a panel of experts. The grand prize is a trip to Israel (and of course, bragging rights for having the best Chicken Soup in America!). The contest takes place on March 20th, so get your entries in soon! For official rules and entry guidelines, visit www.betterthanyourbubbys.blogspot.com. Good Luck!!!

Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul

Elizabeth Teitelbaum, February 3, 2009

Ah, Chicken Soup. The Jewish version of Soul Food. There is something so basic yet delightful about chicken soup, something reminiscent of sick days as a child, weekend trips to grandma's house, cozy winter nights spent in pajamas in front of the television, and diner excursions in Brooklyn.

Chicken soup has maintained a longstanding reputation in the American lexicon as being the hearty, home-cooked soup that serves a various array of purposes. The combination of the chicken stock with various other ingredients such as noodles,carrots, celery, or any and every other garden vegetable that suits your fancy makes this not only healthy but is thought to restore one to tip-top health on a cold winter day when you are feeling sick.

Well, at least for me. However, I am fairly certain that the mere mention of chicken soup will rouse memories in a fair percentage of Jewish minds. My love affair with chicken soup (and soup in general) began with my grandma. She made the best chicken vegetable soup the South has ever tasted. And by South, I mean South Brooklyn.


As a child my mouth would begin to water as soon as we got off the Belt Parkway onto Pennsylvania Avenue, anticipating the chicken vegetable soup that awaited my taste buds. My grandmother has since passed, and I am very angry that in the chaos and grief of having to sort through her apartment, I forgot to save her recipes, particularly her chicken soup recipe. But, even if I had, I know it wouldn't be the same as when I was a kid and she made it for me.

Chicken soup is comfort food. When there is nothing to eat and I cant seem to make a decision on what my tummy is desiring, I know I can always turn to my good, old-fashioned,trusty chicken noodle soup. But, in those instances it comes out of a can. There is the chicken soup that comes from a diner or a Kosher deli, often mixed with Matzah balls which give it that extra Jewish soul food treat which is my personal favorite variety. When searching "kosher chicken soup recipes" on Google, 624,000 hits come up. That is a lot of Jewish mothers and bubbys! Either way you cook it, boil it, or buy it, there is something undeniably comforting about chicken soup.

Which brings me to this nifty little contest: "The Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Challenge," which is a search for the best chicken soup recipe in America! It is in affiliation with the National Jewish Outreach Program. If you have a delicious or new and exciting recipe for this Jewish comfort food, I totally encourage you to send it in. And besides, this blog has the cutest name and banner logo.

Beliefnet.com

The Chicken Soup Challenge

Friday February 13, 2009

As Friday night approaches, homes across America will fill with the soothing aroma of chicken soup. It'll cure what ails ya - they don't call it "Jewish Penicillin" for nothing! Everyone has their family traditions and secrets (my Aunt Minnie put parsnips in hers, and that spicy, earthy flavor really sends me).

If you think yours is tops, you might want to enter the "Better Than Your Bubby's Chicken Soup Challenge" put on every year by the National Jewish Outreach Project as part of their "Shabbat Across America" program on March 20. Visit the website for rules (recipes are due by March 2). The prizes include a free trip to Israel!

But a note of warning: I covered the first annual NJOP contest as a journalist in 2004, and one thing stands out in my memory of the judges' comments. If you had a grandmother who made chicken soup for you in your youth, then there is no such thing as "Better Than Your Bubby's." And that's the true challenge of any chicken soup contest.

Please dish below on how you concoct chicken soup. Or is your bubby's secret just that?

The Jewish Star

Seeking Jewish Penicillin
February 13, 2009
View the article.

What need have we for medicine if chicken soup is simmering on the stovetop?
An exaggeration, perhaps, but chicken soup is credited with remarkable restorative properties.


The National Jewish Outreach Program is seeking the nation’s best chicken soup recipe to coincide with its 13th annual Shabbat Across America on March 20 — Parshat Mishpatim/Shabbat Shekalim.

Chicken soup is a universal Jewish food and there’s nothing more universally Jewish, or restorative, for that matter, than Shabbat — the point that NJOP is trying to make.

The contest rules are simple: your recipe has gotta be kosher and it’s gotta be submitted by March 2 to contests at njop.org. Click here for more info.

— Mayer Fertig