Water, Wine and Whiskey at Westchester Reform Temple

With lush greenery, sun-drenched mountains, charming countryside villages, and a thriving agricultural landscape, the Galilee region, often referred to as the “Tuscany of Israel,” is also distinguished by the melting pot of traditions, religions, and cultures that can be found in its picturesque surroundings. With the support of Jewish National Fund-USA, this beloved region will soon develop into the culinary capital of the world; and the organization’s crown jewel, the Galilee Culinary Institute (GCI by JNF), is set to reinvent culinary education and revolutionize the culinary arts scene in northern Israel when it opens in 2023.

As part of Jewish National Fund-USA’s strategic initiatives supporting the Galilee region’s economy and infrastructure with the goal of attracting 300,000 new residents to the area, GCI by JNF is expected to transform Kiryat Shmona and the culinary industry with its intensive total immersion program that is designed to help students acquire a combination of practical skills and a broad understanding of the major themes impacting the food world today. GCI by JNF will offer a unique 12-month hands-on educational experience for students from all corners of the globe, where they’ll learn about cooking and business-related topics, including architecture, marketing, finance, and the local farm-to-table concept where food is not only delicious but nutritious. 

On Thursday, May 12, 2022, renowned chef and award-winning cookbook author, Lior Lev Sercarz, owner of New York’s La Boîte spices and biscuit shop and the Co-Founder & Chief Culinary Officer of GCI by JNF, joined the Westchester community at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale for Jewish National Fund-USA’s revered Water, Wine & Whiskey event, where he discussed the vision for this unparalleled culinary institute in the heart of the region where he grew up and its impact on the land and people of Israel. Attendees also got to sample several Israeli wines and whiskeys during a grand tasting. 

“Jewish National Fund-USA has connected us to Israel in a way that we haven’t experienced before,” said Event Co-Chairs Jessica Adler and Lissy Carr. “We were thrilled to welcome this star of the culinary world to Westchester for this event and learn more about this incredible institute.”

Learn more at jnf.org.