Adeena Sussman. Courtesy: Adeena Sussman

On Thursday, October 26, 2023, at the JW Marriott in downtown Austin, Shalom Austin Women’s Philanthropy will host its signature event, Mosaic to celebrate the power of women in the Austin Jewish community.

With the leadership of Mosaic Co-Chairs Vicki Osherow and Julie Waltzer, and Table Captain Co Chairs Julie Franklin, Carolyn Haney and Marianne Rochelle, this year’s event promises to inspire Jewish journeys in meaningful and transformative ways while raising critical funds for the Shalom Austin Annual Campaign.

The Woman of Valor award is traditionally presented at the Mosaic Luncheon and in 2022, the award was named in memory of the late Marilyn Saikin Stahl (z”l), a pillar in the community whose work professionally and as a volunteer leader left a lasting impact and touched countless lives.

At this year’s Mosaic, receiving the first-ever Marilyn Stahl Woman of Valor Award is Stahl’s niece, Suzanne Newberg. Additionally, this year’s featured speaker is bestselling Jewish cookbook author, Adeena Sussman. Sussman is the author of “Sababa: Fresh, Sunny Flavors from My Israeli Kitchen,” which was named a Best Fall 2019 cookbook by The New York Times, Bon Appetit, and Food & Wine. She also co-authored 15 cookbooks. Her three collaborations with Chrissy Teigen—”Cravings,” “Cravings: Hungry For More,” and “Cravings: All Together”—were all The New York Times best-sellers. Her newest cookbook, “Shabbat: Recipes and Rituals From My Table to Yours,” will be released on September 5, 2023.

Woven throughout the recipes in her newest cookbook is a rich portrait of Shabbat in Israel, where it is practically a national holiday. Taking readers inside the kitchens and traditions of local cooks who have shared their most beloved recipes, Shabbat brings to life Sussman’s adopted home country with transporting, slice of- life storytelling. Deeply personal and brimming with life, Shabbat inspires us all to embrace the delights of Shabbat.

As a child, Sussman looked forward to the magic of Shabbat—the traditional Jewish day of rest—all week. A treasured time when family and friends come together to relax, unwind, and revel in one another’s company during open-ended, tantalizing meals, Shabbat has been practiced all over the world and throughout history.

In Sussman’s home, then and now, she says the Shabbat table is a centering force, a nourishing place where one and all are welcome. It’s an opportunity every week to feed the soul.

A lifelong visitor to Israel who has been writing about that country’s food culture for almost 20 years, Sussman made aliya to Israel in December 2018.