Spice it Up! Featuring Beejhy Barhany

Wednesday, April 29, 2026
7:00 PM EDT

An Ethiopian Feast. . .

Join us as we bring the stories and flavors of Ethiopian Jewry to the table! It’s a fascinating evening filled with spices, culture, and conversation featuring Beejhy Barhany, acclaimed chef, restaurateur, and author of Gursha: Timeless Recipes from Ethiopia, Israel, Harlem and Beyond.  Barhany will share stories, traditions, and recipes that trace her journey from Ethiopia to Israel to Harlem and celebrate the resilience of the Beta Israel community. She will be in conversation with local food writer, Liz Rueven. You will also enjoy an Ethiopian tea reception with Beejhy where you can make your own custom Berbere spice blend to make her recipes at home.

 

All proceeds to benefit the Jewish Federation’s partner, Ethiopian National Project SPACE (School Performance and Community Empowerment) Scholastic Assistance Program. Most Ethiopian immigrant families living in Israel today reside in low-income neighborhoods where schools often lack the ability to provide enrichment activities and basic educational support. Such support is critical to students' success. ENP SPACE provides Ethiopian students in our partnership region, Afula-Gilboa, with supplementary academic tutoring, nutritious meals, works to improve students' self esteem, leadership skills, social integration, personal development and connection to their Ethiopian heritage. Federation supports ENP SPACE through our annual funding allocations process.

“ENP SPACE has changed my life in every aspect. It has never been more important to me than this past year during the war. My hometown of Afula had a lot of sirens and we had a few seconds to run to the bomb shelter for safety. It’s hard to be optimistic about the future and it’s hard to find motivation to learn. But my teachers in SPACE are amazing, the staff care so much, they always call to make sure I am okay and ask if I need anything. Now more than ever, I feel that SPACE is my home and it’s safe. SPACE taught me the importance of giving back to the community, to be proud of my culture, to truly embrace who I am and to dream big." - Liel Solomon, 11th grade ENP SPACE participant, Afula

 

About Beejhy

Born in Ethiopia, Barhany fled to Sudan as a child before making her way to Israel and, eventually, Harlem. In Gursha, she tells that story through food, bringing together more than 100 hundred personal recipes, from traditional dishes to those of her own creation.

Beejhy Barhany is a distinguished chef, author, and cultural bridge-builder who uses food as a universal language to connect communities worldwide. She is the founder of the Beta Israel of North America Cultural Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering and celebrating the legacy of Ethiopian Jews, and the chef and owner of Tsion Café in Harlem—an acclaimed Ethiopian-Israeli restaurant and community hub. Tsion Café is now an event venue offering catering, packaged products, and immersive dining experiences.

Her pioneering cookbook, Gursha: Timeless Recipes for Modern Kitchens from Ethiopia, Israel, Harlem and Beyond, made history as the first Ethiopian Jewish cookbook from a major American publisher and was recognized among The New York Times' Best Cookbooks of 2025. As a sought-after speaker, educator, and facilitator, Ms. Barhany conducts cooking demonstrations and cultural programming worldwide, fostering understanding and breaking barriers through the culinary arts.

About Liz

Liz Rueven is a CT food writer with more than 18,000 readers following her snippets, Jewish holiday inspiration, and drool-worthy recipes. She mixes it up with stories about producers and small businesses she supports, cookbooks that make her want to stay in the kitchen, and adventures at farmers' markets everywhere she visits. Find her on her website, kosherlikeme.com and on Instagram @kosherlikeme.

Chabad of Westport
79 Newtown Turnpike
Westport, CT 06880

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