Shalom Y’all Jewish Food Festival celebrates 26 years [Photo Essay]
Photos by Daniel Cheon
Written by Tristan Lueck
Savannah’s Shalom Y’all Jewish Food Festival returns to Savannah for it’s 26th anniversary. The festival, sponsored by Congregation Mickve Israel, always gathers a large crowd and this year is no different. People from all over Savannah and even from out of town swarmed to the stands featuring more than 30 different Jewish food staples. Guests had the option to sample creamy and cheesy blintzes, noodley kugel and sweet challah bread, all old congregation recipes.
The festival gets nothing but good press every year, with the only complaint being that they run out of food too quickly. Once the food goes, guests still have the ability to purchase “Shalom Y’all” t-shirts, jewelry and enjoy music performances by multiple musicians including a violinist and cellist from the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra.
Most vendors and patrons have been going to the event for years. The President of the Congregation, Toby Hollenberg, said she believes the festival attracts so many people because of how immersive the Jewish community is in Savannah. “The Jewish community has been involved in Savannah since 1733,” she said. “So it is a very major part of Savannah. And the Jews came here right after Oglethorpe arrived and founded the colony.”
The festival is the last Sunday of October and runs between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
