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A Jewish Culinary Journey

Rabbi Chef Nissimmi Naim Naor is an Israeli chef, rabbi, educator,
and speaker, blending culinary artistry with Jewish heritage to create transformative experiences. He explores food’s role in Jewish identity using history, texts, and carbs!

Rabbi Nissimmi Naor

Chef and Educator

Inspired by his grandmother Miriam, Nissimmi trained in top Israeli restaurants, including with Chef Eyal Shani. He hosts “A Pot of Longing,” an Israeli TV series using food to connect those who have lost loved ones with their past.


With degrees in philosophy, economics, political science, and law, Nissimmi received rabbinical ordination from the Shalom Hartman Institute and serves as a Casualties Notification Officer in the IDF reserves. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife and three daughters, leading the Siah Yitzhak congregation in Katamon.

“Eating, ultimately, is an act of remembering, and so is cooking.”

—Rabbi Chef Nissimmi

Event Schedule

Join us for a series of special event programming with Nissimmi on September 16 and 17. Events take place at PJCC and local synagogues and are geared towards a variety of ages. See below for registration and additional information.

Questions? Contact Jewish Life at jewishlife@pjcc.org.

Cutting Board Workshop: Preparing for the New Year with ECE Parent Kesher Committee

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 ● 9:15am – 10:15am

People of the Cook: A Rosh Hashanah Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Chef Nissimmi

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 ● 12:00pm – 2:00pm

Legacy Society Gathering: Food & Memory with Rabbi Chef Nissimmi

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 ● 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Sweet Stories: Israeli Community Dessert Night | שנה טובה ומתוקה – ערב לקהילה הישראלית

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 ● 8:00pm – 10:00pm

Eat & Greet: Edible Symbols of Rosh Hashanah with Rabbi Chef Nissimmi

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 ● 10:00am – 11:30am

Feasting on Joy: Tastes of the New Year with Get Up & Go

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 ● 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Digesting Grief: Love, Loss & the New Year with Rabbi Chef Nissimmi

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 ● 7:30pm – 9:00pm

See More Events

Every moment someone eats a sandwich, all the thousands of sandwiches they made for school are folded; and every pot of meatballs someone sets up, there are memories of generations upon generations who set up those pots of meatballs and fed them to the people they love, and who all lined up and came and stood behind the cook’s shoulder, just to make sure he let the sauce reduce before putting in the meatballs, and that he didn’t forget to squeeze half a lemon in at the end, because that’s what gives it all the flavor.
– Rabbi Chef Nissimmi Naim Naor

The PJCC is proud to be a part of the Koret Initiative on Jewish Peoplehood. We are honored to present this program through the Taube Center for Jewish Peoplehood at the PJCC.