JAC Summer Spectacular

A Perfect Blend: Cuisine, Culture, Creativity and Politics
These are rough and tumble political times, but local women gathered recently at a Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JAC) Summer Spectacular to celebrate cuisine, culture and creativity with a political twist.
The program was chaired by Highland Park residents Susan Insoft and Amy Small. The event featured Johanna Mendelson Forman, Ph.D., J.D., professor of conflict cuisine, and cookbook author Joan Nathan, queen of Jewish cuisine. The women discussed the role food plays in all aspects of our lives, especially politics.
“Food has always been something that has united people and minimized differences — something needed in these highly charged political times,” said Marcia Balonick, JAC executive director and Highland Park resident.
JAC is a bipartisan political action committee dedicated to the special relationship between the US and Israel and has a social agenda that includes reproductive choice and separation of religion and state.
Mendelson Forman talked about her experiences with food and conflict during her time working in Washington, D.C, and traveling around the world. Nathan shared the inspiration behind her new cookbook King Solomon’s Table, a Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World. The cookbook captures the history of Jewish culinary tradition worldwide, dating back more than three thousand years.
Attendees sampled food from Nathan while admiring the creative table settings designed by Vince Hart, Vice President of Sales at Kehoe Designs, Chicago. The event was held at Kehoe’s event space, The Geraghty.
“It is so great to look out and see so many passionate and dedicated women that give their time and their money to have a voice in our political processes and stand up for the important issues that JAC advocates for,” Insoft said.
Insoft and Small highlighted the importance of women getting involved in politics, especially in a time where our values are at risk the most.

From l to r: Co-Chair and Highland Parker Susan Insoft, Dr. Johanna Mendelson Forman, Joan Nathan and Co-Chair and Highland Parker Amy Small

Kehoe Designs Event Space, The Geraghty

From l to r: Vincent Hart, Co-Chair and Highland Parker Amy Small, and Thomas Kehoe

Table Sample From Kehoe Designs

From l to r: HighlandParkers, Lynn Razawosky, Lynne Lieber, Sheri Bartelstein, and Heidi Kirsch

From l to r: The Honorable Lauren Beth Gash, Congressman Brad Schneider and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky