Because Passover dietary restrictions kept KKBE members from sampling snacks at other houses of worship along the Spirited Brunch route in downtown Charleston last weekend, there were lots of volunteers at the synagogue to answer visitors’ questions—and Sunday’s event featured plenty of both.
One of the nearly 1000 people who participated in the annual self-guided food tour of prayerful spaces wanted to know more about a mezuzah case affixed to a doorpost. Upon learning that it contained parchment with a handwritten prayer, the Spirited Bruncher asked whether the scroll was sometimes swapped out.
Earlier in the day, I’d posed a similar question at the Central Mosque of Charleston. When touring the open space for congregational prayer, I realized I didn’t know whether Muslims recite the same prayer five times a day, or if the prayer said at dawn differs from the prayer offered in the late afternoon.
In both cases, the answer is the prayer remains the same. What changes is the worshipper’s relationship to it.
Similarly, Spirited Brunch never really changes. The congregational roster expands and contracts according to volunteer availability and construction projects, but the biggest format adjustment this year was handing out event wristbands instead of lapel stickers. Still, even within a predictable framework, there are unpredictable moments of clarity and connection.
For example, the prayer in the mezuzah case is the central affirmation of Judaism (Shema), meaning it’s crucial to understanding the faith. But the topic might never have come up absent dark chocolate matzah bark and kosher-for-Passover brownies. I’m not sure I would have thought to ask about the details of Muslim prayer (Salah), if I hadn’t stopped by the mosque for hummus and grape leaves.
One of the expressions I’ll forever rail against is “food brings people together,” since the South itself proves that’s demonstrably untrue. But there’s no doubt that it brings people. Whether the food is fresh fruit, sweet potato biscuits, or jollof rice, food draws people into physical and intellectual places they might not otherwise comfortably go. And if they leave those spaces with new insight or awareness, the Spirited Brunch has done its job—and maybe The Food Section has too.
See you back here on May 4, 2025.
We loved it this year and took what seems to be a similar approach as you since we kept bumping into each other! We will definitely be back next year!
Excellent! Thank you so much for joining us (almost literally in this case, as you say.) See you on May 4, 2025.
An absolutely amazing event! Fun, enlightening & tasty! We have it on the calendar for next year. Cheers!
See you there!