Author, doctor to offer challah baking, wellness workshop

A hands-on challah baking and wellness workshop with physician and author Dr. Beth Ricanati will take place at 11 a.m. Nov. 22 at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation at 27501 Fairmount Blvd. in Pepper Pike. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in challah baking and learn seven stress-management practices that can help improve well-being and encourage healthy living. “This is an opportunity to talk about how we live,” Ricanati told the Cleveland Jewish News. The workshop, presented through the congregation’s J-Well program, will focus on the importance of rituals in everyday life and how simple practices can help people manage stress and take care of themselves. Ricanati, a board-certified internal medicine physician, is the author of “The Braided Prescription: Seven Practices for Living Well from the Ancient Ritual of Making Challah,” published on Sept. 1. The book explores how the ancient Jewish tradition of baking challah can serve as a framework for managing stress, practicing self-care and developing healthier habits. Ricanati said attendees can expect more than a traditional baking workshop. Along with making challah, participants will have the opportunity to discuss how rituals can support their well-being and help them connect with others. “You don’t have to be a baker to come. I’m not a baker, I’m a doctor,” Ricanati said. “It’s an opportunity to come together and to explore some of the ideas in my new book and to do that in a fun, interactive setting.” During the workshop, Ricanati will discuss the seven practices outlined in her book, including the importance of being present, managing stress and finding ways to incorporate meaningful rituals into daily routines. She said the workshop will also encourage participants to recognize the role they can play in improving their own well-being and supporting their communities. “We have a lot of agency in how we think about being present and showing up for each other and taking care of ourselves and our community,” Ricanati said. Ricanati previously worked at Cleveland Clinic, where she helped develop Lifestyle180, a program focused on treating chronic diseases through nutrition, exercise and stress management. She is also the author of “Braided: A Journey of a Thousand Challahs,” published in 2018. She said she believes wellness extends beyond traditional medical settings and can be found in everyday activities and shared experiences. “I really believe that wellness doesn’t just happen in a doctor’s office,” Ricanati said. “I think it also happens in our homes, in our kitchens, places that we gather, such as the synagogue.” Cost is $18 per person with a $72 limit per household. To regsiter, visit shorturl.at/RP4UZ.