Latke vs. Hamantash

ARTS&LIFE

DOCUMENTARY

Chef Uri Scheft demonstrating the making of hamantashen at the Lehamim Bakery in Tel Aviv.

Latke vs. Hamantash

Film to explore debate on what is the more perfect Jewish food.

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A75-year debate that began in 1946 is the subject of a new documentary being produced by a West Bloomfield native. Filmmaker and producer Amy Krause, now based in Solana Beach, Calif., is in the midst of creating Latke vs. Hamantash, the movie.

The longstanding international debate that originated at the University of Chicago examines which is the more perfect Jewish food — the latke or the hamantash. It enlists the help of the world’s greatest minds, from political scientists to astrophysicists, to argue in favor of the food that best encompasses the Jewish story.

It’s not about flavor, but perfection, Krause says. Both the famous Chanukah potato pancake and the filled-pocket Purim cookie each represents Jewish life in different ways.

“There’s some very serious questions when you dig into it,” she explains of the debate, “like ‘Why is this funny?’ or ‘Why do Jews debate everything, including food?’”

Latke vs. Hamantash aims to answer these questions, among others, as it explores the history of the debate, its worldwide legacy and which hallmark food is, in fact, the more perfect Jewish food.

CHICAGO TRADITION

The internationally renowned “Latke-Hamantash Debate” is held annually at the University of Chicago and draws thousands of attendees. Last year on Dec. 17, it was held online for the first time due to COVID-19 but continues to be the university’s longest-running tradition.

Krause learned about the debate through her oldest daughter, Sophie Needelman Bloch, and was fascinated by the story. She needed to know more. “I’m Jewish, but I didn’t have a deep religious background,” said Krause, who attended Birmingham Temple growing up. “We were Humanistic Jews, so I felt that I was Jewish enough to handle the topic.”

At the University of Chicago with Bernie Weisberger, the oldest living debater

“IT’LL ADD A LITTLE LIGHTNESS AND REMEMBRANCE OF THE JOY OF OUR CULTURE. NOT JUST THE STRUGGLES OF OUR CULTURE.”

— AMY KRAUSE

With American cookbook author Joan Nathan, who is displaying one of her books.