Bernard Museum Curator, Warren Klein, notes: “Highlights of the exhibited objects include: Albert Einstein’s childhood chocolate cup; business documents of Newport, Rhode Island chocolate trader, Aaron Lopez; and, a 19th century history of Bayonne, France, which identifies Sephardi Jews as the first chocolate makers in France.”

Chocolate migrated with Sephardi Jews in the early days of European contact with the New World food. As Spanish and Portuguese Jews sought refuge from the broad-reaching perils of the Inquisition, some packed with them new chocolate tastes, techniques, and opportunities, thereby supplying and extending chocolate to larger markets.

Later, twentieth century Jewish emigrants transferred their businesses for eating chocolate from one location to another. The background of Israel’s Elite Chocolate and the iconic chocolate company, Barton’s Bonbonniere, is also featured.

This first-ever exhibition about Jews and chocolate is based on the best-selling book On the Chocolate Trail, a Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, Rituals and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao (2^nd Edition, Jewish Lights, 2017) by Rabbi Deborah Prinz.

Herbert and Eileen Bernard Museum, NYC, Temple Emanu-El

Show runs through February 25, 2018

Admission is free. To book group tours please call: (212) 744-1400, ext. 313