Jewish Discovery Center Hosts Women's Tu B'Shevat Sourdough Workshop Jan. 29

Women gathered at the Jewish Discovery Center in Mason, Ohio for a hands-on sourdough baking workshop tied to Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish New Year for Trees. The evening blended practical baking instruction with seasonal meaning, giving participants a chance to make bread together and carry the practice home.

Led by instructor Kaila Pilawski, the workshop took place on Thursday, January 29 at 7:00 p.m. Attendees baked their own loaves in class and left with starter kits to continue baking. “Participants will bake their own sourdough and take home a starter kit to continue baking long after the evening concludes.” The program emphasized fermentation, ingredient quality, and patience as central elements of successful sourdough baking. “The workshop will guide attendees through the art and science of sourdough baking, emphasizing the role of natural ingredients, fermentation and patience in the bread-making process.”

Organizers framed the class around Tu B’Shevat themes of growth and renewal. “Tu B’Shevat has long been associated with growth, renewal and recognition of G-d’s amazing creation.” The announcement continued that the workshop was intended to connect those themes to food: “This program highlights those themes through the age-old practice of bread-making, transforming simple ingredients into nourishing and meaningful food.” Participants at all experience levels were welcome; the event combined technique-focused instruction with a social atmosphere, and “the evening will also feature a bites-and-drinks bar, creating a warm and social atmosphere for participants of all experience levels.”

Practical takeaways were clear: hands-on practice with sourdough handling, an introduction to fermentation and maintaining a starter, and the starter kit to support continued home baking. For home bakers, the session offered a compact way to move from curiosity to action, learn the rhythm of feeding and fermenting, then keep the starter alive between bakes.

Advance registration was required and space was limited; interested community members were asked to register through the Jewish Discovery Center’s craft registration page. The event was submitted by the Jewish Discovery Center to the local paper and credited as a community program.

For readers who missed this session, the format points to a straightforward path for future learning: look for similar hands-on classes that include a starter kit and in-person troubleshooting. Workshops that pair technique with community-building, as this one did, help home bakers sustain starter culture and confidence long after the class ends.