“It was the women in my family who held us together, carrying our traditions with them, as we emigrated to a new country, made refugees by violent revolution. Iranian Jewish women embody immeasurable strength and commitment to their families and communities, all while carrying themselves with utmost grace. It’s aspirational for me to hold this balance as I try to bring humanity to my work in technology, and to highlight the beautiful culinary traditions that these women humbly carry out.”
– Tannaz Sassooni

For the annual winter holidays, Reboot Studios is presenting a new way to celebrate with Erev Yalda, a reimagining of the ancient Persian winter solstice celebration Yalda. The new ritual blends Yalda with the themes of Hanukkah, through an Iranian-Jewish lens. Conceived by Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Rachel Sumekh and food writer Tannaz Sassooni, Erev Yalda brings a vibrant, new tradition to life—one that inspires people from all backgrounds to embrace warmth, light, and resilience during the year’s longest night. The project, an immersive short film with a resource kit, offers a cultural bridge, inviting viewers to create their own experience of the powerful intersection of Persian and Jewish heritage. Winter Solstice Overlaps with Hanukkah, Sunday, December 21, 2026. Find out more and download the DIY kit here.

In this episode of the Kitchen Radio podcast, the Sephardic Spice Girls (Rachel Emquies Sheff + Sharon Gomperts) of Los Angeles serve up Iraqi-Jewish Kubba Bamia and Sephardic Biscochos with tea and talk about how cooking these dishes and story-telling brings their family and community closer to recent lost history. The Sephardic Spice Girls actively write for the Jewish Journal and conduct cooking workshops at the Sephardic Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Learn more and listen now!