What Kind of Cheesecake Are You?

In May we celebrate the festival of Shavuot, commemorating when the Jews received the Torah at Mount Sinai. On Shavuot, we traditionally eat dairy, and as with most Jewish customs, there are a variety of explanations for why we do what we do. Some say it is because the Jews didn’t know how to slaughter kosher animals before receiving the Torah. Others ascribe it to the Torah being likened to milk and honey. There are explanations that reference the gematria or the shoresh of different dairy-related words. And just as there are many reasons for why we eat dairy, there are also many dairy foods to choose from. But one in particular has emerged as the most beloved Shavuot treat of all…the mighty cheesecake.

Now cheesecakes, like Jews, come in all shapes, sizes and colors. And it is this time of year that we must ask ourselves, “what is the perfect cheesecake for me?” To find out, we are going to have to dig deep, ask some hard questions. But it will be worth it. Because in the end, you will know what cheesecake is right for you. Let’s begin.