On Sunday, Feb. 15, the Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation (LJCC) will hold its fourth annual Telling Our Stories Through Food series. This year, the event will feature storyteller Laura Packer for an afternoon of Jewish food, stories and folklore.
The catered event will begin at 3 p.m. with Packer sharing tales that explore the origin (true or exaggerated) of some well-known Jewish foods, the cleverness of Jewish bakers and cooks, the ways food helps us remember who we are, and how food is interwoven into Jewish life.
The second half of the event will feature a brief reception with refreshments and snacks and an interactive storytelling workshop, the aim of which will be to help attendees find their stories about food and family. Packer will lead participants through a story crafting and sharing process so they can leave with stories and the ability to create more.
“Laura is the very essence of story telling, a teller who can enter the soul of the story's protagonists and bring them to life,” said event sponsor Hagith Sivan, an Overland Park resident and friend of the LJCC. “I met Laura at the wonderful KC Fringe festival, where her annual performances draw appreciative audiences. She brought laughter and tears as she narrated folk tales from various cultures, giving voice to diverse characters. I am looking forward to seeing her in our Lawrence community.”
With a degree in folklore and mythology, Laura Packer is the winner of many awards, including her 2020 induction into the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence for standard bearers in the art of storytelling; best in fringe in many fringe festivals; Grand Slams; and more. Her books, “From Audience to Zeal: The ABCs of Finding, Crafting, and Telling a Great Story” and the accompanying workbook were Storytelling World Award winners. When she isn’t telling, she runs venues, coaches, writes and helps people and organizations to find their stories, hone their vision and use their voices to make the world a better place.
Sponsored by Sivan, Telling Our Stories Through Food focuses on food, cooking traditions and homes as the link between generations and communities with the goal of helping people connect with each other. Previous speakers in this series have included local illustrator-author Marilyn Naron (2025), Associate Professor of Jewish Studies at San Francisco State University Dr. Rachel B. Gross (2024) and Poet Laureate Emeritus of Kansas Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg (2023).
Telling Our Stories Through Food is free and open to the public (Jewish and non-Jewish alike), although the LJCC is appreciative of financial contributions. The LJCC requests advance registration at lawrencejcc.com.
