Chef Tom Franz Celebrates Jewish Community Milestones in Munich
Translated & summarized from Jüdische Allgemeine by baba
The Israelite Cult Community in Munich is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its synagogue and Jewish Center with special events in October 2026. A gala dinner featured chef Tom Franz, who prepared a special menu. President Charlotte Knobloch highlighted the growing Jewish presence in the city. The events also included lectures by rabbis and performances by musicians and singers, with chef Tom Franz sharing his culinary philosophy.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Munich's Israelite Cult Community is celebrating two decades of its synagogue and Jewish Center in October 2026.
- Chef Tom Franz prepared a special three-course menu for a gala dinner marking the community's anniversaries.
- Charlotte Knobloch, President of the IKG, emphasized the significance of Jewish presence in Munich over the past 20 years.
- The anniversary events include cultural programs, film screenings, and musical performances.
- Rabbi Steven Langnas delivered a lecture on spices in Jewish culture and cuisine.
- Chef Tom Franz won the Israeli "Masterchef" competition in 2013.
The Israelite Cult Community (IKG) in Munich is marking significant anniversaries in October 2026, including the 20th anniversary of the Ohel Jakob Synagogue on November 9 and the nearly 20 years since the opening of the Jewish Center at Jakobsplatz. To commemorate these events, the IKG is hosting a series of special programs for its members and friends. These include readings by Konrad Bernheimer and Dafna Gerstner, film screenings at the Jewish Film Days featuring Oscar-winner Volker Schlöndorff, and performances by Israeli singer Noga and musician Roman Grinberg.
A highlight was the recent Sunday, which featured a "Marketplace of Delights" in the Jewish Community Center's foyer offering culinary and cultural items. The evening culminated in a gala dinner with a three-course menu specially curated for the anniversary by chef Tom Franz. Charlotte Knobloch, President of the IKG, introduced Franz as an "internationally celebrated representative of Jewish haute cuisine," a self-taught chef and bestselling cookbook author. Knobloch noted that the past two decades have signified a new, visible "Jewish presence in this city," celebrated through events at Jakobsplatz, anniversaries, and the European Day of Jewish Culture, with food playing an important role.
The gala dinner in the Hubert-Burda-Saal experienced a slight delay as attendees waited for the return of Rabbis Shmuel Aharon Brodman, Elie Dues, and Steven Langnas from afternoon prayers. Rabbi Langnas had earlier captivated the audience with a lecture on spices in Jewish culture and cuisine. Also present were Tom Franz and his son Gabriel, who had recently celebrated his Bar Mitzvah.
Tom Franz, originally from Cologne, has been fulfilling Jewish commandments since his conversion in 2007. His culinary style blends German precision with Israeli warmth and the use of local ingredients, establishing him as an ambassador of high-quality kosher cuisine. During the dinner, where dishes were named "Under One Roof" and "Jacob's Ladder," Ellen Presser interviewed the chef. Franz gained national recognition after winning the Israeli cooking show "Masterchef" in 2013, an experience that has kept him busy but, as a "culinary bridge-builder," has not gone to his head. The trained lawyer and observant Jew remains grounded, stating, "My favorite meal. Eating Israeli breakfast at any hour of the day."