It’s both a stereotype and a universal truth that Jewish mothers love to show their deep, unconditional, overbearing love through food.

Growing up, you couldn’t walk into my grandmother’s kitchen without being offered, at the very least, an appetizer, two meals, and dessert. Not hungry? Doesn’t matter—you weren’t leaving the kitchen without at least eighteen bites. Food was how my grandmother shared her love, and the traditions and food she served created a warm atmosphere within my family.

While the stereotype rings true for most Jewish families, food does hold a more significant, deeper meaning within each Jewish holiday for all observing Jews. Rosh Hashannah, the Jewish new year, is celebrated with apples and honey to summon a sweet new year ahead. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, where fasting forces you to focus on your spirituality. Passover celebrates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, and the ritual holiday meal contains many traditional foods like Matzah, an unleavened bread that represents what the Jews ate while fleeing. Food plays a massive role in remembering history and honoring the past.