In the heart of Jersey City, a small and unassuming bakery called “Babka Bailout” has been making waves with its unique story and out-of-the-box Babkas. What began as a pandemic-born initiative to help a struggling housekeeper has blossomed into a thriving kosher bakery that blends ancient Jewish recipes with modern innovative flavors.
The year was 2020, COVID-19 was wreaking havoc on the planet and the world was effectively closed down. Michal Prevor, a Jewish mother and entrepreneur, was grappling with the challenges brought on by the global crisis. Like many others, she witnessed firsthand how damaging the pandemic could be for so many of her friends' livelihoods. One person particularly affected was Carmen, her longtime housekeeper. One day when Carmen was finished cleaning, Michal saw her with three massive bags struggling to get home, so she offered Carmen a ride home. Carmen explained that she had gone to the food bank before coming to clean because all of her clients had fired her due to the pandemic and she could no longer afford groceries for her family.
That night Michal couldn't sleep, as a mother of two kids she realized that what had happened to Carmen could happen to anybody. Moved by her story, she decided to lend a hand. Looking for a way to fundraise for her cleaning lady, she looked to her oven. Throughout the pandemic Michal and her family had picked up baking as a fun hobby to make the lock down a bit more bearable.
She remembered the compliments her babkas would receive and realized this could be Carmen's way out. Pairing her newly found love for baking with babka, her all-time favorite dessert, she set up a page explaining Carmen's story and offered classic cinnamon and chocolate babkas for sale.
Once the page was sent out they received 40 babka orders within minutes. “The whole project sort of snowballed from there.” Michal tells me. “It started out as a small operation but quickly gained traction.”
Word of mouth helped and orders poured in from friends, neighbors, and eventually strangers who were drawn not only to the delicious babkas but also to the heartwarming story behind them. Within months, Babka Bailout was no longer just a pandemic project—it was a full-fledged business. “The plan when I set out was to do something for a month or two and return to normal life. But I became responsible for Carmen at that point, and I couldn't stop. Because I realized that I benefited the most.”
After a few months Carmen's debts had all been erased and she could afford groceries and to support her family. She came to Michal and told her that she doesn't want any more handouts, she wants a job.
With that, Carmen became a partner in Babka Bailout. Carmen wasn't new to the world of baking, she had grown up in Honduras and would sell baked goods in the streets with her mother. All these memories flooded back when Carmen and Michal would spend days in the kitchen perfecting recipes. Now, Carmen is the head baker of Babka Bailout and is a major contributor to the brand's success.
At its core, Babka Bailout is rooted in Jewish culinary tradition. Babka itself has deep ties to Ashkenazi Jewish culture, originating in Eastern Europe in the 19th century. The bread’s signature swirls of chocolate or cinnamon reflect the resourcefulness of Jewish homemakers who used leftover challah dough to create something sweet for Shabbat and special occasions.
Michal honors this history while also giving it a modern twist. Babka Bailout offers a range of inventive flavors that go beyond the classic chocolate and cinnamon. From Ube Nutella Oreo (a nod to Jersey's large Filipino community) to Cereal Milk (inspired by Michal's daughter who suggested the flavor), and even Black Sesame, each babka tells a story that blends Jewish tradition with multicultural influences. This creative approach has helped Babka Bailout stand out in a crowded landscape while staying true to its roots.
“We're the only culture that makes just cinnamon and chocolate babkas.” Michal told me. “Why limit ourselves when we can explore so many new culinary horizons?”
Pushing the boundaries of babka is precisely the reason Michal introduced Black Truffle Babka and Za’atar Feta and Mozzarella Babkas.
Many of the flavors that Michal has incorporated into her babkas also come from the tastes she was exposed to growing up in the Dominican Republic. The Brie Guava Babka and Dulce de Leche Babkas are prime examples of this. As one of the only Jews in her school she had faced her fair share of anti-semitism, with kids in her class calling out names and insulting Jewish stereotypes.
Following the events of October 7th, Babka Bailout became a target for anti-semitism. Michal and her business received antisemitic attacks online. These hateful messages were deeply painful but also served as a stark reminder of the prejudice that still exists against Jews today. Her family was doxxed, and she felt unsafe for her workers, eventually police were brought in and added security to the bakery to help them feel safe.
Rather than retreating in fear, Michal chose to use her platform to speak out against hate while continuing to focus on her mission: spreading joy through food and fostering connections.
The local community rallied around Babka Bailout during this difficult time. Both Jewish and non-Jewish customers showed their support by placing orders, sharing messages of solidarity, and promoting the bakery on social media. This outpouring of love reinforced Michal’s belief in the power of community and underscored how food can serve as a bridge between people from different backgrounds.
My plan from the get-go was to bring babka everywhere, to educate people about babka. That's why Babka Bailout has started to ship nationwide. “In New York you can always find babka, if you look hard enough. But if you live in Alabama or Arkansas, where are you getting babka?” She continues, “I see it as a way to get people of all different backgrounds to love something Jewish. Maybe it will make them say “Oh, they can't be that bad, their babka is delicious.””
As Babka Bailout continues to grow, so does its impact on both the local community and beyond. What started as an act of kindness during one of history’s most challenging periods has become a thriving business rooted in Jewish values and traditions.
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This summer, Babka Bailout received its kosher-certification, maintaining kashrut is not just about following rules—it’s about preserving the sanctity of Jewish food traditions and creating an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome. “I think in Jewish culture our souls are a bit different. We're all about helping others and tikkun olam. It's such a beautiful thing to do small acts of kindness and make a small difference in the world.” Michal says.
Through their baking, Michal and Carmen have found a way to connect people in a time where we are all so divided. Michal explains that if she's able to get someone to like something Jewish, even something as innocuous as babka, it ultimately helps Jews. “There's a softer way of combating the hate,” she ends our interview. “By sharing something delicious and having people feel a little closer.”
Great article. As a kid my family would get Babkas from Sheff's Bakery on Jerome Avenue in the Bronx.