Introduction

Growing up, I had a strong interest in the Holocaust and would read all the young adult books I could get my hands on to learn about survivors and their stories. During trips to Israel, my mom would prepare me by bringing a pile of books with us to read while everyone in the kibbutz would be asleep for the afternoon nap. One of these summers I clearly remember bringing a stack of these books about survivors and spending lazy afternoons in our rented room drinking in these often bone chilling, but also heart warming stories of compassion and resilience during the darkest of times.

While diving into the depths of my family's past through stranger's stories I will always regret never engaging with my own survivor: my grandmother. I hide behind the facts that my Hebrew was never quite that good, her English was non-existent and when I knew her I was a small child scared away by the larger blind women in a wheel-chair with scary tattoo. Regardless of the reason, I shamefully chose to learn about the Holocaust through any pair of eyes than her own.

This project is for her and for all survivors of the terrible crime of genocide. If Hitler had been even more successful my family would not exist and the rich culture European Jewry would have never been part of modern society.

So why food? Genocide is the attempt to destroy in whole or in part a group of people who often share a unique culture. Food is central in most cultures and to celebrate a culture's food is to celebrate that culture. This cookbook aspires to pay homage to those who survived genocide and continue to share their group's culture with their world.

So keep checking this blog for the stories, photos and recipes of survivors. Then break out your skillets and share some delicious meals with your friends while engaging in some delicious cultural activism!