Cooking and creating savory and distinctive meals is the forte of the women of our community. Recently, 200 of our community’s women piled into Congregation Brothers of Israel to exhibit their specialty, and contributed their talents and energy by making a meal that feeds recipients of Sephardic Bikur Holim’s Deal Food Pantry.
Our community women may not have yet cooked their own family’s dinner but nevertheless, with their sleeves rolled up, sanitary gloves and hair pulled back, they 
were determined to cook for those in need. The goal of the classes was to provide food and raise money for a most substantial cause, SBH’s Deal Food Pantry, a non-profit organization which feeds over 1,000 community members. Our food pantry manager, Jean Shiloach expressed, “It’s the worst thing for a mother to go to sleep and worry how her kids are going to eat the next day.”
From June through August, crowding at the shul would be a routine scene, as there 
were to be a series of seven cooking classes taught by our community’s “celebrity chefs.” Alice Adjmi, a polished and dynamic community cook, taught women to make a delicious truffle roast and meat lasagna for community families, a costly meat meal, which is rare to pantry recipients. Alice Adjmi explained to me that it “felt great to teach a new recipe and feed families in our community. The turn out was excellent and I’m proud to be a part of such a wonderful community.”
A wonderful Chinese Auction was set up complete with every woman’s kitchen necessity! Prizes such as kitchen aids, a Kindle, a Bosch dough-mixer machine, and a Keurig coffee machine were displayed. The event offered community members an affordable way to contribute to the organization, by offering the “Dollar a Day Program.” When one enrolls in the program, their credit card is charged just $30 a month (a dollar a day). Many women scrambled to sign up for this program!
As I observed, three and even four generations of our community members helping selflessly, the uniqueness of this event and cause were apparent. The atmosphere of community women united was special, and there was a powerful theme of eshet chayil running through the shul. Members of all ages volunteered and together they produced pounds of food which were delivered to the food pantry. Shulamit Betesh, a committee member mentioned, “It’s beautiful how women invest their time and money in giving to others. Our organization helps fulfill the basic necessity of life because no one can go on without food.”
Before the cooking began, a video made by the pantry’s volunteers and founders was shown, expressing what it does. The most important thing to note about this cause, is that it helps feed people of our own community. By contributing to this cause, either by cooking, dropping off groceries, or donating money, we are helping our very own family. We have no idea who we are feeding, and those receiving have no idea who has helped them get food on the table. Recipients can be our neighbors, or even close friends! A volunteer enlightened us, “You can be dancing with someone at a wedding, and the next day, they will show up at the food pantry.” The food pantry provides absolute confidentiality for their recipients! They accommodate community members by meeting them at the door, at a separate entrance, and they exit with a full shopping bag of a week’s worth of staples. Health is also a major concern for the pantry. They provide a healthy selection of food to community members, one recipient wrote in a letter “I am able to provide healthy meals because of the variety at the food pantry.” The pantry often receives tearful letters from community members who voice their gratitude and appreciation. The pantry never turns people down, and will provide for community members until they get back on their feet. Erica Sarway, an enthusiastic participant, said, “This is a fabulous cause. It’s great to help our people get back on track.”
Everything was set professionally, volunteers dressed in blue aprons, and participants wore light green ones. The chef of the day, was centered in the middle of the shul hall with a body microphone and sound system. Every attendee had their own personal ingredients and utensils spread before them. In case one couldn’t see the chef, plasma TV’s were set up around the room, and magnified her every move. After 300 wonderful meals were made, participant Ellen Jemal excitedly expressed, “This is the best part of the day, when huge carts are rolled in with all the food we prepared for the pantry!”
As mothers and daughters filled the room, ready to cook, Stephanie Franco, a volunteer at the event, thoughtfully remarked, “Our community’s daughters have stepped into their mothers’ shoes! These women have surpassed themselves in their dedication, compassion and their boundless energy in this beautiful function.” The event leader, Jennifer Dayan, an SBH board member and a passionate community mother, led the event gracefully. As a volunteer for two years, Jennifer confided to me the difficulty of acknowledging that people in our own community are going hungry. She told me, “It’s a hard concept to grasp that people in our very own community don’t have food to feed their kids. This organization is changing people’s lives not just physically, but emotionally. Imagine the stress we’re taking off of them by giving them a delicious meat dinner after both parents work full-time.” After a day of cooking and giving back to our community, the women left feeling a sense of accomplishment and inspiration; they had truly made a difference in peoples’ lives.
Just a few months ago, the Deal Food Pantry was on the verge of closing. With money being scarce, donations slowed down, making our community’s families more of a struggle to feed. The Deal Food Pantry is 100% non-profit—100% of every dollar goes to buying food. The pantry is very careful with its budget and stretches every dollar by working with wholesalers.
Here are three ways you can help:
• Donate Money: Dollar a Day program, or feed a family for a week (including Shabbat dinner) for $101.
• Donate Food: If there is a bargain on food at the supermarket, buy it and drop it off at the pantry, at the SBH building. The food pantry can reimburse you if needed. Drop off or arrange for a pick-up of all unwanted groceries that you don’t want to lug back to Brooklyn.
• Donate Time: The pantry always needs volunteers to help stock the shelves.
To help in this enormous mitzvah, please call (732) 531-1117 or email Jean@sbhonline.org. Thank you to all those who helped contribute in such a giving day!
This event wouldn’t have been possible without: Jennifer Dayan, Chairperson; Jenna Abadi, Sarah Abadi, Heather Ades, Gladys Ashkenazi, Shulamit Betesh, Susan Braha, Rena Calvo, Florence Elbaum, Sandy Esses, Belline Franco, Shirley Franco, Sarah Harary, Frieda Kassin, Eve Mamiye, Victoria Mamiye, Geri Meneged, Tunie Missry, Helene Mizrahi, Vicky Nasser, Grace Seruya, Nicole Shamah and Evie Silvera.
Thank you to all our chefs: Alice Adjmi, Sally Jemal with daughters and granddaughters, Poopa Dweck, Vivian Dayan, Linda Ebani, Mrs. Grace Cayre and daughters.
Special thanks to: Maurice Kassin; Vera Mishan; Freda Rishty; Rachel Setton; Jean Kairey; Stephanie Franco; Sari Hamway, Ricky Esses who provided sound and visuals; M&A Butcher, Jersey Girl Camp, Center Stage Girls Camp, Jacks 99 Cent Store/Laurie and Jack Franco, B & E Party Supplies and a special thank you to Sarah’s Tent!
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Raquel Gabbai Laniado is a graduate of Hunter College. She is a singer, a performer, and a writer for IMAGE Magazine and Sephardic Bikur Holim.
