Mary Halawani
There aren’t enough superlatives to describe my Aunt Rachel Hakim. It is with a heavy heart that I try to write this tribute to her. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt. She was a true matriarch, the glue that kept the immediate and extended family together.
She possessed a radiant smile and a pure soul. Above all, she was compassionate, generous, and charitable. Aunt Rachel loved her family and loved keeping the Jewish holidays and traditions. She had the rare capacity to bring joy to all she encountered.
I was fortunate enough to experience first-hand her charm. When I was a precocious three-year-old kid in Egypt, my Uncle Victor was dating her. He often was stuck babysitting me and would take me on their dates. In order to placate me, they would often take me to the zoo. She would weave wonderful stories about the animals in order to amuse me. Much to my contentment, I was always fed ice cream afterward. I believe I fell in love with her then and wanted to be like her, and I couldn’t wait until their next date.
Rachel’s family came from Turkey, initially from Spain. They settled in Egypt where she was the youngest of five siblings. They spoke Ladino in their home as well as French, Arabic, and Hebrew.
Aunt Rachel met my Uncle Victor under dangerous circumstances. At the height of political upheaval in Egypt in the 1950s, when Jews were targeted, my uncle was involved with a clandestine group of volunteers to try to help Jews, especially kids, leave Egypt and go to Israel. One of the houses he went to in his crusade to convince Jews to go to Israel was hers. It was believed to be love at first sight. They dated briefly and were soon married.
Nationalism was on the rise in Egypt. Nasser came into power and Jews were targeted. Synagogues were burned down, property was confiscated, and Jews were placed in detention camps. It was dangerous to be a Jew in Egypt. My uncle had seen the writing on the wall earlier and tried to help families leave. Her family secured visas to Israel. My uncle’s family went to the U.S.A.
With two kids in tow, Rachel and my uncle were bound for Brooklyn where his family was settling. In America, they faced new hardships, a different culture, language, and employment. My Uncle Victor was enterprising and intelligent, and with Rachel’s help and G-D, they created the foundation for a flourishing life in Brooklyn. Two more kids followed.
It was hard work, but they worked hand in hand in establishing a business. Not only did she work, but she was also responsible for raising the kids and handling the household chores. She also upheld all the holiday traditions. Aunt Rachel did everything that was necessary with zest and joy.
Her home was always warm and welcoming to family members and strangers alike. She always kept the Jewish holidays in grand style. We were often invited for Passover seders, Rosh Hashanah, and Shabbat. It was always a wonderful feast of traditional delicacies that we encountered. She would have many visitors from Israel, Mexico, and the U.S.A. Aunt Rachel was a superb cook. She would take a traditional recipe and carry it a step further, making it her own.
She would often visit my mom and grandmother. Together they would sit and drink Turkish coffee and watch an old Arabic movie and reminisce about their lives. I remember how happy they all were. That image and memory sustains me to this day. I miss her, our phone calls, and her wonderful laugh. She was a gift from G-D and a blessing in all our lives.
