When I first moved to Israel and to Jerusalem a good friend of mine said ,"Jerusalem is a city but you will keep meeting and seeing the same people till you are convinced that city only has 200 inhabitance.”
Yesterday afternoon, the global village of Jerusalem, Israel and the world lost one of its own, as the of soul Ayala Pamela bat Leah left earth to take its place in the world to come, it seemed that not only the whole city of Jerusalem but globally. people were sharing the loss of this vivacious, fun loving , shining, courageous lady.
I had never formally been introduced to Ayala Pamela bat leah but I had seen her around, and had been struck by her smile, warmth radiated from her across a shul or a room. Ayala Pamela bat Leah was a true friend to many friends of mine.
Yesterday her mother wrote that she "held her but couldn’t save her”. As a mother I can’t imagine anything worse..... My heart went out to her I wished I could heal the heart of her mother, her sister ,her husband, her children and all her friends, but there are no words.
A few short weeks ago Ayala Pamela was diagnosed with cancer, during the space of her short but sever illness she touched the hearts of people all over the world ; social media was used for the good, tehillim was said, challas baked, money donated, shuirs given, mitzvahs taken on in her name; all over the globe. This outpouring happened not just in Jerusalem, but in community’s as far apart as Johannesburg, London, New York, Kansas, Toronto and LA . We all came together with one heart to support Ayala and her family.
We must not think this was in vain, for every prayer, every mitzvah, every thought, not only supported but comforted and possibly added to the life of this special young woman. Moreover, importantly we were all linked together as one, as Am Yisroel should be ; I am no doubt that in zehut of the mitzvots she gave us all ,that Ayala Pamelas neshama will rise to great heights in Gan Eden.
None of us know what is round the corner in life, we say Baruch Dayan Emet, Hashem is the true judge, when we hear of a death.However when you are battling cancer or you are a cancer survivor, hearing of the death of someone with this illness makes one question ones own mortality, almost makes one feel guilty for fighting and winning the fight ; Let us unite in Ayala Pamela’s zehut and pray for all the cholim of Am yisroel.
May he who comforts all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem hold the mother, sister, husband children .all the family and friends of this amazing courageous young woman in his heart, and give them strength and comfort in the days ahead.
Although a light has gone out in Jerusalem I have no doubt that her Neshama is shinning brightly from above .
Thank you Ayala Pamela for increasing my kavana when davening and uniting Am Yisroel in prayer and good deeds.
In most families everyone has a signature dish, our family is no exception. When I reflect on my family gatherings and food, I am spiraled back to a whole space of childhood memories, of smell and flavors that would arouse anyone’s pallet . I come from a family where food was important, twice a week I would visit each set of grandparents for a meal, Tuesday was Grandma Anne and Grandpa Bobby, Grandma Anne was not a gourmet cook by any standards, but she made the best grilled fish and mashed potatoes I have ever tasted, her Klops or meat loaf with rice and potatoes was stick to your ribs hearty food, but the pinnacle was her Yorkshire pudding which magically rose to giddy heights every time tantalizing the young taste buds of my cousins and I!
Grandma Renee, loved being in the kitchen, she made meltingly succulent roast lamb with home made mint sauce, meat pies, and stuffed rolled place parcels in a lemon and parsley sauce that I secretly prayed she would serve each week!! The recipe for her crumbly fruit "lunch" cake died with her and its one of my greatest culinary regrets that try as I might i could never reproduce this wondrous dish,
When my mothers family got together each of the three sister my grandmother and I would produce our "special" desert lest the over laden table didn’t give us enough calories .
My mother is famed for her bannoffie pie, also her three tier incredibly gooey and delightful chocolate fudge cake ( so amazing that even after my parents were divorced my father would ask me “is your mother making you a chocolate cake for your birthday?” and when I answered in the affirmative he would say “sneak me a piece”.)
My Aunt Helen would arrive with a baked new York style cheese cake that was so soft and light and creamy with that great crunchy base that would be wolfed down as soon as it was placed on the table.
To my mind no one in the world can make a plate apple pie like my Aunt Alma, try as I can and believe me over the years I have tried, no one or nothing can replicate the crisp light yet crunchy melt in your mouth pastry partnered with perfectly cooked lightly sweetened apples served warm with vanilla ice cream.
I was always tasked to make my black forest gateaux time release sherry trifle , or original bake well tarts and always flapjacks ( the British version).
Despite all this no family simcha was ever complete without my grandmother arriving with an enormous tray of her honey cake. She arrived at Yom Tov , family meals, birthdays, engagements, Brits, and "family get together s" with a sometimes slightly tinged but always made with her entire heart, honey cake, tray clutched in her hands; to distribute with unconditional love to all her family and friends.
If you were lucky enough to visit my grandmother on baking day you could watch her beat this magical cake mixture together while telling you about her day, as we sat together in the lounge; drinking tea . awaiting the moment to pull the cake from the oven. the fragrance of warm honey and cinnamon would waft around her flat tempting one and all.
Its getting to that time of year when we all start searching for a recipe & baking honey cake, this is my healthy version of my grandmothers cake, I hope when you make it and share it you will invoke or create delightful memories for all your family and friends. Remember this care is made to share with a smile to one and all, after all if you are a grandmother you want nothing more than to add sweetness to your family’s life at any time of the year( but especially at the beginning Ellul ) so what better way to do it than letting them eat (healthy) cake!
Bubba Silvers Honey Cake (Spelt Version)
No mixer needed make by hand like my Grandma!
3 Eggs
1 1/3 cups organic honey
1 1/2 cups organic brown sugar
1 cup strong black coffee
2 tsps. Baking powder
1 cup good quality organic sunflower oil. 1 tsp. Baking soda
4 cups whole grain organic spelt flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon all spice
½ teaspoon dry ginger
Flaked almonds (optional)
A large helping of family pride and love (essential!!)
How to make it!
1. Preheat oven to 325./170/ gas mark 3.
2. Line grease and flour a 9 by 13-inch cake pan.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs and honey together.
4. Add sugar and mix again.
5. Mix coffee with baking powder, and then add with the oil to the egg mixture.
6. Add baking soda, flour, and spices and beat together well. with a big smile and a large helping of family pride and love!
7. Pour into lined and prepared cake pan sprinkle almonds on top.
8. Bake for 55 minutes to an hour. Test with a tooth pick to check its done
