Shabat

My mother-in-law’s father Eliyahu Abu-Shadid, a strong, well-built man, was the only Jewish merchant in Hebron bringing in food products for the needs of the Jewish community in the city.  His neighbors, the Arab merchants, loved to trade with him because he was so honest, cheerful, happy, and good-hearted.  He and his brothers were also active as leaders in the synagogue and in the rabbinic court of the city.  My father-in-law’s family, Daniel Mizrachi, was a carpenter and tailor, raised goats and made cheese from their milk.  The families did business and were good neighbors, sharing food and celebrations together with the Arab families of the city.

However, despite these good relations, restrictions were placed on the Jews of the community, including a ban on descending below the seventh step at Ma’arat Hamachpeila, the cave of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – to see it from afar.

My mother in law, Mazal Abu-Shadid, was not deterred by prohibition.  She borrowed an embroidered dress from an Arab friend and together, they courageously entered and boldly passed the seventh step to the point where they could actually touch the graves of these ancestors.  This deed took great bravery from a Jewish woman.  Through this courageous step, my mother-in-law was able to fulfill the dream of many Jews who wished to approach but didn’t dare.

In this spirit, she managed her entire household and extended family living nearby, as was usually done in Hebron.  Communal family homes, or “Korjito” in Spanish, allowed daughters to absorb formative traditions, prayers and songs, customs and dishes.  Like them, I carried on in my own home, with my own family, with these traditions and flavors that had strengthened and preserved the memories from my parents’ and in-laws’ families, of blessed memory.  Like the wonderful romance songs in Ladino that emanated from our homes… on Shabbat at night and on festivals.

בערבי שבת וחג טוב .