Many of us have faced difficulties during the past year. Community is more important now than it has ever been. For my part, I discovered that I was interacting with Ethiopian Jews, Israelis, other Jews of color, and the larger Jewish community of color (JOC). Because of our intersectional identities, we experience a particular kind of prejudice that combines racism and antisemitism. This load is difficult to bear, and we frequently experience isolating ways in which our troubles are used against us.

But it was in these moments of distress that I found solace among my Ethiopian Jewish family. Only they, truly, could understand the difficulties we face. This realization led me to think deeply about the future of our children—the next generation of Ethiopian Jews and Jews of color. How would they navigate the complexities of racism and antisemitism? How could we ensure they understand and celebrate their rich heritage, Jewish culture, and values in a world that often fails to recognize 

At this point, I realized it was time to develop a project that would not only unite us but also tell our narrative to the larger community in order to meet this need. This is the origin of “Emaye Kitchen,” which means “Mama’s Kitchen” in Amharic.

There is more to Emaye Kitchen than just cooking. It exposes Ethiopian Jewish culture through storytelling and cuisine. From their origins in Ethiopia to their immigration to Israel and their new lives in the United States, it honors the varied experiences of Ethiopian Jews. In addition to producing the kind of cuisine that binds us to our ancestors, our history, and one another, it provides a forum for Ethiopian Jews in the Bay Area to discuss their experiences, challenges, and victories.

Food is a vital component of our culture and community, serving as more than just nourishment. Our food preparations are narratives in and of themselves, not just recipes. A history of migration, resiliency, communal sharing, and the ability to create beauty in the midst of hardship are all woven into every taste. In keeping with our culture’s emphasis on sharing and caring, we even feed one another with our bare hands. The meals that characterize our life in Israel and the United States, as well as the rich stews and spiced flatbreads of Ethiopia, each tell a story of identity, survival, and a people who have endured centuries of adversity.

The video’s production was a very intimate and community-based approach. I was introduced to Maya, Aviva, Tila, Lekenesh, and other amazing Ethiopian Jewish ladies, when a coworker asked if I knew any Ethiopian Jews in the Bay Area. She sent me Tila’s Instagram page, and I immediately got in touch. The phone call that ensued after was lengthy and emotional. It felt like reconnecting with a long-lost sister. Tila quickly proposed starting a WhatsApp group to connect me with other Ethiopian Jewish women. A sisterhood started as soon as that group was established.

While I was at work, one of the women contacted me. Knowing it would be a lengthy and significant chat, I was eager to get my day over with so I could give her a call back. She said how much she wanted the parents and classmates of her children to recognize and value their Ethiopian roots. She was excited to make the Sigd event she was already organizing memorable. While working at Be’chol Lashon, I conducted research on Sigd and created a movie about it, which I shared with her. We bonded right away and agreed to work together. A night of cooking in the Chabad kitchen, making traditional Ethiopian Jewish food for more than fifty guests and giving a presentation on Sigd, all this happened in few weeks. We reconnected and spent a beautiful Shabbat together with our kids. I told them about my video ideas and they were more than happy to participate in my videos by sharing their personal narratives and perspectives.

You can see Maya, also known as Emawayish in Amharic, in the first video. Her goal in life is to make sure her children have a solid awareness of their Ethiopian Jewish background. She is married to an Ashkenazi man. Every lady in the film symbolizes a distinct facet of our common experience, including our joys, our challenges, and our dedication to preserving our customs for future generations.

This video’s objective was very clear: to raise awareness of Ethiopian Jewish women and emphasize their contribution to the preservation of our culture, customs, and values. Whether it is through cooking, storytelling, or instilling a strong sense of identity in the next generation, women have always been the custodians of tradition in our culture. I wanted to highlight the strength and tenacity of Ethiopian Jewish women as well as our unbreakable kinship by showcasing these women.

We are recovering our stories through Emaye Kitchen, not only sharing dishes. We are asserting that our voices should be heard, that our heritage is significant, and that our stories count. The film served as a means of addressing the query I had posed to myself right away: How can we make sure that our kids proudly embrace their Ethiopian Jewish identity? I came to see that community, storytelling, and the straightforward yet potent act of sharing a meal hold the key to the solution.

Emaye Kitchen is only the first step. It is a call to discover, pay attention, and appreciate the exquisite intricacy of Ethiopian Jewish identity. It serves as a reminder that, despite hardship, we have each other and will persevere in thriving as a team.