I REMEMBER MAMA

I REMEMBER MAMA...

AS THE JEWISH NEW YEAR APPROACHES, IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF MY CHILDHOOD AND THE SMELLS FROM MY MOTHER’S KITCHEN. THAT WONDERFUL FRAGRANCE SIGNALED ROSH HASHANAH TO ME.

MY MOTHER HAD SO MUCH TO DO AND THAT PREPARATION STARTED WEEKS BEFORE THE HOLIDAY. SILVERWARE WAS POLISHED, LINENS PRESSED, FLOORS WASHED AND SHINED AND ORDERS PLACED TO THE FISH MONGER, BUTCHER AND BAKER. ALL OF THESE RITUALS OF GETTING READY BROUGHT ORDER TO OUR HOUSEHOLD AND A SENSE OF SECURITY TO ME.

THE COOKING AND BAKING BEGAN EARLY IN THE WEEK, GEFILTE FISH MADE FROM SCRATCH,CHOPPED CHICKEN LIVERS MADE TASTY WITH FRIED ONIONS, MATZOH BALLS AND MEAT KREPLACH SERVED IN A RICH CHICKEN SOUP THAT WAS OVERFLOWING WITH VEGETABLES AND DILL, BEEF BRISKET LADEN WITH CARROTS AND ROASTED POTATOS, FOLLOWED BY DESSERTS OF SWEETS THAT INCLUDED HONEY CAKE, TEA AND RUGALACH. AS AN ADULT MY PALATE HAS EVOLVED FOR A MUCH FINER CUISINE. BUT REMEMBERING THAT TIME, BRINGS BOTH A TEAR AND A SMILE.

THAT BEAUTIFUL SEASON OF LONG AGO PAINTS A PICTURE AND MEMORIES OF A TABLE SET WITH SILVER CANDLABRA,STARCHED WHITE LINEN, BOWLS OF HONEY AND APPLES AND HOME MADE CHALLAH, A FAMILY TOGETHER WITH LOTS OF FOOD, LOVE AND GOOD WISHES.YES I REMEMBER MAMA AND I WISH THAT I COULD HAVE ONE MORE ROSH HASHANAH WITH HER AGAIN…