Premier challah and a recipe for peace
NSW Premier NSW Nathan Rees prepared challah at the Sydney Yeshiva Centre and listened to a Palestinian Muslim’s recipe for peace.
The kitchen has now been certified Halal as well as Kosher.
The Big Kitchen is a project devised and run by the Centre’s Rabbi David Slavin. The Premier’s visit follows a recent tour of the kitchen by the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce.
Yesterday’s function also hosted Chris and Sophie Abutta, a Palestinian Muslim couple who work closely with the Yeshiva and who donated the tiling work in the Big Kitchen. Sophie told the guests at the function: “Maybe we could cook our way to peace…but that will produce a lot of overweight Jews and Muslims.”
The meeting was also addressed by Ikebal Adam Patel, president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils who announced the The Big Kitchen was now accredited with being a provider of Halal food.
Rabbi Eli Feldman told J-Wire: “This is important to us as we distribute food to the needy and to the Emergency Services. Just imagine a delivery of our meals reaches a crew working deep in the mountains during bush fires and a Muslim declines it because it is not Halal. Well it is now. So the Big Kitchen can now offer sustenance to anyone in need irrespective of religion.”
Premier Rees told the guests how important community work is and congratulated the Yeshiva Centre for its good work.
Rabbi Slavin presented the Premier with a cake baked in the shape of NSW . The Premier launched The Big Kitchen’s latest project…The Big Party. He told J-Wire: “The Big Kitchen looks after domestic needs…the Big Party will work with those needing help with family functions.”
J-Wire recorded the event in photographs and images below include Rabbi Slavin, Yeshiva Centre Rabbi Pinchus Feldman, Premier Rees receiving a book from Rabbi Leader, Rabbi Slavin’s children, Premier Rees with Sophie Abutta and many more….
Photos: Henry Benjamin
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