Today is my father’s first Yuhrzeit – the first anniversary of his passing. On this day, I want to share with you, Beautiful People, an incredible short article based on this week’s Torah reading, Parshas Tsav.
Hug Your Loved Ones Because You Can
It is now more than two years since my arms and lips stopped working. I ache to hug and kiss my children. I ache to speak to them, and tell them how much I love them and how proud I am of them.
Please read the original post here and come back for the recipe.
I am happy that for the last three years of his long and fruitful life, I was able to spend so much time with my father, and during the final few months, I was with him almost 24/7. I got to hug him and to hold him, to wash him and to dress him, to kiss his hand and to comfort him. To the last moment, he was telling jokes, and with his last breath, he gave the nurse “his lovely smile,” as she called it. For this last Shabbos before Pesach, instead of challahs, in memory of my father who was brought up on Popaliks (for recipe, click here), I made an Indian variation of flatbread – Roti.
In my kitchen and for our purposes, spelt is considered gluten free. However, if you are allergic to gluten or have a celiac disorder, please consult your physician. Basic roti dough is made by mixing flour with water, a little olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Mix it in a bowl until it doesn’t stick to the sides any more, than flip it onto a working surface lightly dusted with flour.
Knead it for a few minutes, to make it nice and smooth, and divide into 8 – 10 pieces, depending on the size of your frying pan. Grab your rolling pin and roll out each piece into a thin round the diameter of your frying pan. It helps to cover the rest of the pieces with a damp cloth to prevent drying out.
Just as popaliks, the reason Roti could be used instead of the traditional two challahs on Shabbos is that, even though they are baked stove top on a frying pan, there is no oil. In other words, they are not fried, but dry baked. It literally takes a couple of minutes on each side, but the pan must be very hot, so watch your hands!
I know my father would’ve enjoyed these beautiful, soft and delicious Roti! His shining Neshomah (soul) is reminding us to tell those we love that we love them – while we can!
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups white spelt flour (alternatively, whole wheat flour)
- 3/4 cup water or more
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- A pinch of salt
PROCEDURE
- Mix ingredients in bowl until dough pulls away from sides. On lightly dusted with flour surface, knead until smooth. Divide into 8 – 10 pieces, cover with damp cloth.
- Preheat dry (not oiled) frying pan to high heat. Using a rolling pin, roll out each piece into a round equal in diameter to your frying pan.
- Place each flat round on hot pan, bake for 1 – 11/2 minute on each side, until golden brown spots appear.
- Roti could be warmed in the oven before Shabbos.
Enjoy!
Your roti looks delicious and your story of your father is heartwarming. May his neshama receive an ailyah! I hope you and yours have a wonderful Shabbos!
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Thank you, and you too!
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As always, a fascinating post. Blessings to you as you remember your father and celebrate his life with this wonderful bread. I was confused by Rabbi Huwitz’s introductory paragraph until I read his short bio at the end of his inspiring post. Then it all made sense. He is an amazing man and his story certainly makes me stop and give thanks for the “simple” gifts of touch and speech. Thanks for sharing your story and his, Dolly!
Linda
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Thank you so much, dear Linda! I purposely did not insert his introductory paragraph in the beginning, in order to force the readers to read to the end. His story touched me very deeply, especially since I lost a nephew to the same disease a while ago. Unfortunately, with all the advances in medicine, there is still much suffering in the world, and we are still bound to lose our near and dear to various maladies. That’s why it is so important to express our feelings for them while we can!
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A lovely post and a beautiful tribute to your father. Hugs back to you.
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Thank you so much, dear Peggy!
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שיהי זכרו ברוך לעולם ועד
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Omein!
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I am glad you have such lovely memories of your father. You have his smile as well.
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Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Ann! My son has the same smile, and when I look at him, I see my father.
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Very nice post Dolly, thank you! I hope you have a great weekend. 🙂
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Thank you, Terry! Have a lovely weekend, too!
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So sorry for your loss. However what a loving way to celebrate your dad’s life and remembering all of the special times you spent together.
I’m sure he will be there smiling his wonderful smile.
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Thank you so much for your lovely comment! It means a lot to me!
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Dolly, may his memory be a blessing forever.
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Amen!
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I also cared for my father in his last six weeks, it is a privilege to be so intimate with a parent! Your roti looks delicious, a favourite of mine.
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You understand exactly how I feel about it! I am glad you liked the roti, thank you!
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You really are the best cook … I could smell them from here lol
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Thank you, dear Kate, I wish I could send them to you!
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Might be a bit stale even if you send them with FedX … You enjoy your feast with your loved ones.
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Already did – they are best hot off the frying pan! But I was thinking in terms of magic, not FedEx…
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Sorry I was slow on the pick up … I will send my flying carpet immediately! Please just wrap and strap they should be here in moments lol
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Getting ready…
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lol
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Beautiful .
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Thank you, dear Mel!
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You’re welcome!
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Love the story of the popalik. Hugs to you for beautiful reminiscences. I am a fan of rotis too 😉 They are simple but heartening. Have a lovely weekend x
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Thank you so much, dear! Have a great weekend as well!
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Wonderful story, brings back all sorts of memories – sad and happy. THANK YOU!
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Thank you for your lovely comment!
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Good Shabbos my friend, and a Happy Pesach too. Thank you for sharing your story of your father with us. Send a hug to you now. ❤
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Thank you for your kind words. Happy Pesach to you and yours, and a big hug!
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That was a beautiful post for your father, I am sorry he is no longer with you.
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Thank you so much for your kind comment! It means a lot to me!
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What a wonderful post Dolly and also a wonderful way to honour your father.
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Thank you so much, Myra!
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Wonderful pictures, the shade and depth of the pictures are breath-taking, they attract you
in as though you are a component of the composition. http://www.allads4u.com/author/neilqqu1996/
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You must be kidding! I have no idea of the shade and depth, and the rest of the tricks; I take those pictures with my cellphone, and then adjust the brightness and color when I edit them. Thank you so much for your kind words – I am overwhelmed!
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Wish you a long life. May his neshomo have the highest aaliyah.
I just know that he’s watching you from up above with the utmost pride at having raised such a caring, intelligent and wonderful daughter.
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Omein! Thank you very much for your lovely comment and all the compliments. Have a kosher and freiliche Pesach! I am taking a coward’s way out: we are staying with friends and having both Sedorim with the Rabbi and his family. Having a bunch of kinderlach running around will, hopefully, take my mind off that empty chair at my table that was my father’s…
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You’re welcome… You’re not cowardly at all. There’s nothing cowardly about the way you are coping with your grief; as I wrote in my latest post, Peysekh is meant to be Freilichen. Whatever it takes to achieve that. Above all, you’ve suffered a tremendous loss- don’t feel bad about your approach to Peysekh! Wishing you a Kosher and Fraylichen Peysekh!
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Thank you, and the same to you and yours! And thank you for understanding.
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Inspiring post. I am sorry you lost your dad. This makes me appreciate even more the moments I share with my family. We take so many things for granted. Thank you, Dolly.
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Thank you for understanding, dear Joelle!
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thank you so much for reblogging!
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Thank you for the story. How nice! And thank you also for the recipe! Have a nice start into the week! Michael
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My pleasure, Michael, and thank you for your kind words!
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Thank you also for the link. I always try to find such a site. Never tried to use the word chabad itself.
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You’re very welcome. http://www.chabad.org is the main Chabad site, in many languages, and from there you can link to many other sites.
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חג פסח שמח וכשר שיהיה לך ולבני ביתך
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Thank you so much, and the same to you and yours!
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off topic:
פסח שמח וכשר
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Thank you, and the same to you and yours!
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Hi Dolly!
Just wanted to share this article with you; I think you will agree with what is said. I am not sure I would have selected it for reading last year, but your delightful posts have broadened my horizon:
Have a great week! I will be among the many people following your preparations for Passover 😊!
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Dear Joelle, thank you so much for a wonderful article! As you may have guessed, I am still making everything from scratch, and yes, my grandmother used to make Passover rolls and noodles out of potato starch. Since today, from morning until very late at night, we are not supposed to eat Matzah yet, but cannot already eat any non-Passover foods, I just made a huge mushroom and spinach omelet with coconut flour – yum! In my fight against carbs, I refuse to use potato starch, so thank G-d, there is kosher for Passover coconut flour.
Unwittingly, you have put a guilt trip on me (it’s a joke – don’t worry!), as we are going away for a good part of Passover. I will be cooking and baking in the middle of the week, though, so there will be at least some posts, I promise!
Have a great week – all the best!
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That is such a lovely post Dolly. In a few days it’ll be 24 years since my dad died-and I still miss him.
Have a peaceful Passover x
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Thank you so much for understanding, Alex!
So far my Passover is going very nicely, thank you! 🙂
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What a beautiful lesson. I hope you are having a wonderful Passover. ❤
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Thank you so much for your kind comment! 🙂
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Such a beautiful post. Your dad’s love and blessings are always looking after you. The other article you linked is amazing. And the rotis look delicious!❤❤
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Thank you so much, dear Mithai! If you approve of my rotis, I didn’t do too badly, did I?
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I’m not qualified enough to judge your rotis😊😊❤❤ But they look too much delicious to get anyone’s taste buds running 😁😁😘😘
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Thank you, sweetheart! You made my day!
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*Hugz* I hope you are living up your life and having fun, just what your father would have wanted. I bet he was very happy to have you as his daughter because truly your posts make me feel like I am talking to a cute human being who is capable of turning English into fun. Love your posts. Have fun dear 🙂
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Thank you for you very kind words, dear Hemangini! Yes, I believe in turning everything into fun: cooking, exercising, teaching, life…
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Reblogged this on koolkosherkitchen and commented:
I published this post a year ago, on the first anniversary of my father’s passing. Today is the second anniversary, and I feel the loss just as strongly as I did a year ago. In my father’s beautiful memory, I am repeating this post.
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I am definitely going to try this. I love roti!
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Thank you so much, dear Lydia; I am so glad you like it!
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Hey I loved the warmth and deapth of your words. I know the loss of our parents can never be felt less no matter how long ago they bid us good bye to start their journey to heavenly abode. But they are always with us in the form of their wishes and loving memories and moments they spent with us.
Your recipe is nice and accurate…We daily make it…as I am from India.
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Thank you so much for your compassion and understanding, dear friend! Your kindness means a lot to me!
Thank you also for your approval of my recipe – I love Indian food and try to learn new recipes all the time.
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Oh wow! I too love learning different cuisines…no matter which nationality. That’s the reason I love your blog….💓👌
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You are too sweet – thank you, darling!
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Such a beautiful tribute to your dad Dolly. I am so sorry for your loss. Hugs to you. xxx
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Thank you so much, dear Lynne, for your kindness and compassion! My father was a beautiful person; he deserves the best tribute in the world!
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Reblogged this on Tourism Observer.
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Thank you so much for reblogging.
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