A new initiative dedicated to the victims of the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel aims to keep their memory alive by sharing their favorite dishes, Side Dish has learned.
The tribute to the 1,400 people killed by Hamas terrorists is the brainchild of the Culinary Institute of Israel, called ASIF, which is creating an online resource titled “A Place at the Table.”
Last week, the Israel-based nonprofit promoted the “memorial project” at a dinner in New York ahead of the one-year anniversary of the horrific attack that was attended by the family of Shani Gabay, who was killed at the Nova music festival.
Michelin-starred chef Gabriel Kreuther prepared the special feast at his eponymous restaurant near Bryant Park.
The menu included a spicy fish stew that was the 25-year-old Gabay’s favorite – one she enjoyed over a shabbat dinner with her family on Oct. 6 before she left for the doomed rave.
“She is like the dish — a spicy girl,” said her brother, Aviel Gabay, 29, who was joined by his sister Nitzan and their mother, Michal.
“You can look at her photos, and sing songs, but to experience her memory with food — to eat and taste what she liked to taste is a unique way to bring her to the table.”
ASIF founder Naama Shefi, who was also at the dinner, described “A Place at the Table” as a “memorial project.”
The collection of dishes will help the victims’ loved ones, and survivors, heal, added ASIF CEO Chico Menashe.
“Families need to commemorate their loved ones’ memories and stories in order to move forward into the future,” Menashe told Side Dish at the intimate gathering.
“The idea was to reach out to families to share the memories and stories of their loved ones with the Israeli public and a global audience through their favorite dishes.”
ASIF, the Hebrew word for harvesting, is also sending a video team to victims’ families who want to share the story of preparing the meals.
“We plan on doing this as long as the families want us to,” Menashe said. “As more families reach out and tell us they want to join and participate, the project is transforming into a national commemorative cookbook. I think it will have a long existence online, on instagram, and also as a physical memorial.”
Also attending the dinner were former “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Patricia Heaton and her husband, actor/producer David Hunt, along with Kreuther’s business partner Eben Dorros and his wife, Elizabeth.
The two women — neither of whom are Jewish — founded a non-profit , 07C, which encourages Christians to fight antisemitism at home and stick up for their Jewish friends as war continues to rage in the Middle East.