Ayuni: Voices of our Jewish Grandmothers

We are so glad that you have been enjoying Ayuni: Voices of our Jewish Grandmothers. While we're on hiatus preparing season 2 we want to introduce you to another wonderful podcast bringing to life and memory voices of our past. The podcast Heritage Words helps preserve and promote Jewish languages that may be lesser known, many of which are becoming extinct. As an example we share here an episode from Heritage Words. We look forward to hearing your stories while we are creating the next season.

This episode of Heritage Words features Dr. Karen Skinazi, who explores her diverse linguistic heritage, tracing words and expressions from her Ashkenazi mother's Yiddish-speaking background, including terms like "eggies" and "zei gezunt". She also delves into her Sephardic Egyptian-Israeli father's influence, discussing Arabic words like "do'a" and "howaga," a French children's rhyme, and Hebrew expressions.
Heritage Words - conversations about the words we inherit and the meaning they bring to our lives - is produced by the HUC Jewish Language Project and HUC Connect.
Host and producer: Sarah Bunin Benor
Assistant producer: Kyle Elbaz Fingerhut
Editor: Avishay Artsy
Video editor: Talia Ehrenberg
Theme music: Maurice El Medioni’s French and Algerian Judeo-Arabic album “Cafe Oran,” featuring the Klezmatics’ David Krakauer and Frank London, courtesy of Piranha Records.

February 5, 2026 – 18 Shevat 5786

Episode Summary

In this episode we tell of stories that have been passed down in our families of courageous acts by women at varying points in their lives. They serve as role models for us today as we navigate a new world but with equal opportunities to show strength and courage.

Enjoyed this episode? 

Please like, comment, or leave a review on your podcast platform or send us an email at [email protected]

Your encouragement helps us carry these ancestral stories into the world — story by story, grandmother by grandmother.

Share Your Story

Every family holds a universe of memory.

If you’ve carried a song, a story, a proverb, a photograph, a silence — we welcome you to share it with us at [email protected]

Your voice becomes part of our collective archive.

Email us at [email protected] so we can feature your story on a future episode.

Stay Connected

- Instagram: @ayuni_voices

- YouTube: @JewishUnityDiversity

Support Our Voices

Ayuni is a labor of heart and heritage.

- Become a supporter: If you believe in preserving the lived stories of Middle Eastern and North African Jewish women, please consider supporting this work. Your contribution helps us document what was almost forgotten — and amplify what must be remembered.

-   Sponsor an episode: We partner with individuals and organizations who honor storytelling, heritage, and women’s voices. If you’d like to sponsor an episode in memory of a grandmother or in celebration of your family's story, please reach out at [email protected].

Theme music by Oshrat Haim

January 29, 2026 – 11 Shevat 5786

Episode Summary

In this episode we explore the world of women’s songs, often sung in the local Jewish dialect. We delve into the meanings of the words of the songs as well as the significance in the act of women singing. It is an discovery of a rich culture through song.

Enjoyed this episode? 

Please like, comment, or leave a review on your podcast platform or send us an email at [email protected]

Your encouragement helps us carry these ancestral stories into the world — story by story, grandmother by grandmother.

Share Your Story

Every family holds a universe of memory.

If you’ve carried a song, a story, a proverb, a photograph, a silence — we welcome you to share it with us at [email protected]

Your voice becomes part of our collective archive.

Email us at [email protected] so we can feature your story on a future episode.

• Become a supporter: Your contribution helps us document what was almost forgotten — and amplify what must be remembered. www.tinyurl.com/JuNiTDiDonate 
• Sponsor an episode: reach out at [email protected]. 

Thank you to Oshrat Haim for the opening vocals. You can see Oshrat on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQURf3eoiUUD3hMqC4Ey0QA Instagram, Facebook, and Apple Music.

Stay Connected
- Instagram: @ayunivoices

- YouTube: @JewishUnityDiversity

- Jewish Unity Through Diversity registration: https://www.unitytdiversity.com/contact-donations

January 15, 2026 – 26 Tevet 5786

Episode Summary

In this episode we dive into Shabbat memories from our homes to the homes of our ancestors. We discuss the preparations, scents ant he meaning of this day – then and now.

Enjoyed this episode? 

Please like, comment, or leave a review on your podcast platform or send us an email at [email protected]

Your encouragement helps us carry these ancestral stories into the world — story by story, grandmother by grandmother.

Share Your Story

Every family holds a universe of memory.

If you’ve carried a song, a story, a proverb, a photograph, a silence — we welcome you to share it with us at [email protected]

Your voice becomes part of our collective archive.

Email us at [email protected] so we can feature your story on a future episode.

Stay Connected

- Instagram: @ayuni_voices

- YouTube: @JewishUnityDiversity

Support Our Voices

Ayuni is a labor of heart and heritage.

- Become a supporter: If you believe in preserving the lived stories of Middle Eastern and North African Jewish women, please consider supporting this work. Your contribution helps us document what was almost forgotten — and amplify what must be remembered.

-   Sponsor an episode: We partner with individuals and organizations who honor storytelling, heritage, and women’s voices. If you’d like to sponsor an episode in memory of a grandmother or in celebration of your family's story, please reach out at [email protected].

Theme music by Oshrat Haim

January 8, 2026 – 19 Tevet 5786

In this episode we explore memories of our grandmothers’ evil eye rituals and search for meaning in those practices for today. While Sarah grew up with these rituals close to home, and in her home, Dalya shares that her family’s connection to such practices were only brought to her attention recently. It’s an interesting discussion that takes part in a larger conversation of the meeting of East and West.

Enjoyed this episode? 

Please like, comment, or leave a review on your podcast platform or send us an email at [email protected]

Your encouragement helps us carry these ancestral stories into the world — story by story, grandmother by grandmother.

Share Your Story

Every family holds a universe of memory.

If you’ve carried a song, a story, a proverb, a photograph, a silence — we welcome you to share it with us at [email protected]

Your voice becomes part of our collective archive.

Email us at [email protected] so we can feature your story on a future episode.

Stay Connected

- Instagram: @ayuni_voices

- YouTube: @JewishUnityDiversity

Support Our Voices

Ayuni is a labor of heart and heritage.

- Become a supporter: If you believe in preserving the lived stories of Middle Eastern and North African Jewish women, please consider supporting this work. Your contribution helps us document what was almost forgotten — and amplify what must be remembered.

-   Sponsor an episode: We partner with individuals and organizations who honor storytelling, heritage, and women’s voices. If you’d like to sponsor an episode in memory of a grandmother or in celebration of your family's story, please reach out at [email protected].

Theme music by Oshrat Haim

January 1, 2026 - 12 Tevet 2786

In this episode we explore our memories from our own henna ceremonies and the meaning of such events – then and now. We discuss the meaning these ceremonies hold for us, for our grandmothers and for our heritage.

Enjoyed this episode? 

Please like, comment, or leave a review on your podcast platform or send us an email at [email protected]

Your encouragement helps us carry these ancestral stories into the world — story by story, grandmother by grandmother.

Share Your Story

Every family holds a universe of memory. If you’ve carried a song, a story, a proverb, a photograph, a silence — we welcome you to share it with us at [email protected]

Your voice becomes part of our collective archive. Email us at [email protected] so we can feature your story on a future episode.

Stay Connected

- Instagram: @ayuni_voices

- YouTube: @JewishUnityDiversity

Support Our Voices

Ayuni is a labor of heart and heritage.

- Become a supporter: If you believe in preserving the lived stories of Middle Eastern and North African Jewish women, please consider supporting this work. Your contribution helps us document what was almost forgotten — and amplify what must be remembered.

-   Sponsor an episode: We partner with individuals and organizations who honor storytelling, heritage, and women’s voices. If you’d like to sponsor an episode in memory of a grandmother or in celebration of your family's story, please reach out at [email protected].

Mentioned in this episode:

1.     Noam Sienna, scholar of Jewish culture and history, henna artist

2.    Joan Roth, world-renowned photographer of Jewish women

3.    Leah Avraham, singer, dancer and choreographer of Yemenite Jewish songs
4.    Merav Roseman, author of "Shimu Kola" about Jewish women in Sana'a https://www.merav-books.com/

Theme music by Oshrat Haim

December 25, 2025 - 5 Tevet 5786

“Food is our grandmothers’ love language”

Episode Summary
In this episode we delve into memories deeply associated with the kitchen, from the aromas and tastes to the wisdom and culture passed down while cooking. Our grandmothers poured hours into making food to fill the stomachs and hearts of their descendants, but it wasn’t just that – it was hours spent with other women, supporting each other and lifting each other up. Join us as we delve into these memories and discuss how we keep this culture alive.

Please like, comment, or leave a review on your podcast platform or send us an email at [email protected]

Your encouragement helps us carry these ancestral stories into the world — story by story, grandmother by grandmother.

Share Your Story
Every family holds a universe of memory. If you’ve carried a song, a story, a proverb, a photograph, a silence — we welcome you to share it with us at [email protected] Stay Connected Instagram: @ayuni_voices Support Our Voices Ayuni is a labor of heart and heritage. 

• Become a supporter: Your contribution helps us document what was almost forgotten — and amplify what must be remembered. www.tinyurl.com/JuNiTDiDonate 
• Sponsor an episode: reach out at [email protected]. 

Thank you to Oshrat Haim for the opening vocals. You can see Oshrat on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQURf3eoiUUD3hMqC4Ey0QA Instagram, Facebook, and Apple Music.

Stay Connected
- Instagram: @ayunivoices

- YouTube: @JewishUnityDiversity

- Jewish Unity Through Diversity registration: https://www.unitytdiversity.com/contact-donations

 Sarah’s Nana’s T’bit Recipe:
1. Chicken Stuffing - Inside Rice Ingredients: 1 cup Jasmine rice (rinsed and soaked for 15 min) 1/4 cup mincemeat or small chicken or meat pieces 2 big tomatoes diced 1/2 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp cardamom 1/4 tsp pepper 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp turmeric Method: 

• Mix all the stuffing ingredients together in a bowl. 

 2. Chicken Preparation Notably the stuffed chicken in t’bit is called chashwa. Ingredients: 1 whole chicken, cleaned. Method: 

• Stuff the whole chicken cavity with the stuffing and sew, with a sterilized needle, the cavity, skin to skin, closed. 

 Note - Optional easier versions 

• Instead of sewing the cavity, close with toothpicks. 
• You can opt to skip the chicken stuffing completely and just cook pieces of chicken within the outside rice, following steps 3 and 4. 

 3. Base Sauce of T’bit 
Ingredients: 
oil for pan 
1 small onion chopped 
4 cloves of garlic chopped 
4 tomatoes chopped small 
1/2 a finger of ginger chopped small or grated 
2 tspn salt 
1/2 tspn pepper 
Heaped tablespoon of tomato paste 
1/2 tspn paprika 
1/4 tspn cinnamon 
1/2 tspn baharat* 
3 1/2 cups of boiling water (720 ml) 

Method: 

• Heat a drizzle of oil at the bottom of a big pot, just enough to cover the surface. 
• When hot add one at a time in order, starting with the onion, the garlic, then the ginger. 
• Sauté until golden. 
• Add the tomato, salt, pepper, tomato paste, paprika, cinnamon and baharat: 
• Add the stuffed chicken and crisp on each side for about 4-5 minutes. 

 4. T’bit Outside Rice 
Ingredients: 
4 cups rice 
1 tbsp salt 
(Soak in water for 2 hours. But if you don’t have time 20 minutes should be fine. Drain.) 

Method: 

• Remove browned chicken from the pan and set aside. 
• Combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl with the drained rice and mix. 
• Layer about 1/2 of the mixture in the bottom of the pan 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) at the bottom. 
• Place chicken, breast side up, and nestle in the rest of rice. 
• Add 3 1/2 cups (720 ml) boiling water to just about cover. 
• Optional add washed eggs in their shells (as many as you like) 
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer on a small fire. Cover the pot until cooked, about 15-20 minutes. 
• Cover pot with parchment and lid and put in a low oven (about 110 C or 230 F) or on a hot plate, before Shabbat until Shabbat lunch. Beware that the hotplate isn’t too hot and may burn the bottom. If on hotplate cover with towels or blanket. 

 Hilbeh – A San'ani version

•  ½ cup finely ground fenugreek seeds 
• ¼ cup diced tomatoes 
• Place ground fenugreek seeds into a bowl 
• Cover with water 
• Rinse three times over the course of three hours 
• Leave fourth round of water in the bowl and add tomato, leave in refrigerator overnight 
• Pour out water 
• Cover risen mixture with new water (ok if tomatoes rinse out) and whip until it peaks 

• In a separate bowl prepare zhug (if you don’t like spicy, you don’t have to add the zhug) 
• 2 heads of garlic – finely minced 
• Mix of fresh and dried hot peppers finely minced – to taste 2 pieces of dried coriander- ground 
• Water to cover 
• Blend well 

• In a third bowl prepare to grind together 
• ¼ cup black pepper 
• ½ cup freshly ground cumin 
• 4 pieces “hel” 
• 2 cloves 

• Whip together all three mixtures in a large bowl until slime-like 
• Enjoy! 

Links & Resources
Linda Dangoor, Flavors of Babylon: A Family Cookbook
Linda Dangoor, From the Tigris to the Thames
Oded Halahmy, Iraqi Cooking: Exile is Home
Sarah Sassoon, This is not a Cholent

For Sephardic and Mizrahi recipes and food stories check out Sephardic Spice Girls https://sephardicspicegirls.com/

December 18, 2025 - 29 Kislev 5786

Episode Summary

In this episode, we explore Rosh Hodesh as a historic women’s holiday—an ancient pause for renewal, rest, and sisterhood. Sources from the Cairo Genizah to the Shulḥan Arukh describe women gathering in bathhouses, refraining from work, and celebrating a day given to them for refusing to participate in the Golden Calf. Across North Africa and parts of the Middle East, Rosh Hodesh Tevet blossomed into Eid al-Banat, the Festival of the Daughters, honoring Esther, Judith, Hannah, and generations of brave women. Communities marked it with songs, feasts, blessings, and gifts. We invite you to share how you celebrate these days.

 Thank you to Oshrat Haim for the opening vocals. You can see Oshrat on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQURf3eoiUUD3hMqC4Ey0QA Instagram, Facebook, and Apple Music.

Enjoyed this episode? 

Please like, comment, or leave a review wherever you’re listening to the podcast or email us at [email protected].

Your encouragement helps us carry these ancestral stories into the world — story by story, grandmother by grandmother.

Share Your Story

Every family holds a universe of memory.

If you’ve carried a song, a story, a proverb, a photograph, a silence — we welcome you to share it with us at [email protected]
What memory from your grandmother’s kitchen still warms your hands and heart?

A dish, a spice, a scent — what story does it carry?

Your voice becomes part of our collective archive.

Email us at [email protected] so that we can feature your story on a future episode!

Stay Connected

- Instagram: @ayunivoices

- YouTube: @JewishUnityDiversity

- Jewish Unity Through Diversity registration: https://www.unitytdiversity.com/contact-donations

Support Our Voices
Ayuni is a labor of heart and heritage.

• Become a supporter: If you believe in preserving the lived stories of Middle Eastern and North African Jewish women, please consider supporting this work. Your contribution helps us document what was almost forgotten — and amplify what must be remembered.

• Sponsor an episode: We partner with individuals and organizations who honor storytelling, heritage, and women’s voices.
  If you’d like to sponsor an episode in memory of a grandmother or in celebration of your family's story, please reach out: [email protected]

“You are dearer to me than my own eyes”

 December 14, 2025 - 25 Kislev 5786

Episode Summary

In our opening episode, we explore the heart of Ayuni: Voices of Our Jewish Grandmothers. Ayuni—“my eyes,” “dearer to me than my own eyes”—is the tender phrase many Middle Eastern Jewish grandmothers used for their children and grandchildren. We introduce who Mizrahi MENA Jews are: ancient Jewish communities from the Middle East and North Africa, most of whom were forced to leave their homelands in the mid-20th century due to persecution. Today, their descendants live mostly in Israel, carrying fragments of language, song, and memory. Much of their story—especially women’s stories—was lost or never recorded. Ayuni seeks to uncover, honor, and restore these voices.

Thank you to Oshrat Haim for the opening vocals. You can see Oshrat on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQURf3eoiUUD3hMqC4Ey0QA Instagram, Facebook, and Apple Music.

Enjoyed this episode? 

Please like, comment, or leave a review wherever you’re listening to the podcast or email us at [email protected].

Your encouragement helps us carry these ancestral stories into the world — story by story, grandmother by grandmother.

Share Your Story

Every family holds a universe of memory.

If you’ve carried a song, a story, a proverb, a photograph, a silence — we welcome you to share it with us at [email protected]
What memory from your grandmother’s kitchen still warms your hands and heart?

A dish, a spice, a scent — what story does it carry?

Your voice becomes part of our collective archive.

Email us at [email protected] so that we can feature your story on a future episode!

Stay Connected

- Instagram: @ayunivoices

- YouTube: @JewishUnityDiversity

- Jewish Unity Through Diversity registration: https://www.unitytdiversity.com/contact-donations

Support Our Voices
Ayuni is a labor of heart and heritage.

• Become a supporter: If you believe in preserving the lived stories of Middle Eastern and North African Jewish women, please consider supporting this work. Your contribution helps us document what was almost forgotten — and amplify what must be remembered.

• Sponsor an episode: We partner with individuals and organizations who honor storytelling, heritage, and women’s voices.
  If you’d like to sponsor an episode in memory of a grandmother or in celebration of your family's story, please reach out: [email protected]

Mentioned in This Episode

Gabai, Nili. Ha-Ishah ha-Yehudiyah be-Bagdad. Agudat ha-aḳademaʼim yotsʼe ʻIraḳ be-Yiśraʼel, The Jewish Woman in Baghdad (Hebrew), 2006.

Links & Resources

-   Sephardic Voices: The Forgotten Exodus of the Arab Jews, Henry Green, Richard Stursberg, 2021

-   Memories of Eden, Violette Shamash, Forum, 2008 

-   Uprooted:How 3000 Years of Jewish Civilization in the Arab World Vanished Overnight, Lyn Julius, Vallentine Mitchell, 2018