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s that year is ents. I am wareness when Woman Woman to One on One with ELLEN GELLER KAMARAS “On Fridays, my mom left a dish for me to prepare. Each week she would teach me a new recipe, slowly developing my love and interest for cooking, food styling, and nutrition.” Many of you already know Adina Yaakov, who authors the Once Upon a Thyme recipe column. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and always includes a personal introduction and photos with her delectable recipes. I enjoyed meeting a co-columnist and bonding over our shared interest in healthy eating. Adina is a passionate and gifted woman, born and raised in Brooklyn to Selma (Cattan) Cohen Saban and Haim Cohen Saban. Selma is of Syrian descent and moved to the U.S. from Brazil when she was eight. Haim is of Egyptian descent and was born and raised in Brooklyn. Childhood Influences Adina talked lovingly about her yeshiva education, her childhood summers and vacations, and her parents and in-laws as inspirational role models. Her childhood and teen years significantly shaped the spiritual, talented, and energetic woman Adina is today. “I read a lot of books as a child, and still do. I formed many lasting memories with my cousins each summer in Lakewood and on family trips for holidays and vacations.” Adina attended Bnos Leah Prospect Park Yeshiva from nursery through 12th grade. She greatly appreciates the strong Torah and academic education that PPY provided. Adina proudly shared that she learned pesukim and halachot in yeshiva that she can still recite and explain. She also enjoyed the diversemakeup of the students and the warm atmosphere. Adina is drawn to painting, drawing, and arts & crafts. In high school Adina wrote a monthly newsletter with hand-drawn comic strips and articles. Adina’s Essence Adina’s friends describe her as talkative, motivated, creative, spirited, and caring. I would add, positive, energetic, driven, and focused. Adina has a real sense of hakarat hatov to her parents, educators, and family. A Sweet Spot for Food As a child, Adina vacationed in Israel with her parents and joined her dad on business trips to Hong Kong andmore. Adina’s parents also took her to dine in many restaurants, all adding to her love of food and travel. Adina recalls coming home from school on a Friday at a young age and smelling the wonderful aroma of her mother’s cooking. She expressed disappointment that her mom had cooked the entire Shabbat meal without her help. The following week, as she entered the kitchen, she saw a bowl full of fresh halved green zucchini and another bowl with ground beef. “I ran to get the rice and spices and washed my hands to prepare my favorite dish, mechshe . After that, my mom would always leave aside a dish or two for me to prepare. Each week she would teach me a new recipe, slowly building my love and interest for cooking, food styling, and nutrition.” At 13, Adina was blessed with her first sister, followed by triplet sisters, and then a younger brother. “As the oldest, I used the opportunity to cookmany familymeals, using the tips and techniques my mom taught me.” As a teenager, Adina subscribed to Martha Stewart’s monthly publication, Food . “I loved looking at the styling of each photo and each new recipe. I aspired to publish my own recipes.” Her dream came true. Growing up in a health-conscious home inspired Adina to become an RDN. “I’ve been eating whole grains, fruits, and vegetables for as long as I can remember. My parents always served a heaping bowl of salad at every meal, and we consumed fish one to two times a week for dinner. These foods were never presented as ‘healthy’ or ‘dietetic,’ rather as a delicious meal.” Marriage & Family In 2005, when Adina was 18, she met her husband, Shaul Yaakov, through a community shadchanit . Shaul’s family is of Israeli-Iraqi descent and he works with his father, Reuven Yaakov, selling wholesale Pro Audio and lighting equipment. For their first 18 months of marriage, the couple lived in Yerushalayim, enjoying every moment before returning toBrooklyn. Thanks to PPY, Adina conversed easily in Hebrewwith Shaul’s family and at the supermarket. The couple has three children, Esther Claire, 16, Reuven, 15, and Shulamit Selma, 12. As young children, the kids happily substituted as sous chefs by preparing, peeling, or chopping produce with kiddie gardening gloves to protect their fingers. Esther makes kibbe hamid for Shabbat and Reuven fries chickenpoppers for dinner. Their youngest, Shulamit, prepares sambousek with homemade dough. “I love that they can cook meals,” Adina said proudly. “My husband is always there for me, is the most generous person, and pushes me to be my best. I am dedicated to my family, my top priority. I spend individual time with each of them, creating memories. I strive to be the best wife, mom, daughter, and sister.” Adina feels blessed to be part of a close-knit community revolving around hesed , Torah, and meaning. - Adina Adina Yaakov 56 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE