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April15
recently, I’ve worked as a property
agent; I was with Expat Realtor for five
good years.
Fortunately, it’s flexible work that can
be fitted in with the needs of my children,
though I have to be very organised.
I’m lucky, too, to have my parents
here to support me. Also, we keep the
Sabbath, meaning we don’t work at all
on Saturdays, or even drive anywhere.
That gives me time for my family, and
helps me strike a balance between
career and children.
Tell us about your home.
We bought this four-bedroom flat in River
Valley Road some 10 years ago, off plan,
luckily just before real estate prices went
up quite steeply.
In a kosher Jewish household, the
kitchen is the heart of the home. We had
to extend and completely renovate the
kitchen so as to provide for two sets of
everything – one for dairy and one for
meat – which is essential for keeping
kosher. We have two sinks, two fridges,
two sets of pots andpans, separate cutlery
and separate crockery. Our helpers have
to be taught kosher food preparation, too,
and that’s an important part of their work.
There must be a story behind
your gorgeous old silver.
I do love silver! On the sideboard are
our two Shabbat candlesticks and a
candelabra, which have been in the
family for a long time. In the cabinet is
a collection of Kiddush cups in various
intricate designs, Hanukkah lights, a
menorah, a special serving dish for
Passover, and more.
For our special Friday night Shabbat
dinners, we use another formal set of
serving dishes that we keep in the big
sideboard in the dining room.
Do you do much entertaining
around this 12-seater dining table?
Yes, we do entertain a lot, continuing
in the hospitable tradition of Reuben’s
family. I do the cooking, with the
assistance of my two helpers. I cook
mainly Persian food when we entertain
– kebab,
tahdig
rice, stews with greens,
and so on.