Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
About the Book
In NORAH. From My Grandmother’s Kitchen: Palestinian Recipes and Memories, Rolla Alaydi shares an enchanting memoir that invites readers into the heart of her grandmother's kitchen, nestled within a Gaza refugee camp. With vivid storytelling, she weaves a tapestry of life lessons, passed down through generations, as she reflects on the profound influence of her grandmother's tales and the culinary artistry that nourished her soul.
The book paints a nostalgic picture of a young girl, discovering not just the flavors of her grandmother's dishes but also the wisdom hidden in everyday activities – from gathering eggs to slicing eggplants. Through Rolla's words, readers will find themselves transported to their own cherished childhood memories, recalling the fragrant scents, vivid visuals, and the embrace of a loving grandparent.
Rolla's grandmother, a resilient and opinionated woman, emerges as a formidable source of guidance and knowledge. The book beautifully captures the reverence that grandchildren often feel for their grandparents, who seem to possess a wealth of wisdom about life's intricacies.
This memoir encapsulates a universal truth – that through acts of selflessness and kindness to others, we not only preserve our own humanity but also find salvation for our spirits. "NORAH. From My Grandmother’s Kitchen: Palestinian Recipes and Memories," serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of storytelling, the enduring bonds of family, and the healing potential of empathy and compassion. This book is an ode to the wisdom passed down through generations and a celebration of the indomitable spirit that resides in the heart of every grandmother's kitchen.
About the Author
Dr. Rolla Alaydi is an educator, author, and community advocate based in California. She teaches Arabic language and culture and is dedicated to creating engaging, meaningful learning experiences that connect language with identity, history, and lived experience. Dr. Alaydi is the author of ˆ√, a work that preserves Palestinian culinary heritage through storytelling, memory, and tradition. Through her teaching, writing, and community work, she seeks to amplify voices of resilience and foster compassion, cultural understanding, and human connection.
About the Facilitator:
Unhae Langis is a former high school and university educator turned organizer and artist. Her publications include a monograph and numerous articles and essays in peer-edited journals, book collections, reviews, and guest commentaries. Her latest collection, with Julia Reinhard Lupton, is Shakespeare and Wisdom: Ecumenical, Ecological and Ethical Horizons (Edinburgh University Press 2024). She revels in quilting as the creative convergence of political expression, poetry, calligraphy, and textile art. Opportunities to cultivate caring ways of being with Earth and each other are her joy.
About the Book
In NORAH. From My Grandmother’s Kitchen: Palestinian Recipes and Memories, Rolla Alaydi shares an enchanting memoir that invites readers into the heart of her grandmother's kitchen, nestled within a Gaza refugee camp. With vivid storytelling, she weaves a tapestry of life lessons, passed down through generations, as she reflects on the profound influence of her grandmother's tales and the culinary artistry that nourished her soul.
The book paints a nostalgic picture of a young girl, discovering not just the flavors of her grandmother's dishes but also the wisdom hidden in everyday activities – from gathering eggs to slicing eggplants. Through Rolla's words, readers will find themselves transported to their own cherished childhood memories, recalling the fragrant scents, vivid visuals, and the embrace of a loving grandparent.
Rolla's grandmother, a resilient and opinionated woman, emerges as a formidable source of guidance and knowledge. The book beautifully captures the reverence that grandchildren often feel for their grandparents, who seem to possess a wealth of wisdom about life's intricacies.
This memoir encapsulates a universal truth – that through acts of selflessness and kindness to others, we not only preserve our own humanity but also find salvation for our spirits. "NORAH. From My Grandmother’s Kitchen: Palestinian Recipes and Memories," serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of storytelling, the enduring bonds of family, and the healing potential of empathy and compassion. This book is an ode to the wisdom passed down through generations and a celebration of the indomitable spirit that resides in the heart of every grandmother's kitchen.
About the Author
Dr. Rolla Alaydi is an educator, author, and community advocate based in California. She teaches Arabic language and culture and is dedicated to creating engaging, meaningful learning experiences that connect language with identity, history, and lived experience. Dr. Alaydi is the author of ˆ√, a work that preserves Palestinian culinary heritage through storytelling, memory, and tradition. Through her teaching, writing, and community work, she seeks to amplify voices of resilience and foster compassion, cultural understanding, and human connection.
About the Facilitator:
Unhae Langis is a former high school and university educator turned organizer and artist. Her publications include a monograph and numerous articles and essays in peer-edited journals, book collections, reviews, and guest commentaries. Her latest collection, with Julia Reinhard Lupton, is Shakespeare and Wisdom: Ecumenical, Ecological and Ethical Horizons (Edinburgh University Press 2024). She revels in quilting as the creative convergence of political expression, poetry, calligraphy, and textile art. Opportunities to cultivate caring ways of being with Earth and each other are her joy.
