The Biscuit Bakers created the dessert table
Gila wanted to also acknowledge the plight of the hostages in some way at her simcha.
Gila Borowski knew she could not properly celebrate her bat mitzvah without thinking about those who unfortunately cannot properly celebrate their smachot due to loss and pain experienced in Israel since October 7.
Not only did she ask her guests to donate to The IDF Orphans and Widows Organisation in Israel instead of gifts, but Gila wanted to also acknowledge the plight of the hostages in some way at her simcha.
The families of the hostages have shared their favourite foods and desserts online to remind everyone they are all individuals, and that the community should keep them at the forefront of its thoughts and prayers.
Gila and her mother Mihal chose six of the hostages to honour at the event, and The Biscuit Bakers baked the selected hostages’ favourite cookies. The recipes and the story of each hostage were displayed on the dessert table at the bat mitzvah celebration.
The Biscuit Bakers founder Helen Gelber expressed her admiration for Gila, and her parents Mihal and Matti, for instilling in their daughter a love of Israel and the feeling that all Israel is responsible for one another.
Gelber initiated The Biscuit Bakers of Emunah Australia not long after October 7 as a way of raising money for and supporting Israel. After a summer break, Gelber and her team of volunteers were at the benches and ovens at Beit Rafael three weeks before Pesach baking kosher goodies.
“In those three weeks we raised $12,000,” she said. “To date we have raised over $45,000.” The afternoon of the bat mitzvah event The Biscuit Bakers were selling their wares at the Lag b’Omer carnival.
For Shavuot, they are making biscuits from the recipes of the hostages’ families. Each packet will come with that particular hostage’s story. Gelber points out that just as an empty chair was left at this year’s seder she and The Biscuit Bakers encourage everyone to buy a packet of biscuits and have them on their Shavuot table. “When invited out, forget about taking a bottle of wine or a dish, buy a packet of our biscuits and that way everyone wins,” Gelber suggests.
All the money raised by the sale of the baked biscuits is sent directly to Emunah Australia to pay for therapy for children affected by the war in Israel. Gelber has organised individual and business sponsors for this project. “Nothing is paid for, all the sales are pure profit,” she said.
As well as biscuits, the range includes nougat, marshmallows, chocolate-coated orange peel, nut clusters, bliss balls and stuffed dates. The volunteer team of over 50 women from across the community come together each week to bake.
All products are certified kosher under kosher Australia and are parve. They are happy to cater the dessert table at anyone’s function.
Orders can be placed on The Biscuit Bakers-Emunah Australia Instagram page: @thebiscuitbakersemunahau
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