Before we get to this beautiful interview with Yael, I wanted to take a minute and say that our hearts are broken over the loss of 6 souls this week: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Master Sgt. Ori Danino.
Baruch Dayan HaEmet. Blessed is the True Judge
HaMakom yenachem etchem b'toch she'ar avelei Tzion v'Yerushalayim.
May the Omnipresent comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Textile Art and a Minha Recipe: Meeting Yael from Sweden
I met Swedish-Israeli textile artist Yael on Instagram. I love embroidery and admired her post featuring this “Proud Zionist” pattern, so I wrote to her to discuss it! Before I met Yael, I had never met a Jewish person from Sweden, and I only knew of one story about Jews and Sweden.
Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who was not a Jew, and is recognized as one of the Righteous Among the Nations at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. This honor is bestowed upon non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Wallenberg's courageous actions in Budapest, where he saved tens of thousands of Jews by issuing protective passports and providing safe houses, earned him this recognition. His legacy as a humanitarian and savior of Jews during one of history's darkest periods is celebrated and remembered at Yad Vashem.
In this interview, Yael, a Sephardic Jew living in Sweden, shares her journey from a music academy in Jerusalem to becoming a textile artist in Lund. Yael discusses the challenges of Jewish life in Sweden, particularly in Malmö, known for its high levels of antisemitism. After the events of October 7th, her textile art took a distinctly Jewish and Israeli turn, featuring items like Am Yisrael Chai embroideries and Challah covers made from eco-printed Israeli fabrics. Despite facing social and professional backlash, Yael found solace and solidarity within her Jewish and Israeli communities, both online and offline. She also shares her cherished Judaica, including her grandmother's Magen David and her grandmother’s Minha recipe, highlighting her deep connection to her heritage.
Yael, please introduce yourself to our readers!
My name is Yael, and I’m a Sephardic Jew born, raised, and living in Sweden. My parents came to Sweden in the 1960s from Istanbul, Turkey, both French-speaking Jews. After my graduation, I made aliyah and lived a few years in Israel, where I was accepted as a piano student at the music academy in Jerusalem. I returned to Sweden and now live in Lund in southern Sweden with my husband and my two children.
I left the music field due to health reasons, and years later, I found my true calling: working with textiles, in particular with second-hand/vintage textiles and saving scraps from landfills. I’m passionate about reusing old, beautiful crafts like embroideries, full of demonstrable skills that otherwise would just be thrown away. I use those textiles in ways that work better for us today, making something that can be used and at the same time showcasing the art of previous generations.
I have always been a proud Jew and Israeli and never tried to hide who I am. After October 7th, everything changed for me (as it did for every Jew in the world). My textile art took a much more Israeli/Jewish/Zionist turn with items that are clearly Jewish. For example, I make Am Yisrael Chai embroideries and transform them into bags and Challah covers, using Magen David fabrics (the only exception to my rule of only using vintage fabrics) and more. I also collaborated with an Israeli textile artist, who naturally dyed and eco-printed fabric with Israeli eucalyptus leaves that I then made into bags and Challah covers.
In addition to this work, I love to make clothes. Almost my entire wardrobe consists of items I made myself, both sewn and knitted.
Jewish Life in Sweden: Could you share your experiences and insights into Jewish life in Sweden? How does the community maintain its traditions and connections, and are there any unique aspects or challenges that characterize Jewish life in this region?
We are a very small community here. With the growing number of immigrants from Arab countries, the community has grown even smaller because of rising antisemitism. I grew up Jewish, not religious, but celebrating Shabbat and holidays, going to Jewish afternoon school once a week, and having a few Jewish friends. We lived in a small town, and I was the only Jew in my school. I always was different, and I felt different. It was hard to always have to explain myself, to always be visibly different. But despite being a very shy kid, I was always defending and explaining Israel. To meet other Jews, we had to go to Malmö, where there is a beautiful old synagogue, but being Sephardic, even there, I felt quite different.
Now there are two Jewish communities: the “old” one and the Malmö shul, where we go, which is led by the Chabad family in Malmö. They organize a lot of Jewish activities and celebrations, and we try to take part as much as we can.
Malmö has gotten famous for being the “most antisemitic city in Europe,” and we have felt that for a very long time. Lots of Jews moved away from here, either to Israel or to Stockholm (where there is a Jewish school and a much bigger Jewish community). After October 7th, I don’t think Malmö is worse than any other big city in Europe. It’s as bad as everywhere, unfortunately.
Communities often come together during difficult times. Since October 7th, how has your local community or wider social circle provided support or comfort, especially in the face of rising antisemitism? Are there any communal efforts or initiatives that you've found particularly uplifting?
My social circles have definitely changed since October 7th. I lost many hundreds of followers on Instagram, and most of the people in the Swedish fiber and textile community turned their backs on me. But I also made a lot of new Jewish and/or Israeli friends, and we stick together as never before. I’m part of many different WhatsApp groups: Hebrew-speaking groups for Israelis living here, groups for Jewish women in Sweden, and other online groups where we share the hard things but also encourage, support, and help each other. In the online craft spaces, my friends/contacts and my feed are mostly Jewish and Israeli.
We have had get-togethers where we can relax and share what we go through, fun evenings in an Israeli-owned restaurant, but also several pro-Israel activities. One of these was a manifestation for Israel and Eden Golan during Eurovision. A fantastic moment of celebration, despite hesitating until the last minute because I was so afraid. We were heavily guarded by Swedish and Norwegian police who closed a whole neighborhood for us and made it possible to celebrate and be openly Jewish and Israeli. The route to the square where we were going to have the manifestation was very scary; a huge demonstration of pro-Palestinians with several thousands of people had just passed with all the usual hateful slogans, drums, screams for intifada, and keffiyehs. It was the first time in my life that I hid my Magen David, and I felt like everyone could see that I was Jewish. But with my husband (Swedish and non-Jewish) by my side, we made it to the designated place, and we danced and sang. A Swedish friend and journalist said to me afterwards, “The best thing about the manifestation today was to see your happiness and relief.”
I gave a lot of interviews to Swedish and international media with my full name, very aware that it could be dangerous, because my opinion is that the day I have to hide my name is the day we have to leave Sweden for Israel.
Another uplifting event was when just a few of us organized an “Israeli picnic” in front of the pro-Palestine camp at the University of Lund. We told one journalist in advance and a contact in the police, went there at 9 am with blankets, coffee, and something to eat, and lots of Israeli and Swedish flags. We make a point of always having Swedish flags as well to show that we are an integral part of Swedish society and that we want Sweden to stay Sweden and not be occupied by Islamists and extreme leftists. We had loud Israeli music and had a great time. Quickly, the police called for reinforcement, so we were heavily guarded, and everything went well. It was wonderful to dare to do something like that, but also to see all the smiles, thumbs-up, and words of encouragement from regular Swedes passing by.
Judaica in Your Home: Judaica often holds significant cultural and personal value. Could you share with us what Judaica you keep in your home or perhaps wear regularly? Do any of these items have special stories or sentimental importance to you? (Please show us pictures!)
My most treasured piece of Judaica is my Magen David that belonged to my paternal grandmother. She always wore it, and she knew I loved it, so she promised me that I would inherit it from her. Unfortunately, I don’t know anything more about this beautiful Magen David with red rubies. Before October 7th, I wore it occasionally, but since that dreadful day, it’s on me all the time, every day, and everywhere.
Another thing that I keep close to my heart is my Turkish grandmother’s Minha recipe. My husband (who also cooks) says it’s the best cake in the world, and every time I make it, I’m taken back to my grandmother’s kitchen and all the love I felt there.
Can you tell us what inspired you to combine your passion for textile arts with Judaica?
Oct 7th changed everything. Not an hour or a day goes by without thinking about our family and friends in Israel, fellow Jews in the world, and the hostages. It became a natural move to start expressing my roots, my love, and support for Israel through what I create. My creations and my “shop front” on social media have always reflected who I am as a person, and now that everything in my life is about Jewish pride and joy, survival, and us as a people, it is what I need and want to express. I have changed as a person, and it shows in what I make.
What are some of your favorite Judaica pieces that you’ve created? Could you share the stories behind them?
The Am Yisrael Chai embroideries made into bags are one of the pieces I’ve made the most of. The most popular one is actually a design by Marni (@jewishtogether on Instagram) that I bought as a print. I started making it as an embroidery for myself as a therapeutic activity shortly after October 7th. When I shared it online, other people wanted me to make it for them, and with Marni’s permission, I created several bags with that design.
A heartwarming collaboration was my Eucalyptus collection. I made it with naturally dyed and eco-printed fabrics from textile maker Tula Weissberg @tulaweissberg from Israel. It represented our deep roots, love, and connection to the land of Israel and how making things together gives us strength and comfort in hard times.
I want to make more Challah covers. I’ve made several already, combining my embroidery with vintage textiles and Tula’s beautiful eucalyptus fabrics.
How has creating Textile Judaica influenced your personal and spiritual life?
It has given me both strength and comfort in these difficult times and has brought me closer to my roots and our common history as Jews. I’m not a religious person, but being Jewish is my deepest and most important identity. By creating Judaica, it combines everything that I am and that I love.
Minha Recipe: Could you please walk us through your grandmother’s Minha recipe, highlighting the history, key ingredients, any unique twists or personal touches you add? Additionally, we'd love to know what makes this recipe one of your favorites and how you like to serve or pair it with other dishes.
The Minha (or Mehina as we say in our family and as it was written by my grandmother) is a recipe that we mostly make for Pesach. My mother keeps this piece of paper, typed on a typewriter, stained with years of cooking. It's written in my paternal grandmother’s beautiful French, and it’s in her honor that we make it every year.
We have it as a side dish on Seder nights or as a main dish with a salad on the other days of Pesach.
Minha/Mehina
Category: Meat
Prep time: approx 30 min
Cook time: approx 15-20 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients:
300ml (1 ¼ cup) matzo meal
200ml (0.8 cup) boiling water
4-5 eggs (depending on size of the eggs)
Salt
5ml (1 teaspoon) cinnamon
2.5ml (½ teaspoon) black pepper
Olive oil
300g ground beef
1 onion
Instructions:
Heat the oven to 180°C.
Chop the onion and fry with a little olive oil in a frying pan.
Add the minced meat to the onions, add cinnamon, black pepper, and season with salt. Sauté until cooked through, then set aside.
Oil a small baking dish (I used one that is 17 x 17 cm).
Take a bowl and add matzo meal, boiling water, eggs, and a pinch of salt. Add a teaspoon of olive oil. Mix well to form a cohesive dough.
Put half of the dough in the bottom of the baking dish and cook in the oven for 5-10 minutes.
Add the minced meat to the baking dish and then add the rest of the dough on top of it. Cook in the oven for 20-30 minutes or until it looks golden.
Connecting with Yael:
If you are interested in learning more about Yael’s work or ordering a piece of Textile Judaica, the best way to contact her is":
info@yaelandthebags.com
Instagram: @yaelandthebags
Facebook: Yael and the Bags
I hope you enjoyed meeting Yael and discovering her inspiring journey as much as I did. Her passion for textile arts and her deep connection to Jewish heritage shine through in every piece she creates. If you know a fellow textile lover or someone who cherishes Judaica, share this interview with them. Let's continue to support and celebrate the rich traditions and creativity within our community.
Am Yisrael Chai!🕊️✡️
Kenden
Really so moving to hear her courage and pride