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Date:  27 May 2007

Vi & John Rubens House residents bake cheesecakes for Shavuot

Elderly care home residents got busy at a cheesecake baking session at Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens House in Clarence Avenue, Ilford. The activity took place prior to the Jewish festival of Shavuot when it is traditional to eat dairy foods. The session was led by the home’s chef Jason Dowson and activities organiser, Jacklin Stephenson. “The residents spoke about how they used to make cheese cake in their own homes, it brought back lots of memories,” said Ms Stephenson.

“We were mixing and stirring – it was lovely,” said Hettie Tauber, one of the residents, while her friend Esther Michaels proclaimed it “one of my best days here.” Mrs Michaels made everyone laugh when she said: “A woman’s touch is always best,” while Leslie King, the only male resident taking part carried on with a smile on his face, determined to proved her wrong.

Shavuot (also known as Shavuos), the Jewish festival of weeks, marks the giving of the Ten Commandments by G-d to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. Customs include decorating homes and synagogues with fruit and flowers and eating dairy food such as cheesecake and cheese blintzes. This year, the festival begins on Tuesday evening (22nd May) and ends in the evening of Thursday 24th May.