At our place in Iraq, we didn’t use to eat things (made) of dairy (on Passover). And we came here (and also did) the same thing. On Passover we didn’t eat neither cream nor yogurt nor cultured milk, and we did not drink milk. We said, “this is hametz”. When you leave it outside, it becomes sour, so it’s hametz.

In Iraq it was - Shavuot - it was called “eid ez-zyaġa. The day after Shavuot, (people) would take food and drinks and go to the river. And they would sit by the river and would bet who would (be able to) cross the river from side to side and return. The whole day they would spend by the river. They would make kahi, only during Shavuot they (would) make kahi. And they would put either sugar or honey on it and they would eat. The neighbours would gather, and each woman would take out plates, and everyone would sit and eat together. 

Stuffed vegetables, my mother would make - stuffed vegetables. My mother would make stuffed vegetables. She would make kechri, she would make chicken with rice, she would make engriyi…all types of those foods. She would make stuffed chicken, tbeet for Shabbat. They would slaughter the sheep and cows day by day. What was made today would not be eaten tomorrow. Every day they would make new food. That’s how they did it in Iraq. Day by day. They (would) eat in the afternoon, and at night…they (would) eat meat, chicken. And the next day they would cook again.

My father had…with the police…the best…he had a relationship. They respected him, and they would always protect him so that nobody…nobody would hurt him or us, the children. He used to tell them all (his children), “go from here. I am here - don’t be scared! I am here, don’t be scared!”. And he always used to protect us. There really were good Arabs, and there were (also) some who had…how to say…a small (amount of) hatred. Thank G-d, we were on good terms with them until we left (Iraq), and they came to hug us and kiss us (when we left). He (one of the neighbours) would tell him (my brother), “Tsiyon, are you going to Palestine? Tsiyon!”. He would be like that with my brother. “Tsiyon! Are you going to Palestine?”. And it was…really…it was a good relationship with some of them. When we left Iraq, they (the neighbours) wanted to take my brother to their place (to live), and my father did not agree to give him (my brother) away. (The neighbour) said to him, “I will give you whatever you want (if) you leave Tsiyon to me. Give me Tsiyon. Give me him.” (My father) said to him, “no! This is my son. I won’t leave him here.” My father didn’t agree.