(RNS and NPR) — In Jewish tradition, after someone dies, the anniversary of their death is marked by lighting a yahrzeit candle. Taking their name from the Yiddish word for “year-time,” yahrzeit candles come in a stubby glass holder a couple of inches high. They burn for 24 hours, to remember and honor the person lost. After the candle has burned, the little glass is left behind. And in some families that old glass is put to a new use.
Ruth Lebed’s grandmother came from Eastern Europe, a region that was sometimes Russia, sometimes Poland. She never learned English very well, but she was an amazing baker. Growing up, Lebed lived right next to her grandparents and remembers her grandmother’s baking.
“She would make rugelach, and she would make strudel,” said Lebed. “And all of these little delicacies that you really didn’t see in bakeries.”
After her grandmother died, Lebed and her mom tried to re-create her recipes — specifically the dough she used for rugelach, which also made excellent hamantaschen — and the recipe called for a glass of juice. Which left the family wondering: What’s a glass?
So, they tried a cup — didn’t work. One of their everyday juice glasses — also wrong.
“And then finally, …