Stuffed grape leaves – the most treasured meal of all. Rolling them was a family activity involving competitions for the best rolling, fastest rolling, etc. We always laugh, tell jokes, and remind each other of stories from days gone by. The recipe can be found on the website at https://family.saydjari.net/food/
Known as sarma to some – it was always just plain mechshi in our house. Sometimes Mom would stuff grape leaves, sometimes eggplants, but my favorite was… Read More »Mechshi Malfoof (Cabbage Rolls)
My brothers and I were not always as patient or obedient as perhaps we should have been. We would commonly prod our mother to hurry with one thing or another. When’s dinner? When can we leave to go swimming? Can we go out and play now? Are we there yet?
My older brother Razi was born in Jisr-Al-Shughur. Our parents Mohamed and Badrieh were forced to leave him there while establishing a life in the… Read More »Memories of Jisr
My mother was Badrieh Saydjari, daughter of Sheikh Saleh Sejari (or Saydjari as it is spelled on our side of the family). Her mother passed away… Read More »Our Beloved Aunt Farida
Mohammed Farid Saydjari or just Uncle Farid to my brothers and me. Farid went by his middle name. He was born in Jisr al-Shughur in Syria in… Read More »Uncle Farid – Man of the World
Senator John F. Kennedy‘s invaluable assistance in returning his wife after the deportation event and his further help in setting both of them on the… Read More »The Kennedy Affair – Part 2
Our family’s connection to John F. Kennedy is deeper than most and for a good reason. The details are a longer story than a blog… Read More »The Kennedy Affair – Part 1
Syria, using the term in its old, geographical sense, occupies a unique place in the annals of the world. Especially because of the inclusion of… Read More »The Book of Contemplation
As part of this family legacy project, my brothers and I all decided to have their DNA analyzed. Despite significant differences in our physical appearances, the tests confirmed what we already knew in our hearts – full-blooded brothers all