Adults & Cookbooks
“So how did they, those who never left their Israel, those who called us descend, understood before us that we had descended from the whole that we are into half?⭐ What Readers Are Saying on Amazon reviews
"A deeply moving and beautifully reflective collection that stays with you long after the final page."
Through 18 interconnected stories, Divided Hearts gives voice to the often unspoken, long-term emotional impact of leaving one's homeland and living between two worlds. These stories feel lived-in, personal, and achingly real-capturing the confusion of saluting a different flag, the quiet grief of losing parts of one's native language, and the realization, sometimes decades later, of what was sacrificed in the pursuit of a better future.
Rather than romanticizing immigration or portraying it solely as loss, Yaffa Turgeman presents it as a complex emotional journey-marked by ambition, resilience, jealousy, fractured relationships, and dreams both fulfilled and missed. A powerful recurring theme is the discovery that what many characters searched for- belonging, meaning, connection- was often closer than they realized.
The central thread binding the stories is longing: for homeland, cultural roots, shared memory, and a sense of wholeness that always feels just out of reach. This longing is quiet, persistent, and deeply human. The book resonates not only with Israeli or Jewish readers, but with anyone who has ever left home or struggled with identity in a new place.
Readers praise the book's emotional restraint and depth. Rather than telling readers what to feel, the stories allow moments of regret, love, ambition, and missed opportunity to unfold naturally. Divided Hearts is thoughtful, reflective, and quietly powerful, a book that invites readers to pause, remember, and recognize they are not alone in carrying divided hearts.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommended.
“In a world of divided hearts” includes 18 stories from the lives of descendants. Each story touches on a different stage in the lives of immigrants, people who left Israel at a young age, and are confronted with the consequences and the understanding of the process of immigration even decades after they left, starting with saluting a different flag, feelings of confusion and frustration over the loss of parts of their language, facing competitions, revenge and jealousy, the recognition of severing ties with friends or family and the price they pay for it, the aspiration to fulfill a longed-for dream and the understanding, Sometimes too late, that what we were looking for was next to us, but we chose not to see it, and more.All the stories and characters are real, but the names are fictitious. The protagonists in some of the stories are people I know, people I've met or heard in my nearly forty years in Colorado, other stories are ones that happened to me and my family, and they're presented here under our real names.The line that connects all the characters, real or fictional, is one, the incessant longing for Israel and the yearning for something that connects our Jewish roots wherever we are, deep common roots and a soul that is divided between two worlds: the Israeli one in the past, who carries the same person wherever he goes, and the current and realistic American.Yaffa Turgeman, who was born in Israel and immigrated to Colorado many years ago, is currently an educational director and teaches Hebrew and Judaism in the Jewish community of Denver Colorado, 
Food is a bridge. Between people, culture backgrounds and languages. When I invite guests who have never met before And serve them a handcrafted meal, The food creates connections, conversations, and warmth.
Recipes that were passed on from one generation to another, explore the best recipes from the Jewish Sephardic and Mizrachi communities of the MediterraneanReviews for my cookbook:
Top reviews from the United States
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2025
The award-winning hummus recipe alone is worth the price of this entire cookbook. My family and I will be forever grateful! But of course, along with the best hummus ever, we are also enjoying Yaffa’s spice-mix recipes, which are especially transforming the taste of soups and stews. This book is a treasure trove. Thank you for putting it together, Yaffa!
4 people found this helpful
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2025
Yaffa’s cookbook has beautiful homemade recipes that are easy for amateur cooks like me to follow. I loved all the helpful tips at the start of each chapter (they really made a difference). Every recipe I tried was an amazing crowd-pleaser, and I was happy to show my guests this incredible cookbook where I got them. I can’t wait to try more soon! Thank you, Chef Yaffa, for changing the hosting game!
5 out of 5 stars
Love love love this Sephardic cookbook!
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2023
This is the type of cookbook you'll treasure for years to come. The book itself is beautifully and thoughtfully made. Everything is so well organized, from the recipes to the instructions. The design is just so detailed, and it’s easy to navigate. The chef even adds fun tips I wasn’t expecting! The hard work and dedication that was put into the making and design really shine through. There is a large variety of Sephardic dishes to choose from, something for everyone!
5 people found this helpful
5 out of 5 stars
This cookbook contains recipes from all 18 countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2025
I had the pleasure of meeting this author at her restaurant several years ago; she served most of the recipes in this cookbook there, and they were so unique and delicious. This cookbook includes recipes from all 18 countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, so you get a taste of what's called Sephardic cuisine. Chef Yaffa is dedicated to preserving the recipes she grew up with in Israel and her family’s Moroccan cuisine. The salads were my favorite, and her main dishes remind us that Sephardic cuisine is worth trying for anyone who hasn't tried it yet.
3 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2025
What a warm, rich celebration of tradition through food. Her stories and recipes feel so personal, like she’s welcoming you into her family kitchen. Every page inspires both nostalgia and creativity. Highly recommend for anyone who loves cooking with heart!
2 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2023
Had the pleasure of tasting Yaffa’s food when she ran a restaurant. Now I have the pleasure of having her favorite recipes as well.
The cookbook is beautiful and the perfect size (it doesn't take up the whole counter) while you are cooking.
Highly recommended
5 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2023
Yaffa guides you through flavors and recipes from Sephardic Jewish Communities. She takes you on a journey through the recipes, and the flavors connect you to the place. We love the recipes and their uniqueness!! So flavorful and fun to learn to cook!
4 people found this helpful