Book Launch and Conversation with Hana Assafiri Moroccan Soup Bar Friday 14 February

Friday 14 February 2025

The Audacity to Be Free resonates deeply with the values we hold at Moonacres. Community, empowerment, and connection through shared experiences. 

We are delighted to launch Hana's new book here at the school followed by a shared tabled of food created with Hana.

In her memoir, Hana Assafiri invites readers into a powerful journey, blending personal liberation with social activism through the transformative act of cooking and gathering. Just as Moonacres believes in the restorative capacity of soil to nurture food, Assafiri’s narrative emphasizes that healing and empowerment flourish when people come together around a shared table.

Her restaurant, Moroccan Soup Bar, embodies a similar ethos: marginalized women working together to create change, not only nourishing themselves but also their community. At Moonacres, we see this mirrored in the way food connects us to the land and to each other, cultivating a sense of belonging and fostering positive impact.

Hana's story is a reminder that individual actions—like those we practice at Moonacres—can ripple outward to inspire broader societal change. Her narrative captures the essence of community resilience, showing that meaningful change begins with small, intentional steps, much like tending to soil for a bountiful harvest. 

The raw emotional depth of the book captures the fierce struggle for autonomy and belonging. Her escape from oppressive circumstances and her journey to empower others through food and community is transformative. It shows how acts of courage, however small, can ignite profound social change. This book will leave you inspired to not only seek freedom but also to create spaces where others can flourish.

Hana's story is a deeply inspiring call to live authentically and fearlessly, no matter the obstacles. Her restaurant demonstrates that kitchens can become sanctuaries of healing and shows how collective strength emerges when people gather, share and nurture each other.

This evening with Hana starts at 6pm and Hana and the team at Moonacres look forward to seeing you for this very special event. Her books "Hana: The Audacity to be Free" and "Moroccan Soup Bar" will be available for purchase.

For a very fortunate few, Hana is hosting a cooking class the following day at 2pm.