Ayelet Epstein, mother of the late Netta Epstein's  Corn Pashtida (Casserole) Recipe

“A Place at the Table” is a commemorative project that documents the favorite dishes of those lost on October 7 with the help of their families.  

Ayelet Epstein can make her corn pashtida (casserole) recipe with her eyes closed. Since her children were little, this recipe has been a dinner staple in their home. When her eldest son Netta was born, she was looking for nutritious, protein-rich recipes a busy young mother could whip up easily. The golden corn pashtida quickly became a favorite. 

When Netta was in basic training, Ayelet would bake the pashtida in muffin tins and send them to him at the base. Each time, she made larger quantities because his friends had also started requesting “Netta’s mom’s corn pashtida.” He loved it in any form, she says — hot, cold, at room temperature, as a dinner served with salad and cheese, or simply on its own. 

It was also the dish Ayelet made for the first dinner in their new home in Matan, a village west of Tel Aviv. As the pashtida came out of the oven and the sweet aroma of corn and cheese filled the kitchen, her daughters said, “This smells like home.” Since then, whenever they long for a sense of home and to feel Netta’s presence, Ayelet bakes the pashtida.

 The Epstein family spent their entire lives on Kibbutz Kfar Aza in the northern Negev, with both Ayelet and her husband Uri’s families living there. It was a large family clan, with grandparents, uncles, aunts, nephews, and cousins living side by side, until they were forced to leave their destroyed homes. On October 7, 64 residents of the kibbutz were murdered, including five of their loved ones: Bilha Epstein, Uri’s mother, was killed in her home; Uri Russo and Ofir Libstein, Ayelet’s brothers-in-law, were murdered while defending the kibbutz as part of the emergency squad; and her nephew, Nitzan Libstein, was killed not far from Netta. 

Netta lived with his fiancée Irene Shavit. As soon as the sirens began to sound at 6:30 a.m., they went to the safe room. Around 11 a.m., the terrorists managed to open the door and began throwing grenades into it. Netta managed to throw two of them back out, but the third one rolled in Irene’s direction. Without hesitation, Netta jumped on it, absorbing the full force of the explosion. A terrorist then shot him to make sure he was dead. For hours, while the terrorists continued their killing spree on the kibbutz, Irene hid behind Netta’s body, which saved her life. 

Netta was born in 2001 to Ayelet and Ori Epstein, he was an older brother to Rona and Alma, and their confidant. His mother shares that Netta had a special bond with his sisters, always offering them guidance and support. An avid soccer player, he served as a goalkeeper for the Hapoel Be’er Sheva youth team. He was also a passionate fan of Beitar Jerusalem football club and several European teams.

Having grown up in the south, Netta witnessed firsthand the rounds of fighting and the constant threat of rocket attacks. During his senior year, together with his classmates, he initiated a mass march from Sha’ar Hanegev School to the Knesset under the slogan: “Let us grow up quietly.” The march aimed to inspire decision-makers and raise awareness about the neglect of southern residents, emphasizing the need for peace and security.

 Before joining the army, Netta volunteered for a year at a center for children with special needs. In July 2023, he was discharged from the IDF, and in April, he was set to marry Irene. His mother recalls how happy she was when he was finally discharged, feeling immense relief and the weight of worry lifting off her shoulders. It was as though she could finally breathe again. Little did she know that she would lose him so quickly, and in the place that was supposed to be his safe haven — at home.

“If he hadn’t jumped on the grenade thrown at Irene, they would probably both have died,” Ayelet admits. “At least, by doing so, he saved her life.” She hopes he knew that he succeeded in that moment. “In doing so, he left a message for all of us: to continue to live,” she says.  

In both life and death, Netta made an impact. The Homebrewers of Israel, a group he was a part of, started a project in his memory. They published Netta’s final recipe for home-brewed beer and invited the community to brew it in his honor. A few weeks after his passing, people from all over the country began visiting the Epstein family home, bringing bottles of beer made in Netta’s memory. The Milk & Honey distillery also released a special edition of single malt whiskey to honor him. In another tribute, family members were invited to Germany to watch a Borussia Dortmund football match, where fans observed a moment of silence for Netta, with his image displayed on giant screens.

But none of this will bring Netta back to Ayelet — the familiar smell of his sweat when he came home after a soccer game, the sound of his bag hitting the floor when he returned from the army and asked, “What’s for dinner?” Nor will it return the love he spread so generously.  

Did you prepare the dish? Share a photo of it and tag it #A_Place_at_the_Table  to honor the memory of the late Netta Epstein.