Dena Sarhang fled Kurdistan in 2013 with her husband Sinian and daughters Yara and Lisa to “lead a peaceful Jewish life in the open — I wanted my girls to have a Jewish education”.

Her husband studied in York and the Jewish community was prominent in efforts to allow the family to remain in the UK.

As a thank-you, and with the help of the York Liberal congregation, Mrs Sarhang gave a cookery demonstration for the local community, also raising funds for the War Child Charity.

“I cooked all the traditional food from my country and people made donations,” she said. “I shared my recipes and I think they really liked them.”

The congregation’s Ben Rich said: “As an active member of the Jewish community, Dena has become renowned for her amazing contributions to our bring-and-share lunches. We called the demonstration ‘cooking with joy’.”

Mrs Sarhang added that local Jews had helped her “financially and emotionally.

“They have been kind and wonderful. It was dangerous for us in Kurdistan but now my daughters can be safe and Jewish. I am very happy.”