Each month in this space, L'Chayim will look back into issues of The Jewish News to see what was happening in the local Jewish community or in the Diaspora 10, 20 and 40 years ago. 40 YEARS AGO David Ben Gurion, in Jerusalem, and the postmaster in Beersheba exchanged greetings over the first telephone line to be hooked up between the Negev and the rest of Israel. Egypt received permission to use water wells located inside Isarel territory. It iOc N oto _ k kia " Czw PITAH Pitah is a round, flat bread with a natural 'pocket' in its center. The bread is soft and is as popular in Israel as in the Middle East from which it comes. Pat means Bread, in Hebrew, and Pitah is eaten as bread with some unusual uses: it holds small Falafel balls to make a neat little meal that may be eaten in the street when one is hungry. Pitah is also cut in small pieces to be dipped in sauces and serve as a substitute for fork on some occasions. Traditionally baked very primitively on heated stones in the desert, it is now a standard item in modern bakeries. You, too, can bake your own, right in your kitchen. For 6 8" Pitot 4 cups flour 1 tsp. salt 2 pkg. fresh yeast (0.6 oz. each) 1/8 tsp. sugar 1/4 cup warm water 1-1 1/4 cups lukewarm water 1/2 cup corn meal Mix the flour with the salt. Combine 1/4 cup warm water with the yeast and sugar. Let rest for 2 minutes. Stir to dissolve the yeast and let rest for 5 minutes in a warm place. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour the dissolved yeast into it. Mix in some of the surrounding flour. Measure 1 cup of lukewarm water and add it gradually to the center, mixing the flour continuously. You may need an additional 1/4 cup water, if the dough is too stiff. It must be manageable: not too hard; not too wet. Sprinkle some flour on your working surface and turn out the - 20 YEARS AGO Israel was barred from Japan's Expo '70. The first Jew was named to the Supreme Court of Canada. State Sen. Sander Levin announced his candidacy for governor. United Hebrew Schools received an award for distinguished service to Hebrew education from the Herzliak/Jewish Teachers Seminary. 10 YEARS AGO The government of India became the first to extend full diplomatic recognition to the Palestine Liberation Organization. There were 12 Jewish graduates, including the first Jewish woman, in the graduating class at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The Jewish Federation Apartments dedicated the new Anne and Meyer L. Prentis Towers. Dr. Robert Jastrow, director of the Institute for Space Studies for NASA, spoke at Shaarey Zedek. Pitah, An Israeli Favorite Try this delicious Israeli recipe for your celebration. It is from A Taste of Tradition, by Ruth Sirkis. L 4 Dr. Abba Hillel Silver was the main speaker as the Allied Jewish Campaign opened solicitations. The second anniversary of Israel was observed at the State Fair Coliseum. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1990 dough. Knead 40 times, pressing with the heel of your palm, pushing away from you, folding over, and pressing again. The dough should form a soft and elastic ball. Wash bowl thoroughly and rinse with warm water. Dry completely and grease with salad oil. Put the dough in it, turning once to oil all over. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let stand in a warm corner in your kitchen for 1 hour. Punch down the dough, knead lightly and divide into equal parts. Knead each part lightly to form a round ball; place on a floured cookie sheet, cover with the towel and let rest 45 minutes. Heat the oven to 500 degrees. Roll out each ball in an 8" circle. Sprinkle a large cookie sheet with corn meal and put two circles on it. Bake in the center of the oven for 5 to 7 minutes, until the pitot brown lightly, just a shade darker than ivory. The pitot will puff in the center. It is this puffing that separates the bread into two layers and forms the pocket. Remove from oven and bake two more pitot. BOOKS ABOUT ISRAEL The pitah feels dry when removed form oven, but when cooled and put in a tightly closed plastic bag it regains its moisture, and thereby its softness. Pitah is eaten hot or warm. Serve the pitot whole, or cut in half, which makes it easier to fill them with falafel and other goodies. Note: Pitot freeze successfully when wrapped in freezer paper or plastic bags. For reuse put them in a brown paper bag, sprinkle with some water and heat in a slow oven. The Animated Israel Jon athan Claymation David, 1987. picture book for ages 4 Z Aviva's Piano - by Miriam Chaikin. Clarion Books, ages 6-10. 1 986. An easy to read novel for The Boy Fr by Tamar Ber om Over There gman. Houghton A Kid's Mifflin, 1988. Ages 10-14. by Chaya Catalog of Israel Jewish Burstein, Publication Society 1 988. For all ages. Check your synagogue library for availability.