Israeli Outdoor Recipes

Thrill

as an affirmation that they were not abandoned
by HaKodesh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, Blessed
be He), despite all that they went through. That's
true of a lot of people of my parents' genera-
tion."
"It's kind of like the Fourth of July was in Amer--
I ca, but it has more significance — the indepen-
dence of my own people," said Bonnie Lax of
Efrat, who made aliya from Oak Park about a
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five children. "I think it is
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The Lax children, who
,
learn in national religious
schools, study the histori-
Diane Schaeffer
cal background of Israel's
Special to Apple-Free
independence in the
Jerusalem
classroom and celebrate
he Pesach dishes have barely been
Independence Day with
stashed away when Israeli roadsides
their friends. In addition,
begin sprouting stands selling that noto-
the Laxes celebrate
rious contraption — the mongol — Israel's
Israel's Independence
version of the Hibachi.. It can mean only one
Day as a family.
I - thing: Independence Day is in the air.
"We go to a local park
The mangal doesn't make its appearance
here and have a barbe-
all alone. Creeping up alongside the mangal .
cue with another family
stands are the watermelon stalls.
and just kind of enjoy the
In a country that marks the Hebrew calen-
day that way. It's a nice
dar with abundant public displays of relevant
time to be with family,"
foodstuffs and their accompanying parapher-
Lax said.
nalia, the weed-like appearance of roadside
The Laxes, Indepen-
mangol and watermelon vendors is only nat-
dence Day barbecue
ural. The State of Israel, which just celebrat-
menu is similar to the one
led its 52nd birthday on Yom HaAtzmaut
they used in America on
I (May 10), has settled into a sedate middle
-Jerusalem on May 9. July 4: chicken, hamburg-
age — and the primary method of celebrat- Israeli youths covered with foam celebrate in the streets of
ers and hot dogs. Howev-
ing its independence is an outdoor "grill"
er, they also add Israeli standards, such as
Independence Day varies greatly among its citi-
— i.e., barbecue.
kabob and hummus, tahina and eggplant salad.
zens.
Not gone, but lacking the old flavor, are the
For those Americans trying to devise an
While many Israelis view the establishment of
public ceremonies and Independence Day pro-
authentic
Independence Day "grill" menu, try
the Jewish State as the triumph of Zionism, others
i grams produced by public personalities and
a simple kabob, accompanied by warm pita,
ascribe deep religious significance to the event
scores of schoolchildren. Also in existence, but
Israeli salad, rice and typical Israeli appetiz-
and commemorate the date accordingly. For oth-
faded in popularity, is the strange Israel Indepen-
ers: pickles, olives, hummus, tahina and egg-
ers, Independence Day is a time to give person-
dence Day custom of "bopping." Thousands of
plant salad.
al thanks to God for the establishment of a state
'children, teenagers and young adults converge
For dessert, what could be more symbolic of
and a safe haven for the Jewish people, or for
I on the center of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to hit
Israel's
citrus groves — if not quite authentic —
the opportunity to live in the Land of Israel.
than festive orange cupcakes? You can try mak-
"My parents were Holocaust survivors,"
I
ing
them with your children.
recalled former Detroiter, now Israeli citizen,
thane Schaeffer and her husband, former
And, oh, yes — don't forget the watermelon!
Rabbi Yisrael Herczeg. "And I know that they
Detroiter Akiva Schaeffer, live with their three .
children outside Jerusalem.
thought of the establishment of the State of Israel

Of The

Grill

each other on the head with plastic
hammers and spray fellow citizens with
foam. Only the grill and the traditional,
American-style fireworks displays have
retained a place of prominence.
And, of course, Israeli flags can be
seen everywhere.
Just as Israel itself is a mosaic of
cultures, the significance of Israel's

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5/19
2000

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