By: Deanna Linder
For an American, Israel to me appears to be a tribal society. Tribal not in any violent sense, but meaning "societies organized largely on the basis of kinship" as defined by many anthropologists. It was this kinship, mostly between friends, of no familial relation, that ignited my initial love for the country and its culture. For me, this has translated for a fabulous group of friends who have come as close as possible to the family I miss so dearly.
In practical terms, this has translated in many group gatherings-our group rolls 18 deep-where undoubtedly food, and lots of it, is served. When it comes the time to divide the culinary duties, somehow, each time, I am asked to make a "peshtida", the Hebrew term for quiche. In the beginning I found it a bit offensive- the only girl in the group with professional culinary training- is being asked to throw a bunch of ingredients together and throw them in the oven. Then I simply realized that at these group gatherings, peshtida's...
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