HEB 3010 FALAFEL NATION
Focusing on the period between the 1905 immigration wave and the present, the course will explore the cultural, social, and economic practices relating to the production and consumption of food in Palestine and later Israel.
The course will also analyze how the change in relationship between Israelis and their food mirrors the search for a definition of modern Jewish nationalism.
We will examine the role of women (focusing on the struggle of pioneer women to be recognized as equal partners in the building of the country), ethnic groups, and different generations in the food narrative of the country and we will also highlight some of the issues associated with this narrative.
In addition, the course will also examine trends in food globalization and food glocalization.
We will also examine how political differences (Israeli Palestinian Conflict and Israel’s neighbors) are translated into food wars and on the other hand we will also examine the ways in which efforts are made to use food as a bridge to create an understanding between nations (gastro diplomacy).
Our final project will be an attempt to create a quintessential Israeli dish, based on our examination of texts, films and current trends in Israeli cuisine.
Course Types
Civilization, Jewish Studies Elective
- Understand how food plays an important role in transmitting ideals and building a common culture of a people.
- Understand how food can serve as a propaganda tool and how food can be the cause of a societal divide.
- Understand the process of how a national food becomes an international food.
- Use different taste profiles and culinary skills to create a dish based on all the material learned in class.