As we wind up a two week visit to our Israeli programs there could be no better gathering than this al fresco buffet coordinated by Gideon Ben Ami whose work we have frequently described in these diaries. Gideon’s greatest joy is to help people in any way that he can. We saw evidence of that almost every day, but the group pictured here (minus a few members) represents Gideon’s most creative solution to hunger in Tel Aviv–his soup crew. Each of these dedicated helpers cooks a huge vat of hearty soup at least once each week. Each vat is picked up and transported to a local shelter in a thermal container that sits in the back of Gideon’s small van. There is always high quality bread, rolls and bourekas to accompany the donation.

Be it pea soup, lentil or a twist on a Yemenite vegetable soup, it is always healthy and tasty and made with love. Bitayavon! (hearty appetite)