Celebrated Israeli culinary journalist, writer to speak at Alliance program

Gil Hovav, Israel’s leading culinary journalist, author and television personality, will share stories from his illustrious family’s kitchen during a program on Oct. 20 at the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center, in Providence. 

Throughout his career in journalism, publishing and television, and as an author, Hovav has played a major role in the revival of Israeli cuisine and Israel’s emergence as a  “gourmet nation.” Hovav is the great-grandson of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, a major force in the revival of the Hebrew language.   

Hovav has published three best-selling novels, all related in different ways to his family’s colorful history, and depicting, with humor and emotion, the Jerusalem of his childhood. His fourth novel, “Twenty Four Doors,” was published in April 2015 and has hit the top of Israel’s bestseller list. Recently, one of his books, “Candies from Heaven,” was published in English and Chinese. 

During the Oct. 20 program, “Gil Hovav: Stories from a Jerusalem Kitchen,” Hovav will tell about the Jerusalem of his childhood, as well as about his great-grandfather and more modern-day events. He will answer such questions as: 

How do you get a five year old in 1960 Jerusalem to eat his vegetables?

Why did his mother not eat anything when the 1948 siege of Jerusalem was finally lifted?

What did his great-grandfather do on his death-bed, which shocked the British consul?

The free program, on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., is one of several this year in celebration of Israel’s 75th anniversary. The program will take place at the Alliance’s Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. For more information, contact Elihay Skital, community shaliach/Israeli emissary, at 401-421-4111 or ESkital@jewishallianceri.org. To register for the program, go to www.JewishAllianceRI.org/gil-hovav. 

LARRY KATZ (lkatz@jewishallianceri.org) is the director of Jewish life and learning at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.