Tour “Gefilte-Hrayme” — The History of Israeli Cuisine at the Crossroads of Centuries

Tours to Israel » Excursions » Tour “Gefilte-Hrayme” — The History of Israeli Cuisine at the Crossroads of Centuries

Gastro tour through Levinsky Market with guide Inna Gorshtein (author’s excursion).

The spices, herbs, delicacies, cafés, and restaurants of Levinsky Market are famous throughout Israel. Its unique atmosphere, shaped by the long history of the neighborhood, attracts not only tourists but also local residents like a magnet.

Some of the market’s shops, opened even before the proclamation of the State of Israel, continue to operate to this day.

Departure Point

Arranged with the client

Departure Time

Arranged with the client

Minimum Group Size

From 1 person

Dress Code

Clothing should be comfortable and appropriate for the weather. Comfortable walking shoes are especially important, as many walking routes may include uneven or historic stone surfaces.

When visiting religious pilgrimage sites, visitors’ clothing must strictly comply with local dress requirements. Head coverings should not be neglected.

Note

Transfer to the starting point of the excursion and return transfer to your hotel are not included in the tour price. Please inquire and book these services separately if desired.

However, in most cases, the excursion starting point can easily be reached by public transportation.

Please make sure to bring drinking water with you.

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There is no better way to understand the culture and history of a place than through its cuisine. Israeli cuisine has a long and fascinating story — one that is best experienced through taste. After all, everyone knows that food in Israel is exceptionally delicious. But what is the secret behind this culinary phenomenon?

Food is not merely a way to satisfy hunger; it is also a reflection of culture and social development. The remarkably rich and dynamic history of Israel’s settlement becomes far more vivid and understandable when explored through the traditional and modern culinary traditions of Jewish and Israeli cuisine.

Levinsky Market is far more than an ordinary fruit and vegetable market. Nearly one hundred years ago, it was founded by Jewish immigrants from Greece who began settling this new neighborhood of Tel Aviv even before the establishment of the State of Israel. Later, Jews from Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, and other countries joined them, bringing with them the flavors, aromas, and culinary traditions of the Balkans and the Mediterranean.

A Bit of History

In 1881, Russian Jewish writer Elhanan Leib Lewinsky returned from a journey to Palestine inspired by the idea of building a Jewish cultural center there. He even wrote a visionary story titled “Journey to the Land of Israel in the Year 2040,” imagining a flourishing Jewish state — socialist, moral, and peace-loving — with Jerusalem as its capital.

This was written nearly a decade before similar ideas were articulated by Theodor Herzl.

Forty years later, in the late 1920s, the main street of a new Tel Aviv neighborhood — where immigrants from Thessaloniki had settled — was named after Elhanan Levinsky. Along this street, the first shops of Levinsky Market were opened, stocked with products brought directly from Greece by ship.

Soon afterward, immigrants from many other countries added their own unique tastes, traditions, and ethnic flavors, transforming Levinsky Market into one of the most colorful gastronomic destinations in Israel.