October 08, 2008
Letter to the Editor of the Day: Muslims, Arabs Didn't Invent Falafel or Hummus
One bone of contention I've repeatedly noted on this site is the false claim by Arabs that falafel, hummus, and other Middle-Eastern food is "Arabic" food. That's despite the fact that, for example, hummus--the dip made from chickpeas, sesame butter (tahini or "techina" in Hebrew), olive oil, lemon, garlic, etc.--originated in what is now Israel and was invented by Jews.
In fact, Jews have been eating these dishes for centuries, longer than there has been an Islam or an Arabian empire, as I've pointed out. These foods are an intrinsic part of Sephardic ["Spanish"/Orientalist/Asian] Jewish culture and history. But Arabs--particularly Muslims, since Christians tend to disavow any association with being Arabic--need some invention to claim other than innovations in explosive devices and torture methods.
And while they never tire of blowing up falafel joints with Jews inside of them, they occasionally take a break from that and use falafel and other Mid-East cuisine for propaganda.
Yes, now, those who hate Jews and Israel have resorted even to lying about Mid-Eastern food for their attacks and fraudulent public relations. Ignorant authoress Chris Fair does so in her book "Cuisines of the Axis of Evil," and Abheek Bhattacharya did so in his review of the book in the Wall Street Journal. (With a name like Abheek Bhattacharya, I'm sure he has no agenda whatsoever.)
But Joshua Cappell of New York didn't let them slip it past his very sharp, observant eyes. From yesterday's Wall Street Journal, his letter to the editor is spot on and deserves further exposure.
Sephardic Jews Brought the Falafel October 7, 2008; Page A26In his review of Chris Fair's "Cuisines of the Axis of Evil," (Oct. 3), Abheek Bhattacharya says "Ms. Fair does a good job explaining how Israel's possession of Palestinian land has made falafel, hummus and baba ganouj staples in Tel Aviv."
Actually, the prevalence of these foods in Israel has a different basis, which tells a quite different story. These were popularized by the Sephardim, the roughly one-half of Israel's population that was accepted as refugees to the state after they were forcibly evicted, for no reason other than that they were Jews, without compensation, from their homes and communities in the Arab states of the Mideast in which they had lived for hundred of years. Tel Aviv, which is well within Israel's internationally recognized borders, was built by Jews on land purchased and owned by Jews.
Why is it acceptable to assume that all property in the possession of Jews must necessarily have been stolen rather than purchased? Would journalistic standards allow accepting uncritically a claim regarding any other ethnic group that they may be safely assumed to all be thieves?
Joshua Cappell
New York
Amen. Mazel Tov [Congrats!] on your excellent letter, Joshua.
Why does the Wall Street Journal allow this kind of crap to creep into cookbook reviews?
Might have something to do with one of its new owners. Or the son of another.
Posted by Debbie at October 8, 2008 01:37 PM
Comments
Ok; I'm hungry now...
Posted by: bhparkman ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.debbieschlussel.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 8, 2008 08:41 PM
I'm a sephardim, so I am glad we are recognized as having invented it;). I love good falafel
Posted by: mindy1 at October 9, 2008 05:59 AM
Muzzies can't build a bicycle.
Why would anyone think they could "invent" or "build" anything?
You should always presume that they can steal planes and fly them into buildings, they can strap bombs on children and detonate them remotely, and grab rusty steak knives and slowly separate your head from your shoulders.
That's about it (besides worshipping the "moon" - pagan savages).
Posted by: GOLDENMIKE4393 at October 9, 2008 02:13 PM
You realy prove to me that as much as rednecks try to use "big" words you still sound stupid and don't know half of what you are talking about. Im realy amazed that rednecks have learned how to use the internet how do you wire it up to your trailers? Anyways back to the topic.
First of all this "originated in what is now Israel and was invented by Jews." You do know that Israel originated from a muslim country? Named Palestine.
Second of all, you call humus and falafel a cuisine? Humus and falafel is the cheapest food you can buy and sold and shity street stands.
Now lets continue what is your " American" cuisine? hamburgers?
For the guy posting below me, are you retarted?
Creating or inventing anything? Look up bin sina LMAO MOST OF YOUR MEDICAL BOOKS ARE BASED ON HIS WORKS. MOST AUSTRONAMY BOOKS ARE BASED ON HIS WORKS. HMMM first person to discover india? Was from dubai. I can go on for ages. Now lets continue Barrack is a muslim/black he can't be president he isn't AMERICAN let me remind you something rednecks none of you are american to speak of YOU ARE ALL BRITISH orignaly. You know whats fucked up though you think all "muslims" are terrorists, oh btw go check who the major researcher in the US for nuclear power is and what his religion is. GO LOOK AT YOUR UNIVERSITYS LOOK AT YOUR PROFFESSORS 50% OF THEM ARE MUSLIMS OR ARABS or wait rednecks don't go to university.
Lol and rednecks seem not to understand that "allah" means god in arabic. You probably think that every language in the world says god. Oh and I know my comment won't be approved to you I was just bored and decided to critize you for being a racist prick. Im not arab lol and im telling you this because I have many muslim and arab friends and they are just like you and me. Oh and let me remind you something jews where the ones that crucified Jesus. Oh and your link to "Bare Naked Islam". We both know anyone can come up with a site and look for the nastiest shit they can abouta country or religion and post it. Now your gonna tell me America doesn't have there own fucked up people? You probably don't think so since your part of them rednecks and think you are good. You guys fuck each other legalize things that are dangerous but make things that are alot less dangerous legal. You HAVE GUN SHOPS AROUND EVERY CORNER. Ive been to arab countrys and I never saw any gunshops I lived in dubai for a couple of years OH AND DUBAI IS A MUSLIM ARAB COUNTRY. Terrorism hmm depends how you define it, woudn't you consider the war agaisnt a country and slaughter of tens of thousands of its citizens terrorism when the war is started on false claims and arn't proven till now? Iraq is a example don't give me that bull shit about Saddam being a tyrant and shit so many other countrys have worse leaders. And Afghanistan Osama is hiding there? How long has it been since the war on Afghanistan 6 years now? Its been proven that bin laden isn't there I still don't see the military backing out of Afghanistan. Im sick of people like you fat obese rednecks that view everyone around them as shit. Oh btw im Canadian and thank god we only have a few people like you here.
Mr.AK
Posted by: YouFailBigTime at October 15, 2008 03:14 AM
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