Influencers and Love Island star unite at food event to raise money for Israel

Ben’s Vegan Kitchen, GIFT and Ta’amim welcomed over 100 guests to Tastes of the Shuk on Monday night, a fundraising event in support of Israeli causes, instigated by volunteers Elior Doani and Jeli Gottleib and sponsored by the Tel Aviv Institute.

Attendees entered an immersive shuk environment designed by the Ta’amim team at Jewish Futures in Hendon, experiencing the tastes, sounds, smells and atmosphere of Machane Yehuda Market at night, replete with market stalls, a falafel stand (catered by Mr Falafel), a cocktail bar and seated dining experience under a canopy of festoon lights. Bespoke retro-style posters created by designer Emily Theodore (@emmtheo) completed the decor.

Food influencer Ben Rebuck, who recently appeared on BBC’s Celebration Kitchen, created a bespoke plant based menu inspired by some of his favourite israeli dishes. With assistance from chefs Rob Gazdar and Talia Trup, Giving Kitchen head chef Sarah Isaac and a team of GIFT volunteers, guests including influencer @romykosher and Love Island’s Eyal Booker were delighted with innovative twists on borekas, shakshuka and malabi, served in Shuk-style takeaway containers.

Rebuck said: “I was born in North London, but Israel is home.” He quoted from a recent essay he had penned entitled The Ramp. “There’s something special about the ramp. Anyone who has stepped off the plane at Ben Gurion knows it as the signifier that you have arrived. It is the most instagrammed place in the whole of Israel, the proof needed to show the world that you have arrived. But it doesn’t just affirm your physial presence, but the profound sense of coming home that permeates the air.”

After a starter trio of borekas served in paper bags, GIFT’s Shira Joseph spoke about the phenomenal response of the community to their GIFT4Israel appeal. They sent more than three tonnes of items, sorted and packed by an army of over 900 volunteers, to support those affected by the conflict. She said: “All of this is based on everyone’s acts of kindness. I’ve seen the community come together in the most unbelieveable way … we are all in so much pain, we all feel the pain of our brothers and sisters in Israel, and to turn that pain into something beautiful by doing acts of kindness… I’m just blown away by it.”

Shira also presented a project conceived by a 15-year-old student volunteer, who had designed small cards, sponsored the printing from her own babysitting money, handwritten the names of a fallen soldier on each one, and asked that the recipients in the room take on an act of giving in their memory.

Israel advocate Hen Mazzig spoke about self-belief, harnessing inner strength and the rights of the Jewish people to speak up and demand justice. Drawing parallels with the Jewish leaders and war heroes of the past, he said: “All of us are the heroes of today.” Encouraging the audience to speak out on social media and advocate for Israel in coversation with others, he said “all of this will not just impact what happens today. It will impact future generations. It will impact our great grandchildren.” Mazzig concluded with a powerful message to Jews everywhere. “Remember that we are on the right side of history. We have nothing to be ashamed of, we have everything to be proud of. Am Yisrael Chai!”

An auction and a raffle were followed by a moving musical set by function band Totem’s JJ Hodari and Moni Tivoni, concluding with a rousing and emotional chorus of the Hatikva.

The event raised almost £16,000. All funds raised will be used to provide

emergency medical supplies for hospitals in Israel, provide food and clothing vouchers to displaced families and provide meals for vegan soldiers in the IDF.

@bensvegankitchen @giftcharity @wearetaamim

Photos: Jeremy Coleman