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02.17.08, 08:20 AM Toddler
50 replies
I am an openminded arab, really I am. But I get really upset when people refer to traditional arabic things (esp food) as israeli. I realize there are bigger problems in this world, but it really bothers me. I see it as a cultural hijack of sorts. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
Toddler 02.17.08, 08:20 AM Flag
 

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it seems inevitable that culture spreads and gets appropriated, though, doesn't it? especially yummy things [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:22 AM Flag
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^I'm not denying the sad ignorance we have about Arabic culture, though. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:23 AM Flag
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sure--but that is another matter [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:23 AM Flag
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sadly, from a marketing standpoint in the US, it's probably better to say "israeli" than "arab" [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:24 AM Flag
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not anymore it isn't [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:25 AM Flag
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We're at the point where it's simply better to say Middle Eastern. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:27 AM Flag
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of course. when i refer to myself as "middle eastern" on this board, I get helpful responses. But when I call myself an arab, I usually receive a litany of insults in response [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:25 AM Flag
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it's so ridiculous [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:26 AM Flag
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really? I am Israeli, and associate middle eastern with arab (and it's not at all a negative connotation for me) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:28 AM Flag
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that is because you are informed being from the region, etc [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:31 AM Flag
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You do realize that a lot of Arabic food is simply the food eaten in the middle east and that many israelis came from middle eastern countries, such as syria, lebanon, iraq, and their food is the same as yours? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:25 AM Flag
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she realizes it. dont be so patronizing. you are missing her point [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:27 AM Flag
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most isrealisare not from arab countries though [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:27 AM Flag
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wrong. about half are and the proportion was much greater until about 10 years ago [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:29 AM Flag
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that is not true -- it's about half and half. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:29 AM Flag
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really? i thought most are ashkenazi [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:29 AM Flag
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no. the balance has shifted since the influx of all those russians but Israel until recently was a majority sephardic [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:31 AM Flag
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op-didn't know that [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:34 AM Flag
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np: no. most american jews are ashkenazi, but in israel it's different. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:32 AM Flag
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op: well I guess I am a dumb arab! Really, I thought it was overwhelmingly ash [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:33 AM Flag
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or: it's because the middle eastern / african jews are less likely to move to US than the ashkenazi ones (plus many many many ashkenazi jews in US who are not Israeli) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:34 AM Flag
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makes sense [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:36 AM Flag
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That's right. Most of the Jews in the US came directly from Europe, w/out going through Israel. It was easier, however, for Sephardic/Middle Eastern Jews to immigrate directly to Israel. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:37 AM Flag
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or: exactly. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:34 AM Flag
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I'd say it's a 50-50 (ashkenazi vs sephardic/middle eastern), but ashkenazi food is mostly eaten at home, while middle eastern/arabic food is considered "israeli" food, such as falafel and hummus. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:31 AM Flag
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You know what's funny? I have an Israeli DH and I just got flamed for saying that Zatar is arabic and it's best to find it in arabic markets! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:25 AM Flag
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oh well, at least you understand! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:26 AM Flag
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I do understand. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:26 AM Flag
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Re: I do understand. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:27 AM Flag
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^^^oops! good :) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:27 AM Flag
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;) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:28 AM Flag
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Yeah well, lots of people insist that Greek foods are Turkish. Marhaban! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:26 AM Flag
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like turkish coffee / greek coffee ? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:30 AM Flag
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Yes, and baklava as well as a bunch of other things. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:31 AM Flag
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NP: Is baklava originally from Turkey? I didn't know that. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:33 AM Flag
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No it is not, but it is often claimed that it is. Many middle-eastern foods were Persian and spread around with the Turks (who started out in Persia). [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:38 AM Flag
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^^^^Baklava and similar sweets probably predate the Turks and go back to ancient Asia Minor cooking. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:39 AM Flag
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Actually it was invented in Ottoman kitchens and wikipedia certainly has a long piece dedicating its invention to the Turks/Turkic peoples. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 12.10.13, 02:18 AM Flag
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do you live in NY? i think it may be a new york thing because of all the jews who associate middle eastern cuisine (for example) as Israeli becauss thats what they know. I suspect that in other parts of the country (or world) this stuff is seen as middle eastern [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:26 AM Flag
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no--i am not in ny [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:38 AM Flag
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Where do you live? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:43 AM Flag
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Israeli here. I see what you mean, but since Israel is young, everything "Israeli" is either from neighboring middle eastern countries, or from jews in other contries (polish, moroccan, whatever) who came to Israel. like falafel etc [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:26 AM Flag
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np: you wouldn't argue that zatar, for example, is "israeli" would you? Such a silly thing to argue about. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:28 AM Flag
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I wouldn't argue. But what is Israeli? if someone asked me what are Israeli foods I'd list things they eat in Israel often and less here: bourekas, falafel, malawach, zaatar, tomato-cucumber salad, etc. But it's definitely not exclusively or origina Israeli [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:36 AM Flag
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I understand but from our perspective, it is sort of like "You took our land and now our culture"--that is extreme, but do you know what I mean? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:29 AM Flag
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except that most of the people who were in Israel aat the time it became a country were already there. they were born and raised there [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:30 AM Flag
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I don't think this is correct. There were some Jews pre-1948 but Israel's pop is overwhemingly immigrant [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:32 AM Flag
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or: I don't want to get into 'you took our land' (I don't agree but I know it's complicated). I see what you mean about culture bt don't think of it as taking - neighboring people always have similar cultures (and differences). I agree that arguin [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:32 AM Flag
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^^^I agree that arguing something like 'falafel is Israeli, NOT lebanese' is silly. Same for zaatar. Id never argue that... and btw, what's called here "Israeli salad" is called "arabic salad" in Israel :) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:33 AM Flag
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ok [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.17.08, 08:34 AM Flag
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