The poster, published by the Ministry of Education and Culture in the 1950s, is a chart of Hebrew words and phrases that might be used in a restaurant or cafe. There are drawings of foods commonly served in a restaurant with the Hebrew word written below, for example, rice, eggs, chicken, coffee, and cake. Serving implements, for example, plates, napkins, and cups, are also illustrated on the poster. The poster also provides helpful Hebrew phrases tailored to each meal of the day: breakfast, lunch, tea time, and dinner.
The pictures illustrate the foods and manners associated with eating in a restaurant in the 1950s. The poster reflects the healthy, Mediterranean style of eating with the largest meal of the day at lunchtime and a lighter meal in the evening. It also reflects the years of the so-called “Austerity” (tzena) during which many food products were rationed and there was a limited variety due to the rapid population growth, the large defence budget, and the funds needed to create the infrastructure for the new state. The Israeli government introduced measures to control and reduce the national budget and to ensure equal rations for all citizens. This influenced the Israeli diet at the time that was based on Israeli products and simple meals, as can be seen in the suggested menus on the poster.
Would You Like to Know More?
Mass Immigration to Israel in the Early Years of Israel - The early years of the State of Israel were noted for the large wave of immigration from all corners of the world; in the State’s first three and a half years, 688,000 new immigrants arrived, doubling Israel’s population. The immigrants were mostly Holocaust survivors from Europe and refugees from Arab countries. This welcome influx of Jews necessitated many resources. The immigrants needed housing and jobs. They also needed to integrate into Israeli society, and there was therefore a massive campaign to teach the immigrants Hebrew.
