Coffee, East and West: "I think it should go into the address"  

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I can think 'coffee', and my heart flips through pictures, pictures, memories. The first coffee at the age of 12 that was offered to me by someone who was my aunt on loan during my childhood years. How could I not taste it and I had a great time, just to have coffee with her on a Saturday morning. The smell of opening Elite's Aladdin coffee and cooking on the stove for my parents at 15:30 p.m., before dad goes back to work.

The upside-down coffee that the waitress poured on me at the "Coffee Mill" in Jerusalem, when I slept there in honor of the International Book Fair; How I felt more sorry for her than myself, I went to change my clothes and sat down to her with a smile to start over. The dozens of daily cups of coffee I drank with my friends in the happy days of Intel. The first coffee machine, the one that, for those of you who remember, used to be given as a gift with every purchase of some electrical products. The two cups of reverse coffee prepared by the barista at Rothschild Hospital, every morning when I visited my friend who lived there for a while. Coffee is much more than just a drink.

Coffee, East and WestYahal Shafer and Noa Berger

At the end of the civil year, a dear friend came to our house with the book Coffee, East and West, of Yahal Shafer and Noa Berger, which he purchased for me at the Museum of Islam in Jerusalem. The book documents an exhibition presented at the museum in 2021-2022. And let's start with the cover, seemingly simple with the word coffee in the three languages: Hebrew, Arabic and English, but sophisticated with the rings of coffee beans on the book's avenue. Throughout the book, photographs from the exhibition of coffee machines and mugs and serving jugs from all eras, even a Sputnik coffee machine (the first satellite in space launched by the Soviet Union) stolen from Italy in the 60s. 

Different knowledgeable people tell, each and every one, from a different angle the story of the drink that has become an inseparable part of all cultures. Noa Berger tells how "In 1511, coffee was put on trial in a Shariah court in the city of Mecca, where it was accused of relegating the city's residents to idleness in coffee shops at the expense of prayer and diligence, and was declared "haram" - forbidden and inciting sin." (p. 19). Elisabetta Piso wrote about Alfonso Bialti, in 1933 "Invented the mackinta after watching women washing whites in a bath. The water falling into the center of the bath and the soap spreading onto the clothes were the inspiration and the basis for the macintah." (p. 52).

Yahal Shafer and Noa Berger mentioned the Greenspan family, owners of the Atara cafe in Jerusalem, that "She got involved in the operation "Giving the Hebrew language to the people" and sent her employees to the studio to learn Hebrew, in order to lead a service in Hebrew at the cafe she owns." (p. 126). But most of all I quoted in the ears of those who came to my door last week from the episode "Women and Coffee" written by Yahal Shafer: "In the Ottoman Empire, a clause in the marriage contract stated that a woman may sue for divorce from her husband if he does not provide her with the amount of coffee she desires." (p. 202). In my opinion, it should go into the title, next to "Shara, Ksuta, Ounata"...;)

We bought our first serious coffee machine at the AVA cafe, in downtown Haifa, which unfortunately no longer exists. This is the stunning yellow machine you see in the cover photo. When you have a beautiful machine, which produces quality coffee, the hospitality revolves around it like it were the bride of events. When we moved to a kibbutz near the Sea of ​​Galilee, there were hardly any reasonable cafes around and I took solace in the home machine. Today, the Jordan Valley has been upgraded in magical places with knowledgeable baristas.

Once a week, for many years, I visit the Aroma Tzemach branch, together with my writing friend, and together we each create our own creation, fine coffee by our side. But my heart is always in Haifa, in the Tibi Cafe, the place that once, when my mother immigrated to Israel in the 60s, was reserved only for lykes. And today is a home for us and not just for coffee. On every wedding anniversary of my beloved parents, I make sure to take away Sabrina and Babsco, which I think only Tibi do. During the Corona period when I'm full of longing and can't visit, they made a special delivery for me. Indeed, coffee is not just a drink and a coffee shop is not just a place.

Paradoxically, I drink tea when I write the column about the drink, which I will not exaggerate if I say that it is the taste of life for me. Maybe I've reached the age where one coffee a day is the wise decision for me, but this one? Must be fine. My winning formula in recent years is one coffee to start my day and English tea with milk, like from Baghdad-England, at four in the afternoon. Can I do without them? Yes, I have given it periods in my life. I concluded? I was filled with so much longing for the taste, the rituals, the solitude and the camaraderie that came hand in hand with the caffeine. 

the book Coffee, East and West Left on the living room table. There are books that cannot be in the library, they must be caressed, looked at and read during the break from work. I wish you pleasant memories of your coffee, that it will always be hot and warm and bring hearts closer. Who knows, maybe he is the one who will bring peace to us, like Q"In the 17th century, the Ottoman Empire became educated use coffee andThe aura of oriental mystery that surrounded him, as a tool in the diplomatic relations established with the capitals of Europe." (p. 210).

Book details: 

Coffee, East and West by: Yahal Shafer and Noa Berger, The Museum of Islamic Art, Jerusalem 2021. 

Pleasant reading and may good words be by your side always,
Lily

contact: At watsapBy email

Lily Milat
Lily Milat
Haifaite who found her home in a kibbutz near the Sea of ​​Galilee. Loves coffee, sea, people and cultures. Feng Shui consultant and author. Working on finding the regular and changing pulse in the residences and in the stories. Short stories penned by Ata, in English and Hebrew, were published in various collections and across the web and even won prizes. Her library: The Revolving Twin House (Sa'ar Publishing), The Bride of the Sea (Meteor Publishing), Bat Number Four (Meteor Publishing). To read short stories and learn more, visit Lily's website: Link

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4 תגובות

  1. Lily Ya is stunning. What a great article.
    A shared love that is fun to savor in and on her.
    As always, it's fun to read you and your great words.
    Thank you for a picture full of depth and love.
    Enjoy every page in the green book. A sea of ​​knowledge and information.
    Thanks

    • You are a rare friend.
      Thank you very much dear Ofer, you brought a lot of light in Hanukkah and in general 🫶

    • Thank you very much Ido 🙏🏼
      May your coffee always be delicious ☕️

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