Mia's World Adventures

Contrast.  If one had only one word to describe Israel, it would be contrast. Modern Tel Aviv, straight out of the new millennium, is just a car ride away from the holy deserts of Judea, which have not changed in millennia themselves. The contrast between people is even more staunch: Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Muslim, Christian, African, Arab, European, all living dangerously close to each other. The Land of Milk and Honey is chock full of disparities. Yet despite all of these dissimilarities, Israelis have one unifying common factor that is easily the key for peace: hummus.  I found myself in Abu Ghosh on the hottest day of the summer after an unfortunate flat tire caused an impromptu pit stop at this desert village. The heat was absolutely oppressive, with not even a slight breeze to ruffle through the palm trees that dotted the street. Droplets of perspiration that trailed down my face mixed with the dust suspended in the air to form a brown paste on my forehead, causing great discomfort on my part. I craved refuge.  Then, as if from a mirage, a small restaurant appeared before me. Perhaps I smelled it before I saw it, but my stomach began to groan and rumble and I found myself breaking into a jog. The air conditioning saved me first. The food dazzled me later.  There was only one long table in this corner hummusia (hummus restaurant), lined with lawn chairs that were almost all occupied. I was seated among the variable faces, who greeted me with a kind nod and a wide grin. Before me was already a display of airy soft pitas, as well as the largest array of salads and hummus I've ever seen in my life. I hungrily dug in before truly looking around me.  The table could have just as easily been a UN meeting as it was a casual lunch. Representatives from all of Israel's ethnic and religious groups seemed to be seated with me, an unassuming visitor. They laughed. They sang. They called each other "achi", my brother, my friend. And in the middle of the joyous peace was hummus.