What are some table manners in Israel?

Answer 1

My husbands family is Israeli and when we eat at their houses for shabbat or holidays they used to compliment me on my table manners. I, being from a western country went to finishing school was shocked to see them eating with their hands and just a fork. My mother in law would defend when my husband would joke and tell me to stop eating English.

In Israel people eat as soon as food is laid upon the table, and often take food onto ther plates with their own forks. Food is central to Jewish daily life and most meals last at least an hour from start to finish. Often we stick around for the rest of the day still eating sunflower seeds, cakes and black coffees or mint tea.