Instagram: Showcasing local talent

Since Israel is such a hi-tech, fast-paced society, it is no wonder that so many Israelis have made social media an integral part of their lives. To make the most of social media, you don't have to be famous – you just have to showcase a talent or interest enjoyable to many. Rachel Gemara, a 30-year-old oncology nurse living in Jerusalem, uses Instagram – a popular app in which users share pictures and videos either publicly or privately – to showcase her healthy recipes and delicious meals. Gemara has amassed over 300 followers on her account, @foodbygemara, which features a variety of salads, sandwiches and spreads. Her favorite ingredients include tomatoes, avocados and kale. “I love to cook and take pictures, so Instagram is really perfect for me,” said Gemara. “I got very inspired seeing other users share their healthy lifestyles and what they were cooking. I realized I could do that.” While Gemara has been active on Facebook for years, she only began using Instagram about 18 months ago, “just to see what the craze was about.” She has found that Instagram “is a great platform for people to showcase what they're eating and cooking... it's a lot easier to share these kinds of things than [it is on] Facebook.” The differences between these two platforms are what makes them both integral to Gemara's social media experience. “I'm a big fan of both – they serve very different functions for me. Instagram is more for sharing the creative side of cooking, and Facebook is more for social interactions, events and staying connected with friends.” Many people love keeping up with the famous and fabulous through social media, especially on Instagram. But Gemara prefers to follow regular home cooks like herself rather than celebrity chefs. “It's such an amazing community of people sharing their food creations. It also goes to show that you don't have to have any special skills to make food look and taste amazing: anyone can do it.” The communal aspect of cooking is one of the reasons Gemara loves it so much. She frequently hosts Shabbat dinners, saying “there's really nothing I enjoy more than getting people together and cooking a meal for them.” Whip up this recipe suggested by Rachel Gemara: Avocado Pasta Sauce 1 ripe avocado ¹⁄3 cup fresh basil 2 garlic cloves ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup of lemon juice Salt and pepper Pasta 2 cups of cooked pasta 1 cup of roasted cherry tomatoes 2 Tbsp. of toasted pine nuts To make the avocado sauce, put all the ingredients in a food processor, adding the olive oil in slowly at the end. Mix the sauce with the cooked pasta and top with the roasted tomatoes and pine nuts

Instagram: Showcasing local talent

Many people love keeping up with the famous and fabulous through social media, especially on Instagram.

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Instagram: Showcasing local talent

Many people love keeping up with the famous and fabulous through social media, especially on Instagram.

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