Falafel

Why falafel is at the heart of Israel’s 'Operation Dugo' Holocaust remembrance

Operation Dugo grew out of David “Dugo” Leitner’s personal tradition of eating falafel every January 18, the date linked to the start of the Auschwitz death marches in 1945.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Member of Knesset Michael Biton prepare falafel in memory of late Holocaust survivor David (Dugo) Leitner at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, on January 14, 2026.
 An illustrative image of falafel balls.

In the Kitchen with Henny: Shuk-style celebration

 Falafel

We went out for falafel with NIS 20 – and in these cities, we got change

 Authentic falafel made at home

Five simple ingredients: Authentic falafel made at home


McPita: McDonalds bringing back McFalafel after decade

McDonald's made a similar attempt to bring McFalafel to its Israeli restaurants in 2011, but quickly removed it from the menu after it didn't catch on.

McDonald's new McKebab, McFalafel and crispy chicken in a pita

The Dugo Drive: Eating a falafel every year to remember the Death March

Dugo (his nickname ever since he was a child) is called David Leitner and he’s a Holocaust survivor whose story is mind-boggling.

President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin hosts Holocaust survivor David “Dugo” Leitner and his family on January 19, 2019, to a falafel lunch

Pascale's Kitchen: Our famous street food

Below, I explain how to prepare all of the various components that make up a tasty falafel meal, including homemade pita bread, falafel balls, hummus, tehina and s’hug.

Three falafel and salad-filled pitas.

A Holocaust survivor has made falafel a symbol of Jewish resilience

David Leitner has made it a tradition to eat two falafel portions each Jan. 18 to celebrate his survival.

AN ANNUAL falafel celebration helps David Dugo Leitner commemorate his mother and his survival

Falafel shop owner claims police assault after opening amid COVID lockdown

The owner, Ilan Atlan, 50, and his son were eventually arrested by police, after reinforcements arrived at the scene.

Israel Police officers enforce lockdown restrictions, January 8, 2020.

Quarter to Africa deliver a pick-me-up with 'Falafel Pop'

“People know what falafel is, not just in Israel,” he explains. “But you can also mention it in England, or France or wherever and people know what it is and actually enjoy it. So why not?”

QUARTER TO AFRICA – multicultural roots music

Netanyahu eats falafel, supporter yells 'death to Leftists'

Netanyahu ordered a falafel and asked the owners if they had received the government assistance that was due to them.

Israel's Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu (L) buys a falafel sandwich while campaigning in the northern city of Tiberias February 8, 2009

A Trader Joe’s hack: Falafel schnitzel

Try serving these with some amba (pickled mango sauce) or a tahini sauce.

AN ANNUAL falafel celebration helps David Dugo Leitner commemorate his mother and his survival

‘Kashrut shaming’ leads to backlash by celebrated falafel bar

The COVID-19 lockdown created severe difficulties for restaurants across the country which faced a catastrophic fall off in revenue during the height of the government's social-distancing.

Hummus and Falafel, Israel's favorite chickpea-based dishes

Crying Israeli falafel shop owner suffers heart attack

'It is definitely possible to say that he took these things to heart. Without a doubt'

Yuval Carmi, an Israeli falafel shop owner, with Prof. Kobi George at the Kaplan Medical Center