Bamba first appeared on store shelves in 1964. At that time it was covered with cheddar cheese crumbs. This elaborate product did not arouse any enthusiasm among those for whom it was intended. Therefore, the management of the plant, which had existed in Holon for only two years, had already decided to shut down production, but someone proposed a last attempt to re-release the product to the market. This time Bamba was soaked in peanut butter, which Americans love. And as almost always happens, what works in America also worked in Israel – the new crunchy treat won success with consumers and took a worthy place on the rather meager "ha-tifim" market of those years.
Now Bamba is considered a purely children's product. But at first it was not children who liked it, but IDF soldiers – in army canteens it was literally in great demand. During the Six-Day War it was the main soldier's "hit". It moved into the children's product category somewhat later and underwent many changes – until its composition included exclusively natural products and vitamins. All preservatives and food colors were eliminated.
Over the years, Bamba began to occupy such an important place in the diet of Israeli children that during the war in Iraq in 2003, the factory producing it was declared an enterprise of special importance. In 2000, in connection with the arrival of the new millennium, a special "Bamba Millennium" was released in the shape of the digits 2 and 0. Periodically, the Osem concern releases another unusual series of this product – for example, Bamba in the shape of little bears for the holiday of Purim or in the shape of hearts for Love Day.
Let's have fun!
Israelis will not miss a single opportunity to celebrate something. A proof of this is the famous Jewish song "Hava Nagila". Outside Israel it is even more popular than in Israel itself. This song, filled with wisdom, is translated roughly as: "Let's have fun, let's have fun, let's have fun – and we will be happy!"
Foreigners doing business in Israel wait for September with horror. This month marks the Jewish New Year, and with it a whole series of holidays. The entire month has only about ten working days, and any business in the country or abroad is practically impossible.
Barbecues occupy an important place not only during vacation time, but – in families of non-religious Israelis – also on Saturdays. Hosts invite guests and serve all kinds of food. Conversations revolve around politics, sports and local gossip. As evening falls, guests leave, hosts clean up, wash dishes and, finally, exhausted, fall into bed, already ready for a new work week to begin tomorrow.
As for tourists who are in Israel during holidays, they also try to fully breathe in that fiery, cheerful spirit that is in the air. But they are not in danger of getting drunk in Israel. Whether it is because of the heat or for some other reasons, one does not feel like drinking alcohol here at all, which cannot be said about drinking in general. Every Israeli walking down the street necessarily has with him a bottle of the most ordinary water, often not even carbonated. And all the way to his destination he takes small sips from it to avoid dehydration, which is accompanied by severe headaches, nausea, dry mouth, loss of consciousness, etc.
Bad health is probably feared also by those in Israel who rarely but still consume alcohol. Although Israelis drink mainly wine, and in the evening and at religious ceremonies, bars also sell beer – as a rule, local, which makes an unaccustomed person's head spin. Even today, an Israeli can sit in a pub for hours, sipping from a single mug until his drink reaches the temperature of soup. An Israeli pub, or rather, what Israelis call a pub-restaurant, is something like an American bar with high seating, but only with typical European twilight, in which you can find both Russian vodka and Scottish whiskey – if you have the desire to consume them.
But alcohol in Israel will never replace the hookah – that is a truly oriental pleasure, accompanied by exotic fruits, nuts, soft drinks and light snacks. On holidays and on Shabbat, hookah bars are full of people.
The American fast food chain McDonald's is also in demand. For the sake of the local consumer, it abandoned the worldwide accepted technology of making hamburgers. Instead of frying flat patties on a hot skillet, they are cooked over coals, as Israelis like it. At first glance, the reason is quite simple – this method of processing significantly improves the taste of meat. But in fact, everything here is explained by psychology – Jews always and everywhere must be different from others.
Such a departure from generally accepted rules is not the only case when McDonald's management met local consumers halfway. After some time, the Israeli branches of the chain began to sell a new invention that does not exist in any other country – the new "McRoyal". It is larger, more spicy, it comes with more toppings, and it is grilled.
Of course, nowadays in modern Israel many international holidays are celebrated: on New Year's Eve parties are held, on Valentine's Day lovers give each other flowers, and on March 8 men congratulate women. Orthodox Jews object to the introduction of foreign holidays, but in Israel they are ready to eat and have fun on any occasion!