Levivot or Latkes in Israel 2024-2025

Taste one of the most traditional Jewish dishes served for the Hanukkah time—levivot (Hebrew) or latkes (Yiddish). Originally, levivots were prepared from potatoes and cheese being deep-fried in oil. However, these days, chefs have developed a wide variety of levivots cooked with corn, zucchini, and spinach. If you are a fan of Jewish cuisine or just would like to have a nice fatty meal, levivots are an absolute must.

History of Latkes

Despite being a culinary staple in the Jewish cuisine and the Hannukah celebration potato latkes have been added to the holiday menu fairly recently. The potato hasn't been widely used in Jewish meal until the eighteenth century. Prior to that, latkes were usually made with cheese as a nod to the story of Judith, a Jewish widow who fed cheese and wine to Holofernes, the Assyrian general, who invaded Israel. The general fell asleep, after which Judith beheaded him, leading to the victory of Israel against the Assyrian army.

As the potatoes became more common, especially in the Eastern Europe, latkes evolved into what we know today as potato pancakes. However, there's no need to limit yourself to just one variation of this delicious dish. You can easily experiment with various additions, such as zucchini, cheese, and many other ingredients.