IDF soldiers enjoyed the High Holidays with an abundance of apples and honey!
By TPS
The IDF supplied its soldiers with 30 tons of apples, three tons of honey and six tons of pomegranates over Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. An immense logistical operation took place ahead of the holiday to guarantee that all IDF soldiers could enjoy the holiday’s Jewish traditions.
Rosh Hashanah has many culinary customs to symbolize the new year, including dipping apple in honey to symbolize the sweet new year, and pomegranate seeds which symbolize the hope for many good deeds in the upcoming year.
The vegan soldiers were not left out and received four tons of date honey as a vegan substitute to the traditional bee honey. The soldiers drank 17,000 liters of grape juice, as alcohol is prohibited on army bases.
Giving a culinary summary for the past year, an IDF Spokesperson said that the IDF’s menu has become increasingly varied. While chicken, beef and fish, along with pasta, rice and bread still constitute the base for the army’s dietary needs, more fruits and vegetables have been introduced, to promote healthy eating and better fitness among soldiers.
The IDF has also become increasingly aware of special dietary needs, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and various allergens in the food. 13,000 gluten-free meals have been provided to soldiers who have Celiac disease and hundreds of thousands of soy products have been supplied to vegans and vegetarians as substitutes for meat and dairy.