Meet Ruthie Edelstein, who launched Taste Israel in 2020 after realizing that her life’s calling was to help people eat delicious food in the country she’s always loved. Raised in a proud Zionist home in Sacramento, California, Ruthie studied abroad at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and made aliyah in 2010. After years of straddling the worlds of non-profit marketing and Israeli tourism, Ruthie found a purpose in leading culinary tours in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. “For me, the food of Israel serves as a delicious lens to the nuanced lives of the people who live here,” Ruthie shared. 

While Taste Israel continues to showcase Israel’s diverse food scene through culinary tours, Ruthie has found a way to transport the tastes of Israel abroad, teaming up with a local spice merchant, Roni, of Shrem Spices, to curate packages of teas and spices. After October 7, when people overseas are aching for Israel, these food packages provide a much-needed, palpable connection.