Carts are the latest craze here in Israel. First came the coffee carts. Israelis take their coffee very seriously. While they’ve existed for years, they became much more popular during COVID-19, when indoor dining was not an option. Now, these coffee carts on wheels can be found from the Golan in the north to the Negev in the south, and everywhere in between, many of them kosher. They serve coffee and pastries, and some offer a small menu of light food. Some are tucked away in forests and nurseries, while others pop up along highways.
There’s something friendly and informal about them. You don’t have to make a reservation, order on an app, or even dress up. You can just show up and pick a wooden seat near a wooden counter. The workers seem genuinely happy to see you.
A national magazine even ran an article featuring dozens of carts, complete with descriptions and a map pinpointing each location. Websites list them too. The Coffee Trail site filters for details such as location, kashrus, menu, proximity to hiking trails, scenic views, and even whether the cart is owned by a reservist. Many Israelis go out of their way to support businesses owned by reservists who’ve served for long stretches during the war, often leaving their livelihoods behind.
My husband and I visited one such café in Teverya this summer. The café overlooked the Kinneret—stunningly beautiful, but also extremely hot. That explained why the café closed during sweltering afternoon hours. We were the first to arrive early in the morning, and, even then, it was boiling. When the next customers entered, we realized that the large black machines scattered around the seating area were portable air blowers, meant for us to place strategically to make outdoor dining bearable. We enjoyed our breakfast with gusts of warm air on our faces.
Since October 7, a new wave of coffee carts has emerged—this time as memorials. Families and friends of fallen soldiers have opened carts in their memory. One such cart is Café Daniel, in memory of Daniel Shimon Perez hy”d, son of Rabbi Doron Perez, the executive chairman of the World Mizrachi Movement. Daniel, a 22-year-old platoon commander in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion, and his crew—Tzevet Perez (Team Perez)—fought off Hamas terrorists at the Nahal Oz outpost on October 7 until he was killed, along with Tomer Leibowitz and Itay Chen. Daniel and Itay’s bodies were taken captive to Gaza and were returned last month along with other hostages, including Matan Angrest, the sole survivor of Daniel’s crew. Daniel’s cousin opened the cart in Emek Hefer in the Sharon region as a place of connection, reflecting Daniel’s gift for bringing people together from all walks of life.
Another initiative, Carts of Heroism, launched by the Goalei Ha’aretz (“Redeemers of the Land”) organization, takes this idea further. The group plans to purchase forty mobile carts equipped with tools and supplies to aid farms and settlements across the Galil, Negev, and Yehuda V’Shomron, each dedicated to the memory of a fallen soldier. Their goal is to honor the fallen while continuing the mission they gave their lives for: building and sustaining the Land of Israel. Each cart will carry not only equipment—such as a generator, concrete mixer, welder, tongs, and shovels—but also a photo and a quote from the soldier’s letters. These carts will travel from place to place, helping establish farms and settlements and strengthening communities.
Even in hard times, Israelis find ways to connect, to give, and to remember—sometimes over nothing more complicated than a good cup of coffee.
Please continue to daven for the return of the bodies that are still in Gaza, the healing of the wounded, comfort for the bereaved, and the safe return of all soldiers and rescue personnel.
Suzie Steinberg, (nee Schapiro), CSW, is a native of Kew Gardens Hills and resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh who publishes articles regularly in various newspapers and magazines about life in general, and about life in Israel in particular. Her recently published children’s book titled Hashem is Always With Me can be purchased in local Judaica stores as well as online. Suzie can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and would love to hear from you.
