Next time you’re in Tel Aviv and want to enjoy a good meal, don’t miss Lilit. Not only will you be enjoying a culinary experience, you’ll be making a difference in people’s lives, literally. Lilit is a restaurant that provides a work environment, which demonstrates that social responsibility can help youth in distress, by teaching them a culinary profession and turning their lives around.
 
Keren Hendler-Kremerman founded this restaurant in 1993. In 1999 Lilit closed its doors for a brief hiatus. Eighteen months ago Kremerman donated the restaurant, which now operates under a non-profit corporation, “Innovative Occupational Initiatives for Youth”. The restaurant is a joint project of Elem the Dan Hotels and the Kremerman and Hendler families.
 
Inbar Palmor, a social worker, is the onsite Elem Project Manager, responsible for managing this creative project. According to Palmor, the teens that participate in Lilit’s program have typically not only dropped out of school, but from all other frameworks Without intervention many of these teens would, in all likelihood, continue their downward slope.
 
At Lilit, teens accepted into the extremely flexible program learn a culinary profession, while working in the kitchen, side-by-side with professional chefs. To date 15 youths have participated in the program and five have graduated, meaning they are employed as chefs at area restaurants. Initially, participants work two days a week and slowly increase the number of hours they work.
 
Palmor notes that she creates a program, individually tailored, for each teen based on his needs. The program has a beginning, but no determined end point. Each participant stays as long as they need, some less than a year, others longer. During the course of the program participants also slowly venture into the work world beyond the safe environment at Lilit, to gain additional experience. 
 
In addition to learning a culinary trade that will prepare the teens to work as chefs, the program also includes enrichment classes in math, English etc. (based on the participant’s request and interests). Aside from work and classes, the plan includes regular social events and once a month, a day- trip. The social aspect is no less important for these teens than the formal work/studies, according to Palmor, as most of them lack a social structure.
 
Lilit’s current pastry chef, 17-year old Kfir Cohen, is a graduate of the program. He took over the position, six months ago, when the pastry chef under whose tutelage he learned his trade, left. Kfir told me that he went to the Youth Counselor in his neighborhood and asked his assistance in finding a job. When the counselor told him that there might be an opening for a cooking job, he didn’t want to hear about. He said, “At the time I still thought that cooking was only for women.” He added that being a chef is a good, well paying profession. Soon, the rest of his career will have to wait, due to his upcoming army service. However, he has no doubt that he will continue on his present path, once he completes his service.
 
The menu at Lilit is eclectic and seasonal. Some of the items on the current menu include, Grilled Asparagus with Pecorino Cheese, Pickled Salmon in a Mustard and Fennel Sauce, Rich Fish Soup with Pernod, Mushroom Burger with Gouda Cheese (see recipe), as well as a variety of pasta and fish dishes.
 
Lilit is a kosher restaurant.
 
Lilit is located at 42 Mazeh Street, at the corner of Rothschild Boulevard.
 
Hours: Sunday- Thursday 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Saturday, 7:30 PM – 12:00 AM.
  
 
03-6298-772 TEL
03-6291-561  FAX
 
 
 
Suggested Activity: Combine a meal at Lilit with a self-guided tour of Rothschild Boulevard’s numerous Bauhaus buildings