By Tobias Siegal
After long stretches of war, Israel develops a particular kind of appetite. Not just for food, though that too, of course. It is an appetite for discovery, for the simple joy of stepping into a space that feels new and familiar at the same time: a beautiful rooftop, a hidden courtyard, a secret corner of your city that reminds you of home, and feeling, if only for a few hours, like a guest in your own backyard.
All this may help explain how Rehov Charlotte – founded by Charlotte Hadjaj – stays relevant, even in times of war. What began as a tiny improvised dinner on a street in Jaffa during the pandemic has grown over the years, with outposts now in Paris and New York, as well as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. But at its heart, it still carries the same idea that made it special from the start: creating intimacy and joy in moments when both feel in short supply.
“ Rehov Charlotte was born out of a simple act of creativity during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Hadjaj, a Paris native who trained in hospitality and worked in top hotels in Paris and London before moving to Tel Aviv about five years ago, a city she says she had long loved.“ In the midst of lockdowns and uncertainty, I set a table in the street in front of my apartment in Jaffa, Tel Aviv, and cooked dinner for a couple. I was just trying to bring a sense of joy back into life.”
It was a small gesture, but in hindsight, a defining one. Like so many good ideas that emerge from Israel, Rehov Charlotte did not take shape in ideal conditions. What started as something almost accidental soon attracted attention. There was something appealingly simple and original – basic yet new – about it: a meal, a bit of secrecy, a lot of atmosphere, and the sense that strangers could become companions for the evening.“ Six months later, that humble street dinner moved to a boat in the port of Jaffa, and from there the idea grew into something larger,” Hadjaj explains.
“ Rehov Charlotte’ s signature experience, the Secret Dinner, is a nomadic, immersive culinary adventure,” Hadjaj says.“ I choose an unusual secret location, prepare a menu that stays a surprise until the last moment, and invite a live artist to perform.” And every detail, she continues, is curated“ to create a sense of wonder and connection.”
In Israel, especially now, connection is not a luxury. It is a necessity. This is a country that has spent the last two and a half years juggling grief and routine, alertness and normalcy. Israelis have become experts at carrying emotional weight while still insisting on living a normal life. Cafés fill up after terrible news. Weddings resume between rounds of reserve duty. That spirit is very much a part of Rehov Charlotte’ s appeal.
“ Here in Israel, despite the war and the darkness it casts over daily life, people remain resilient and eager to celebrate,” Hadjaj says.“ We’ ve continued to create experiences for locals who are looking for moments of light, beauty, and communal joy even in difficult times.”
In fact, it was difficult circumstances that pushed Hadjaj to keep the project alive, beyond one location. That expansion has turned Rehov Charlotte from a local gem into something broader. Paris makes sense, given Hadjaj’ s roots and training. New York, too, feels like a natural fit for a concept built on curiosity, intimacy, and cultural mixing.
There, Hadjaj says, the idea
The Charlotte Jewish News- May 2026- Page 19
Notes from Israel: Rehov Charlotte and Israel’ s Instinct to Come Back to Life
Charlotte Hadjaj, Founder of Rehov Charlotte
has already found an eager audience through private events and what she calls“ Adventurer” nights, where solo guests and small groups come together for a shared evening.“ The concept resonates strongly with diverse audiences who love the blend of surprise, connection, and culinary storytelling.”
Still, the concept feels unmistakably Israeli in spirit. It is informal but intentional. Improvised, yet deeply thoughtful. And it rests on a very local assumption: put the right people around a table, add music and a little vulnerability, and som thing special will happen. That may be why it resonates now. At a time when so much of life has been mediated through screens, alerts, and anxiety, a dinner that asks people to simply show up and surrender to the unknown has its own quiet charm.
As Hadjaj puts it,“ Rehov Charlotte is more than a dining experience. It’ s a platform that brings artists, unusual spaces, and people together in unforgettable ways.”
And in a country shaped by its sense of community, that may be the right kind of table to gather around.