Israeli Chef Honors Heroic Pilot with Traditional Offering
A heartfelt tribute in Tel Aviv as Chef Reena Pushkarna serves traditional prasad to honor Captain Smita Machhars bravery.
Tel Aviv, October 29 (Daily Kiran) : In Tel Aviv, celebrity chef Reena Pushkarna shared an emotional experience about serving traditional prasad to Israeli citizens in honor of Captain Smita Machhar. Pushkarna, who previously hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at her restaurant, recounted the gratitude expressed by Israelis after Machhar saved numerous lives during a recent emergency.
Pushkarna explained that Captain Machhar’s heroic actions had left a profound impact. Whenever Israelis encountered an Indian, they would express their thanks by calling out Machhar’s name. Inspired by this gratitude, she decided to create a dish to convey their appreciation.
When she presented the prasad to the Israeli citizens, many were moved to tears. Some women asked if the offering was a genuine gesture of thanks from India, highlighting the deep emotional connection formed by Machhar’s bravery.
Moreover, Pushkarna revealed a phone call from Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, regarding a planned visit from Captain Machhar. Netanyahu requested Pushkarna to host Machhar, ensuring that the meal would cater to his vegetarian preferences.
With a smile, Pushkarna stated, “On this occasion, I will also offer him prasad as a gift from the Israeli people.”
Captain Smita Machhar made headlines on September 30, 2026, when he heroically prevented a FlyDubai flight from crashing while en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite facing a life-threatening attack from the co-pilot, Machhar risked his life to save others. In recognition of his bravery, Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced that Machhar would receive the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.
