Israelis flock to Keith Siegel's Pancake House for the former hostage's signature hotcakes

(JTA) - TEL AVIV - As an American immigrant to Israel, Lital Friedman knows a thing or two about pancakes - including that Israel's crepe-style versions don't often stack up favorably against the fluffy style popular in the United States.

But she didn't make the trip from Jerusalem to the American-style pancake pop-up in Tel Aviv's Sarona Market for culinary reasons. She came because Keith Siegel's Pancake House honors the former hostage long known for his Shabbat-morning tradition of making pancakes for his family.

Keith Siegel was released from Gaza last month after 484 days in captivity.

"L...