Israeli Bean Soup

Ingredients

• small white beans

  (navy beans etc.)
  2 cup
• Cold water

  (for soaking the beans)
  6 cup
• tbl olive oil
  1 unit
• onions

  chopped
  3 unit
• celery

  chopped
  3 stalk
• garlic cloves

  minced, up to 4
  3 unit
• carrots

  chopped
  3 unit
• water
  6 1/2 cup
• potatoes

  peeled & cut in small chunks
  2 unit
• bay leaves

  up to 2
  1 unit
• Dried thyme

  to taste
  1 tsp
• cumin

  to taste, up to 2
  1 tsp
• (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  1 can
• tbl tomato paste
  2 unit
• salt & pepper

  to taste
  1 unit
• Fresh cilantro

  minced, up to 1/2, up to
  1/4 cup