Erev Shabbos #24- In the Middle of Purim Week

Well, so much for that theory that now that I had a steady job and a schedule of classes, I would be able to find free time to post more often. I should do like SD and get an iPod touch, because at least then, I could write posts on my agonizingly long bus rides.

Today is sort of an 'in the middle' day. You see, in Israel, Purim lasts an entire week. How you may ask? Well, it goes like this.

First there is the planning for Shalach Manos and the shopping. Whether you are doing a theme or not adds a bit to this step, but not by much. You have to calculate how many people you know, how many you don't know but want to give to, how many you have to give to, and how many your children/spouse/other miscellaneous people need. This requires you to have a math oriented brain, combined with a knowledge of what sales go on where, as well as the best places to shop before they get ransacked.

After all this, you have to actually go out and shop for it, which also includes the famous part where you get to the store and what you wanted isn't there, so you have to revise your ideas, theme, or just give it up entirely.

Then, the children have a Purim party. This never takes place on Purim, or even the day before Purim. It's always at least 4 days before. So that means costume shopping has to take place at least a week before, as well as deciding who will wear what, and what is available. Enough said- I'm sure you can hear the arguing and the indecisiveness in your sleep.

In addition, on the day of the Purim party, or possibly the last day of school before Purim, shalach manos is required to be sent to your childrens' teachers, principals, doctors, and so on. Failure in this is not an option, so you have to prepare that Shalach Manos at least 2 days before Purim.

Finally, the great day arrives, in all its glory.

What does this all have to do with today? Well, since in Yerushalayim, Purim falls out on Monday, yet no-one has school on Sunday, and the Purim parties took place on Wednesday or Thursday to avoid the rain that is assailing us today, today is more of a relaxed day, in the middle of all the hubbub.

Me? I'm going to cook for Shabbos and make hamentashen. Because what would an 'in the middle' Shabbos before Purim but after Taanis Esther be without hamentashen for dessert?

Gut Shabbos all!

Bargaining, Israeli Style

I know, the whole world isn't a shuk (open air marketplace). But it sure seems like it!

Practically all Israelis bargain, and love doing it. Whether it's shopping for basic food items at an actual shuk- like Machane Yehuda, or doing some shopping at a small store, you can probably always bargain down the price.

Big grocery stores like Yesh, or Bar Kol, are immune to my nefarious bargaining ways. After all, when they list their chicken on sale for 29.90 NIS, I can't very well go up to them and ask to have it for cheaper if I buy more. However, with my local butcher, I totally can. He even has a sign up right now for cases of chicken for cheaper if you buy by bulk. And, what if I walked in- after discussing with 5 neighbors of course- and then asked to buy 5 cases- would he give it to me for cheaper? Maybe. Who knows?

My whole block seems to believe in this wholesale theory. There are families who sell eggs, for about at least 5 NIS cheaper than the local grocery store. The same goes for flour, oil, sugar, and other household items. Another neighbor does a gigantic meat order, of which I proudly participate every month.

If I head down to my favorite baby supply shop- he'll give me bargains right on the spot. All prices are negotiable, it seems, if they are just taped on the item with a sticker. After all, he could just rewrite the sticker, couldn't he?

I never thought I would do something like that. It's like walking in the US into a store and asking to have the listed item for less. I would never be brave enough to do that- except maybe in a Jewishly owned store. (Does that say that all Jews are willing to bargain, even if they aren't from Israel?)

As the NY Times stated, most shoppers were looking for bargains this past holiday season. So maybe it's not a Jewish thing after all? Although, I have to admit, I love showing off a great deal.
It's like beating the odds, getting my pack of disposable diapers for 48 NIS, instead of 69. I just HAVE to talk about it.

So is it Jewish to bargain? Israeli? Or something in between?

OII #17- It's a Gemach, Not a Store

Well, I'm basically settled in, and I started to explore the neighborhood. But I had a secret confession to make: I used to live next door, literally, to a major cheap supermarket. So, I was determined to find a way to do my shopping in the same manner- convenient, close, and cheap.
Little did I know that those things are possibly oxymorons.

At first, I took the bus ride to the nearest large and cheap supermarket, thinking that with all the money I'll save, I can make up for the bus ride and delivery charges. This was true, but a major hassle.

Then, I found a smaller, not as cheap, but still large supermarket, a short bus ride away, that I would also have to pay for delivery. Not financially worthwhile, except on the days they have major sales.

I tried the store advertised in the local circular, but although they have sales, the other items are inflated to much higher prices.

The local market suited me fine, as it was a makolet with it all, but I heard rumors about the Arab men working there, and that just scared me off.
So where to shop?

Then I heard about the other local makolet. It was stocked with American products, albeit that the prices were sky high, but everyone, and I mean everyone, shopped there.
Why? What was the hype? I had to go and check it out.

The first odd thing that struck me was that the store owner was manning the checkout.
The second odd thing was that he said hello to me, and welcomed me to the neighborhood.
The third odd thing was that every one, all the workers, were Jewish, and not only that, but were extraordinarily helpful.
Even odder- they all spoke English.

So I shopped there. And continuing with the oddities, I was subjected to the help asking me if I needed any.

When I checked out, I asked for delivery, and how much it would cost. "Free," he remarks to me, asking where I live in the next breath.

There was a small notecard box next to him, and I immediately realized that this was a store where people shopped on credit. If they had money, or they didn't have money, everyone was able to buy food, and then pay it off when they needed to.

I remarked on my unusualy experience with the Rebbitzen of the neighborhood, and she informed me that the owner has a heart of gold. He can't stand to see anyone go hungry, and he allows all who need to pay over many months. "It's a 'gemach', not a store," she told me. He just keeps on giving, and those loyal customers who actually do pay are keeping his business afloat for those who can't.

Mi K'Amcha Yisroel- where a storekeeper uses his entire shop to perform mitzvos. May he continue to have success in his business.

How To Live In America, I Mean, Israel

I know I'm rather slow on the uptake, but I recently went to visit the new (okay, rather old, but new to me) Mamilla shopping center (should I rephrase: strip mall), next to the Carta parking lot that the entire charedi public is up in arms about (since the government wants to open it on Shabbos to aid those who are non-Jewish or secular who want to visit the Kotel.).

The streets were rather busy, (Maybe cleaning up from the protests?) but I got there in one piece. It's right next to the Kotel- so you can go right from your shopping (or place of no Kedusha) to one of the holiest places on Earth. (I'm not so sure that is a good thing.)

And what a strip mall it was! Rolex, Chanel, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, even the first Israeli GAP opening up soon. They've got Burberry and FOX, Nike and New Balance. Honestly, there was not a single thing lacking. It was beautiful too, with white Yerushalmi stone arches next to little outdoor cafes chock full of diners. Their logo is also quite classy- three arches with Mamilla in Hebrew and English, shaped to look like an ancient coin.

I stopped in their SuperPharm- quite a sight, as they were selling Chanel and Loreal Paris, to pick up a few things, when I noticed that they have my contact lenses.

Interestingly enough, I only use one brand of contact lenses, since I've tested all the others, and nothing fits or works as well. But, I thought I was doomed to forever ordering them from America and shipping them here, as I haven't found a single store that carries them. Yet, in this SuperPharm, somehow, someway, they were sitting right on the shelf, albeit for 50 % more than American prices.

Do I really ever have to leave Israel again? After all, what could I possibly be missing?! They've even invented Israeli cream cheese! (Okay, so it has an Agudas Yisroel hechsher, which I don't eat, but still....)

Is that what living in Israel should be? That everything is available, if you have the money to pay for it. I thought that Israel was meant to be removed from the total forms of physicality that are available in other places- sort of like a make-do with less environment. Yet, somehow, I can still get my MAC makeup right here in Yerushalayim. Should it be this way? Is it a good thing?
I'm not sure.

Heading Towards Charedi

Shuk shopping has got to be one of my favorite Israeli pastimes.

After all, where else do you get to see fruit that looks like its right off the branch, fish literally swimming in a tank right before Shabbos, and the genial, sometimes direct, vendors hawking their wares all in one place?!

Just walking through the Machane Yehuda shuk has got to be an experience in itself, one not for the faint of heart.

You see the elderly Yerushalmi bubbies dragging their agala (cart) along the aisles, along with tourists snapping pictures left and right. You see the Yeshiva bachurim heading straight for the piles of fresh rugelach and bread, along with the ever present smell of sachlav. There are the regulars, the first-timers, and the vendors, constantly shouting and in perpetual motion.

There is fresh squeezed juice, chicken and fish, and of course more garninim (seed) shells than I would ever eat in a lifetime.

Recently when visiting the shuk, I noticed several stores that had, well, let me call it, the more frum hechshers. Shearis, Badatz Eidah HaCharadit, Chasam Sofer Petach Tikva and Bnai Brak, and even a Rav Landau store. All were swamped by people buying their products, while the other stores were slightly less busy than usual.

There were even some stores that had a Rabbanut, or Rabbanut Yerushalyim Mehadrin, that were also packed, and when I ventured closer, I noticed that they carried bug-free products with Rav Efrati's hechsher, also well known. Belz Machzike HaDaas and Rav Machpoud were also available, but all together, this was more Charedi hechsherim than I had seen in the shuk for a long time.

Conversely, my favorite halava guy had switched his hechsher from having a Badatz Eidah HaCharedit to having no Teuda at all, since he was now selling products from Bais Yosef, Chasam Sofer, along with his traditional Badatz halava.

So, what happened? How did everything suddenly shift, to the point where even the frummest would be able to shop in the shuk? After all, who would pass up a 4 for 10 shekel sale on fresh bug-free vegetables!

It's interesting, that even the shuk is heading towards a more religious perspective, although they may just be capitalizing on the market by getting the better hechsher. Also, some stores always carried mehadrin products, just now they are actually making the effort and getting the teuda to prove it.

I know that I love shopping in the shuk (where the fish get bopped on the head right in front of me) and now that I can buy even more products there, I'll like it even more.

OII #9- It's a War Zone- Really!

I decided to save some money this Pesach and join a co-op for vegetables. You had to order insane amounts of produce- like 9 kilo of potatoes, carrots, and onions, along with 5-6 kilo of other items- but it saved hundreds of shekels, at least in my calculations.

And I wasn't the only one- everyone I knew was ordering from them, telling me how easy it would be to head down to the local Bais Yaakov parking lot and just pick them up.
So, I blissfully sent in my money and waited to pick it up.

I offered to go myself, but Mr. NMF insisted on helping me out, and he went down. Little did I know what was in store.

He came back an hour and a half later- looking like he had just walked out of a war zone. Kippah askew, he told me, "That place is a madhouse. And, I didn't finish!"

So, I decided to go down to see for myself.
Hundreds of people, all crammed together, toting huge bags and sacks of vegetables. Trying to balance their chassa (romaine lettuce) and their green onions, on top of giant boxes of bananas, people were rushing back and forth, with baby carriages, shopping carts- you name it, they had it, to carry the produce.

I noticed two things.
Firstly- wow.
Mr. NMF has a rebbe who was here right after the 6 Day War. A friend of the rebbe's was sick, and the doctor prescribed eating apples. In order to get apples, they had to search, and finally found a rich Arab who was willing to sell them some apples from his one apple tree for a hefty price.
Now- we have abundance of produce- so much fruit and vegetables, that we can't even carry it home. Israel has come a long way since the days of no apples.

Secondly, a man was rushing back carrying his bag of apples, and it developed a hole.
Suddenly, everyone stopped, including me. We all dropped whatever we were carrying, and raced after the apples that were slowly bouncing down the hill, and retrieved them all. The man thanked us all profusely, and remarked- Mi K'Amcha Yisroel- who is like Your nation, Israel!

That's how everyone behaved. Despite the fact that it was a tumult, almost like a war zone, when it came down to it, everyone behaved like decent human beings, like a mentch.

So- if they say that Israel is a war zone- well, it could happen, but only during vegetable pick-up before Pesach.

OII #8- Patience and Products

I'll admit it: I was scared stiff. Yes, that would be me, the shy, nervous trembling person standing in the corner.
Why, you may ask?

Well, I was about to embark on a big step: Ordering my Pesach butcher order.

Don't laugh, it's not a funny business. When I moved here to E"Y, I knew the basics. Salamon- Salmon. A+B- Gefilte fish. Of- Chicken. And, so on.

Succos- I didn't order anything special or out of the ordinary. And, slowly I learnt more. I learnt there was Nile perch, sole, tuna, pike, carp, and silver carp. I learnt that Rolada meant a roast, and that I could get a bag full of Atzamot- bones for soup.

But, Pesach is the large order, the one that I can't afford (literally) to get wrong. And, I panicked. I mean, how in heaven's name could I figure out the Hebrew words for half the stuff I know how to cook? And then make sure it's Pesachdik? That was a challenge.

I came prepared. I marched in, and told them (my butcher only speaks Hebrew) in my best Hebrew the basics of my order. And then I got stuck.

I blanked out. I wanted ground pike and whitefish to make homemade gefilte fish, but I couldn't seem to get anyone to understand my wording.

Patiently, my butcher took time out from his busy schedule to try to help me decipher my own words. Slowly, we went through each fish, every single name, and he explained to me which ones were for which. And slowly, I figured out that pike is Booriy, and that there is no whitefish in Israel, but I could substitute silver carp- Kasif.
Meanwhile, he had customers waiting, but he took the time to patiently help me, the English speaker, without making fun of me.

For my meat order- I had to do more research. You see, in Israel, it's not done by name- like London broil, or sirloin, or ribeye steak. It's done by number- 1, 2, 3...with each representing a different cut.
So, I went home and turned on my trusty laptop, and lo' and behold- I found an amazing website- IsraelEasy, which showed me I'm not the only Olah to have this problem. Here's the links to the meats and fish of Israel- if it is of use to anyone.

And, my butcher was patient with me yet again, and helped me decipher my meat order as well, in slow Hebrew and broken English.

Thank G-d for kind Israelis. Otherwise, how would I eat!

Money Tree

When I was little, I was told that "money doesn't grow on trees." Albeit that it is made of paper, and therefore, has something to do with trees, making money is not an easy business.

With the economy in the US the way it is, finding a job in today's times is harder than ever. I personally know many who are collecting unemployment, and I know some who are scared stiff that they soon will have to do the same.
The Israeli job market is a tough one to break into- mostly since jobs are found via the special 'P' ingredient- protexia. There are also very few jobs for Anglos (English speakers) that don't require fluent Hebrew- something most Anglos don't have yet.

So- what do we do? Well, we take advice from people like Orthonomics- and start cutting down. Frugality becomes our middle name. And that's a good thing.

When I got married, I realized I no longer had the same budget as I did when I was single. I mean- it was the same budget, but it had to be stretched more ways. I clipped coupons, shopped for sales, and looked for every way to try to save money and still remain in my budget.

When I moved to Israel- I did the same. But things are different here. Not too many coupons, but more sales. Items are cheaper here, but sometimes made of shoddier material.

But, Pesach is here with a vengeance, and my mailbox has been inundated with circulars for greater savings! Coupons for the grocery stores, co-ops for the vegetables and meat, even a joint effort by a Rosh Yeshiva for savings on Mehudar Matzos.

I can't remember the last time in the US that I saved money on Pesach! It's so wonderful to be able to feel like Pesach food products aren't going to bankrupt me (and frankly, might be cheaper than during the year due to the extreme amount of savings!)

So- why does this only happen in Israel? Shouldn't there be Pesach savings all over?
After all- money really doesn't grow on trees!

Erev Shabbos #13- Pesach Prep

It's Erev Shabbos again, and I'm starting to do more than just think about Pesach. I mean, I did start cleaning already- basic, nothing major, but now on Erev Shabbos, it comes to a head.

As I wrote my shopping list, I thought- well, only one package of pearl barley, as Pesach is coming. Oh, and why buy more of 'that', for I'll just need to get rid of it before Pesach. Oh and make sure to get 'this' before this week, because next week, our store will be Pesachdik already.

Pesach requires advance planning. Oh, and this is the last week I can have guests before Pesach- as the cleaning ensues with a vengeance next week.

So, my Erev Shabbos this week is connected with Pesach. But, that's okay.

I will take the time, now that the clock's changed, to enjoy a later Shabbos, to have more time to prepare, to relax, to get myself into the Shabbos atmosphere before Shabbos.

Because next week- the fury ensues- so I need all the relaxation time that I can get!

Gut Shabbos everyone!

Satisfied With Less

It's amazing, isn't it. I grew up in a house that had 3 bedrooms and sprawling land space. I had a backyard, a swingset, and trees. I knew of houses that had 4, 5, or even 6 bedrooms. There were mansions, and redone kitchens. There was crystal, silver, and leather. Curtains abounded, and carpets occupied every inch of the floor.

And, I moved here. To a three bedroom apartment, and nothing else. Small kitchen, a porch, and a view that just about knocks the socks off of anyone that sees it. I don't have carpets, or draperies. I like shopping at a supermarket that doesn't have 10 varieties of ketchup.
How can this be?

How can I go from a 2 1/2 acre home to a 120 meter apartment and still be happy?
Surprisingly, I can. I don't have to own the latest clothing, or have my American peanut butter to be happy. (Alright, I confess- I succumb to Heinz Ketchup. But what can I do against such temptation?) My house doesn't have to be a house to be a home. Shockingly, I hope that one day I'll have kids, and they'll share a room. Yep, more than 2 in a room. Hey, I know the mentality that says a kid can't be normal without his/her own room, but somehow, it works here. Most families I know have 2 bedroooms for the kids- one for the boys, and one for the girls. (Depending on the amount of different genders, of course.)

I think when someone moves to Israel, they become satisfied with less. Everyone owns an apartment, and very few have houses. So therefore, apartment life became acceptable. And in apartment life, having 4-6 bedrooms becomes impractical. So therefore, having only 3 bedrooms became decent. And because Israeli stone tends to accumulate dust everywhere, Israelis adapted to having no carpets and 'sponja'ing (kind of like mopping but with a stick and towel) their floors every two days. (Yes, Israelis are insanely clean. Insanely. But it's so nice having a shiny floor every week.) A friend called to ask me where to buy a vacumn. I gave her the information, and hung up, but I was surprised. Why? Because almost no one has a vacumn here. It's one of those things that are not part of standard, or lesser life, but rather a luxury. Imagine- a vacumn cleaner is a luxury. Shocking- no?

So can one be satisfied with less? I think so. And it helps with the 'keeping up with the Joneses' problem. And eventually, it doesn't become catagorized as less- but rather standard, and anything beyond that is considered 'more'. It's a nice way to live.

Chanukah in the Mall- OII #5

I went yesterday to the main mall in order to buy a small item for my friend- and I dragged some of my guests from Chutz L'Aaretz too.

Their reactions- astounded.
"You mean to tell me they have dozens of projects for the kids in this place?"
"They are selling sufganiyot and menorahs, just out in the open like that?"
"They have a menorah in the middle of the mall?"
"They allow the kids to run around crazily- it's such a family friendly place!"
"No carols playing anywhere? Maoz Tzur?"
"The sales people wish you a Chag Sameach??"

It's so wonderful to see these kind of reactions! Only in Israel!
Chag Sameach to all!

OII #4- People in Israel

You may not think this is an "only in Israel" experience- but I find it happens more here than anywhere else- and it really shows something special about this country.

I went to the Kotel recently- with my guests from Chutz La'aretz- and I stopped by one of my favorite stores.

This store sells antiques- chatchkas for the tourists, new stuff for those too gullible to know the difference, but sometimes real and true antiques, just sitting there for those with a discerning eye. I've been going to this store for years- when it looked like a hovel in the Old City, and I've seen it change. I've searched through their items, and actually found some beautiful and rare stuff- Iranian hand-dyed carpets from his relatives in Iran, a megilla (unkosher due to its age- but with kabbalistic symbols checked by a reliable sofer), some Yemenite silverwork- and other such things.

Over the years I've become familiar with his entire family- his grandfather sold me the hand-dyed carpet in the end of the Cardo shuk, his son and brother, formerly in the Israeli army, and his grandson- about to head into the army for his first year. He comes from Iran, and has some family there still- who send him stuff when necessary.

So what's so special about all of this? First of all- he asks how I am, how my family is. I know shopkeepers in America or other places may do this- but it's a different sort of relationship. He shmoozes with me, commenting on the political situation in various countries, various items of humor or interest- all Jewishly based, giving me a flavor of the life he leads. (Yes, I know there are those of you out there who say he'll do this to make a sale- but most of the time, I can't afford anything.)

Hearing about his life in Iran is fascinating- and knowing all his relatives- even more interesting. He's planning on opening up another shop- and I wish him luck in his new business.

He talks with the people who come into his shop- dropping some Torah here and there for a talmid chacham, admiring the new baby of a mother....generally showing care for all Jews. And yes, he caters to the tourists and students as well.

From what I see in Israel- the shopkeepers, the people in the shuk, the taxi and bus drivers- they're all like that. Caring about everyone, willing to help out someone in need, and doing it all in true Israeli style. If that happens somewhere else- I'm so happy to hear about it.

But it seems to happen here more than usual. Welcome to Israel life.

Erev Shabbos #7- Chutz L'Aaretz

Well, it's that time of the week again- and I have guests from overseas.
I was so excited to host them- I cleaned, prepped, cooked- all ready so when they came they could just relax.
They arrived in the morning- and came bearing gifts.

What did they bring me- you might ask?
Well- what every girl living in Israel wants from Chutz La'aretz.
Tinfoil.

Yep, that's right, they brought me exactly what I asked for- 4 large rolls of 250 square feet of tinfoil each.

Yes, I know you can get tinfoil in Israel- 200 square feet for 32 shekel. If you check that price, that's about 8 dollars for 1 roll of tinfoil. And don't suggest I buy the Israeli brand- it rips, tears, and is generally flimsy. And I can't reuse it.

It's amazing how a small thing like this could make me so happy. It's making my Erev Shabbos so special to have something like this- how did I get to the point when a roll of tinfoil was a source of celebration?

I guess I've come to recognize the little things in life are not so little after all.

A Gut Shabbos everyone!

Tis the Season- or NOT

Welcome to Israel- land of Jewish people all over.

Want to know what's in my local grocery store? Not red and green plates celebrating the seasonal holiday in the West, or a 7 branched candelabra for Kwanzaa, or even a turkey for the good old fashioned American holiday of Thanksgiving.

Nope, in my grocery store- we've got pure Shemen Zayit Zach- olive oil-, matches, candles, and wicks- all the accoutrements for Chanukah. (Yep, coming up in about 2 weeks!)

See? It's a Jewish country! Chag HaOrim- the festival of lights- is starting to take full swing.

With the glass sliding 'fish-tank' reminiscent boxes being sold in all major stores, (used to store the Menorah/Chanukiah so it can be lit outside) and the books on our holiday season being sold at half price, I feel quite at home.

I barely registered that in the US, major sales are going on for the shopping season. Thanksgiving pretty much passed me by, although I called my family in the US to wish them an enjoyable turkey day.
And the red and green stuff really shows up here in Israel about a year too late- by next year Succos when they'll be used as Succa decorations by unsuspecting Israelis.
(That cracks me up every time- seeing blinking lights spelling out C-H....- and having the unsuspecting Israeli go, "Aren't they pretty? They were on sale!" Or about the guy who hung up a red- suited, bearded guy in his Succa- and when asked- he answered, "It's a rebbe, right?)

Here Sufganiyot (jelly filled fried doughnuts, or caramel filled) are all over every bakery, and it's a temptation to wait till Chanukah. The dreidels (or Sivivon- small tops that children play with) are being brought home already, and the kids are waiting eagerly for the first chance to light a candle.

I'm so glad to be here, to be a part of this country that celebrates my holidays, my Chagim. I feel like I belong- like I never had before, when living in the US, and hoping that my neighbors wouldn't throw stones at my window for lighting my menorah. I feel a freedom I've never quite known. And I'm eternally grateful for it.

Mini America

I've mentioned before how easy and accessible American products are in Israel.

Crisco, from your local Shoprite or the name brand, is available at most stores.
So is Heinz Ketchup, Huggies diapers, La Choy brand soy products, Rice Dream, Nature Valley granola bars, Mishpacha graham cracker crusts, Gefen canned fruit, and the list continues on and on. Sour Sticks are my neighbor's kids choice of snack, when they go on sale for 4 for 10 shekel.

It's a bit funny- after all- how did Israel manage before the invention of Karo syrup in the local supermarket? There must have been something, or Israelis did without.

It doesn't just apply to food. Maclaren and Graco buggies do not come from Israel, that's for sure. Neither does American Sealy mattresses, Gap and Old-Navy clothing lines, or Children's Place sales. Berkshire and Brookline do not get manufactured here, and neither does Anne Klein, Nine West, Aldo, and the many shoe stores out there. Zara's, I can understand- they have a global market. And, there is even a Mac in Israel.

What is the world coming to?

And it has brought the American idea of consumerism to Israel. That 'American'- made is always better, that anything that says American must taste better, be of higher quality, and look nicer than the average Israeli product.

I went to buy shelled peanuts, and I found two types. Regular 'Botnim' (peanuts) and 'Botnim Americai'- American peanuts. When I asked the difference, I was told that American peanuts have a special shehakol coating on them. Go figure.

All one has to do to sell a product in Israel is stick an American flag on it, or say, imported from America- the land of dreams.

What did people do before the influx of people selling Baby Gap in their apartments?
I imagine they must have had substitutes, that were just as nice, or lived without- something to think about.

People have told me that it's changing- that American is not the end-all and be-all of products here anymore. I could hear that- as other countries have joined the international market here in Israel as well- Italian leather, Belgian carpets, English tea....

It's a global world out there- and Israel is smart to take advantage of it. But what did Israel do before the shipping industry took off? Did we make our own products? Did Israel have it's own special niche in many markets besides Intel and the computer industry?

If anyone knows, please let me know. I'd love to hear the history of how Fruit Roll Ups ended up in my neighborhood market.

Lost in Translation

It seems that my (formerly excellent) math skills are failing me in this country.

I mean- how hard should it be?

Take a 1.6 million shekel price for an apartment in Yerushalayim, divide by the current exchange rate (according to Janglo, today's is 3.81 shekels to 1 dollar), and shazaam- correct price in dollars. What could be so hard?

Well- I didn't factor in the critical point. The human factor.

Israelis love to bargain, and they love to get the best price. So, whether or not the exchange rate says it's 3.81, it might be according to 4, or 3.5, or that they make up a price in dollars that has nothing to do with the rate, but rather is based on their own idiosyncracies.

This applies as well to getting deals on almost everything- from shopping in Macheneh Yehuda- where you could bargain down the prices to almost half of what they originally asked for, to dealing with the phone company.

I know from my own experience, that if they offer you 60 shekel per month for 2 years, you could probably get them down to 43 shekel for a 6 month commitment period.

Nothing is as it seems.

I wish I was as good a bargainer and poker face/voice as some of my Israeli colleagues- I might even do better than what I've said already.

Some things are not negotiable- imagine me walking into Maayan 2000 and asking to bargain them down on several items. But most things are flexible- and as such, we have to roll with the punches, or end up getting lost in translation.

Materialism and Spirituality

Wow- with the fact I was sick right before Shabbos- I had some time to catch up on my reading. YWN's Out of the Mailbox section and B4S's comment have generated a bunch of ideas/critiques about the society some Jews live in, and why a new line of materialism has been drawn.
After spending a Shabbos thinking about it, I realized that Israel might not be an exception.

I mean- a generation ago, a child might be teased if he didn't have patches on his pants.
Nowadays- a child might be teased if the pants didn't come from a brand-name company, or his glasses don't match the newest fad.

Where do we draw the line? How much is too materialistic, and how much is just how society functions nowadays? It's a funny concept.

I grew up out-of-town (for all those interested, that's outside NY and Lakewood, NJ) and so we didn't have this pressure to show up at school with $110 dollar Ugg boots, or shirts with a little horse on them.

But, in different areas, the social line of how much one should involve themselves in the latest trends may, and are different.

For example, in Israel- 'American' is better- no matter if it is or isn't. I can tell good quality clothes- and some Israeli brands carry just as good, if not better merchandise.

Teenage girls here shop at Zara's, because of the American style clothing and the reasonable prices when it goes on sale, and all of them order their shoes online from the US and send them with relatives.

Small boys must have the Saret (ribbon) around the edge of their kippa, with 6 sections and no button, if they want to get into Ponevezh Yeshiva. (No joke. If they wear anything else- it's considered bummy).

So are we to say to these children- don't focus on materialism, it doesn't really matter what kippa you wear, or what label your shirt says.....but it does, in a way. It will affect them- how others view them, how they see themselves- and only children with very strong self images and very supportive parents and friends will be able to survive the onslaught.

Should parents give in? Should they buy the designer handbags for their children, give them knockoffs, or have them earn it themselves? Or should they take a strong stand and say no- also a hard choice, as their children need to be very strong in order to withstand the teasing. (And don't say move out of Place X- because it exists everywhere- with different standards of course- as shown by my examples of Israel.)

It's not a simple answer or a simple question. One can have either one or the other- Olam HaZeh or Olam HaBaah- this world or the next. So how much is too much? How much is materialism, and how much is just existence in the world we live in?

Erev Shabbos and Grocery Shopping

Only in Israel right?

The grocery in my neighborhood happens to be located next door to me- so it makes it quite convenient to pop by and pick up whatever I need.

Not only that, but they let me take my cart straight to my house, unload my food, and bring my
cart back. WITHOUT asking for a "pikadon" of any sort- to make sure I'll return it!

And in addition, for most food I don't need to check hechsherim, as it is all usually reliable.

Only downside: don't go on Erev Shabbos- the lines will take an hour or more, depending on how early Erev Shabbos you go.

Alright, just thought I'd remark on how wonderful that is.
Have a Gut Shabbos!

Quick Post Erev Shabbos

It's Erev Shabbos again- b"H.

The sounds of my neighbors hammering continue, and they probably will continue until Succos itself!

Just a quick note- E"Y just ain't what it used to be....

In the olden days, it was hard to find anything ready made, let alone American.

Now- Bodek frozen vegetables abound, as do Skippy's peanut butter, ready made pie crusts, Heinz ketchup, Hellmann's mayonnaise, and Tofutti cream cheese.

Whole stores have opened up- Cheaperkol- which caters to only American products, and all the Maayan 2000's- which have a large selection of American products.

You can get practically everything in Israel that you can get in America- which is a good thing, in that I don't have to change my shopping habits too much- if I need dulce de leche, it's easy to find....but a bad thing, in that not always do Americans survive like the real Israelis- on lachmaniyot and leben.

Oh well. Win some and lose some.
Gut Shabbos.