Posted on 06/22/2009 8:50:40 AM PDT by yoe
Beneath the attention of major media coverage, the boycott of Israeli products has arrived in America. Its first (reported target) over this past weekend was the couscous at Trader Joe's.
The Atlantic's (Jeffrey Goldberg comments:) "My recommendation: Head to Trader Joe's and buy anything made or grown in Israel. I hear the Israeli couscous goes well with grilled scapegoat, by the way." Rabbi Isaac Jeret of Congregation Ner Tamid in Los Angeles elaborates in an email to friends:
As many of you know, one of the most difficult challenges for the State of Israel during its recent war in Gaza (and ever since) was determining how to counter the numerous boycotts launched against suppliers, vendors, and retailers throughout Europe distributing or selling Israeli products. A major contributing factor to the difficulty in combating these boycotts was and remains the relatively small Jewish population throughout Europe, as compared to the much larger and growing Muslim population.
Very sadly, the tactic employed against Israeli products in Europe has now made its way to our own country, taking root in our own backyard and focusing its attention upon a grocery retailer that many of us patronize, Trader Joe's. Only, the difference is that, in the United States, there is a significantly larger Jewish population than there is in Europe and we now find ourselves in a position to make an immediate and very positive impact on Israel's behalf.
Trader Joe's has been targeted by anti-Israel groups for boycotts, and possibly for picketing, because of their refusal to bow to pressure by anti-Israel groups who have sought to have the store's management remove Israeli products from their shelves. The group spearheading this effort nationwide is the BOYCOTT DIVESTMENT CAMPAIGN, a coalition of anti-Israel groups that is based in Pittsburgh. Regionally, they are working in concert with the Northern-California-based South Bay Mobilization Group (not our South Bay, but rather that of Northern California).
Together with other groups comprising this sinister coalition that aims to cast Israel as an Apartheid State in the vein of South Africa - a baseless charge that reflects ignorance and, most often, anti-Semitic sentiments, those targeting Trader Joe's seek to bring harm to Israel's economy and to tarnish its standing in American public opinion by mobilizing intimidating boycotts in a most offensive manner.
They have selected this coming Saturday, June 20, as their initial, nationwide World Refugee Day. To understand their aims in their own words, the following is a quote from their website: "We invite you to organize in your community and deshelve, sticker, boycott, and protest the presence of Israeli products!"
Learn more about this immediate concern by reading (the report issued on the StandWithUs website) StandWithUs is a Los Angeles based Israel-advocacy organization that does outstanding work).
Here is what we can do:
Please make a point of shopping at Trader Joe's over the coming days and weeks. Please go out of your way to introduce yourselves to store-managers and to let them know that one of the reasons that you are patronizing their store is precisely because of their principled and courageous determination to continue selling Israeli products. Let them know that you know of many others who feel this way, who might not choose to introduce themselves personally, but who have determined to support Trader Joe's all the more so because of its decision.
Wherever you may shop - for groceries and otherwise, please consider both or either (a) going out of your way to purchase Israeli products and/or (b) thanking store-managers or proprietors for carrying Israeli products.
Via Fern Oppenheim.
I’ll be stopping by Trader Joe’s after work today!
Amen to that, FRiend.
Trader Joe’s also doesn’t sell items made in China. On top of that, the quality of their food is excellent and it often beats the prices charged at other local grocery stores.
http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2055
Some are the usual suspects, some more eye-opening.
I get Israeli couscous at my health food store.
What else should I look for besides couscous? Canned goods? Any brand names come to mind? I’m not ready to start trying to a lot of stuff in a new cuisine from scratch.
Trader Joe’s has great products at a great price. Their stores are clean and the staff actually appears to like their jobs.
From one of the links:
“Anonymous said...Bay area Trader Joes sold out, yes kids, sold out of israeli products!!!! Way to go!!!!! June 20, 2009 5:03 PM”
http://www.divestthis.com/2009/06/what-to-do-with-all-that-couscous.html
Two Buck Bump!
I love TJ’s but have to travel to Ann Arbor to shop there. I love their graham crackers and my husband *adores* their nut-based cereals. I buy the fruit strips for my daughter and would shop there more often if it weren’t 30 miles away.
Bought a new greenhouse made in Isreal by RION, Less expensive and more insulation than other models....If anyone is in the market check them out.
I doubt Trader Joe’s needs much support. No one takes these nutbags seriously. I live near a TJ’s and it is packed every single day. They make a mint. Ironically Trader Joe’s has been owned since 1977 by a former Nazi soldier, Theo Albrecht in Germany, who is now the 16th richest man in the world, and has close ties with Jewish groups. So a big “danke schoen” to Mr. Albrecht for resisting these modern Nazis of the Jew-hating left.
We typically shop there once or twice a month.
This has nothing to do with TJ’s (I really like them, though!) - but if you’re looking to support Israeli made products - check out Seacret. They are beauty products made from minerals from the Dead Sea. It’s a bit pricey but worth it. We found them at a kiosk in the mall - they also have a website.
Fine. They like Israel.
Of MUCH more importance, is how do they feel about America?
Traditional America.
I just sent them an e-mail thanking them for not giving in to the anti-Semite bigots of the world.
You can too:
http://www.traderjoes.com/contact_us.html
It is a little-known fact that 20% of the generic drugs sold in the US are made in Israel by Teva Pharmaceuticals. If you are receiving a generic drug, ask your pharmacist if Teva makes an equivalent, and to fill your prescription with that drug.
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