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.
Trader Joe’s is my primary! store.
Israel needs a bigger space program so they can colonize the moon, nothing would please me more than watching all of the Jew Haters be relegated to shaking their fists up at the moon in futile despair instead of being able to hurt the Jews with bombs and guns.
If I were going to own healthcare stocks, TEVA would be one that I would own.
True, they stopped selling products from China but lots of their stuff comes from Korea, VietNam and other countries that can be just as bad.
They had a big problem with their pine nuts from Korea.
Trader Joes was awesome. Love the place.
If you'd like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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Can people maybe post names of stores in their area that carry Israeli products that we can follow suit all over the country and not just that store?
Vietnam? Sh***************
Trader Joe’s has great stuff though.
Have you ever noticed, the shoppers at Trader Joe’s seem to be thin? Compare their shoppers to Walmart shoppers. A 50 pound difference on average.
LOL! Too true. My son was used to upper level stores, but when he went into a Walmart was shocked to see the weights.
One time he was at the Atlanta airport and called me to say they must be Walmart shoppers—really chubby people there.
I bought some Yehuda Whole Wheat Matzos at Whole Foods Market not long ago.
Trader Joes boycott fizzles: Couscous flies off the shelves!!!
http://cleveland.indymedia.org/news/2009/06/43830.php
by onward couscous warriors1 Sunday, Jun. 21, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Buy Israeli products day was a tremendous success all over the country. Trader Joes reports a dramatic increase in patronage and sales!
With the exception of one store in Northern california, the Trader Joes propsed day of rage against israeli couscous was a complete bust for the anti-Israel forces.
A store in Rockridge California reported a half dozen protesters out front giving out leaflets. They were largely ignored by customers. Inside the store however, as well as in most California trader Joes, Israeli products were sold out.
For information or suggestion on what to do with all that couscous, please see:
http://www.divestthis.com/2009/06/what-to-do-with-all-that-couscous.html
I wonder how many of these organizations are tied to ACORN.
Love Trader Joe’s and fortunate to live 5 minutes from one :)
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