Where are Israeli goods?

Tu B’Shvat, a minor holiday celebrating the fruits of Israel, came and went. Did any of us make an effort to buy imported foods from Israel? Kosher supermarkets from Teaneck to Monsey had none. Sure, I was able to buy dates, figs, and pomegranates, but they were from Turkey and Greece. Some of us were worried about the Torah laws of shmittah and terumah and other laws, but isn’t there anything we can buy to support Israel?

Last Sunday, I went to a giant supermarket chain store – Pathmark – to buy Shabbat candles. The two large brands there, Manischewitz and Rokeach, were manufactured in China. How sad.

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