| We all have certain sayings, idioms and visuals | | | | prefer made-in-Israel products and the reason for |
| that are engrained in our minds, making the reality | | | | that is pride. |
| of our younger years a cohesive history. One of | | | | I take pride at what my people have managed to |
| those, for me, is 'Buy Blue and White' or in | | | | accomplish even though we are a young, small |
| Hebrew (as I can still hear it in my head): Knu | | | | country, a melting pot which dwellers tend to |
| Kachol Lavan. The rationale behind it was | | | | argue everything an about everything, a nation of |
| connecting the blue and white Israeli flag colors | | | | people uprooted and exiled so many times and |
| with the pride of buying something that's your | | | | for so many generations. Even with all these |
| own and can support your country. | | | | hurdles, we managed to produce, to build, to |
| It was a campaign that ran in Israel of the | | | | recreate and regroup, to create a future for |
| seventies (?), aiming to convince shoppers to buy | | | | ourselves. |
| Israeli grown, Israeli produced, and Israeli made | | | | So next time, when you see a made-in-Israel |
| products, so the country's ever so fragile | | | | product on the shelf at Costco, a made-in-Israel |
| economy can strive, or at list root itself deeper. | | | | fruit or lotion at Trader Joe's, a hotel that uses |
| I recently found that call again: | | | | made-in-Israel towels or other products, take a |
| Chief Rabbis Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron and Yisrael Meir | | | | stand and stand with Israel, support the people |
| Lau ask the public to buy Israeli products. | | | | who are building peace in the middle east, support |
| Following a meeting with Industry and Trade | | | | people who believe in giving and doing, even when |
| Minister Dalia Itzik, who is pushing the campaign to | | | | routinely attacked and repeatedly assaulted by |
| "buy blue-and-white" (Israel's official colors), the | | | | terror. The fields in the Negev are blooming, the |
| rabbis issued a call that was read in synagogues | | | | startups in Haifa and Tel Aviv are busily inventing |
| throughout the country on the Shavuot holiday | | | | new programs, and the Sderot factories keep |
| this past Friday. "In light of the economic | | | | yielding quality products and high spirits. |
| situation," the rabbis wrote, "when factories are | | | | So when I need a house warming gift for a |
| being closed, unemployment is growing, and many | | | | Jewish couple, I prefer the beautiful mezuzah |
| families can barely afford to put food on the | | | | covers that are vivid and colorful, made-in-Israel |
| table, we are commanded to fulfill the verse, 'If | | | | by Yair Emanuel who designs and crafts these |
| your brother falters, strengthen him, that he may | | | | extraordinary mezuzahs in his studio in Jerusalem. |
| live with you.' It is incumbent upon us to help our | | | | At that price, my gift looks sophisticated but does |
| brothers who face financial difficulties, and enable | | | | not eat up my budget, even though it's imported |
| them to live honorably before they require | | | | and artisan made. For the newlywed I opt for |
| charity. During these days of trouble both | | | | something pricier, a silver Kiddush cup made-in... |
| nationally and individually, we must be careful to | | | | you guessed it: Israel and my girlfriends get an |
| buy Israeli-made products." | | | | Orna Lallo art or one of Iris Design's marvelous |
| - From Arutz 7 | | | | pieces. |
| It has been quite a few years and some shopping | | | | I can't wait for my son to be Bar Mitzvah, as I |
| sprees since then, I no longer live my day to day | | | | already know which Tallit I'm going to surprise him |
| life in Israel, but I still get excited when I see | | | | with. |
| Israeli grown bell peppers at Costco or the | | | | May we enjoy our lives, meet only in happy |
| 'made-in-Israel' tag on a hotel towel. I certainly | | | | events and have enough to support good causes. |