[img]96|left|||no_popup[/img]Dateline Jerusalem — To describe a supermarket in Israel, one must put emphasis on the “super.”
It is sort of a Costco without the need to buy in quantities.
There are always sales. Other than a few items, the prices are comparable to the U.S. or less expensive. They are located inside the mall or in large shopping centers.
In addition to groceries, just about everything else is available.
The supermarkets sell ovens, washing machines, vacuums, microwaves, toaster ovens, televisions and computers. They sell camping gear, bedding, towels, doormats, slippers, sweatshirts and china. Depending on what you buy and/or the amount you spend, the supermarket gives you gifts. Last Friday morning, I was gifted with a box of wine glasses. In the past I have received everything from a jar of pickles to fine wine to an inflatable mattress.
The most expensive food items in comparison to the U.S. seem to be breakfast cereal and
fresh orange juice. Milk does not come in a carton or plastic bottle, but in a bag. I had a difficult time finding sour cream because it was packaged in small containers like one would find filled with yogurt.
What Is the Difference?
In fact, tomato paste is also packaged that way. I have not found any tomato sauce, but the closest thing is crushed tomatoes. I still haven't figured out the difference between tomato paste and tomato concentrate since the consistency is the same. There is Israeli cheese and virtually hundreds of types of imported cheese, but none as good as I found in the U.S.
I guess I am not really into goat and sheep cheese, and even the cheese from cows is not the same. One thing I miss is TV dinners. So far I haven't found any of those.
The markets also have a butcher section where they will cut meat and poultry at your request, and there is a bakery on premises with hot freshly baked breads and pastries. No one understood me when I first asked for brisket. I finally found out that it was the beef called No. 3. There is a picture of a cow divided into parts, and that is how you order what you want.
When I go through the checkout stand, I ask for delivery.
I do not have a car, so I walk to the supermarket. There is no way I could possibly carry home all my purchases. It is so convenient, just ordering and having it delivered. The deliverers know me and are trying to teach me Hebrew.
The only thing I have to do is bag what I buy and put it in crates that are used for delivery. I pay by check or credit card, and I am given the opportunity to determine when I want the check to clear or the charge to appear on my card.
Look Who Is Doing Deliveries
Technically I could have my purchases divided into one payment per month over a period of three months and the first payment does not have to begin for an entire month! When I tell the checker that my check can be deposited that same day, they stare in disbelief. I guess with the low Israeli salaries and the many mouths to feed, it is unusual not to spread out supermarket costs.
Sometimes, however, I do not shop at the supermarket.
I go to a real bakery, then to a butcher shop where the slabs of beef hang from hooks in front of me, then to the fish store that reminds me of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. Finally I go to the vegetable store where crates of fresh fruit and vegetables abound. Other times I go to the neighborhood markets that appear on every other corner.
I do not know how they can survive the competition, but they are definitely convenient when I run out of staples. Then, of course, there is the shuk, a large bazaar of booths and stands of fruit and vegetables delivered daily from the farms, tables of exotic nuts and every type of aromatic spice imaginable, religious and ethnic articles, jewelry, and plastic items for the home.
Finally I end up at the pharmacy where I just bought a large screen digital TV. The pharmacist delivered it to me on his lunch hour. No charge for delivery. Anything goes here in Israel.
The people are friendly and the customs unique. There is never a dull day.
L'hitraot, Shachar
Shachar is the Hebrew name of a California-based attorney and former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy who moved to Israel 22 months ago.
