Abundance or waste??

There are many new age philosophies around which center on the idea that there is plenty and we shouldn't be concerned with lack. That works if one is in the mind of what I have is all I need, but doesn't work when ok, ditch it, there'll be more.

At the same time as those who have too much, there are those who are poverty stricken and must depend on others for charity.

Something is wrong with this picture. I've gone through many periods where I have taken boxes of vegetables that are thrown out by health food stores, by green grocers, and by local markets and brought them home to compost. Lately my local small supermarket (makolet) has been saving me the vegetables they deem not worthy of being sold anymore. And there are boxes and boxes and boxes of them. Every week!!! Why can't they lower the price (as it is, the local produce sells for much more than those sold in the open air farmer's market (shuk), when the produce begins to lose it's "first rate" quality, so then perhaps they can sell it all. Why have higher prices to make up for the loss of all the vegetables thrown out? We who buy the produce are the losers in the end.

I also wonder how many people at home use up all their vegetables - or like the market mentality, throw out alot because of poor planning.

I have seen some stores be more efficient. One store I knew saved the produce for the poor who came to get it. Another store saved it for their restaurant which used the vegetables for the food they cooked. In America I'm sure there are plenty of sales of the kind when things are starting to get old. I remember special discount stores that sold day old breads and baked items (you don't see that here). Now at least the idea of giving leftovers from simchas to the poor is starting to catch on. But don't even get me started how much is wasted there!!!!

There's plenty being written how the economic times are getting harder. How come people aren't getting smarter in not wasting??

it's all relative

A friend with cancer wrote how one bottle of the medicine she needs costs over 11,000 shekels - wow, I have nothing to complain about how expensive organic food costs.

Daring

Do you know people who scream at the television when they don't agree? Or people who make comments as they read the newspapers of all the insane things going on in the world? Almost every week I have thoughts about something written in our local English newspaper, but the truth is it isn't always negative. Lots of great eco stuff has been happening lately and it makes me proud that people are being so innovative.

Usually by the time Sunday comes around I never actually write to the paper - lost opportunities. But this time I finally did (ok, Monday now) - and with it, made a copy and tied it together with a health seminar that I'm part of the organizing and have sent it to everyone I know - except on facebook. Facebook and blogging still presents technical challenges - but for those who have discovered my blog (and haven't received it through email) here's what I wrote to the Jerusalem Post - now to see if they'll publish it.

From: Klara LeVine
Subject: money does not equal health
To: maglet@jpost. com
Date: Monday, December 1, 2008, 6:47 AM

To the editors,

I know the Jerusalem Post is not responsible for the contents of their ads and that ads are needed to continue the business of publishing the paper. But the two full page ad from Telma on November 21 must have cost quite a few shekelim - which makes me wonder if perhaps Telma isn't doing so well. And I felt took great advantage over those truly looking for health - healthy foods coming from the whole grains, beans and many vegetables do not have big corporations behind them and are much healthier than a processed food which may contain sugar and preservatives and who knows what else. The exaggerated first page does make a point - the world of alternative health perhaps has gone overboard - which only goes to show how desparately people are searching for health. Perhaps the magazine can help by having more articles on the simple ways people can regain health - as mentioned by eating natural whole products.

Klara LeVine
Har Adar

privately to the editors: I can understand if you do not want to publish the above letter as it may be shooting yourselves in the foot by offending Telma and therefore taking away much needed income - if so, please give me the opportunity to rewrite it a bit tamer, tho I think it's a responsibility to all mankind to let them know that health doesn't need to cost so much. Processed foods always cost more than natural foods and are never truly as healthy.

I think it's a very important issue that needs to be brought to the public's attention.

Klara