Shop at Ben Yehuda

Editorial

We live in a consumer culture where going to the mall is virtually a patriotic act. We mark national holidays more through merchandise sales than by witnessing parades or studying our history. We wave the flag and we go shopping.

Now we have a chance to transform our consumer mentality for the sake of klal Yisrael - the greater Jewish family - and our brothers and sisters in Israel.

A truly partisan shopping opportunity, "Ben Yehuda Mall Comes to Greater Phoenix," is set for Oct. 27-28 at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale, and for Oct. 29 at the Tri-City Jewish Community Center in Tempe.

Named in honor of Jerusalem's famed shopping street, the mall will feature merchandise from 70 Israeli vendors, including art, clothing, perfume, ceramics, candles, jewelry, stained glass, leather goods - and, of course, Judaica.

We will discover at Ben Yehuda much of what we might find on a typical shopping excursion to Paradise Valley Mall or Fashion Square. The bonus is that our purchases will boost an Israeli economy bearing the brunt of more than two years of Palestinian violence.

We can also join the roster of hundreds of volunteers needed to run the three-day event. About 300 have signed up to help; 100 more are being sought.

And after the Ben Yehuda Mall closes and the merchants move on to other American Jewish communities, we can seek out goods made in Israel at our local malls, major merchants, specialty shops and grocers. Many of our favorite stores carry goods with "Made in Israel" labels. We can ask store managers whether they sell such products and encourage them to expand their inventory.

There's also the Internet, which enables us to point-and-click our way to businesses that offer a wide selection of made-in-Israel merchandise whenever we're in a buying mood.

As loyal members of the Jewish Diaspora, we have a responsibility to help Israeli businesses that are struggling survive in the face of terrorist violence and meager tourist dollars.

Even if we have no plans to visit Israel this year, we can visit Ben Yehuda Mall in Scottsdale or Tempe. If we've recently returned from Israel, we can get a small taste of what where we were by stopping at Ben Yehuda Mall - coming soon to a neighborhood near you.

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