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Jul 6, 2007
Let them eat cake!
You might want to consider making challah this week for shabbos instead of relying on buying challah...
The major bakeries went on strike today. Not really a strike, though. After all, they opened the bakeries and produced bread and baked goods. They were striking from baking a specific product.
The price of basic bread is regulated in Israel. Fancy breads are not, and bakeries can charge whatever price they think people will pay for whole wheat bread, pumpernickly, Italian, whatever. Basic bread prices are regulated.
The bakeries claim the price of flour has gone up 12% recently and they can no longer afford to bake basic bread at the current price. They have requested that the government approve a price hike for basic bread.
The government, led by Eli Yishai as Minister of Inudustry and Trade with PM Olmert's agreement, said no. The price cannot be raised because too many poor people rely on bread as their staple food and cannot afford it at the new prices.
The bakeries said that it is not their job to subsidize the poor. They are a business and need to make profit. If the government can't continue to subsidize the price of bread, or increase the subsidy to the poor so they can afford the higher bread prices, they will simply stop making bread. They cannot afford to take such a loss on this product. They claim it would bankrupt them after two weeks.
The government said no and the bakeries said no. Today there was no basic bread in the stores. Tomorrow, they are saying, unless a solution is quickly reachd, there will not be basic challahs in the store. There will be more expensive challahs, but not the basic ones.
The Olmert government cannot even be relied on anymore to provide bread for its citizens. How can we rely on him to provide security?
Well, there is always cake.
The major bakeries went on strike today. Not really a strike, though. After all, they opened the bakeries and produced bread and baked goods. They were striking from baking a specific product.
The price of basic bread is regulated in Israel. Fancy breads are not, and bakeries can charge whatever price they think people will pay for whole wheat bread, pumpernickly, Italian, whatever. Basic bread prices are regulated.
The bakeries claim the price of flour has gone up 12% recently and they can no longer afford to bake basic bread at the current price. They have requested that the government approve a price hike for basic bread.
The government, led by Eli Yishai as Minister of Inudustry and Trade with PM Olmert's agreement, said no. The price cannot be raised because too many poor people rely on bread as their staple food and cannot afford it at the new prices.
The bakeries said that it is not their job to subsidize the poor. They are a business and need to make profit. If the government can't continue to subsidize the price of bread, or increase the subsidy to the poor so they can afford the higher bread prices, they will simply stop making bread. They cannot afford to take such a loss on this product. They claim it would bankrupt them after two weeks.
The government said no and the bakeries said no. Today there was no basic bread in the stores. Tomorrow, they are saying, unless a solution is quickly reachd, there will not be basic challahs in the store. There will be more expensive challahs, but not the basic ones.
The Olmert government cannot even be relied on anymore to provide bread for its citizens. How can we rely on him to provide security?
Well, there is always cake.
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A most interesting take on a serious problem, Rafi. I hadn't thought of it that way... But I did buy flour, because my wife wants to bake challah tomorrow...
ReplyDeleteat least you will have challah!! but will you have cake?
ReplyDeleteI used to be reg bread.. we stopped LONG ago.. instead we buy rolls at the shuk, shiva deganim etc.. Tastes MUCH better than the carbo bread and much healthier.. besides if you go at night you can get em 2 for a shekel.. I dont see how 10 rolls is more expensive than 1 loaf..
ReplyDeleteAlso, grocery stores charge whatever prices they want on bread..
This is pathetic... screw yishai! I bet you its against halacha to force business owners to charge a certain price..
ReplyDeleteLet the families go to the tzedaka org's.. what a demented commie country this is! I already want to go back to the US.
and STOP VOTING SHAS you dimwits! I cant believe chabad endorsed shas.. not like there were better options.. its pathetic.. we better start our own party..
Seriously, i'd tell the yeshiva students where to shove it and tell em to start managing their expenses.. forcing others to give money is called "tircha d'tzibura"
Are there poor families ? YES! but taxtation and government control never solved anything!
Whats next ? they will force bakers to bake regular bread and sell it at the cost control price ? Mandating that 30% of a bakers total products be regular bread ? what a sad sick totalitarian regime!
Cake? Mmmmm, I wouldn't mind having a good excuse.....
ReplyDeleteHmm sounds like a problem, did your wife bake challah? Or are you eating cake? I can't imagine that happening in NY.
ReplyDeleteCake instead of challah? What, do you want to be outed as a Karaite?
ReplyDelete