viewpoints » S end letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com
for starters
Say It Like It Isn’t
I
t’s kind of funny when people
just last week you said I was looking
ask in faintly accusing tones,
thinner.”
“Have you lost weight?”
But she said, “Actually, Rochel, I
“Lost?” I’ve lost my keys, my
didn’t really mean it. I saw you were
shoes, my pens, but I just can’t
gaining weight and I felt bad for you
use the same term for the 10
so I figured I’d give you a compli-
pounds I worked my tush off to
ment!”
get rid of. It’s not something I’m
Facebook is a huge say-it-like
Rochel Burstyn
hoping to find again and put in a
-it-isn’t. That’s why I’m not the big-
safer place next time, thank you
gest Facebook fan … except on my
very much.
birthday. For some weird reason, I find it
We so often say things we don’t entirely
quite thrilling to have a whole bunch of
mean. “How are you?” these days really just people I hardly speak to suddenly wishing
means “Hi!” because if you’ve walked off
me well. A few months ago, one of my good
before the other person even had a chance
friends told me she planned to call me on
to answer, you didn’t really mean the ques-
my birthday, but I told her not to worry
tion, did you?
if she couldn’t manage it, “as long as you
I also get annoyed at my husband when
make sure to post a nice Facebook greeting
we’re getting ready to go out, even if he’s
so everyone will know I have lots of friends
saying nice things, because as I tell him, “If
…”
you haven’t even looked in my direction yet ,
One line that irks me is: “Don’t take this
then I know you don’t mean it and you’re
the wrong way …”
just trying to hurry me up …”
What you really mean to say is: “I’m
Years ago, I told my grandmother and
about to say something that I probably
my great-aunt Sarah that I was expecting.
shouldn’t, so would you kindly be a doll and
My grandmother said, “I suspected that all
when your feelings get hurt, just pretend it’s
along.” I turned to Aunt Sarah and told her, your own fault in the first place … because,
“Well, I know you didn’t think so because
you know, there are so many ways to inter-
pret an insult …” (It’s no coincidence the
root word of “meaning” is “mean.”)
Most of us aren’t too honest with tele-
marketers. How often have you said, “She’s
not home,” when they asked for you? I
actually appreciate when telemarketers mis-
pronounce my name because then I can say
quite honestly, “You must have the wrong
number; there’s noone here by that name.”
I suspect that for telemarketers who deal
all day with answering machines and hang-
ups, an occasional human answer makes
their day — even if you don’t buy, subscribe
or claim you aren’t authorized to make
decisions about your gas bill.
Once an Indian telemarketer asked me,
“Are you looking for your higher educa-
tion?”
I said, “Well, I was, but I figured it disap-
peared to the same place all my socks go in
the wash … and like them, will come back
to life as Tupperware lids. Why?”
We all know that honesty is the best pol-
icy; but really, the world would be a much
less pleasant place if we all said exactly
whatever we really thought. Whether you
say it like it is or whether you say it like it
isn’t, if you’re making the people around
you happy, you must be doing something
right.
*
commentary
Can Startup Nation Stop Hunger?
W
insecure population to improve
hile everyone knows
their quality of life? How do we
the power of Israel
use this data to support deci-
when it comes to
sion makers in government and
technological innovation, the sad
stakeholders in the food industry
fact is that nearly a quarter of the
to make smart decisions when it
country’s population is living in
comes to surplus food?
poverty and suffering from hunger.
The report shows that the food
In the way we harness national
Gidi Kroch
insecurity gap is about $750 mil-
resources to lead the world in tech-
lion, but what can be rescued is
nology, we need to do the same in
valued at nearly $2 billion worth of food. All
food waste to stem this debilitating tide.
of this food can be distributed to the food
A new report from Leket Israel — the
insecure, lacking daily access to nutritional
National Food Bank shows that 35 per-
food.
cent of all food produced in Israel goes to
The report proves that it is possible and
waste, including 2.5 million tons of fruit
necessary to increase substantially the vol-
and vegetables. The report highlights the
ume of food rescue in Israel. Leket Israel
economic, social and environmental ben-
is working day in and day out with 184
efits of rescuing unused food for Israel’s
not-for-profit organizations throughout the
food-impoverished.
country, supplying excess produce, dairy
The report shows that nearly $4.5 billion
products, prepared meals, etc. to 140,000+
in food was wasted in Israel in 2015 alone,
people in need across Israel. In fact, we are
a figure that represents 1.6 percent of the
aiming to increase the volume of food res-
national GDP. While this tends to be an
cue by at least 300 percent by 2020.
issue faced by other modern Western coun-
The report confirmed in numbers what
tries, like the United States, what sets Israel
we have been thinking for a long time; Leket
apart is that unlike the United States, the
Israeli government does not support not-for- Israel’s current food rescue operation is just
the tip of the iceberg. In 2015, Leket Israel
profits feeding those in need.
collected and distributed more than 35 mil-
How do we take this newfound informa-
tion and establish real changes, changes that lion pounds of nutritious food. If we collect
will reduce the amount of quality food going 600,000 tons of excess food, which is 25
to waste each year for the benefit of the food percent of all the food wasted in Israel annu-
ally, this will bridge the food consumption
gap and will bring food-insecure Israelis to
normative consumption levels.
What are the steps that can be taken, with
no cost to the government, which can assist
us in attaining this goal? It comes down to
three recommended policy changes:
• Adopt a national goal to reduce food
waste by 50 percent by the year 2030, in
accordance with the guidelines established
by the United Nations and accepted by the
U.S. government in September 2015.
• Complete legislation similar to the
United States’ Good Samaritan Food
Donation Act that encourages food dona-
tions, protecting the food donor who
donates in good faith.
• Require state-funded entities (including
defense agencies, the IDF, companies, etc.)
to collaborate with registered food rescue
not-for-profits.
All this can be achieved. However, with-
out government support and by continuing
with the status quo, we will not get there.
People lacking in a daily intake of nutritious
food will suffer because we did not reach the
excess food before it became waste.
Leket Israel has the experience, know-
how and a complex logistics system in place.
What it needs now is the backing of the
Israeli government.
Ask Attorney
Ken Gross
about…
Your
Your
Financial
Legal
Issues
Issues
PLANNING TIME!
What do you suggest
for 2016?
As we cross the calendar
year, it’s the time to assess
what needs to be done for
the upcoming year. First
on your agenda should be to make
sure you have your estate plan in
order. A Will, Revocable Trust (to
avoid Probate), Durable Power of
Attorney (so your spouse or child
can act for you if you are unable) and
a Healthcare Power of Attorney (to
address critical care health issues)
are essential. Young couples with
children need to make sure they
have appointed a guardian for their
children in case a disaster occurs.
1H[W²DUH\RXUÀQDQFHVDUHLQRUGHU
Stated simply, are you on course to
have enough savings for retirement
that you will be able to sustain your
remaining years? On this point,
you need to make sure you are not
wasting your retirement by paying
high interest on credit cards month
and month, year after year. Call us –
we can address these issues.
THAV GROSS has been
solving its clients’ business, tax
and fi nancial problems since 1982.
Be sure to watch Law and Reality
Sunday’s at 11 AM on TV20 and
listen in on Saturday’s at 9 AM on
WDFN 1130 AM.
*
Gidi Kroch is the CEO of Leket Israel — The National
Food Bank.
thavgross.com lawandreality.com
30150 Telegraph, Suite 444
Bingham Farms, MI 48025
February 11 • 2016
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