Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., April 17, 2009 Nisan 23, 5769 | | Israel Time: 13:39 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 00:00 10/06/2007 Will Mizra still be able to bring home the bacon? By Eli Ashkenazi Businessman Arcadi Gaydamak's decision to purchase the Tiv Taam supermarket chain and make it kosher will significantly reduce the number of places where Israelis can buy pork products. "I believe that in a Jewish state, in which there is a large Muslim minority, selling pork is a provocation," the Russian-Israeli billionaire told Army Radio. Gaydamak said he would not fire the workers of the Maadaney Mizra meat products company, of which Tiv Taam owns 75 percent, but would reach agreements on compensation if necessary. Advertisement Excactly 50 years ago, Kibbutz Mizra founded a meat processing plant. Over the years it became identified with high-quality pork products, although it produced other meats as well. For the secular public, Maadaney Mizra's stores were the only place to buy non-kosher meat. For the religious, it became a symbol of impurity and the casting aside of religious tradition. Feelings ran especially high in 1990 during Yitzhak Shamir's right-wing government, when it attempted to pass a law prohibiting the sale of pork. At Mizra, they remember a televised debate between an Agudat Yisrael MK and a kibbutz member: the MK said the kibbutznik not only sold pig, he acted like one. Kibbutz Mizra was founded 84 years ago, one of the pioneering communities in the Jezreel Valley. Some of the atmosphere of those days is preserved in the museum run by 74-year-old kibbutz member Pini Shiboli - clothes and other small everyday artifacts, the first settlers' bedroom furniture, the German books they brought when they came here. But it is the large factory behind the museum that is best known to other Israelis. The great wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union brought Mizra competitors. Their products' quality was not as high, and they appealed to a relatively less well-off clientele. Still, the competition cut into Mizra's exclusivity in the market. The sale of the factory to Tiv Taam was a necessity most of the members accepted with equanimity, and things have been going better since then. They were even reconsidering re-launching their logo. The news that Gaydamak was going to buy Tiv Taam, which hit the Web on Friday, was viewed with greater suspicion at Mizra. The tycoon's statement that he would turn the chain kosher has Mizra worrying about the income from its flagship products, and about job security. We have no problem not to manufacture pork products," said a Mizra member who asked to be known only as A. "But the big concern is that our income will be hit hard," he said. "People are willing to pay more for our brand, which says quality and care. Some of what is special is the non-kosher items. If we have to turn kosher we'll have to be compensated," A. said. He added that although they owned only the remaining 25 percent, their agreement with Tiv Taam gave them 50 percent of the management, "and there is an agreement that they can't force their opinion on us." Kibbutz secretary Uzi Shemesh said: "This factory grew by the sweat of many brows, and any development makes emotions run high. Meanwhile, we are hearing things only through the media." Shemesh reiterated the sentiment that Mizra's non-kosher meat products are what makes it special. "That's its business and commercial strength. If they go in a different direction, things will have to be considered." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Hebrew harmony Watch American Idol star Adam Lambert singing in Hebrew Top recipes exposed Try the cheap way to eat in some of Tel Aviv's top restaurants   1.   capitalism....great, huh? 00:47  |  No pig, thanks 12/06/07   2.   Mizra and the bacon 03:03  |  Joe B 12/06/07   3.   What`s the fuss ? 03:15  |  leon 12/06/07   4.   SPASIBO, GAIDAMAK!!! ALSO OBTAIN 4 THEM FOREIGN PASSES,LIKE BURG) 05:16  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 12/06/07   5.   Ham and Cheese Puzzler 06:16  |  Fish 12/06/07   6.   BOYCOTT TIV TAAM; SEND ALL MOSHIAHS BACK TO BROOKLIN!!! 09:24  |  Voice of reason 12/06/07   7.   Good news,no more pork meat in Israel 10:16  |  trumpeldor 12/06/07   8.   to trumpeldor: you are wrong buddy, 11:23  |  the pope 12/06/07   9.   Pork products 11:31  |  Tony Price 12/06/07   10.   freedom and right of choice 11:38  |  SJ 12/06/07   11.   MOSHIAHS BACK TO BROOKLIN..HaHaHa !! 11:56  |  Eliezer 12/06/07   12.   to Eliezer 12:29  |  the voice of reason 12/06/07   13.   Pigs and "the Voice of Reason"... 12:59  |  Gabe 12/06/07   14.   Voice of Reason 14:05  |  ash 12/06/07   15.   profits x jobs 14:26  |  Aldo M. 12/06/07   16.   to ash 14:33  |  voice of reason 12/06/07   17.   Freedom of choice 14:59  |  Former American 12/06/07   18.   Gaydamak has my vote! 15:00  |  Anthony Stern 12/06/07   19.   annoying 15:01  |  lunarturn 12/06/07   20.   to SJ 15:02  |  Former American 12/06/07   21.   no more pork?! LOL! That`s like saying "no more porn"! 15:04  |  lunarturn 12/06/07   22.   to lunarturn: BOYCOTT TIV TAAM 15:14  |  the pope 12/06/07   23.   Pork 15:24  |  Viggi 12/06/07   24.   Plenty of Pork In Petah Tykva 15:47  |  L A 12/06/07   25.   To Joe B and Viggi: Purity experts 16:23  |  Former American 12/06/07   26.   it`s also about tiv tam`s extended hours 16:33  |  dawn 12/06/07   27.   Re: Gaydamak has my vote! 19:00  |  Al Stein 12/06/07   28.   Business 101: Compete or Die. 19:10  |  David 12/06/07   29.   gyadamak buys tiv taam 19:35  |  Yanky 12/06/07   30.   to Yanky 20:29  |  israeli 12/06/07   31.   Business is business 20:42  |  Food Manufacturer 12/06/07   32.   "Purity" is ok if there is also plurality and diversity. 21:19  |  Hal 12/06/07   33.   Hypocrisy 22:01  |  funky 12/06/07   34.   Right on, funky! 22:25  |  Former American 12/06/07   35.   To Israeli... 23:26  |  Ironic 12/06/07   36.   Corned beef rules! 23:59  |  Joan Stuchner 12/06/07   37.   The nice thing about Judaism/being free to choose how we practice 00:31  |  Sandy 13/06/07   38.   to Sandy 13:29  |  roller 13/06/07   39.   Maadanay Mizra 00:13  |  Andy Meier 17/03/08   40.   being ulpaniste 16:26  |  joelle 16/04/09

Read & React Netanyahu demands Palestinians recognize 'Jewish state' Responses: 194 Obama wants Israel to hold parallel talks with Palestinians and Syria Responses: 56 'Israel could have made peace with Hamas under Yassin' Responses: 25 Yossi Melman: I would advise Netanyahu to attack Iran Responses: 47 Ferrero-Waldner: EU won't upgrade ties until Israel proves it wants peace Responses: 1 More Headlines 13:20 Palestinian shot dead by settlers after infiltration 07:25 Obama wants Israel to hold parallel talks with Palestinians and Syria 07:43 'Israel could have made peace with Hamas under Yassin' 02:35 IDF deal for F-35 sours over soaring costs of fighter jets 07:47 Yossi Melman / I would advise Netanyahu to attack Iran 13:22 'International law not prepared to fight terrorism' 12:48 Iran signals readiness for talks with West over nuclear row 10:47 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 06:46 ANALYSIS / Israel will need F-35s to deal with Iran 03:49 Anshel Pfeffer / What Demjanjuk, Durban II sagas say about Israel 07:08 Gaza Strip militants fire Qassam rocket into western Negev 05:14 Army lacks funding for protecting civilians against chemical attack 00:55 N.Y. street corner named for Pole who brought news of Holocaust to West 13:25 Pro-Israel boycott group: Dutch Jewish leadership 'abusing' our postal system 07:58 At least 15 people killed as quake rocks eastern Afghanistan Previous Editions Select Day 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 12 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 05 apr 03 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Spring Specials-Dan Hotels Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$ The Meier on Rothschild Tower Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv Dead Sea Skin Care Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off! Camp Kimama Israel 2009 The best place for your children this summer Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results

Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved