Israel Wants to Eliminate Foreign Chefs |
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| And The Egg Roll Was Not Consumed | |
 by Helen Jupiter, February 13, 2008 |
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No egg roll for you: Wok-ers of the world, unite!Remember how we told you about the popularity of sushi in Israel? You may have noticed a brief mention of the government mandate that could "expel all Asian employees at ethnic restaurants in order to make room for Israeli workers" by next January. That subtext is now at the forefront of strikes and protests against the plan, which has already begun to move forward. The Israeli government is only awarding 500 permits to Asian
chefs this year, compared with 900 from last year. Next year they won't grant any at all.
In protest, Israel's 300 Asian restaurants refused to serve egg rolls--a very popular treat--yesterday, and they have plans to deny Israelis sushi and noodles in another strike set for two weeks from now.
Asian cuisine in Israel is a 1-billion-shekels-a-year industry, and Israelis want a piece of the hand roll--but at what cost? Though Shoshana Strauss, a lawyer employed by Israel's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, believes that "Everyone can make Chinese food," I think there's something to be said for the authenticity that comes with cultural history and knowledge. Sure, Israelis can learn how to stir fry and make hand rolls, but expelling all Asian chefs from Israeli restaurant kitchens can only result in a dearth of cultural and culinary diversity.
Related: Israelis Like it Raw
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Helen Jupiter is the Managing Editor in these parts. A writer based in Los Angeles, she has contributed to Gridskipper, More... |
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Ian Aleksander Adams
hm
I loved a lot of things about Israel, but coming from New York City, I often felt it wasn't diverse <i>enough</i> for me.
Maybe I'm just thinking off a stereotype that I personally fit in, but I can't imagine Jews passing a law that makes it harder to get good Chinese food.
zbird
this sounds absolutely awful
And I'm not talking about reduced food options. This is de jure discrimination. Doesn't sound any better than Jim Crow--telling people they can't work in a particular industry because of their race.
--Z
naftali
We Have
Sooo much room for improvement.
iiotoko
DEMOCRACY!
really?
naftali
This Has Nothing To Do With Democracy
And everything to do with stupidity.
Ismail
So Israeli racism gets a
So Israeli racism gets a pass when it forbids people from, e.g., choosing a mate or a neighborhood, but let her right to tekkamaki be threatened and the forces of Light and Reason swoop down and call for sweet justice to prevail.
Free the eggroll! A nous la beef lo mein!
naftali
It Can't Be a Free Pass
If I don't know what you're talking about. What are you referring to?
And is it really a free pass when you say someone or something is stupid as opposed to racist? I think, as a whole, Jews have comparatively little deep inner hatred that they direct at other people. We eat those feelings and direct it towards each other.
When it comes to brains, despite the stereotype, the Torah is plenty clear we ain't all that bright. We just hang in there. We are very good at just hanging in there.
ChevyNazi
Well I don't like the sound of it.
But Israel IS a Jewish nation after all. I guess they have the right to determine who should be working in their country.
Hadar
ChevyNazi are kidding?
But Israel IS a Jewish nation after all? So it wasn't a Jewish nation when they needed the Asian chefs, or Philippine nurses, or Thai field hands, or Nigerian domestics?
ChevyNazi
I don't think its...
nearly as bad as Saudi Arabia executing foreign workers who get caught practicing christianity!
Hadar
Agreed, being treated like
Agreed, being treated like shit is not nearly as bad as being executed. But what is your point? Every time Israel does something ridiculous or wrong you want excuse it by pointing out some completely unrelated Arab nations' bad behavior. Is that the standard you are holding Israel to?
ChevyNazi
I'm simply saying that
I'm simply saying that Israel is FAR more tolerant than her neighbors! Sorry if I'm sounding a bit harsh but I'm getting sick of all the hateful Israel bashing that has seemed to become soo fashionalbe in Leftist circles!
naftali
This Isn't Bashing
It's housecleaning. It doesn't make much news, and is frequently done on a personal level, but we tend to correct each other--done within the most productive framework of I'm always right and you're always wrong. It's why we love each other so much.
ChevyNazi
Yes indeed
One thing I've always noticed about Jews is how so critical they are amongst themselves.:-)
naftali
It Would Be So Easy
To spend all day here writing one-liners.
ChevyNazi
Good point!lol
Good point!lol
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