The only way they will change is if it affects their bottom line.

And e-mail them and their parent company and let them know what you think of their craven submission to the anti-Israel BDS crowd.

As Shy Guy would say: Stupid Jews!

Israel needs such Jews like it needs enemies.

NormanF on November 18, 2010 at 1:15 pm

We need a humor break – this is too good to pass up! 🙂

Dear Fellow Jew,

Even though the current economic situation is very tough for all of us, we turn to you for help for a Chosson who just recently got engaged. His whole life, nebach, has been one of great tragedy; his parents were divorced when he was still a young child, and when he was just fifteen years old, his mother was a passenger in a car that was involved in major accident and *unfortunately* died as a result of the injuries she sustained.

Due to his family situation he had no other choice other than, rachmona l’tzlan, to join the army, and now at the age of twenty-eight after many years of hardship and great difficulty, he has finally found his zivug.

We trust you won’t turn him away in his time of greatest need. Please send donations marked ‘Hachnosas Kalloh’ to the address below. On behalf of him and his family we offer you our heartfelt thanks and thank you in sharing in this great mitzvah.

Send donations to:

Buckingham Palace,
Buckingham Palace Rd,
London SW1A 1AA,United Kingdom

Tizke l’Mitzvos

NF: Since many of our readers are not Jewish and/or do not understand Hebrew and Yiddish, please define terms that you use that are not in English. It’s something I always try to do, and I hope you will as well. I would ask you to repost with the definitions of the word in parentheses, such as “Chosson (groom).” Thanks. DS

NormanF on November 18, 2010 at 2:05 pm

Ouch, can’t believe Strauss/Sabra can betray the IDF, I will add them to the list of anti Israeli companies I boycott, I will also make sure that everyone I know is aware of it, and trust me I know a lot of people. Shame on you!!!!!!

Steve on November 18, 2010 at 3:16 pm

If we had known that Strauss Group was under attack by the BDS, we could’ve let Buycott folks know about it. Now Strauss is being screwed on both ends.

Broomer on November 18, 2010 at 3:18 pm

I’ve never had Sabra, since my preferred brand of hummus is Tribe. I did a real quick search, and found that it’s owned by the Osem Group. They apparently have contracts to supply the IDF and are also associated with the Jewish National Fund.

I would hope that Tribe is still ok to eat.

C: Yes, Osem is fine. It is part-owned by Nestle, which is why Nestle is frequently targeted by Muslims and other Israel-hating boycotters. Keep supporting Osem. DS

cirrus1701 on November 18, 2010 at 3:27 pm

ARGH!! Max Brenner is a part of this travesty??!?! Damn it!

cirrus1701 on November 18, 2010 at 3:32 pm

Of the three brands available here, Sabra is my favorite (esp. the one with Pine Nuts). I don’t like Tribe as much, and I suspect Cedars (also not as good) is Lebanese.

I suspect Strauss isn’t dropping their support for the IDF, rather they don’t like those who don’t like the IDF to know it, so it’s on the down-low. Still, it is a rather craven reaction to a vocal, small-minded minority. Whatever happened to the “proud Jews” that the early Zionists were creating as a counter to the ghetto/shtetl Jews cowering in fear of the Gentiles? (And yes, one might as well be referring to Netanyahu bending to Clinton’s will.)

Me, I’ll continue my direct support through the Friends of the IDF organization ( http://fidf.org ).

Raymond in DC on November 18, 2010 at 3:36 pm

How disappointing!!! Their tahini sauce is beyond compare! What a shame!!

Skunky on November 18, 2010 at 6:27 pm

I appreciate the heads up. I’m going to Costco tomorrow. I wonder if the other brand that Costco carries is ok.

samurai on November 18, 2010 at 6:29 pm

A group of Hillel students went to the store being boycotted by those BDSers, and bought Strauss humus to show support for the company. What a horrible lesson Strauss has taught them. BTW, I did a search on the website and the language came up (adopted the Golani brigade), but it is gone from the site, at least in English. Shameful.

Thanks for the heads up Debbie!

Lori Lowenthal Marcus on November 18, 2010 at 8:02 pm

Yup… you show your support for Israel and this is how Strauss rewards their patronage!

Its still up in Hebrew but I as noted, its not the point. Jewish pride and self-respect is so sadly lacking these days!

NormanF on November 18, 2010 at 9:24 pm

Hi Debbie,
Here is an exact copy of the letter I wrote to Strauss.

To whom it may concern,
Hello, my name is Michael Shulman, and I am a Russian Jew originally from Belarus. Having lived in the United States for 12 years, I decided to travel to Israel for free on a Taglit-Birthright Program. As soon as I arrived in Israel, I said to myself that I want to live here because it is my home. Nevertheless, I enjoyed Israel very much, made new friends, and tried hummus for the first time and I loved it. Upon coming back to the United States, I decided that I will buy and eat Sabra hummus, because this company is Israeli and Sabra hummus is the best brand. For some time, I enjoyed this brand of hummus, however, recently, I found out that your company decided to remove the support for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Furthermore, you gave into pressures by American citizens and legislators who hold negative views toward Israel, oppose settlement expansion, support divestment, support the Gaza flotilla, support and fund terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, shady pro-Palestinian charities, as well as the Palestinian government which many Americans say is “moderate”. I do not belong to the group of an average American. I believe that the Palestinian government is not moderate as many people say it is, because all of its members, Yassir Arafat in particular have lots of Jewish and Israeli blood on their hands. Other members of Fatah participated in the bloody 1972 Munich Massacre in which ten Israeli athletes were brutally murdered. Granted, I will vote with my mind instead of my stomach because I absolutely refuse to submit to the heinous anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist views. Because of that, I will not buy Sabra hummus any longer as well as other products by your company.

Thank you,
Michael Shulman

Michael Shulman on November 18, 2010 at 9:35 pm

I did the research myself, and found that Strauss did, indeed, remove the reference to its support of the IDF from the Community Involvement section of the Corporate Responsibility page on their site. That passage, however, still exists on their hebrew site, indicating that they (hopefully) still support the IDF. They’ve simply taken down any reference to it in the language most understood by the people protesting against them. This is not to say that I agree with their–in print, at least–“back-pedaling” on their support of the very folks that ensure their security. It is mildly comforting, however, to see that they are still professing their support in their mother tongue.

Sleuth on November 18, 2010 at 10:37 pm

Since Sabra is still supporting the IDF, we should not boycott their products!! Without sales HOW WILL THEY SUPPORT THE IDF???
Until Israel becomes independant of the rest of the world, by growing their own food, having their own fuel and a lasting water supply, we are dependant! Please G-d, most Jews should live in Israel, we ship out the muslims and develope COMPLETE AUTONOMY from everyone else. Too true that we suffer from a Galut mentality, and always pander to the nations.
When we have a Prime Minister that stands up to the rest of the world, we will all follow him/her!
May we merit the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days!
Rabbi Meir Kahana was right!
Suzanne

Suzanne Weinstein on November 19, 2010 at 1:35 am

are you sure that they have withdrawn support from the IDF and not just removed the advertising of the fact from the website??
What is your evidence?

David on November 19, 2010 at 3:08 am

This is my letter.

Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 9:45 AM
To: ‘Service@Strauss-Group.com’
Subject: Your cancellation of your support for the Golani Rennaissance platoon and other I.D.F. trops

Last month, Philadephia activists staged a dance around a local supermarket as part of a campaign to pressure grocery chains to stop carrying Sabra Hummus products. The activists urged the supermarket and its customers not to “buy into Israeli apartheid,” and shouted “No Justice, No Chickpeas!”

Dear Sirs: It is very easy to “not buy into Israeli Apartheid”‘ since, as you, and those demonstrators, know perfectly well, there is no Israeli apartheid. Israel has no miscegenation laws; Arabs in Israel vote, sit in the Knesset, attend universities, teach their propaganda in universities. Do you really care more about what people, in Philadelphia, who want you dead, are saying, than you do about the men and women who put their lives on the line every day for you? Restore your support for the I.D.F., which buys more of your products than those Philly cheesesteaks. Until you do, you’ll get no support from me; I’ll buy my coffee somewhere else.Respectfully yours, Miranda Rose Smith

Miranda Rose Smith on November 19, 2010 at 3:18 am

It is criminal when we refuse to support our own because of politics. Ultimately we can only depend on ourselves. There is an alternative to the hummus problem though. Sonny and Joe’s hummus is better than Sabra. Much as I support Israeli brands once we found S & J there was no going back to Sabra.

Naomi Romm on November 19, 2010 at 8:12 am

One question: how hard is it to make hummus or tahini?

I have a whole whack of dried chickpeas at my place. Mmmm.

The Reverend Jacques on November 19, 2010 at 9:51 am

Humus is so easy to make.

1 can garbanzo beans
1-3 cloves garlic
tahina to taste
salt & pepper to taste
juice of 1/2 lemon
bit of olive oil

Blend in food processor ofr blender until smooth. Add what ever else you like in your humus. Keeps for about 5 days covered in fridge.

Tamarah on November 19, 2010 at 10:53 am

Hello Debbie! I’m a fan of yours, and also a hummus maven. Just thinking, you may have the wrong company in your article. The big Sabra brand is now owned by PepsiCo. It is the number 1 hummus brand. The product you show in the photo is Sabra Salads and probably not related to the Sabra everyone knows. If you get to Phila. try a terrific local brand by Helens Pure Foods (www.helenspurefoods.com). It’s fresh, natural, local, Kosher and delicious. Cheers!

Leo on November 19, 2010 at 4:59 pm

The post characterizes the BDS movement as an attack on Israel by Muslims. This is wrong and either as result of ignorance or of Islamophobia and, in either case, should be corrected.

BDS is a movement by Palestinians (largely Muslim but significantly Christian), is not a religiously motivated movement, but is a human rights movement aimed at ending Israel’s cruelly conducted (and in many respects illegally conducted) occupations of Gaza and the West Bank. (I am not sure if the official BDS movement seeks to end the occupation of the Golan Heights).

The overwhelmingly worst aspects of the occupation are the cruel siege or blockade of Gaza, which prevents sufficient food and potable water from reaching Gaza, as well as preventing the importation of spare parts for (among other things) water purification plants and medical technology, and the settlers and settlements in the West Bank, known by Israel as early as 1967 to be illegal under international law. The worst of the settlers have recently turned to conducting “pogroms” against the Palestinian people whose land they have taken and whose land they continue to take, all illegally. Olive groves, the chief or sole source of income for many rural Palestinians, are being cut down or burnt down by settlers and Palestinians being shot at or killed in what (from my perspective) can only be called “pogroms”. Jews and all other Americans should learn about this and should be ashamed to play an role in supporting Israel’s refusal to remove the 550,000 illegal settlers and dismantle (demolish) the illegally built settlement buildings.

pabelmont on November 20, 2010 at 6:23 am

Whenever these freaks organize a boycott, it should be countered with a ‘buycott’.
In Toronto last year they wanted to boycott Israeli wines. When the freaks came out to dance/frolic/etc in front of the liquor/wine stores, they were met by a much-much larger contingent of Jews and Christian Zionists who counter-protested, and more importantly bought out every last bottle of Israeli wine off the shelves.

Not Ovenready on November 21, 2010 at 12:53 am

Are you sure about that comment? I just went to their website, and here’s the link to their community involvement and they do talk about supporting Golani. I quote:

Israel Defense Forces

As part of its donations program, the Sales Division of Strauss Israel has made a contribution to the men and women who serve in the Golani brigade. The funds are designated for welfare, cultural and educational activities, such as pocket money for underprivileged soldiers, sports and recreational equipment, care packages, and books and games for the soldiers’ club. Yotvata, our dairy in the south, contributes likewise to the southern Shualei Shimshon unit.

Here’s the link: http://www.strauss-group.com/CommunityInvolvement

S: They must have just put the link back up b/c we sent them angry letters. It was removed before. I will update. Thanks, DS

Sela on November 21, 2010 at 9:56 pm

What’s interesting about this story is that not only is the BDS crowd boycotting Sabra… but the anti-BDS crowd is calling for the same.

Though DS, I would not be too concerned and bring such attention only applifies the effect. It’s hummus… if this is what the BDS movement calls a victory, you’re in the clear.

Jeff R on November 22, 2010 at 3:34 am

So, you support boycott on Sabre? Doesn’t this mean that you approve boycott as a way of civil protest, or at least exercising of moral judgment as consumers? Then what is it that you want from the millions around the world who object to the Israeli politicide and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians, and exercise their moral judgment by cutting ties with the immoral, rouge state, ‘The Jewish Democracy of Israel’?

Ed on November 23, 2010 at 6:26 am

It is possible that they were redoing the wording on their website and the section went missing. Sites need to be updated and whoever was the webmaster may have felt the changed wording better. I’d like to hear an update.

Rachel Ann on November 23, 2010 at 2:00 pm

I will be calling them tomorrow!!

Chaya on November 27, 2010 at 12:07 pm

Update please. Did they reverse or not? I got my second email from Strauss – “As part of its donations program, the Sales Division of Strauss Israel has made a contribution to the men and women who serve in the Golani brigade. The funds are designated for welfare, cultural and educational activities, such as pocket money for underprivileged soldiers, sports and recreational equipment, care packages, and books and games for the soldiers’ club. Yotvata, our dairy in the south, contributes likewise to the southern Shualei Shimshon unit.”
and it’s on the website.

However, I want to make sure that the English matches the Hebrew version.

B: They still do not advertise on their English site to note that they give to Golani Brigade. That’s the issue. They pulled the notation from the English version, because they don’t want Israel-haters to know they proudly support IDF. That’s what my problem was. That hasn’t changed. DS

Broomer on December 1, 2010 at 9:38 am

Got an update last night:
“Following feedback we received, which indicated that some people misinterpreted the contribution made by Strauss Group as promoting a political agenda or encouraging warfare, we have updated the wording posted on our website so as to make clear that this donation is intended for welfare, cultural and educational purposes only”

In other words, Strauss is still trying to appease the BSD crowd without turning off the pro-Israeli shoppers, right?

I can read Hebrew but I can’t find the IDF support on the Hebrew version so that I can find the equivalent on the English website so I hope someone can chime in. I’m still boycotting until the info is the same in both languages!

Broomer on December 2, 2010 at 8:28 am

I live in Germany. Today I’ve bought 4 packages of Sabra humus. Before that I used to bring them from Belgium. I’m very happy to boycott your boycott! We will buy as much Israeli humus as possible 🙂

DK on October 11, 2011 at 1:46 pm

I am not surprised that occasionally there are Jews who live up to their negative stereotype.In my own senior building there is one who spent time in Israel and presently kisses the derriere of the anti-semitic Fraulein president who forbade a menorah in the lobby, which I quickly corrected afterut this showing central management the case law, that would cause them to lose in court by also mentioning her discrimination as she permitted creches, crosses, and Merry Christmas banners despite directives that common areas should be secular.I believe in justice for all but this was all that was needed to bring out all the anti-semites from under their rocks
As far as Sabra Hummus when I called them about an oversalted Greek style Hummus made with the cheapest canned olives instead of sending me a coupon for a replacement product they sent me this crummy coupon for a lousy fifty cents. I wouldn’t buy their crummy hummus for all the Ma Cohen herring in the world.
Strause is also a German name, are you sure they are really Jewish and not something that should have been left on the boat that brought them?
There is nothing worse than a Quisling.

Ron Wolf on December 21, 2011 at 1:52 am

I will continue to boycott anything made in Israel or owned by an Israeli company until they end their Zionist Nazi racist apartheid system against the Palestinians.

Basim Daoud on February 12, 2014 at 2:08 am

Then get off your computer, Basim. It uses parts made in Israel.

Bashing Dude on May 4, 2014 at 10:04 pm

I cannot find anything else to substantiate the above article, actually I have found the opposite, can someone that knows what is going on now. If they do not support the IDF I will not support them.

JRS on August 14, 2015 at 5:58 pm

OK, looks like they want to keep it a secret, thanks, it goes back to the store, will pick up Tribe instead.

JRS on August 14, 2015 at 6:16 pm

Killing is bad.

Unless genocide is practised against Muslims, Jews and Muslims will in the end have to live together in harmony.

I don’t think the rhetoric of escalating violence will ever get to that position.

Peace requires that violence is abandoned. The world will not tolerate another genocide, peace is the only option.

bruce on November 29, 2015 at 2:47 pm