Conventional wisdom is comforting up to the point that it is wrong.
Conventional wisdom is comforting up to the point that it is wrong.
Uriel Malul: "I can't turn people away" For the past 12 months, I have heard varying explanations about why Israel's economy would be shielded from any global downturn: Israel had a less inflated property market; Israeli banks were less exposed to bad loans; the hi-tech sector was robust.
Uriel Malul: "I can't turn people away" For the past 12 months, I have heard varying explanations about why Israel's economy would be shielded from any global downturn: Israel had a less inflated property market; Israeli banks were less exposed to bad loans; the hi-tech sector was robust.
In the last few weeks, the mood has turned. Take Haaretz newspaper's business headlines from just one day last week: "Banks cut staff as profits plunge"; "Alliance in second round of layoffs"; "Negev Tech down to bare bones staff"; "How to price assets in the crisis of the century".
In the last few weeks, the mood has turned. Take Haaretz newspaper's business headlines from just one day last week: "Banks cut staff as profits plunge"; "Alliance in second round of layoffs"; "Negev Tech down to bare bones staff"; "How to price assets in the crisis of the century".
ll the indicators are now there: the index of leading shares, interest rates, unemployment. But for a while now, there has been another, rather more obvious sign, just three minutes' walk from my office.
ll the indicators are now there: the index of leading shares, interest rates, unemployment. But for a while now, there has been another, rather more obvious sign, just three minutes' walk from my office.
At the Ichlu Re'im soup kitchen, they're running out of money.
At the Ichlu Re'im soup kitchen, they're running out of money.
Uriel Malul is the manager. He is 51, and has the beard and black kipa (skull-cap) of the highly religious; his office walls are papered with photos of eminent rabbis. He has spent the last 11 years running a soup kitchen. He set up this one, Ichlu Re'im six years ago.
Uriel Malul is the manager. He is 51, and has the beard and black kipa (skull-cap) of the highly religious; his office walls are papered with photos of eminent rabbis. He has spent the last 11 years running a soup kitchen. He set up this one, Ichlu Re'im six years ago.
Uriel's problem is simple: he relies on donations. The most fertile time for charity is between the autumn festivals of Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot. This year, with the economic worries, those donations have fallen off a cliff - down 90%.
Uriel's problem is simple: he relies on donations. The most fertile time for charity is between the autumn festivals of Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot. This year, with the economic worries, those donations have fallen off a cliff - down 90%.
At the same time, more people are asking for food. Ichlu Re'im is now cooking 500 meals a day. It is unique in Jerusalem in that it is open seven days a week, even on religious festivals.
At the same time, more people are asking for food. Ichlu Re'im is now cooking 500 meals a day. It is unique in Jerusalem in that it is open seven days a week, even on religious festivals.
"I don't know how we're going to do it," Uriel told me, a rueful smile creasing his face. "I can't turn people away. Whole families are coming, asking for food."
"I don't know how we're going to do it," Uriel told me, a rueful smile creasing his face. "I can't turn people away. Whole families are coming, asking for food."
ELECTION ISSUE Only four of Uriel's staff are paid, and two of them are part-timers. The rest, including his elderly parents, are volunteers, or on community service. Uriel himself does not take a salary. He, his wife and two daughters are eating into the savings he made more than a decade ago, when he was a construction contractor.
ELECTION ISSUE Only four of Uriel's staff are paid, and two of them are part-timers. The rest, including his elderly parents, are volunteers, or on community service. Uriel himself does not take a salary. He, his wife and two daughters are eating into the savings he made more than a decade ago, when he was a construction contractor.
I met Uriel during the lunch-time rush. The clientele appeared to run the gamut of Jewish Jerusalem. Among them was a trembling 75-year-old woman who had come to collect food for herself, her eldlerly brother and her immobile husband.
I met Uriel during the lunch-time rush. The clientele appeared to run the gamut of Jewish Jerusalem. Among them was a trembling 75-year-old woman who had come to collect food for herself, her eldlerly brother and her immobile husband.
She did not want to give her name, or have her photo taken ("God forbid!" she cried), but she did want to talk about the work of Ichlu Re'im. "There's no place like this in the world," she said, her voice cracking, her eyes brimming. "May they (Uriel and his family) live until they are 200 years old, not a day less. All the broken and miserable people come; they have a home here."
She did not want to give her name, or have her photo taken ("God forbid!" she cried), but she did want to talk about the work of Ichlu Re'im. "There's no place like this in the world," she said, her voice cracking, her eyes brimming. "May they (Uriel and his family) live until they are 200 years old, not a day less. All the broken and miserable people come; they have a home here."
The other piece of conventional wisdom these days is that February's general election will hinge on the economy. There is an almost reassuring subtext: that Israeli politics might be turning "normal", that the preoccupation of most Western democracies will now become Israel's.
The other piece of conventional wisdom these days is that February's general election will hinge on the economy. There is an almost reassuring subtext: that Israeli politics might be turning "normal", that the preoccupation of most Western democracies will now become Israel's.
I am not sure. Yes, it is true that almost no Israelis believe that the current peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships have made meaningful progress. And yes, a lot of Israelis believe that the current front-runner, Binyamin Netanyahu, is more economically literate than his rivals.
I am not sure. Yes, it is true that almost no Israelis believe that the current peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships have made meaningful progress. And yes, a lot of Israelis believe that the current front-runner, Binyamin Netanyahu, is more economically literate than his rivals.
But in truth, there are not vast gaps between the parties when it comes to the economy. The differences are on the old agenda: how to deal with the Palestinians; how to deal with the region. And even if a radical economic remedy were on offer, for those at the Ichlu Re'im soup kitchen, waiting until February may be just too late.
But in truth, there are not vast gaps between the parties when it comes to the economy. The differences are on the old agenda: how to deal with the Palestinians; how to deal with the region. And even if a radical economic remedy were on offer, for those at the Ichlu Re'im soup kitchen, waiting until February may be just too late.
/>
Send us your thoughts and comments on Tim Franks' diary using the form below:
Send us your thoughts and comments on Tim Franks' diary using the form below:
