Cottage Cheese Wars

Tikkun Global

Jerusalem, Israel

Cottage cheese is a staple in the Israeli home. It is considered the most popular food in Israel, even more than falafel or hummus. It is different from the grainy, liquidy mixture I remember from my childhood. It is thick and creamy, rich and satisfying. We often eat cottage cheese for breakfast or lunch, with toast or salad, and use it in place of feta in lasagna.

It is such a staple that a decade ago, when a group of housewives started a protest against rising food costs, it was dubbed the Cottage Cheese Protest. In other words, you can raise the price of meat and vegetables, and we'll somehow manage. But cottage cheese? That's crossing the line.

Recently, there has been an extraordinary shortage of the beloved product, unlike other shortages that have to do with over-purchasing around a holiday. On my daily run to the grocery store, I inevitably see a few other moms or dads staring at the dairy counter, as though looking for something. "Cottage cheese?" I ask. They nod and sigh.

Finally, last week, the truth came out and the mystery was solved. It goes something like this.

Israel purchases most of its industrial machinery from abroad, including the equipment to make cottage cheese. These mammoth machines are intricate and complicated to operate and repair. With every purchase, there is a costly maintenance contract requiring company professionals to travel to Israel to train personnel to manage the equipment.

For the past year or more, many of these professionals have refused to come to Israel. They claim it is too dangerous. Their unions won't cover their insurance costs.

It needs to be asked, "Is it really too dangerous?" Or are they blocking any connection to Israel as part of the boycott and divestment protests?

We have become used to these types of responses: "Your concert is canceled due to security challenges." "The hotel is full, so we can't accept your reservation." "Your participation in this conference would make others uncomfortable."

The fact is: antisemitism has become the norm. 

It is unpopular to show friendship or support, or even to do business with Israel. Those who do so are often banned or boycotted themselves.

And… we are left with no cottage cheese on the shelves.

Please stand with us against anti-Israel attacks and boycotts that reach far beyond politics and affect even the small details of our daily lives.