By Harley Zipori. We are fast approaching Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. Israelis have a long tradition on this day of eating the charred remains of dead animals.
Oh, I’m sorry. Let me translate that. It’s the barbeque, or as they say here, “al ha-aish” which literally means “on the fire”. Also called the “mangal”. Or the “barbie” to Australians or the “braai” to South Africans.
Whatever you call it, the air will be filled with the sound of fat dripping on hot coals and the smell of meat grilling on an open fire. It’s a day of friends and family and just having a bit of fun.
Of course what better way to enjoy your grilled meat (or tofu patties if charred animal remains aren’t your thing) than with a cold beer. Even vegans can enjoy beer. Ah, but which beer?
However as we indulge in the meat and salads and other tasty treats, we should pause for a moment to contemplate what it means by “independence”. Are we truly free of tyranny? Are we really an independent people? Have we achieved the right to drink good quality beer at a reasonable price?
I for one do not feel that I have free access to good quality beer. If I go to the supermarket, I do not see one Israeli boutique beer. I have to go to a specialty store for that. In our mini-markets, kiosks, roadside restaurants and even local watering holes, they still deny us the right to drink a tasty beer made by one of the truly talented brewers in this country.
Is that liberty???
I, for one, refuse to submit to this tyranny. I will not drink a commercial, mass produced beer this Independence Day. I hope that all of you reading this and celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut will think twice before taking a sip of your non-boutique, non-crafted, commercial brand name beer (I won’t even tell you what the South Africans call it) and think about what you can do to get the message across that we are still not truly free.
Our beer independence will be a struggle, but we will get there in the end. Cheers!
As usual you can reach me at [email protected].
