The Rami Levy Security Guard Took My Temperature
by Jacob Richman
Tonight, Thursday March 12, my friend took me shopping to Rami Levy in Mishor Adumim. At the entrance to the store the security guard took my temperature. He pointed a device close to my forehead but did not touch my forehead. I was ok to go in. It was a bit surreal. I have seen this on TV (at airports in China), but never imaged it in real life. I was at the Ma'ale Adumim canion / mall earlier today and no one was taking anyones temperature. I do not know if the Rami Levy chain is the only supermarket doing this. When I got home tonight and looked at the news online, I read that Hadassah Hospital also started checking temperatures at their entrance.
Many people were shopping tonight as if a holiday was approaching. Many workers were stocking the shelves. I was happy to see that Rami Levy was not price gouging. In fact, he had many sales including canned goods. Kol Hakavod to Rami Levy! His supermarkets are vey well stocked except for...... toilet paper. Three customers and myself were is front of the wall which usually has many brands of toilet paper stacked high. It was completely empty. We were wondering if it was the media that caused panic buying or whether Israel imports its toilet paper. I have a 2-3 week supply at home but I will begin a paper search next week.
On a sad note, one of the Arab workers, who works many years at the store and helps packing and stocking, told me tonight, that at midnight, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Israel is banning Arabs over the age of 50 from entering Israel. I felt bad that he may not be able to get to Rami Levy to work. I understand why this is being done and I wonder how many other workers (Jewish and Arab) may be temporary out of work due to the virus. Whenever I speak to a journalist or reporter about our relations with our Arab neighbors, I always recommend that they pay a visit to any Rami Levy supermarket in Yehuda and Shomron and see how Jewish and Arab shoppers and workers can live, work and shop side by side. In 2014, I wrote an article about this at: Shopping at Rami Levy in Mishor Adumim
I hope the warmer weather in the next few weeks helps slow down / stop the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, PM Bibi Netanyahu announced tonight that the schools are closing until after Pesach vacation. This will affect millions of students and their families. There are several companies in Israel involved in remote / at home learning. It will be interesting to see what can be implemented for our large student population.
I will end on a good note. My grandmother z"l and my mother z"l used to say: "Gam zu l'tova" ("This too is for the good"). Over the next 24 hours there will be a big storm in Israel with rain and very strong winds that can cause all types of damage. The good news is that the Kinneret is 72 centimeters from being full and after the current rains, the water authorities may open the Deganya dam. Opening the dam would prevent the possible flooding of the communities located near the lake, and would replenish the waters of the Jordan River and onward south to the Dead Sea.
Just a few years ago, we were watching TV commercials for
conserving water. I also remember, 9 years ago, that the
Mekorot water authority were sending their workers to apartments
to install free water savers in faucets and shower heads.
Back in the summer of 2010, I wrote a short article about it at:
jr.co.il/t/water-savers.htm
Between our full Kinneret, our water desalination plants and water recycling, we have enough water for our homes, industry and Israel agriculture....and Baruch Hashem (thank G-d) for that. B'ezrat Hashem (with G-d's help) we will overcome the virus.
Shabbat Shalom,|
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