Crowds, merchants mutually pleased with Solidarity Fair

By sandi carpello
Staff Writer

Crowds, merchants mutually
pleased with Solidarity Fair
By sandi carpello
Staff Writer


VERONICA YANKOWSKI Leya Strauss (l), Aviva Strauss, 7, and Beth Stuckey (r) check out some of the  crafts at the Israel Solidarity Fair in East Brunswick Sunday.VERONICA YANKOWSKI Leya Strauss (l), Aviva Strauss, 7, and Beth Stuckey (r) check out some of the crafts at the Israel Solidarity Fair in East Brunswick Sunday.

EAST BRUNSWICK — With suicide bombings continuing in Israel, business from tourists has gone the way of the peace process.

In response, Young Israel of East Brunswick and the East Brunswick Jewish Center teamed up to bring Israeli merchants or at least their products to the Jewish Center on Ryders Lane last Sunday for the first Israel Solidarity Fair.

Nearly 5,000 area residents shopped for clothing, crafts, jewelry and other merchandise in an effort to raise money for merchants who have suffered financial losses as a result of the country’s lagging tourism industry, according to Judy Goldrich, vice president of Young Israel of East Brunswick.

"Loss in commerce was not an issue before two years ago," she said.

In the past two years business in Israel has dropped 70 to 80 percent, according to Israeli Business Information Services.

"We decided to provide a forum to pump dollars into the Israeli economy," said Goldrich.

The two local synagogues put the Solidarity Fair together by contacting Amcha, a Riverdale-based coalition for Jewish concerns, which, along with Gail Joseph of East Brunswick and Jerry Gordon of Highland Park, gathered names of Israeli merchants who might be interested in selling their products in the United States.

The merchants’ trips to the United States were funded by the synagogues.

Merchandise was sold by approximately 65 Israeli merchants at the fair, selling Israeli manufactured items, which also included leather, gourmet food, artwork and Judaic items.

Merchants also sold cosmetic products made with water from the Dead Sea in Israel, which is known for its rich minerals.

Goldrich said the merchants made out well and were very impressed by the spirit of volunteerism in the East Brunswick community.

Despite the fair’s success, Goldrich said she hopes the situation in Israel will improve.

"I hope [the solidarity fair] will be the last one necessary, but if the need would arise [for another], we are up for the challenge," she said.