Today’s Wall Street Journal reports that all across America, holiday shoppers at malls are being “accosted” by pushy, money-hungry Israelis selling everything from hand cream to toy helicopters. One of the twenty-something salespeople describes what he is doing, not to selling but to “hunting”. Is this a story which trumpets old anti-Semitic stereotypes, or is it just accurately reporting a cultural phenomenon? Might it be both, simultaneously?
Even the non-Israeli vendors who work alongside them at the malls, report mixed feelings about the phenomenal success (as much as $500.00 a day) of these post-army Israelis financing everything from trips to South America to their next folk albums with their push cart earnings.
Some non-Israeli cart operators have mixed feelings about the competition. Israelis “are really hassling people a lot,” and people are losing respect for the carts, says Ayhan Yuce, a Turkish immigrant who sells jewelry, sunglasses and toys at carts in about 60 U.S. malls. Still, he’s considering studying Hebrew.
“I really would like to hire some of those Israelis,” he says. “They are really good salesmen. You have to admire them.”
So is this just another story of people finding financial opportunity in America? Is it a source of pride to those who admire the Israeli can-do spirit? Is it an ugly tale of money-grubbing Jews preying on their Christian neighbors doing some innocent Christmas shopping?
I am not sure, but I bet you all have an idea. Let me know what you think.
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
posted December 3, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Enthusiasm never hurts any salesperson, and sells mdse. No matter what ethnicity. Having been brought up on the east coast and shopping in the Bronx on Fremont Ave. I can honestly say I’ve never bought anything I didn’t set out to buy or want. If people can’t resist salesmanship then that’s their problem.
posted December 4, 2008 at 12:05 am
Rabbi Hirschfield,
I think that as long as these salespeople operate legally and satisfy buying customers, there shouldn’t be any issues. If these salespeople happen to be Israelis, that is fine. And if these sales people happen to be from any other cultural or racial background, this is fine as well. Hey, customers get what they want for the price they are willing to pay and the workers get compensated for their service. There is nothing extraordinary in this phenomenon except if you try to make it look like one by bringing in cultural and racial stereotypes.
Thanks.
Eric
posted December 4, 2008 at 9:56 am
I think the underlying tone of the article was respectful of their ability to close the deal and deliver. If I have to chose between some pushy behaviour or Shnor mentality I take pushy every day.
There is a whole other issue of the legalities of this occupation, and the fact foreigners make $500/day on jobs US citizens won’t take.
posted December 7, 2008 at 8:43 pm
why is a ‘pushy” salesperson “pushy”. Because he’s good @ his job.Sales jobs are not shunned by Americans.