24 Russian Beer, Romanian Wine

Years ago when I first entered the wine and liquor store near my house I discovered the "hidden imports" that are not seen in the large supermarkets. It contained brands from Eastern Europe that aroused my curiosity. The customers in the store also attracted me. The clerks who spoke fluent Hebrew with me, albeit with a slight accent (and who in Israel does not have a slight accent) switched immediately to their mother tongue when another customer entered. Suddenly their language became softer, livelier, quicker and more natural. Only then did I realize that what had formerly seemed to be fluent was indeed a matter that required considerable effort. Israel is a land of immigrants.

The special brands that I saw in the store were almost all in the low price range and I couldn't expect any miracles, but in spite of that my curiosity was aroused and I tried different kinds. I tasted the strong Russian beer which contains a higher percentage of alcohol than I was accustomed to and could not get used to its taste. I tried the vodka flavored with honey and pepper which is imported from the Ukraine and could not even manage to finish the small bottle that I had bought. I had already heard about Murfatlar wine from Rumania and I was not disappointed – it was excellent. But when two of my children became religiously observant, I was obliged to do without it because the wine does not bear a kosher seal.

These days I don't buy much in this store. It seems to me that it carries fewer brands of the kind that are not found in supermarkets. But in spite of that, the store attracts me. I go in, walk around aimlessly and then buy 6 bottles of mineral water. Here they are in the nylon bag on the counter. The angle of the photograph I owe the stores salesman, who asked me to shoot it in such a way that it would show the bottle of the gold labeled "Vodka Absolute", that he is so proud of.