August 20 Prices

— “You go out & eat for the equivalent of less than $1”
— “What is very expensive is luxury clothing, therefore, it just isn’t worn”

The Carmel Market in Tel Aviv known as one of Israel’s best shopping experiences.

August 20, 1957 Tues afternoon
Dear Mom, Dad and Alan,

Yesterday I returned from the Galil trip & a tour of Haifa to Jerusalem. Tomorrow morning I am leaving for a tour of the Haifa Bay Industrial Region and then Tel Aviv.
While in Haifa yesterday I met a boy who came over recently, is a member of the Z.O.A. & is staying until I am. That means I will have company here for my stay & also in Europe.

We have decided to rent a car with a third fellow & see everything we haven’t seen so far. I was very glad to receive mail from you telling me what a good boy Alan is and that you are all fine and healthy. Please excuse the penmanship as I always write in a spare moment without a table to lean on. Thank G-d everything here is wonderful & so far the food is great.

If you go out & eat for the equivalent of less than $1. You get a full course steak dinner complete. Malted 10 Cents Soda 3 CENTS ETC. What is very expensive is luxury clothing, therefore, it just isn’t worn. Suits are a non- entity as are sport jackets etc.

Today is the first day where you can really say the weather is hot. So — time for a swim

Love, Bob

Comments:

August 20, 1957 Tues afternoon

“What is very expensive is luxury clothing, therefore, it just isn’t worn. Suits are a non-entity as are sport jackets etc.”
In a previous letter (July 27), my father wrote “I haven’t seen anyone wearing a suit, not even in Israel’s Parliament”. The dress code in Israel is still pretty informal today. In synagogues, people in the U.S. usually wear suits and ties. In Israel, a majority do not. More Knesset members wear suits than in 1957, but many still dress casually.

“If you go out & eat for the equivalent of less than $1. You get a full course steak dinner complete. Malted 10 cents soda 3 cents etc. “
In Israel’s early years, restaurant prices were much cheaper than in the U.S. Today, prices in Israeli restaurants are on par with the U.S. There were hardly any fancy restaurants in the 1950’s, and people did not go out to eat as a social venue. Most eating places were fast food joints for people who did not have time to cook.