"What?" The Store Owner Exclaimed in Alarm, "The Champagne I Sell Isn't Kosher?"

The department for finding close ones makes an impassioned call to the public: Anyone who has ever met a secular Jew, or a secular Jewess, but the real deal!! Please leave your details with us urgently.

I've been searching for years, and time after time I come up empty-handed. Even the most rebellious, even the loudest, and I've met many of them, it turns out that deep down, they are not really such! (Atheists, especially in today's hedonistic society, are at most ignorant in terms of their Jewish education. How could they deny something they do not fully understand?! By the way, the deeper your awareness, the more intense the bluntness and defiance become. You simply can't suppress, so you shout. Tried and tested).

There isn't a Jew or Jewess who doesn't have a holy spark in their heart, there isn't a Jew or Jewess who doesn't strive to observe at least some mitzvot, in secret and in the open, for the soul.

Who is like your people, Israel!!

Still need proof?!

Then you probably haven't entered Elbaz's minimarket in 'Ein Yaakov'.

I've been in there. And I came out enchanted.

It was about two years ago, just around this time of year. For a change, I decided that was it. I had to, I simply had to, take a little break, if not for myself, then for her, and for them! I took those who, due to my numerous occupations and frequent travels, don't see me enough - my dear wife and children - and we headed to "Ein Yaakov", a charming, flourishing, and fairly secluded settlement in the Galilee.

Rabbi Reuven Zakai

Well, it wasn't purely restful, after all, both my phones were with me, as was the email. They worked as usual, meaning: full steam ahead. And what?! Do you really think I wasn't asked to give sermons at the synagogue there?! That I didn't check the kashrut of the mikveh?! That I wasn't asked halachic questions?! You're exaggerating. But I'm not complaining. It was, *Baruch Hashem*, completely wonderful, as our young people say...

One morning, in our temporary holiday abode, the milk ran out. I went to the settlement's minimarket. Of Elbaz, as we mentioned?! What did I ask for, really? Just two bags of milk. That's all. (You won't believe it! Even in the far north I found Tnuva in the fridges. It's a small world...) But very quickly I realized that even when you're on vacation, no entry to a minimarket/ supermarket/ kiosk/ grocery will end with just two bags of milk. Add to that the fact that my son, who was then about two and a half, accompanied the purchase, generously offering several excellent financial tips, and even took a fancy 'commission' from dad.

That's it. I finally finished and went to the checkout. There was a small line. And what does a Jew do in the meantime? Surveys the minimarket from all four corners. Well, what does he see?! You guessed it: products, products, products.

But there was one shelf, very close to the counter, that for some reason caught my attention, champagne bottles stood there, lined up and arranged like soldiers in a morning parade. The label was not familiar to me at all, (not that I'm a big expert on champagne...) and quite instinctively, also due to the slow-moving queue, I approached the shelf and turned one of the bottles, and my eyes were shocked: On the back label, the words appeared: "Not Kosher!"

For those still wondering, what could possibly be wrong with wine made only from grapes?! (And even that's not so sure, for those who know). Correct. There is no problem! But there are issues!! Let's list some: the prohibition of *Orlah* (i.e., trees whose fruits are forbidden to eat by Torah law if they have not passed three years since planting), the prohibition of *Tevel* (we are commanded to give tithes and priestly portions from all fruits and vegetables). And worst: the prohibition of *Yayin Nesech*! That is, wine not made by Jews or even just touched by non-Jews (except touching a sealed kosher wine bottle). It is forbidden for us, as Jews, to drink it. There are many reasons for this. But to anyone quick to protest for the honor of the nations of the world. Calm down. I know and apply the rule: Man is beloved for he was created in the image [of G-d]. But the root of the prohibition isn't because of them, it's more because of us.

Ugh, what do I do now?!

A first voice told me: "Leave it. You are not the type to make remarks to people, especially when you are just a guest for a moment. What do you want?! To anger him in the morning? That he might hate you and your kind?! That he might shout and scold you in front of all the clients?! Ignore. ignore".

In fact, I even started thinking in terms of *Chillul Hashem* heaven forbid. (In retrospect, I realized for the umpteenth time that even a strong argument like this is only from the evil inclination. Yes. He is a master at recruiting these pseudo-spiritual arguments in irrelevant places).

- Oh, and besides, here you are not a rabbi or a lecturer or a heart warmer, you are on vacation, aren’t you?...

But there was also another voice, stronger and more truthful, that did not let go of me: "Reuven, what's with you?! Why are you avoiding it?! Where is the commandment to 'reprove thy neighbor'?! It's very possible the owner is not aware of the issue at all, neither him nor his buyers certainly. You have a chance, at least try… After all, this is a serious prohibition of *Yayin Nesech* considered like severe dietary prohibitions. Even if he doesn't listen to you, you've done your part!"

Not much time for deliberation was available to me. My turn had already arrived. In a moment's decision, I preferred to wait until the bill was done. 'Even if he throws me out of the store', I thought to myself, 'at least let him first receive the payment he deserves...'

The bill was finalized. And I gathered a little courage. I looked into the eyes of the store owner, and with a broad smile, I said to him: "Firstly, thank you for the shopping experience you've given me. And thank you for being here, a meter from home". "Secondly, I ask your pardon in advance, I'm not intruding in your life, certainly not in the preferences of your customers. The decision of what to sell and what not to is, of course, yours. I'm just asking: Are you at least aware that the champagne on the shelf next to us is not kosher, in other words, it is *Yayin Nesech*?!

He had just heard those two words, 'Yayin Nesech', and demanded an urgent explanation. I explained briefly, and he only understood what was at stake, and an outcry escaped his lips: "What?? That I should sell here *Yayin Nesech*?! That I should cause my own siblings to stumble?!"

"Just yesterday", the seller said in alarm, "a distributor offered me to sell them. A miracle that I haven't sold even one bottle yet!!!" And here he solemnly announced in a voice that reached and filled all corners of the supermarket: "Rabbi! I thank you very much for enlightening me. I want you to be sure, even if he doesn’t refund me a single penny, I am throwing everything away! You will see rabbi that tomorrow not one bottle will be here!"

I believed him. Truthful words are recognizable. But deep down, I didn’t really think he would do it so fast. But the next day, when I entered again (I promise you I wasn’t "looking" for him, the milk just ran out again), I was surprised to see superbly kosher Schweppes bottles filling the place of the non-kosher champagne bottles that were there only yesterday.

"I am impressed with you! Bravo!" I embraced him. Now a picture, I asked, because I really want all of Israel to know:

That there isn't, simply isn't, a secular Jew! There isn't a secular Jewess!

I'm not naive.

I just know what I'm talking about!

And now, with all honesty, answer me:

We are such a special people, shouldn't we open a kosher champagne?!

Rabbi Reuven Zakai is among the lecturers at the Hidabroot channel. For feedback: erez2626@gmail.com