Photo by Richard Halon

I recently visited ESRA's secondhand shop in Raanana, called the Nearly New Shop and was amazed at the changes that have taken place there.  It is spacious, there are two dressing rooms with a mirror opposite and it is divided into a number of separate departments: clothing, linens, household goods, toys, books, shoes, even jewelry. The clothes for men, women and children are well displayed.  The knick-knacks are very interesting, as well as the various household goods.  If you are missing a glass or cup and saucer of a set, you might be amazed to find it in the shop.

I have some lovely crystal wine glasses which always tend to get broken over time, and I found to my surprise four replacements for them. Another of my purchases was a part set of crockery identical to my daily set, which made up and even more for the pieces broken over the last twenty years.  When you think about it, we all have a variety of dishes purchased either in Israel or brought from our home country and when, for whatever reason, some of these goods are contributed to the shop, there is a likelihood of a match for something you need.

Really beautiful household goods have been given to the shop, such as small items of furniture, and I saw hanging from the ceiling and very nicely displayed some most interesting lamps.

I would like to correct the concept that this shop is a charity shop only for those who are in need.  It is also in the frame of the charity shops in the UK and the US where very good items are contributed and the general public like you and me go looking for a bargain.  The last time I was in the shop, just before writing this article, I found two children's books in Hebrew for my grandchildren, a lovely glass jeweled hair clip for my granddaughter and a new white leather handbag for myself in a classic style that I have been looking for in vain in the shops.

Helen Mirren at the Academy Awards event in 2009 said that many of her beautiful evening dresses and other clothes are purchased at charity shops for ridiculously small sums.  In England and in America, people are proud of the bargains they bought at charity shops as well as of the good feeling that they are contributing to society.  I purchased in London a few years back a beautiful French "Weinberg" brand red blouse for a few pounds sterling which in Israel would have cost me 1500 shekels –  and no, this is not a typographical error. 

Those who visit the American yard sale in Kfar Shmaryahu each year should know that all leftovers from this sale are kindly donated to the ESRA shops, and believe me, there are often some very interesting items among those goods.

So next time that you come and contribute goods, why not just step inside and look around. Maybe you too will find something there that you wouldn't find in the local shops. A gentle reminder: all items contributed to the shop should be in a condition to be sold, not requiring any repairs.

I would like to end by praising the shop manager, Giora Fried, for his vision and for his talent in turning the shop around, as well as to all the wonderful ESRA volunteers who give their time and energy to this important income-earning aspect of ESRA: Ruthanne,  Davida,  Helen,  Sonia,  Noach,  Mike,  Shoshi,  Sara,  Isabel,  Bella,  Perry,  Gustavo and Israel.

The shop is still in need of volunteers, in particular people who are willing and able to carry in the wonderful and often heavy items that are contributed to the shop. You can offer your services for just a few hours or just one day a week or whatever time you have free.

The Raanana shop is in Ahuza Street between numbers 100 amd 102. Just go down the alleyway and down the stairs and the shop is in the right hand corner of the courtyard. If you are contributing items, you can get there by car by going down Maccabi Street turn left at the first corner into Hanegev St., and after 100 meters or so, turning to the left to a car park. In this same courtyard you can park and find the ESRA shop in the far left corner.  There is always someone happy to come out and help you bring in whatever you have.  Tel: 09 741 2631.

ESRA has another secondhand shop in Kfar Saba, tel: 09 765 4652 at 45 Rothschild St.