Image by Aviya Kushner

By Aviya Kushner March 6, 2017

Ever wish you could tell at a glance if someone was single or not? A Tel Aviv convenience-store has a novel solution to this problem.

Tel Aviv is known for its nightlife and its large number of single residents, but Israel itself is a family-centric culture. The divide between solo freedom and traditional home life has been captured on a reusable grocery bag being distributed by AM-PM, a chain of convenience stores that is somewhat similar to America’s 7-11 — with a far larger and fresher produce selection.

The Hebrew ad pushing the two-sided bag from AM-PM reads: “Coupledom vs. Singlehood – You Don’t Need to Decide! The gift bag flips!”

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The bag has two sides. On one side, it says in English “In A Relationship” and on the other it says “Searching…”

Image by Aviya Kushner

If only it were so easy to tell who was truly available. For those who spend more than 70 shekels at the store, the bag is free.

The bags have been dotting the city since a few days before Valentine’s Day, when they were introduced. No statistics are available on whether carrying a bag that says “Searching…” works.

Aviya Kushner is The Forward’s language columnist and the author of The Grammar of God. (Spiegel & Grau). Follow her on Twitter at @AviyaKushner

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism so that we can be prepared for whatever news 2025 brings.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount