By COLlive reporter
In his weekly Ask the Rabbi column in England’s Jewish News newspaper, Rabbi Yitzchok Schochet was asked “Why are Pesach prices so much more expensive than kosher food the rest of the year?”
As expected from Schochet, the outspoken Chabad Rabbi of the Mill Hill Synagogue in London, his reply was both sarcastic and opinionated.
Here it is:
Let’s see: there is the cost of the supervisor who goes into the plant to make sure it’s all kosher. No, wait! He does that anyway throughout the year; maybe a few extra hours before Pesach but not much difference.
Well, the added labels and ink that say “kosher for Passover,” costs extra – but if you consider that the word kosher is already on there, that should allow for a discount of some percent.
I did some research and found the answer in Wikipedia. I looked up highway robbery and came up with this: “A mugging that takes place outside and in a public place such as a sidewalk, street, or parking lot… or Passover kosher shop.”
A few years ago, a large group of rabbis signed a price gouging ban in New York. To quote: “Now before Passover, especially when the economy is so bad, we are reminding people of the Jewish law concerning monopolies.”
Those same rabbis caution store owners to have mercy on the consumer all year around, but particularly at Passover when there is so much need.
I would argue this isn’t something that should apply to only when the economy is tough. There are many people who find things difficult at other times.
i thought with all the competition and choice that consumers have, prices w’d be low….
There is business. There is a market that pays
When you ask for tkedaka for a Moisad. There is no limit , the most you get the better , 50k 1 million 10 million 50 million
When they get the money they keep asking for more Why not?
If you have a product and you are overpriced You don’t sell anything
If you sell.peopple pay means that this is the market price
ever heard of suply and demand
Was the first Rav in the last 50 years to really come out with a campaign (like a “Hecht” knows how to do) to decry the high prices and “issur ona’ah” of taking undo advantage of the kosher consumer especially for Pessach. At tyhe time it made news in the anglo and Yiddish press and it was well received.
I wounder what his take would be on what is spent on purim
As is with all things yom tov time- lulov estog to mention another and what about the cost of sheitals – talk about highway robbery and for something that is a must! Despicable!
While I may agree with the Rabbi on some products, there are many products where the price is the same.
As a Distributor I can testify that on some foods despite the additional cost of a Mashgiach Temidi for the Pesach Production. Nevertheless the cost is NOT passed on to the consumer. But is absorbed by the Manufacturer and Distributor, hence allowing the price to remain the same as it is all year.
Someone has to say it. It takes a man of guts and intellect. Shkoiach
We need people who speak their mind and strong voices who know how to argue the points. Gd bless you Rabbi Schochet
Well… technically not a monopoly, it’s not the post office, but kosher limits consumers to fewer choices.
If the rabbis who give certifications would be more “open” then prices would naturally fall, as competition increases.
Crying and asking for kosher store owners to act like decent human beings will get you so far, but allowing for market forces to work, will get real results.
Adam Smith for rabbi 2014!
couldn’t have said it better
This is a bunch of baloney that we should have to be robbed and mugged at the expense of a holiday.
Sickness
Rabbi Schochet may be opinionated but at least he speaks his mind and more than not he’s correct. It is too bad he isn’t a rav in America.