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If hand matzoh were so inexpensive to bake, people could purchase it all year. The simple truth is that labor intensive items are expensive to produce. Besides, you only need shmurah for the sdarim. If you have no $$, feel free to use boxed matzo. As well, Kosher L'Pesach items like cake mixes do not retain their value after Pesach. Therefore, a substantial loss factor is included in the price of the food by the producer, wholesaler and retailer. Besides, no one has an entitlement to a $13 jelly roll. If people don't buy them the price will drop or the item won't be produced. Further, many producers of Pesach items have to upkeep buildings that are only used three months a year. All of this costs money.

For the meat, egg and vegie wholesalers (and any retailers) who raise prices without increased costs,) I say, hang 'em like horse thieves.

 

you have a point!

 

"Besides, you only need shmurah for the sdarim. If you have no $$, feel free to use boxed matzo. "

L'chatchilah you need shmurah for all of pesach. If by shmurah you mean "hand made", then you don't even need it for the seder, unless it is your minhag.

 

That's exactly what I do. I buy a box of Manichewitz schmurah for the sedarim ($3.50) and the rest of the matzo I get for free for spending $50 at Pathmark. I don't buy any of the cakes, and the eggs, fruits, and veggies I get from the non-Jewish stores. I get chalav stam, which is way cheaper.

Also, many stores sell cake mixes after Pesach for pennies on the dollar. I buy them and put them away for the next year.

If you're smart about it, you don't have to spend a fortune.

 

Every year I go through this...Pathmark, by the way, was MUCH more expensive this year than the groceries...but I DID buy one of those expensive cakes..and it was MOLDY on bottom..uch...so save your $$$.

 

to theanon.who posted this "That's exactly what I do. I buy a box of Manichewitz schmurah for the sedarim ($3.50) and the rest of the matzo I get for free for spending $50 at Pathmark. I don't buy any of the cakes, and the eggs, fruits, and veggies I get from the non-Jewish stores. I get chalav stam, which is way cheaper.

Also, many stores sell cake mixes after Pesach for pennies on the dollar. I buy them and put them away for the next year"

Some of us have a higher standard of kashrus than you and are willing to pay the price for it.

 

1, There are some extra expenses to the wholesalers, I don't think the ridiculous price hikes come from the wholesalers.
2, I have been in Miami Beach for Pesach a few times. The behavior of the stores and their prices make N.Y. look like a bargain. Amazingly, this year it started to change. The stores were not busy and seemed to be stuck with a lot of goods. Maybe this will happen in N.Y. also and the stores will learn to be less chazerish.
3, I am aware that there are Halachic reasons to try to use Chalav Yiroel for Peasach but each should make his own decision.
4, Why should it be that when we buy clothing or electronics we find the cheapest store, usually not frum but when buying food we feel we must buy packaged food at a frum store and pay much more than a supermarket charges.
5, It is my understanding that some cakes that are sold to appear as fresh from the bakery days before Pesach are actually baked 3 or 4 monthe prior, then brought to the bakery from storage to be iced and sold.

Compare a basic brand like ronzoni spaghetti. Yes, we are told that supermarkets pay less because of their size but we should support our frum stores. yes but why does that only apply to frum food stores, don't all jews deserve the support?
When Shoprite first opened in Brooklyn the Rebbe of my shul and many other Rebbes made a specch telling people to support their local frum store. I questioned why and the Rebbe said I was right but he was asked to make the speech. The speech was never repeated in my Shtibel.

 

Even if you want to use hand Shmura for the Seder you can still use Machine Shmurah the rest of pesach and save a lot of money. Machine shmura was on sale at Paperific for 3.27 per 1 pound box.
The real difficulty for econmically challenged families is as follows. During the year if you are poor, you can feed youe kids inexpensive carbohydrates like Maccaroni,pretzels,bread,etc. Obviously you can not do this on Pesach. You now have no choice but to subsist on meat, chicken, fruits and vegetables which are much more expensive than macaroni and pasta. Additionally the kids are home from school and eating meals at home instead of getting school food. that is why Pesach is a big strain on Anniyim.

 

You don't have to buy ready made Pesach cakes or cake mixes and all the other ready made stuff. Cook from scratch. True the hand shmura is very expensive, but, that's because the wheat has to be "shmura" guarded and then hand made etc. If mitzvos are important to you, you would be willing to pay more for hiddur mitzva, just like buying a very expensive esrog etc., that only has value for one week. Regular produce should not be more expensive just for Pesach.

 

TO I love Pesach. Regular Produce is expensive. Poor People usually eat much less of it, due to its cost compared to cheap foods like bread, pasta, and other starches.That is why there are higher rates of Obesity,Diabetes and Hypertension, in the poor neighborhoods of our city. that is also why Pesach is more expensive for many people even if they do not but cake mixes and the like.

 

"Some of us have a higher standard of kashrus than you and are willing to pay the price for it."

Okay, you can be more "frum" if you want, but then don't come bitching to me about the prices.

 

re Anon 12:10 pm
Anonymous said...
"Some of us have a higher standard of kashrus than you and are willing to pay the price for it."

Okay, you can be more "frum" if you want, but then don't come bitching to me about the prices.

Actually, Perhaps someone can be as frum as they want to be they just should not impose their standard on you. They are still entitled to protection against price gouging and should be entitled to fair business practices from the merchants.

 

It is the same reason people pay an arm and a leg for food and drinks at an amusement park or a ball game. It is either pay the ridiculous prices or starve. It's a shame these companies feel the need to make such a high profit. I can only imagine what the markup must be