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Do you go out of your way to give business to a Jewish owned business? (i.e. dry cleaners, grocery)
Honestly, it depends.
I’d drive an extra few blocks, but not an extra few miles.
Where I live in Israel all store owners are Jewish. I believe that one has to try and use the businesses within the community. This is the only way to keep the community strong.
Sometimes, if it’s not too much of a tircha.
I do go out of my way to give Yoshon proprietors business when it’s not Yoshon season, because if not for them I’d starve.
If i see frum business owners employing frum people and giving good customer service i will even walk the extra blocks to give them my business, even if the prices may be higher.
I always try to. Most of the time I do.
Im generally weary of small businesses so I stick to larger ones.
I don’t think we have a Jewish dry cleaner in town.
I would also be wary of disputes with Jewish owners and having to deal with Beis Din. So no, unless the store has a great reputation (like Town Appliance in Lakewood) or the purchase is minor enough that I can “eat” a loss if need be (like a jean skirt).
I used to shop at a Jewish-owned grocery store nearby. I stopped because their prices are significantly higher than the big stores like Shop Rite and Path Mark. In Shop Rite, I can buy Kedem grape juice for $3 per bottle. The Jewish store charges $6.50. For chicken cutlets, the Jewish store charges 6.99/lb. Shop Rite charges 5.99/lb. Why should I go broke shopping at a store that raises the prices because they know they’re the only Jewish grocery in town?
Feif un: in Brooklyn there’s the Kollel Store (or whatever it’s called now) and the prices are excellent. Goldberg’s is also good.
Feif Un-
We have the same issue by us.
I haven’t investigated what goes on but if I had to guess I would think that the prices are double so that those who pay also pay for those that purchase on credit but never pay.
My wife and I both feel that it is a perfect way to give tzedakka in the neighborhood to friends and family with out us knowing who it goes to and without them knowing who it’s coming from.
Dr. Pepper
Its a nice cheshbon but don’t fool yourself the prices are higher because little stores pay more for everything and the owners want to be able to afford a nice Jewish lifestyle. Nobody accept maybe the larger Jewish supermarkets can compete with a Shoprite Walmart or even Pathmark.
I would ask a Rav before deducting Tzeddakah money from your grocery expenses.
WIY:
“I would ask a Rav before deducting Tzeddakah money from your grocery expenses.”
So would I, but who said Dr Pepper is deducting this from masser? It sounds like he just thinks it’s a nice thing to do (which is a great point, by the way).
WellInformedYid-
I don’t deduct it from maaser.
Whatever the standard of living is for the owner- the fact is that he never asks anyone to pay their bill, and some people never do.
When buying flowers for Shabbos, I try to go to the stands that are owned by Jewish ppl, even if in other places its nicer.
I have heard that the difference between jewish and non jewish stores can be deducted.
Part of the reason Path Mark in Monsey is closing is because their prices overall werent cheaper.
Pathmark is closing because A & P,the owner, has been closing stores ( and that includes Waldbaums ) for years
lesschumras they arent closing stores that make money. Had they been cheaper than the local groceries they would still have the jewish business.
I know they still had some jewish customers but it was a fraction of what they had in the past.
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