North American Jewry may find themselves facing a shortage of 4 minim for Sukkos as officials have confiscated a number of shipments of hadassim, reportedly due to infestation or infection.
According to reports, based on information from major American dealers, 80,000 sets (240,000 pieces) of hadassim were confiscated to date. Other reports are contradictory, explaining only 80,000 pieces were confiscated, one-third the number listed in the first report.
Complicating matters, some importers are now unwilling to guarantee payment until such time the goods reach the United States, but the exporters are unwilling to gamble on incurring costs and losing their goods, leaving some planned shipments in a state of uncertainty. Kikar reports all major hadassim dealers in Eretz Yisrael have received requests during recent days, but have declined since importers are unwilling to guarantee payment for any hadassim that are not cleared for entry into the country.
At present, it appears there may be a shortage of hadassim – and if so – prices will most likely increase to 4-to-5 times.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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7 Responses
I am skeptical. Frequently in the past, esrogim dealers have used stories of spoilage and restrictions to try to get people to pay higher prices. These stories were consistently false.
There is no reason to give credence to this story either. The fact that there are more than one version increases my suspicions.
Buyer beware!
lets not get fooled by there crooks!
I just found another web site that reports that the hadassim shortage is indeed exaggerated.
That the small amount of problems that are there aren’t large enough to effect the price.
Editors Note: Nothing is exaggerated. There were tens of thousands of Haddasim confiscated. This was verified first hand by YWN with leading Askonim who were personally contacted by the individuals who were importing the goods to North America. Some were released back into Eretz Yisroel, while others were simply confiscated.
I sell hundreds of esrogim in the five towns and work closely with the largest importer……
While it may be true it still should not effect the market even though people may use it as an excuse there will be enough supply to meet demands. Even if the edsitor checked with suppliers in Israel. We are still resposible for importing them personally by plane, so its not like people are just sending them in the mail.
1. Hadasim coming into the country are coming individually vacum packed, so the likely hood of 25,000 packages (3 in a pack) all being infested doesnt make sense and even if they were there not checking em all.
2. I would have herd about this before reading it on ywn
3. Even if they were confiscated it shouldn’t have an effect, just like every year there is something that happens EVERYONE WILL END UP GETTING HADDASIM find me 100 people that wont be able to get let alone 20 to 30 thousand people
4. Regarding price everyone should be spending more on hadasim anyway, it’s a shame when people spend hundreds on esrogim but dont mind the 6-8 dollar hadasim
5. I hope everyone has a tramendous simcha’s ha yomtov from there daled minim
Editor, are you in the arba minim business
#1 I am skeptical too. Most years the first day of Sukkos is not on Shabbos, therefore everyone wants a mehuderdiga esrog. But this year where the first day of Sukkos is on Shabbos, we don’t bentch esrog until Sunday, and almost any esrog is kosher, therefore it is suspect because of a strong incentive to come up with such a story.
#6 Are you a maimon? Don’t you believe that Moshiach can come before Sukkos and we will all take lulav and esrog on the first day in the Bais Hamikdosh?