Monday, October 16, 2006

Post Succos/Shmini Atzeres/Simchas Torah Questions

Today being the first day after the holidays, there is some time to reflect about the experiences we just had. One observation that I had during Succos occurred during Simcha Beis HaShuevah. For Simcha Beis Hashueve I usually make my rounds around Boro Park and Crown Heights to different Succahs of Rebbes and friends. In all of these neighborhoods there were all kinds of Jews coming together to celebrate. There were Chassidim, Misnagdim, Secular, Modern, all together to celebrate. I think that Succos is unique for that. On the west side of Manhattan you have the same thing on Simchas Torah when all the shuls no matter what the affiliation come together to celebrate Simchas Torah. Hopefully this holiday will be a sign of the unity the Jewish people should have throughout the year to help bring Moshiach closer.

With all of that said, I have my questions. When shopping around for a lulav and esrog, the one thing I noticed is the price difference by the neighborhood you go to. This price difference can be very significant. How come the same esrog in Boro Park can sell for around 500 dollars and in queens for 60 dollars? I think the vendors take advantage of the Chassidim who are willing to spend that much. If you come to Queens no one will spend that much so the vendors no that they cannot charge that amount. Although this is a question do we have a right to criticize what they are charging? After all by them selling the lulav and esrog sets they are allowing us to take part in the Mitzvah. In Europe it was not so easy to get a set so we should be thankful it is so easy now.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

"For Simcha Beis Hashueve I usually make my rounds around Boro Park and Crown Heights to different Succahs of Rebbes and friends."

What about in Queens ?

FrumWithQuestions said...

Litvak- I stayed the first night and went to a small Yeshiva that was having something. It was also very nice.

Anonymous said...

Okay - at least you attended one Litvishe thing. ;-) Now I feel better. ;-)

Anonymous said...

"How come the same esrog in Boro Park can sell for around 500 dollars and in queens for 60 dollars? I think the vendors take advantage of the Chassidim who are willing to spend that much."

1) How do you know it's the same esrog ?

2) Do you think the Chassidim are that stupid, and can be so easily taken advantage of to such a degree ? I am a misnaged, but I still don't think they are that stupid ;-). When it comes to business and financial matters, they seem to know how to get a bargain, or at least not get ripped off too much. ;-)

FrumWithQuestions said...

Litvak- how do you know that the Yeshiva i went to was Litvishe? How do you know that the places I went to in Boro Park were not Litvishe ? There is only one kind in CH so I cannot say that it was not chassidishe.

I know its the same esrogim because they all come from the same place. The wholesalers go through the boxes and give to the distibutors or vendors into three different categories. The vendor decides how much he is going to charge and if he is going to recategorize them or not. I did not say the Chassidim are stupid, they just feel that it is better to spend as much as possible on their sets when other people will not spend that much money. Look at the Gemara in Succos Daf 41B about this issue. Its not something that is new. I am just asking the question if it is ethical and right for these vendors to charge more in Boro
Park then they would in Queens for the same sets.

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

I guess it makes sense. Lots of products are more money in one place than another.

Anonymous said...

As a general rule, the wholesalers will not send the "nicer" esrogim to Queens since they won't command nearly the same price point as they will in Boro Park.

kasamba said...

I love the achdus that simchas torah brings out!

About the price differences for lulavim and esrogim- the same thing applies everywhere. It's not fair, but what can you do?

FrumWithQuestions said...

Esrog seller - My friends who sell and the guy I bought mine from told me that the wholesaler splits them into three categories and that is how they send them out. they do not differentiate to where they are going to be sold.

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