THE THIN LINE

Pesach is an unbelievably expensive holiday. One wonders what do people of extremely modest means do at Pesach time? How do they afford it? Never mind, how do any of us afford it?

Friends in retail tell us that they have had to absorb huge price increases this year for Pesach. Part of the problem is that stores have to publish their Pesach price list well in advance of the holiday. So what happens when the wholesalers raise their prices again and again between Purim and Pesach?

We saw an add for farfel and mushrooms at a take out store. The price was $9 per pound! Really- $9 per pound!
For farfel with a sprinkling of mushrooms in it??

We expect to pay more at Pesach time. We know that in some cases the prices are inflated simply because sellers know they can get away with it. But is there a limit?

Where do we draw the line between geneiva (theft) and the results of our economy? At what point do we say “no more?”

We do not have much of an answer. Mostly, we do not buy anything we can make at home.

But it still costs a small fortune to make Pesach.