The Sixth Sense
LUBICOM Kosher CEO Menachem Lubinsky is the founder and co-producer of Kosherfest, the annual trade event for the kosher food & beverage industry and is the editor-in-chief of KosherToday. The views expressed in this column do not represent the opinions of KosherToday’s publishers and are those of the author alone.
For the current My Sixth Sense article, please visit http://www.koshertoday.com/sixthsense.asp
My Sixth Sense is released on alternating weeks with Eye on Kosher, which can be found at http://www.lubicomkosher.com/eyeonkosher.
April 3, 2006
Passover Prices Stay Low as Margins Plummet as Well
New York...Retail prices for most kosher for Passover foods are virtually unchanged from last year, a survey of several major establishments revealed. A number of the retailers complained that stiff competition for the Passover business has further narrowed profit margins, making Passover “less than the bonanza it was supposed to be.” Jonathan Mintz, the New York City Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, used the annual ritual of pleading with retailers to keep prices down to “commend the businesses that keep prices fair during Passover, and based on the few complaints we receive, most businesses do the right thing.” The commissioner visited the Kollel Store in Boro Park on March 27th to push for the lower prices retailers say is causing them to benefit from smaller margins. They hope to make up the shortfall from significantly higher sales from growing families and larger food baskets. In some cities like Miami and Los Angeles, some prices tend to increase due to higher shipping costs during the Passover rush. Last year spot shortages were reported in many cities. Prices in many take-out stores do rise as do some meats and dairy products, some by as much as 35%. The involvement of New York City government began in the 1970’s and ‘80’s when many retailers raised Passover prices, which proved devastating to many lower and middle income consumers.
Rabbis Warn Against Passover Foods that are Not Kosher
New York...The Balducci ad in several major Jewish weeklies sounds kosher but is not. Despite using words like the afikomen and gefilte fish made from scratch, the ad’s final copy says: “Note: Not all Balducci Passover foods are kosher certified.” On Long Island, Louis Kreitzman and chef Francine Stone of Prime Time Butcher in Woodbury offer a mixed menu of gefilte fish, stuffed cabbage, matzo ball soup, Passover bagels (?), cocktail franks, and kugels, all "like Bubbe used to make.” Again the ad ends with “Take note: The kitchen is not kosher.” Also amongst the odd announcements is the Tri-Valley Cultural Jews (West Coast) who “present a secular community Passover Seder on April 16th (the holiday Seders are on the 12th and 13th). The event features a non-kosher-for-Passover potluck and non-religious haggadah.” The large scale abuse of Passover foods and symbols has promoted several rabbis to warn unsuspecting consumers to opt for a “kosher Passover,” the traditional greeting amongst Jews over the ages. One supermarket had a large promotion for pork chops in its window followed by a Happy Passover.
Comeback for Some Machine-Made Shmurah Matzoh?
New York...Sales of machine-made Shmurah Matzoh are on the increase this year even as there are more brands of the hand-made version, averaging $16.50 - $18.50 per lb. The debate over whether the machine matzos are “just as kosher” as the hand-made version was the subject of a recent article in Jewish Action, published by the Orthodox Union. The article referred to a controversy in 1859 when Rabbi Shlomo Kluger of Brody (1785-1869) came out in opposition to machine matzah. Some rabbis even contended that machine matzah was no better than chametz (leaven). Great rabbis of the era who opposed machine matzah included Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter of Gur (1789-1866), Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz (1793-1876) and other Chassidic rabbis, particularly from Galicia. But other leading personalities, mostly from Central and Western Europe, maintained that machine matzah was actually more kosher than handmade matzah. These included Rabbi Yosef S. Nathanson of Lemberg (1810-1875), Rabbi Abraham Shmuel B. Sofer of Pressburg (the Ktav Sofer) (1815-1871) and Rabbi Yaakov Ettlinger of Altona (1798-1871). As the matzah-baking machine spread to other parts of the Jewish world, many great rabbinic personalities from Lithuania, Jerusalem and the Sephardic countries also approved of the machine. Says the article: “Why were some rabbis so opposed to machine matzah? One objection was that since the machinery consisted of many small parts it was impossible to clean it adequately. Dough remnants could potentially become chametz and mix with the newly made Passover dough. There was also concern that if the machine matzah was made in the traditional round shape, pieces of dough would have to be cut off and combined with the general dough mixture. Here again, there was fear of those pieces becoming chametz before being returned to the dough.” The defenders of the machine, on the other hand, maintained that a machine is easier to clean than the equipment used for hand matzah (such as rolling pins and even human hands). The rabbis did concede that round-shaped matzah might lead to problems, and therefore they determined that machine matzah should be square shaped.”
The article continued: “This brings us to the primary objection against machine matzah: Matzah shmurah needs to be made by committed Jews who have the proper kavanah (frame of mind), and a machine could obviously have no such kavanah. The defenders of the machine asserted that a machine was a tool, no different than a rolling pin, and therefore, it sufficed if the Jew operating the machine had the correct kavanah.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, virtually the entire non-Chassidic world accepted the use of machine matzah peshutah for the eight days of Passover. Most Chassidim continued to disagree. The debate about using machine matzah shemurah at the seder continues until the present day.”
Russian Jews Bake Their Own Matzos
Moscow...The large-scale baking of Matzoh in Russia after many decades is a remarkable event considering that the practice was virtually banned under Communism. Only some clandestine baking had taken place for decades. Rabbi Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, is supervising the matzoh baking. With the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russian Jews began to receive deliveries from Israel, despite the fact that transportation fees made such imports a costly acquisition. Now, thanks to the efforts of Chief Rabbi Lazar and Ohr Avner Foundation and with the financial support of FJC President Lev Leviev, state-of-the-art equipment has been delivered to Moscow to allow the regular production of kosher matzah. The production of matzah in the Russian capital takes place under the directorship of Shneur Halperin and with the supervision of the Kashrut Committee established under the Rabbinate of Russia. Hundreds of tons of kosher matzah are made in Moscow before Passover, of which shipments are made to all corners of the country. From there, Jewish communities located in Russia’s regions make it accessible to local Jews at very modest cost. Through the member communities, the FJC logistics department has also ensured the distribution of matzah amongst the elderly and most needy community members.
Kosher Consumers Expect Discounts Even on Passover
New York...Most retailers no longer take for granted that they can avoid discounting items for Passover. In addition to the coupons and discounts in the various media inserts (FSI’s), retailers are now routinely marking down some items, even at point of purchase. The reason: stiff competition between stores. In general kosher consumers are like all shoppers in that they love a discount. A recent study by Baltimore-based Vertis, a research firm, reveals that 49% of adults prefer a discount on specific products during each store visit, compared to 34% who prefer to accumulate points for a larger reward or payoff at stores that offer a frequent buyer or loyalty card program. More specifically, 51% of men 50+ and women 35-49 who have loyalty cards prefer a discount as opposed to accumulating points. Additionally, the study analyzed the use of advertising inserts or circulars among grocery consumers. The findings indicate 84% of grocery insert readers use circulars to compare prices, while 52% of advertising insert readers use them to decide where to shop for groceries. Kosher retailers say that many shoppers buy the discounted items for Passover in one store and then continue to other stores to pick up other discounted items, particularly those that are sold in bulk, like onions, eggs, potatoes, and even seltzer and other beverages.
Kosherfest Recalls Visit of Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Portland, ME...In the aftermath of last week’s victory of the Kadima party in Israel, it appears likely that Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will form the new Israeli government. In 2003, Mr. Olmert, then the Vice Premier, visited Kosherfest at New York’s Jacob K. Javits. His visit was designed to promote the Fine Foods from Israel campaign, which many claim was the beginning of a remarkable surge of sales of Israeli products. Mr. Olmert visited every one of the 33 Israeli companies exhibiting at the annual kosher food trade show. He was joined during a tour of the show by Menachem Lubinsky of LUBICOM Marketing Consulting and Nancy Hasselback of Diversified Business Communications, co-producers of the show. Also visiting the’03 show was Ann Veneman, the then US Secretary of Agriculture.
Mexico Opens 2 Large Kosher for Passover Stores
Mexico City...Two large kosher for Passover supermarkets opened here with thousands of kosher for Passover products, according to David Michan, President of the Kosher Committee of Maguen David. The products are imported from the US and Israel, as well as produced in Mexico as part of special productions under the rabbinical supervision of KMD, Kashrut Maguen David. "Maguen David stands at the forefront of supplying all the needs of the Jewish community, whatever it may be. If it entails establishing supermarkets all year round, plus special ones for Passover, then we are there to accommodate the needs of the community", says Mr. Solomon Dichi, Treasurer of Maguen David. Maguen David Vice President, Mr. David Dichi, announced: "This is but one more of our many proud accomplishments on behalf of Torah and Mitzvos in Mexico."
Kosher Supervision Job Matching Goes Live
Chicago...A new service that will promote the recruitment of mashgichim and other kosher supervision personnel was recently launched by the Association of Kosher Organizations (AKO). “We will actually serve as matchmakers,” said Rabbi Sholem Fishbein, executive director of AKO. The service is available on AKO’s web site www.akokosher.org where agencies can post vacancies. Another page is designed for mashgichim to post their availability as well as any particular countries or routes they visit. “Our first successful shidduch (match) was recently signed between the Vaad of St. Louis (Kashrus administrator position) and Rabbi Zvi Zuravin from the London Beis Din. Rabbi Zuravin is scheduled to begin on May 1st.
Israeli Hotels Full for Passover
Jerusalem...Israeli hotels are at near or full capacity this Passover as tourism from the US continues to soar. Tourism officials are hopeful that new flights from the US will enable more tourists to visit Israel. Last week, Delta Airlines began non-stop daily service from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. The addition of the Delta service is expected to add 60,000 seats a year on US-Israel routes. Officials say that the airline is considering scheduled flights between New York and Tel Aviv in early 2007, says Delta Airlines executive VP and chief of network and revenue management Glen W. Hauenstein. El Al Israel Airlines and Continental Airlines fly between Tel Aviv and New York. Israir Airlines already has direct flights on the route. The route is considered the most profitable route for airlines flying to Israel, because of demand from tourists and business travelers. Continental Airlines says the route is its most profitable international route.
Kosher Subway Restaurant Opens in Cleveland
Cleveland...The first and only kosher Subway restaurant in North America is to open at the Jewish Community Center, according to the Cleveland Jewish News. Over the next few weeks, this central spot, which at one time housed an Arabica Coffee House, will be refurbished with a warm, Tuscany look. The meat and pareve menu will feature the traditional Subway fare, but every item served will be strictly kosher and under the supervision of Cleveland Kosher. Pareve cheese will be used, and beef fry will be substituted for pork products. The mashgiach (kastrut supervisor), partner, and co-operator is Avi Cohen, former owner of Brooklyn Bagels. All bread baked on the premises has the approval of the Orthodox Union.
Kosher Strip Mall to Open in Newton
Newton, Mass...The city of Newton, which is home to a vibrant Jewish community with nine synagogues, will soon welcome a kosher strip mall. The owners of the kosher Bodavi Bakers and nearly century-old Gordon & Alperin meat market are expanding their Commonwealth Avenue businesses. They’re bringing a new deli, larger meat market and pizzeria - each of them kosher - into the neighborhood. “The community needs something like this in the area,” said Susan Davis Bosich, co-owner of the businesses with husband/chef Ricardo Bosich. “People were asking us to do it, because they didn’t want to go into Brookline.” The new stores will cater to the area’s large number of Orthodox and Conservative Jews who adhere to the Jewish dietary laws of Kashrut, or “keeping kosher.” A new vegetarian cholov Yisroel pizzeria, Red Pepper, is slated to debut in June. All of the stores will be under the supervision of the Kashruth Commission of the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts.
Another Kosher Hotel Bites the Dust
Belle Harbor, NY...Many Bar Mitzvahs and even smaller weddings in the 60’s and ‘70’s took place at the Washington Hotel. The hotel made famous the “weekend Bar Mitzvah” and even became the New York hotel of choice for Passover. But last week, workers begin to put up a sidewalk shed around the Washington Hotel on Beach 125 Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard, signaling the end for a kosher hotel that opened before World War II. The new building, dedicated in 1966, hosted thousands of weddings, bar mitzvahs, family parties, religious and civic affairs and political events of all kinds. The kosher catering hall and hotel, which closed its doors for good in December 2003, will be demolished in the coming weeks to make room for nine two-family homes, according to its owners. Many community residents were visibly moved when the construction crews arrived. One woman recounted how she used to enjoy seeing so many visiting guests from Brooklyn and elsewhere spend the Shabbos at the property just minutes from the beach.
Hain Continues to Invest in the Terra Chip
Melville, NY...Whether you’re eating the blue Terra Chips aboard a Jet Blue flight or dipping the chip at a fancy kosher wedding, the Terra Chip is known as the upscale potato chip. Last week, the Hain Celestial Group announced several new tasty and innovative snack products from Terra. Introduced at the recent Natural Products Expo, these snacks products are expected to be in stores this summer. "We continue to be the innovator in the natural and organic product sector while continuing to meet consumer demand for great tasting, healthy snacks," commented Irwin Simon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hain Celestial. "As a category leader, we're the first company to offer unsalted, seasoned potato chips and cheese snacks made with organic cheddar cheese." Terra, a pioneer in new varieties of potato and vegetable chips, introduces Terra Parsnip Chips. Slightly sweet with a hint of salt, these golden chips are French-cut for light and crispy snacking. Terra Unsalted Potato Chips, kettle cooked with 90% less sodium than regular potato chips, are the first line of all natural seasoned, unsalted potato chips.