Friday, October 9, 2009

A Simple Question.....

Why do Arovos/Hoshanas cost so much?
I know all about supply and demand, so please don't hit me with that.
They are super easy to grow, are in large supply, don't need to be checked for bugs (at least not yet...).
I have been informed that in the "early" years of KAJ, Rav Breuer zt"l insisted that the shul sponsor the hoshanos free of charge for those davening there.
I have also learned that as prices soared in the following years, Rav Schwab zt"l said that Hoshanos may be re-used and one need not purchase a set for each and every family member individually.
But this still begs my original question:

Why do Arovos/Hoshanas cost so much?


4 comments:

ProfK said...

Can't fathom the cost at all. The bush grows rampant in the backyard providing zillions of what is needed for a few minutes of care and a few pennies initially. The Rebbetzin's Husband has a post up about how to grow them. Okay, apartment dwellers are at a disadvantage re the yard, but maybe somebody in the shul should make friends with somebody in one of the boroughs who has a yard for a free supply. Okay, it would cost transportation, but that's lots cheaper than what they are charging in the stores.

a proud Chicago Mom said...

How much did they charge for each bundle? (just curious)

Jacob Da Jew said...

its a load of BS. Every block has them growing here in brooklyn and yet a bunch costs 5 bucks.

Didn't bash the ground this year with hoshanos. somehow I think G-d is ok with that.

Anonymous said...

Because they can be. The same reason the esrog and lulav cost so muc. Everything is a business and the more a Jew can charge a fellow Jew the better. It does not cost the guy who owns the pardes any extra to grow a $200 or a $35 esrog so why do these people charge so much?