Large Shortage Expected As Egypt Refuses to Export Lulavim to Israel

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lulav-esrogA Matzav .com exclusive report: Yidden in Eretz Yisroel may experience a significant lulav shortage due to the growing tensions between Israel and Egypt, Matzav.com has learned. Egypt has made a dubious decision not to export any lulavim to Eretz Yisroel for Sukkos this year.

Egypt is actually the primary exporter of lulavim to Eretz Yisroel, sending about 500,000 lulavim before Sukkos each year. About 600,000 to 700,000 lulavim are sold in Israel every year, making Egypt by far the largest provider.

Lulavim exports to the United States and Europe will also be halted, Matzav.com has learned.

The Israeli Ministry of Agriculture says that the decision by Egypt will likely result in a price jump of lulavim for Israelis this year. One source in the Ministry says that it tried valiantly to work out an arrangement with Egyptian authorities, to no avail.

“More than they didn’t agree, they were stubborn and indifferent to Israel’s needs, even at a loss to them,” a reliable source told Matzav.com.

The Ministry is going to attempt to ensure a full supply of lulavim at reasonable prices by increasing financial assistance to Israeli lulavim growers.

Lulavim may also be imported from Jordan, Spain and perhaps even the Gaza Strip to keep prices at bay while providing lulavim as needed.

Last year, as first reported on Matzav.com, Egypt also banned the export of lulavim, but that decsision was made about three months before the Yom Tov, not four weeks like this year. Last year, Egypt’s excuse was that it wanted to “protect its 12 million palm trees,” said to have been getting decimated by the large number of lulavim exported.

As an aside, Egypt has also expressed a desire to suspend gas exports to Israel, endangering US aid predicated on cooperation with Israel. With it now threatening to put an end to the income it derives yearly from lulav exports, the Egyptian authorities seem to be doing a fine job shooting themselves in the foot.

{Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel}


12 COMMENTS

  1. If the prices go above “market value”,
    then everybody should do “matana al menas lehachzir”, and you’ll see the prices come down.

  2. If the decision was just made now then a lot of Luluvim must have been exported already.

    Where did all the lulvim come from before the 1979 treaty with Egypt?

  3. Here we go again! These thieving gangsters are back! I never pay these shiesters more than $50 a set. Hidur Mitzva my foot! Isn’t it interesting that the halachos of Choshen Mishpat, overcharging, don’t apply to esrog “dealers”! They are all ganovim ben beno shell ganovim!

  4. Hey #11, I think it would make sense for you to learn Choshen Mishpat before making accusations. The halachos of “overcharging” DO NOT APPLY in this case. Period.

    That being said, the PRIMARY reason for the high prices of Lulavim is due to the fact that the “lulav dealer” has to throw away 75% (or more) of his merchandise, even though most of it is 100% perfectly Kosher, lechatchila! When the Rabbonim will finally speak out and tell people to stop trying to be “frummer” than their neighbor (for non-halachic reasons!) then maybe there will be some sanity restored to the market place and reasonable prices will return. Until then prices will climb higher and higher simply due to the inevitable effect of “supply-and-demand”.

    (Again, if you think the price is too high, simply buy ANY nice lulav that is “slightly open” for a CHEAP price. You will be yotzeh the mitzvah LECHATCHILLA, as paskened in Mishna Brura and every other Halacha sefer.)

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