Updated: Video, Photos: Matzav Reporter Finds Fraudster Selling Israeli Esrogim On 47th Street After Yom Tov

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esrogim[Updated below with photos showing the esrogim originating from Eretz Yisroel. Video below.] A Matzav.com reporter discovered that something wasn’t ripe about fruit being sold by a man on 47th Street in Diamond District of Manhattan.

The fruit? Esrogim. The very same ones used on Sukkos.

The esrogim were clearly Israeli-grown, yet when asked where they were from, the seller said they were from Morocco.

He was also, strangely, trying to sell buyers on the idea of buying esrogim after the Yom Tov, as if there was some significance to that.

And despite recognizing the Shmittah-related issues applicable to this year’s Israeli-grown produce, the fellow claimed that the fruit came from Morocco.

Our reporter did some research and actually contacted the distributor of said esrogim, but by the time he came down to the scene, the fraudster was gone. Perhaps he had set up shop elsewhere.

WATCH THE VIDEO:

PHOTOS:

ESROG (1)ESROG (4) ESROG (3) ESROG (2)

{Matzav.com Newscenter}


14 COMMENTS

  1. Give him a break. Honestly the only REAL difference is that this “fraudster” is not charging $80 and upwards for these holy fruit. But Matzav doesn’t really care to be honest or balanced, do you?

  2. in fact this year New York was flooded with “chazon Ish Etrogim planted in Morocco about 5 years ago, for this shmitta year. The person in charge is Eliezer Daoube with rav Karelitz Hashgaha. Most likely thousand of etrogim( they look like the chazon ish Israeli etrogim) were left and were given most likely to sell for jam. the reporter that was conducting the matter should maybe do his home work before accusing anyone

  3. your judgment was too quick maybe you have to ask mechila from this poor man. I just sent my phone number to matzav I would like to clarify maybe the situation. so next time the reporter will do his home work before calling someone “fraudster”

  4. To those criticizing, a rov told me today that it is a MITZVAH to expose these guys! They make a mockery of the laws of Shmittah and defraud people at the same time.
    Mitzvah lefarseim!

  5. Echoes of the “Sheimos scandal” at Pesach time. The sochrim sold Israel esrogim with the understanding that they will take them back & return them to E Y. Meanwhile, it cost too much to send them back, & the government won’t allow them in, so what else to do?
    They should issue a BLANKET ISSUR on Israeli esrogim in 7 years!

  6. I saw the same guy on 13th ave. before Succos. He was in a small truck with no Yamulkah or hat. When he got out of the truck he put on the black hat. He demanded that I move my car so he could park near his table. When I told him no he said give my tzedakah. HE’S A FRAUD DON’T GIVE HIM A PENNY.

  7. To #1, SO YOUR CONCERN IS WITH BEING “HONEST AND BALANCED” AND NOT THAT SOMEONE IS GOING AGAINST THE TORAH?
    FURTHERMORE THE TERM “DISCOVERED” USED IN THE ARTICLE CONNOTES THAT HE WASN’T LOOKING FOR A STORY, RATHER HE FOUND ONE, SO IT’S A LITTLE CHEAP TO CALL HIS REPORTING UNBALANCED. AND WHERE IS THE DISHONESTY AT ALL?

  8. Before Yom Tov following a Shmittah Year, the purveyor is supposed to give the essrog by haflah to the but=yer along with his $80 lulav! The shmittah essrog is not supposed to be sold. I bought an $80 Yanover essrog to be sure I was not paying $80 for an essrog..

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