A Cyber Thought from Rabbi Z

The Strange Case of the Missing Lulavim

Have you read about the great lulav scandal of 2005 as it unfolds? Because of a drought in Israel, the supply has been cut by 50%, so Israel was getting lulavim from Egypt! US published Newspaper reports of last week reported that Egypt had stopped exporting lulavim ostensibly due to environmental and ecological reasons (damage to palm trees).

Sadly, and the facts are still being uncovered as news reports are already beginning to note, there are accusations of collusion, monopolistic practices and bribery being reported and investigated in Israel which has forced an astronomical price rise in lulavim and a shortage of lulavim.

The lulav supply is today being supplemented in Israel with 70,000 more lulavim coming in from of all places, Gaza. American lulav prices have in many places gone up by ten dollars for the lulav alone!

For further, sordid details on how some think a mitzvah is being manipulated read this Haaretz article.