I PASSOVER I
Pre-Passover Sales
A Boon And A Headache
kashrut inspectors) are os-
Tel Aviv (JTA) — The
tensibly on duty at all times
weeks before Pesach are a
in shops granted the official
bumper season for mer-
kashrut certificate, they are
chants selling consumer
especially active in the pre-
products. Shopkeepers sell-
Pesach season, on the watch
ing kitchen and household
for transgressors taking
goods as well as gifts
"illegal" goods off the
welcome their greatly in-
shelves or trying to pay for
creased sales, especially at
them at the check-out
times such as the present
economic recession.
counters.
They are also there to en-
For the food shops, and es-
sure that kosher for Pesach
pecially the supermarket
certificates granted on a
chains, the pre-Seder season
general basis to manufac-
represents both a welcome
turers of special products are
increase in sales and also a
prominently displayed
headache.
throughout the premises.
The manager of a repre-
But Yossi Tzur, manager
sentative large branch of the
of a major supermarket in
privately owned Supersol
the largely secular, upper
chain in the northern Tel
middle-class suburb of
Aviv suburb of Ramat Aviv
Ramat Aviv, reports declin-
says his daily sales are up by
ing sales of matzot from year
some 30 percent during the
to year, as well as of other
weeks before the Seder.
traditional Passover deli-
Turnover gradually builds
up for durable goods two or
cacies.
At the same time, in the
three weeks before the fes-
week before Pesach, there is
tival, rising for meat, meat
an increase in the sale of
products and groceries in the
bread of all kinds, including
final week, with a last-
normal loaves and the flat
minute rush for fresh fruits
pita bread, before they dis-
and vegetables a day or so
appear from the shelves for a
before the Seder.
week. Customers are ap-
But on the down side, swit-
parently using the large
ching from chametz (non-
freezer compartments in
kosher for Pesach) products
their refrigerators to freeze
to approved Passover food
the forbidden leavened pro-
represents a major problem
ducts for use during Pesach.
for the local managers.
Asked if he can note any
Suitably stamped products
changing food habits among
begin arriving at the stores
his clientele, which includes
about a month before the
new immigrants from the
festival, and must be stored
Soviet Union and Latin
separately from general
America housed in two
goods already in stock and
major absorption centers in
the daily arrival of normal
Ramat Aviv, Tzur can think
refill orders.
of only one outstanding item
During that period,
for which there is a rising
shelves must gradually be
demand — of spirits, espe-
emptied of year-round items
and washed down in prepa-
cially of vodka.
ration for the display of the
Passover products.
While small groceries, es-
mml LOCAL NEWS
pecially those in observant
or "traditional" areas, try to
Young Adult Group
clear their premises of all
Plans Dinner-Dance
non- kosher-for-Pesach foods,
The Jewish Welfare Federa-
the supermarkets are forced
tion Young Adult Division
to cover with sheets shelves
will host "A Night at the
still holding chametz goods a
Roostertail" 8 p.m. April 21.
day or so before the Seder.
The second annual dinner-
"Please Don't Touch" signs
dance, open to all Jewish
are displayed —and fre-
young adults (post-college to
quently disregarded.
mid-30s) will include an inter-
By the morning of the
national dinner buffet and
Seder, the check-out per-
dancing to the "Hot Ice" per-
sonnel are instructed by the
formance band.
supermarket chain
There is a charge and ad-
managements to refuse non-
vance pre-paid reservations
Pesach items, if any
are required. Valet parking is
customer has slipped his or
included, and a cash bar will
her hand behind the sheets
be available.
and chosen any of the for-
For information, contact the
bidden goods.
YAD office, 965-3939, Ext.
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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
11