By Joel H. Cohen
NEW YORK — Consumers of kosher food may get a break in what it costs them, thanks to a project planned by a secret international consortium of observant Jewish multimillionaires.
The group– even its name is secret — plans to offer vouchers that will rebate an undisclosed percentage of the purchase price to consumers who submit paid receipts for kosher food they’ve bought — be it meat, dairy or parve.
The program will debut in U.S. test markets just before Rosh Hashanah, and across the country shortly before next Pesach (“when Jews become matzah-kists”), according to a group member, who requested anonymity. Eventually, it will be implemented in Europe and elsewhere.
The idea for the program developed when members of the consortium learned from those who do the shopping for them that there was a great disparity in prices for virtually the same kosher and non-kosher foods. “It started with chickens,” the source said. “We, of course, acknowledge the inherent and necessary additional costs in providing kosher products, starting with shocheting in the case of meat products, and mashgiach supervision for all foods. But, even then, the pricing gap seems excessive.”
“We want to lift some of the price burden from Jews who observe kashruth, and perhaps convince other Jews to begin practicing it, who are currently discouraged from following kashruth because of what they consider prohibitive cost.”
Hired interns polled Jewish residents in test markets about whether cost prevented them from observing kashruth, or, if they did observe, whether they considered it a strain on their pocketbooks. The responses were overwhelmingly affirmative. Interns even encountered non-Jews, who said that, on the basis of “higher-authority” considerations, they might start buying at least some kosher foods, were it not for the price disparity.
As the program is envisioned now, consumers would forward their names and addresses to a central registry, then submit validated bills for kosher food they’ve purchased, and be reimbursed with a still-to-be determined percentage rebate by the consortium.
The group plans to meet with major purveyors of kosher food and others in the distribution chain to discuss the possibility of making some adjustment in consumer prices.
The source wasn’t especially optimistic about results. “But, like chicken soup, it couldn’t hurt to try it,” he said.
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San Diego Jewish World reminds readers who are new to this column that it is all in fun, and nothing above should be taken seriously. Cohen is a freelance writer based in New York. Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the United States.)