NEW YORK — It almost never happens, but for the second year in a row, President Trump is trying to cash in on the sale of not-kosher-for-Passover foods (chametz) to non-Jews and its re-purchase after the Pesach holiday.
And the result is an escalating verbal and legal war that may reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Under his own name or his pseudonym (David Dennison), or through associates, the president bought unfit-for-Pesach food items from countless homes at the deposit price, often as low as one dollar, and is trying to sell the items back at exorbitant profit. If he doesn’t get his asking price, he warns, he’s keeping the contraband.
“Made my reputation on great deals, and I’m not going to stop now, “ he tweeted. “I thought Jews were good deal-makers, now I’m not so sure. VERY SAD.”
He wasn’t planning to do it this year — “I’m too busy with jobs, China trade, Syria and North Korea” — but Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, remarked, “It’s a great, easy way to pick up some spare change,” and the president, not known for taking advice, decided to do it.
Food not kosher to Passover can stay in a Jewish home during the holiday, providing it’s legally sold to a non-Jew, complete with official bill of sale. It’s understood that the purchaser may sell back the items at “a slightly higher price.”
Mr. Trump apparently defines “slightly” in a slightly different way.
Among others, Rabbi Pinchas Pearl, a lawyer who is spiritual leader of Congregation B’nai Israel in Staten Island, NY, has brokered hundreds of chametz transactions, and has never experienced any attempt bythe purchaser at price-gouging or refusing to sell back the goods.
Quite dissimilar is the approach by President Trump, who is determined to push forward, even over the objections of daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who warned, “You could be stuck with a lot ofpasta, rice and beans, if they don’t pay your asking price.”
But the president has even recommended to non-Jewish acquaintances, his dwindling staff of high-paid lawyers among them, to get involved in chametz transactions.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the president’s press secretary, who at first denied the allegation that the president was planning to extract the most money he could from his chametz purchases, eventually commented: “The president gained an incredible reputation and an even more incredible fortune through brilliant transactions. He should be encouraged in his endeavor, not criticized.”
But Jewish groups aren’t remaining still. Several are entering class action suits to legally force Trump to return the chametz either at or close to the agreed-to-price. In response, the president tweeted “The cry babies are squawking. PATHETIC. PITIFUL.”
Some Jews are even urging the appointment of a special counsel (which the president ways “would be the biggest witch hunt of all time.”) Others are planning to hire prominent attorneys, including Stormy Daniels’ lawyer, Michael Avenatti, to represent them.
Protest marches are planned in major cities throughout the United States, with signs being readied with such slogans as “Let my chametz go.” (President Trump tweeted, “If Jumpy Jeff Sessions hadn’t recused himself, these marches never would have happened, or the marchers would all be down or in jail.”)
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Readers who are new to freelance writer Joel Cohen’s “Just Kidding” columns are advised that they are satirical and should not be taken seriously.