Dear Matzav Inbox,

What is happening with Pesach pricing is not merely frustrating, but outrageous, excessive, and deeply troubling.

Every year, we go through this cycle, bracing ourselves for higher costs and tightening our belts in preparation for Yom Tov. But what we are witnessing now has gone far beyond what can reasonably be explained by increased production costs or seasonal demand. This is no longer about expense; it is about a system that has spiraled completely out of control.

There is simply no logical justification for the staggering prices being charged for basic Pesach necessities. We are not talking about luxury items or optional indulgences. We are talking about fundamental staples — mayo, chicken, oil, and so on — the very building blocks of a Yom Tov table. Yet these items are priced in a way that forces families to hesitate, to calculate, and in many cases, to forgo even modest purchases. The moment a product is labeled “Kosher for Pesach,” its price often doubles or triples, as if the label itself grants permission to charge whatever the market will bear.

The numbers being discussed in our community are staggering, and they should alarm anyone paying attention. Families are routinely spending five, seven, even ten thousand dollars to make Pesach. How did we arrive at a point where Pesach has become such a crushing financial burden? Instead of approaching the Yom Tov with anticipation and joy, many approach it with anxiety, dread, and a sense of being overwhelmed.

What makes this even more difficult to accept is the sense that this situation is being tolerated rather than addressed. We are a community that prides itself on chesed, on achrayus, on sensitivity to the needs of others. We mobilize quickly to help individuals in crisis, we give generously, and we speak often about caring for the tzibbur. Yet when it comes to Pesach pricing, there seems to be a collective shrug, as though this is simply an unavoidable reality. It is not. When companies and retailers know that an entire community has no choice but to purchase these items, and prices are raised accordingly, it ceases to be standard business practice and begins to look very much like exploitation.

Behind these numbers are real families dealing with real strain. Parents are losing sleep trying to figure out how to cover the cost of Yom Tov without falling behind on other obligations. There are households quietly going into debt, relying on credit, or cutting back in ways that affect their dignity. There are conversations taking place at kitchen tables where every purchase is weighed and reconsidered, where the joy of preparing for Pesach is replaced by stress and pressure. This is not what Yom Tov should feel like.

Pesach is meant to celebrate cheirus, yet for many, the financial reality creates the opposite experience. Instead of feeling uplifted, people feel trapped by the cost, burdened by expectations, and unsure how to keep up. That should concern all of us.

At the very least, there needs to be a conversation about accountability and responsibility within the system. Pricing should not be treated as an untouchable reality. Community leaders, rabbonim, and those in positions of influence should be asking hard questions and advocating for change. Consumers, too, need to recognize the power they hold and the importance of speaking up rather than quietly accepting the situation year after year.

If nothing changes, the problem will only worsen. Each year will bring higher prices, greater strain, and a deeper sense of frustration. Pesach should be a time of simcha, of dignity, and of connection — not a time associated with financial anxiety and pressure.

It is time to say clearly that this situation is not acceptable. It is time to stop normalizing what has become completely abnormal. And it is time, finally, to demand better.

Sincerely,
Sickened By $8 Mayonnaise

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email [email protected]

DON’T MISS OUT! Join the Matzav Status by . Join the Matzav WhatsApp Groups by .

The opinions expressed in letters on Matzav.com do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Matzav Media Network.