As in previous years, during the months preceding Sukkot, RCE representatives approached hundreds of Rabbanim and communities throughout the continent, offering them lulav and esrog sets on various levels of kashrus, at subsidized prices, which included special handling for delivery. This year the response was stronger than ever, as 40 communities from 23 countries placed their orders for sets of arbaa minim through the RCE.

The RCE staff also took responsibility for delivery of the sets, which was itself a complex logistical challenge. Every package was wrapped in special packing materials to prevent any damage that might occur in storage and/or as a result of careless handling while the sets were being transported to the various countries. In addition, the RCE obtained all the necessary documents that would be required by the local tax authorities and health departments of each respective country, in order to avoid delays in having the packages released when they reached their destinations.

During these post-Yom Tov days, the RCE staff is preparing a report of the project, based on customer-satisfaction evaluations received from the rabbis and their communities. Rabbi Yosef Beinhaker, who heads the RCE’s public assistance division, oversaw this highly successful campaign. RCE Deputy Director Rabbi Aryeh Goldberg summed up the project: “Baruch Hashem, other than a very few exceptions caused by technical difficulties (which, we believe, can be avoided in the future), all the sets arrived at their destinations on time, and they were found to be of the highest quality; the rabbis and community members were quite satisfied.”

The Matanel Foundation works to promote the growth of Jewish life throughout Europe and to strengthen Jewish identity on the continent. It was the Foundation’s generous assistance that made the arbaa minim project possible.