Shofar shortage? War impacts Jerusalem seller as shipping delays, costs spike

This year has been challenging for Refoua, who sells Judaica gifts and souvenirs in a shop in downtown Jerusalem. The war has decimated tourism and spiked shipping costs.

By EVE YOUNG SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 14:42

Jan-Elazar Refoua in his shop in Jerusalem, in front of pictures of three of his sons who are serving in reserves (Marc Israel Sellem) (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

Many of Jan-Elazar Refoua's clients chose to buy shofarot from him because they know that he, a master shofar-blower, has tested every one that he sells. This year, the impact of the Israel-Hamas war on shipping made it hard for Refoua to make sure he had shofarot for his customers.

Refoua hosted us in his shop this week to discuss the war's impacts on his business. He showed off his impressive skills in an interview interspersed with breaks to hear him blow the shofar and tell us about the different kinds that he sells.

This year has been challenging for Refoua, who sells Judaica gifts and souvenirs in a shop in downtown Jerusalem. The war has decimated tourism and spiked shipping costs.

Refoua became aware of a problem with the supply of shofarot when he went to his suppliers to place orders for the year.

"I went to order merchandise, and they would say ok, it will be another week, or another two weeks," he explained.

an-Elazar Refoua in his shop in Jerusalem, in front of pictures of three of his sons who are serving in reserves (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

When he finally got the shofarot, he saw that prices had increased by around 15 to 20%.

That is when the suppliers explained what had caused delays and price spikes. "This year, because of what is happening with the war, the port in Eilat is working much less, so they need to go all the way around to get here, and then it's a lot longer," said Refoua, sharing his suppliers' explanation.

Effects of the war

Suppliers told him that fear of attacks by Houthis was a factor in changing shipping routes and extending delivery times.

"So deliveries were delayed, and there was a shortage of high-quality shofars. In the end, we got some, but later and with much higher shipping costs."

This did not create a significant shortage for Refoua, but only because much of his clientele are tourists who did not make it to Israel to buy from him.

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Last year, Refoua sold five or six shofarot a day; the day we came in to interview him, he told us he had sold just one.

While he doesn't like to focus on the negatives, Refoua said that his business is hurting, especially as the war came soon after he was forced to deal with the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on his business. "We got through the first and second Intifada, we got through the coronavirus - but now it is one thing after another," he said

"I have been here in this store for 42 years. We got through all the terror attacks and coronavirus," he said, adding that they even got through it when his wife and daughter were at the site of a terror attack and his wife was injured.

Refoua is confident that he and the rest of the country will pull through. He says that if the greatest of our problems is a shofar shortage, "thank God."

"The main thing is that there should be more quiet and peace, and that the soldiers will return in peace, that is what really matters," he said. Refoua has three sons serving in reserves, all of whom have served in Gaza.

Eventually, despite the delay and price increases, Refoua managed to get high-quality shofars.

"Shofar is godly music," he said. "Sometimes you don't hear it with your ears; you hear it with your heart. It's a different feeling."

Refoua is confident that Israelis will come through this war stronger than before.

"We are like a sword - it gets stronger from being in the flame - heated and cooled."