At least 10 percent of Israelis who are accustomed to sending Purim baskets for
the holiday will have to reduce the value of their packages this year by 30 to
50% compared to last year, according to a survey conducted by the NGO Chasdei
Naomi, which aims at combating hunger and poverty in Israel.
The survey,
conducted over a national sample of 500 respondents was released this week and
also showed that two percent of those who usually send packages will have to
refrain from the tradition for the first time this year due to their financial
situation.
Among them are more women than men, most of whom reside in
Jerusalem, according to the organization.
Most of those who will continue
to send Purim packets, only with cheaper products are residents of the
South.
Some 28% of those who will send packages to loved ones this year
said the baskets will be worth about NIS 50, a 37% decline from those they sent
in 2011.
In addition, 26% said they will spend between NIS 50 and NIS 100
on each basket; 14% will spend between NIS 100 and NIS 150 and seven percent
reported they would invest between NIS 150 and NIS 200.
Nevertheless, a
quarter of the participants surveyed still reported they have the intention of
spending over NIS 200 on each package sent.
The figures also reveal that
58% of the population are in the habit of sending Purim packets to loved ones
each year.
The majority of them are Jerusalemites, followed by residents
of the South, Gush Dan and the North.
When it comes to the origin of the
tradition, 68% of the respondents said they believe Purim packages are a
commandment related to the Book of Esther while 20% said they don’t know where
the custom comes from. The remaining 12% found other various explanations for
the packets.
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