Egypt announced last month it would prohibit exports of 700,000 lulavim, but New York Congressman Gary Ackerman (Democrat) has raised the issue with the Egyptian ambassador and with a close aide to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum (Republican) also has contacted the ambassador and urged him to "consider the needs of Jewish communities around the world."
Egypt has agreed to release a limited number of the 700,000 palm leaves it exports every year, according to Aguda Israel director Rabbi Abba Cohen.
The lulav is one of the four species used on the Jewish holiday of Succoth (Feast of Tabernacles), which is celebrated seven days (eight days outside Israel) starting the night of October 17. Prices for the lulavim will skyrocket if none come from Egypt, the prime supplier.
The Egyptian Agriculture Ministry has insisted that cutting the palm leaves damages the trees' growth, a similar complaint among Israel environmentalists who have protested against people taking the leaf from the center of palm trees.
Other major suppliers are in the western United States and Israel, but distributors have began contacting Jordanian officials following Egypt's ban on exporting lulavim.
Egypt has agreed to release a limited number of the 700,000 palm leaves it exports every year, according to Aguda Israel director Rabbi Abba Cohen.
The lulav is one of the four species used on the Jewish holiday of Succoth (Feast of Tabernacles), which is celebrated seven days (eight days outside Israel) starting the night of October 17. Prices for the lulavim will skyrocket if none come from Egypt, the prime supplier.
The Egyptian Agriculture Ministry has insisted that cutting the palm leaves damages the trees' growth, a similar complaint among Israel environmentalists who have protested against people taking the leaf from the center of palm trees.
Other major suppliers are in the western United States and Israel, but distributors have began contacting Jordanian officials following Egypt's ban on exporting lulavim.