Years ago, I was manufacturing car parts. But when NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was signed, Mexican competition brought prices way down, and the company closed. I had a large family to support, and I couldn’t afford to be unemployed. In the past I’d volunteered in a matzah bakery, and I thought it might be a good parnassah.
We start in July/August, combing Canada for wheat; that process can be more stressful than production. Once we’ve found the wheat harvest that we want, we bring it to the factory to clean and mill it. By Rosh Hashanah, I’m looking for workers, and then production takes roughly 20-24 weeks during the winter.
A single season alone takes about 40-50 people working 700-800 hours. We work 8:30-5:00 five days a week, and right before Pesach we’re making matzahs round the clock. After Pesach, it takes a few weeks to close up shop.
Labor is too expensive, and the profit margin is too small to have any leftovers, so we work accordingly. If we see we’re likely to have leftovers, we’ll stop production. I don’t remember the last time that happened.
The summer is quiet. We only have two or three workers then.
I always quip that I’m looking for a job I don’t want to find. I use the quiet time after Pesach to update the equipment, deal with any problems, paint the building, etc.
It’s stressful. Money doesn’t come in before Pesach, but I have to put up funds in advance, and there’s a huge payroll. Some years are harder than others, but I’ve been doing it for many years now and try to prepare accordingly.
It’s a challenge every year because people leave. Still, we pay well, so we do manage to find people.
Go to Eretz Yisrael.
Almost everything. While I’d previously participated in matzah chaburahs, I quickly discovered I had no idea what this business entails. It took me years to learn, and I’m still learning.
I’d make sure the person knows it’s real physical labor — most people aren’t keen on that. You’ll also have to lay out all the money up front, and you won’t see it back until Pesach. Another disadvantage is that people usually buy their matzahs from the same place every single year and aren’t likely to suddenly start buying from someone new.
(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 892)
