by VITA FELLIG

JNS

Super 4 Seasons, a car wash in Rockland County, N.Y., must stop discriminatory business practices against Jewish customers preparing for Passover or face a fine of $75,000, the office of Letitia James, the New York state attorney general, stated on Monday, March 31. An investigation by James’s office found that in the weeks leading up to the  holiday, Super 4 Seasons advertised a “Passover special” cleaning promotion that cost more than three times its standard price for the same service. (JNS sought comment from the car wash and the attorney general’s office.)

“Targeting Jewish New Yorkers with deceptive pricing around Passover is a clear act of religious discrimination and will not be tolerated,” James stated. “Every New Yorker, regardless of their faith, deserves to be treated fairly and equally. My office will not hesitate to hold businesses accountable when they exploit families’ religious observance.”

The state opened an investigation of the car wash in April 2024, after several Jewish customers filed complaints with the attorney general’s office alleging that the business was charging $169 for a cleaning service that typically costs $47.

Since at least 2018, the company has advertised its cleaning services specifically as a Passover holiday promotion, per James’s office.

Jewish customers reported that they were denied access to standard service packages and were instead steered toward the higher-priced Passover promotions, according to the state’s investigation.

In a sting operation, the state sent two investigators to the site—one dressed in a manner that suggested the person was an Orthodox Jew and the other in different attire. The investigator dressed as an Orthodox Jew was told that the company is “not doing anything except shampoos and Passover cleanings right now,” and “we are doing this just for you guys,” per the attorney general’s office.

The other state investigator, who wasn’t dressed as an Orthodox Jew, asked for standard service and was given one at a regular price. “When he inquired about the promotion, an employee responded that it was ‘for Jews,’ adding that they needed to pay more ‘because their cars are so dirty,’” per the attorney general’s office. The state “recovered sales records for this same period, confirming that regular services had, in fact, been provided throughout the holiday,” it added.

James issued a consumer alert last week warning Jewish New Yorkers to be cautious of illegal price-gouging practices ahead of the upcoming Passover holiday.

“As Passover approaches, I urge Jewish New Yorkers who feel that they may have been a victim of discriminatory price gouging to contact my office,” she stated on March 27. “My office has zero tolerance for any discrimination and anyone who engages in practices to unfairly raise prices on the Jewish community as they prepare for Passover will be held accountable.”

“No New Yorker should be taken advantage of during a holiday season and forced to pay more for a service because of their religion,” she added.