Eat This!
I was talking about the rules of Kosher with a group of co-workers. They just wanted to know the basics, what is allowed, what isn't, and why. One of the things they kept asking about was other than certain forbidden foods, why were there restrictions on how it was cooked. I tried steering around the question a bit, but eventually I just said the truth - that some of the rules are meant to prevent Jews from mingling with non-Jews.
Was I oversensitive? Is that a big deal? Should I not worry about the "elitist" overtones of the Halacha? Or perhaps I don't even know the Halacha properly, and there are other reasons why we have these rules of Bishul Akum.
If I want to make a Kiddush Hashem, how do I convey the beauty of Halacha without sounding apologetic?
Was I oversensitive? Is that a big deal? Should I not worry about the "elitist" overtones of the Halacha? Or perhaps I don't even know the Halacha properly, and there are other reasons why we have these rules of Bishul Akum.
If I want to make a Kiddush Hashem, how do I convey the beauty of Halacha without sounding apologetic?
posted by Josh at
8:36 AM
10 Comments:
Josh, I am Jewish and worked for Kraft for nearly 15 years. I don't think it was a very wise thing to say that part of kashrut is to keep Jews from mingling from non-Jews. How are they going to trust you as a team member now? How are they going to reconcile that with the many Reform and Conservative Jews that work at Kraft who don't hold that attitude?
By
Anonymous, at 8:19 AM
maybe they'll trust him more as a team member when they see that his integriy is so strong that he won't even compromise it for the sake of political correctness. i'd pick someone with principles over someone with social nicities any day...
By
BlogBlond, at 10:09 PM
Anon- Thanks for providing your perspective. Obviously, you have a better understanding of the culture than most. You bring up two points - the "how will they react" idea, and the misrepresenting other Jew's perspectives. Regarding the first, I would agree to the need for the sensitivity, which was my personal discomfort that this post was intended to display. Obviously, differences have an impact on how we interact in the workplace. In that vein, I try to minimize those differences, when possible. That's why I found this specific incident so challenging. On the second issue, while not every Jew of different stripes may agree with the reason I provided, it is the reason. Whether they followed these rules without knowing this reason, or if they don't follow the rule, that is not my responsibility. I am not saying that every Jew believes that Jews shouldn't mix with non-Jews. I am stating the reason that Kashrus requires that a Jew participate in the cooking of all food. Regardless of specific Halachic debates, this concept is part of many Jewish practices, which you and I both need to struggle to understand how that relates to our daily lives. But we can't bury facts.
BB - Once again, you've got my back. However, I'd like to point out that outside of the BT ghetto, we have to acknowledge that our "principles" can be offensive if not conveyed properly. That doesn't mean we should compromise them, but we should be cognizant of how we present them. And, yes, in my mind, that means we don't hide from those opportunities.
S - I like the way you've put it. You have to lay it all out there, and take the ramifications as is. The danger of course is that in a simple discussion the underlying reasons may never get conveyed, so that people don't get the full point. In this case, I told them that Halacha intended to keep Jews separate. However, we never discussed the next level, why Halacha wanted to keep Jews separate. Most of my coworkers probably assumed that this has to do with xenophobia, when I would argue that the true cause is simple focus on our designated spiritual path.
By
Josh, at 11:04 AM
So why not say that the restriction on food cooked by non Jews is in order to keep us on our spiritual path we need to be eating the right foods as well and if prepared by non-Jews it could compromise that path?
By
Düdie, at 9:34 AM
Oh, because that's not true. Obviously, part of Kashrus has to do with Gd's plans for the Jewish people, as you mention. But the laws of Bishul Akum and others are specifically made by the Rabbis for the purpose of separating Jews and non-Jews, so you can't get around the reasons for their Gzeiros.
By
Josh, at 10:04 PM
>>maybe they'll trust him more as a team member when they see that his integriy is so strong that he won't even compromise it for the sake of political correctness. i'd pick someone with principles over someone with social nicities any day...>>
I don't think you guys really understand the secular world and the values of inclusiveness and tolerance. They're not going to think, "Oh, wow, he has such integrity he doesn't beat around the bush." They're going to think, "That doesn't sound very consistent with any of the other Jewish people around here I know, who are just fine mingling with us." Josh, I really wish you could have worded it as "kashrus requires a Jew be involved in the process throughout" instead of "kashrus was designed to prevent Jews from mingling with non-Jews." It does sound offensive.
By
Anonymous, at 3:50 AM
Anon - I agree with you that people underestimate others' respect for diversity. Because frankly they won't value my differences or that I stand up for them. But that aside, what do I gain by lying? It may make it easier for that non-religious Jewish coworker to feel better about himself, but I haven't answered the question. The best I can think of is to avoid the answer, but if your hand is forced, to give as thorough of an answer as possible, so as to give the truth its context. Of course, it's possible to just say it makes me feel uncomfortable. Maybe my job isn't to be the office Rabbi.
Truth - It's hard to judge. I can analyze my choices, but in the end I can only hope I did the right thing.
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Josh, at 7:06 PM
Josh, people love conforming to diversity. Think about that one.
By
Düdie, at 11:33 AM
People like making diversity conform. A black person is valuable...if they talk like a white. A Jewish person is valuable, if they don't do anything exclusively Jewish.
By
Josh, at 3:26 PM
Josh,
I run into the kosher question, and since I'm also vegetarian, that question as well.
I found your blog searching for Kraft+Kosher, to answer a rennet question on a veg board. (so, thanks!)
I sort of reworded the separation issue to sound like tribal loyalty and identity, then eased the sting with, "I can cook for you."
wimpy? perhaps.
By
Robyn, at 12:32 PM
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