Please do not feed the Orthodox!!

The letter "K" does not mean that something is kosher!!! It means that the manufacturer thinks that if he/she puts a "K" on the package you will think it is kosher, or it is a shelving code, or it is an homage to the package designer's 5 year old daughter, or any number of other things. But it does not mean that it is kosher! Of course, the product might be kosher. There are many kosher products that do bear the plain letter "K" on them, but the "K" does not mean they are kosher. They are kosher and they have a "K". They are not kosher because they have a "K". What really gets me going is not that so many non-Jews and non-Orthodox Jews do not understand this. I can forgive them for not understanding because I assume they were never taught the difference between the letter "K" and a heksure (a trademarked seal used by an agency that oversees kashrut supervision), or why a product needs an actual heksure to begin with. I blame their "rabbis".

If you are the spiritual and educational leader of a group of people, it makes sense that you would research what you teach about rather than just spew forth uninformed opinions about another group's practices. As readers of this blog know, I am an Orthodox Jew, and an unapologetic one at that. However, I teach Judaic studies and Hebrew language at a non-Orthodox synagogue. I would not/do not attend services where I teach. I am not part of their movement. I do not expect to bring their children to synagogue where I go to services. I am not teaching them MY brand of Judaism either. I do not look at teaching there as an opportunity to discuss Jewish law, as the Orthodox interpret it. All of that would be deceptive and wrong. I expect the same curtsey in return. I, however, am dismayed when I attend a meeting at the school in which I am told that they went out of their way to get me kosher food and none of it is heksured. Therefore I cannot and do not eat any of it, which they choose to find insulting. If they had asked me I would have happily explained the situation to them, but I will not compromise what I see as a commandment from God Almighty to save their feelings. I am not in the least nasty or strident, I will not comment unless asked, but if I am asked I am truthful.

When I invite people to my house who have not eaten here before I am careful to explain that while everything is kosher, I do keep chalav stam (I will use milk produced in the US that is not overseen by Jews, as long as it is heksured); just in case my intended guests only eat chalav Yisroel (milk from Jewish sources). I also do not keep strictly glatt kosher (although one has to seek out non-glatt meat with a reliable heksure on it, which I do not. I buy what is available). For the same reason, if my intended guest keeps strictly glatt kosher they may not consider my house kosher enough. That is ok. I am rarely insulted. The difference here is that I am sensitive to what might be an issue for my guests and ask.

Please do not do me any favors. Don't tell me that you want me to eat at your event unless you are willing to find out what that involves. It is far easier for me to eat at home, then to feel obligated to find the one item at your event I can eat without compromising my principals so that I can save your feelings.