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Everything you always wanted to know about Judaism,
but were too afraid to ask!
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Questions about kashrut,
in no particular order.
I have
seen many Orthodox Jews in Starbucks recently.
Even if they have tea/coffee without milk and
in a disposable cup, how can they justify being
seen in a non-kosher establishment?
I have written in the past about the Kashrut
side of Starbucks and concluded that, so far
as the coffee is concerned, it need not be a
problem. The point you raise, however, is rather
different - around being seen in a non-kosher
establishment. My guess is, however, is that
it depends on the nature of such an establishment.
Starbucks and the like are overwhelmingly coffee
houses where the mainstay drinks are not problematic
and the other food items are really peripheral.
Other restaurants will be exactly the opposite
with the focus being on non-kosher food instead
of coffee – so they will be problematic.
While there is undoubtedly a real perception
issue [marit ayin] for an observant Jew to frequent
such places, there are very occasional instances
where for essential business purposes, or to
use the toilets etc - and providing one does
not eat - that this may be allowed. RL
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I had the strangest
dream the other night that I was out for dinner with
my wife. After my main course arrived, I looked down
at my plate to see a fillet steak covered with an anchovy
sauce. As a religious Jew, I would never eat meat and
fish on the same plate so I knew immediately that I
could not eat what had been presented to me. What is
your interpretation of this dream?
Before answering your question, it is worth pointing
out that the reason we do not mix meat and fish has
nothing to do with Kashrut per se. Rather, it is because
the Rabbis believed that such a mixture was potentially
unhealthy and could lead to illness. Therefore, one
may consume these separately in the same meal but not
together, (with some holding the view that the problem
is only when they are actually cooked together).
I am not an interpreter of dreams but, maybe, there
is a message in what you have dreamed around
the need to be cautious to avoid something dangerous
or unhealthy in your life. Perhaps also, the
image is a metaphor for an inappropriate mixing
of issues that may be affecting you. Do bear
in mind that the Talmud warns us that not everything
in a dream should be taken seriously [“there
is no such thing as a dream which does not contain
some irrelevance” ]. So do not be too concerned
beyond the general “food for thought”
that I have suggested above. RL
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Having recently
got married and moved to a new area, my wife and I have
been inundated with invitations for Shabbat meals, which
is lovely but there’s a slight problem. We are
not sure of the level of kashrut of our new friends.
Do we presume that they are as kosher as us and accept
their invitations (after all, what we don’t know
won’t harm us) or should we be a bit more choosy
about where we eat? It’s an awkward situation because
we don’t want to come across as rude, but on the
other hand we have to think of our religious beliefs.
Mazel Tov on your recent marriage and new move! I am
sure that it has brought a variety of new challenges!
On the Kashrut front, it is not rude to be concerned
about standards; although it may not always be prudent
and sensitive to enquire in detailed fashion about levels
of Kashrut. My advice is to gently ascertain whether
those families who want to invite you are Shabbat observant
– as this is generally accepted to be the gold
standard as to whether one is fully Orthodox in one’s
practice. If indeed Shabbat is observed then it can
usually safely be assumed that they are meticulous regarding
Kashrut too.
But do always use your own intuition; and be prepared
to make polite excuses where necessary in order
not to offend, particularly when such lovely
intentions are in evidence. RL
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