(Kosher) Jews Need Not Apply
Once again the Jewish Journal delivers with an interesting article on the kashrut of events thrown by Los Angeles-area Jewish organizations. The Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federation, B’nai B’rith, and Hadassah all “endeavor” to make their events kosher, but they don’t limit themselves, especially when a coveted function facility will not allow “outside [kosher] food being brought in” or when kosher food “costs signficantly more than the kosher-style [alternative]“.
Having studied at non-sectarian Brandeis University, where kosher options were always available at school-sponsored events, maybe I got too comfortable with being “accomodated.” Granted, the double-wrapped airplane meals weren’t always culinary delights, but at least I didn’t have to sit at the Junior/Senior Formal conspicuously twirling my fork in a plate of cold salad greens.
What irks me is that Jews often get more respect for their dietary laws by non-Jews than by their coreligionists. For example, today, my company had its (belated) holiday party. At the company’s urging, we worked out a simple strategy to serve a kosher appetizer (lovely grilled vegetables), a kosher entree (delicious stuffed, rolled eggplant), and a kosher dessert (chocolate sheet cake) alongside the great-looking, but treyf food — without me and my wife secluded in a separate “kosher section” or forced to eat raw carrots for four hours.
Honestly, for all the lip service mainstream Jewish organizations give about pluralism, sensitivity, and outreach, it’s absurd that kashrut is even a point of contention — to truly be inclusive, serve kosher food, which everyone can eat. Having come from a Conservative background, I’m particularly sensitive to the stereotyping of non-Orthodox Jews — but now that I’m on the other side, I’m witness to plenty of latent (and unfounded) animosity towards the Orthodox lifestyle. Eating kosher food has been the normative Jewish behavior for the past 3,000 years, and now, somehow, expecting Kosher food at a Jewish function run by a Jewish organization is an extremist position!
Example: this week, my wife and I RSVPed for a social function being organized by the Combined Jewish Philanthropies (Boston’s Federation). We had never heard of the venue, so we felt compelled to inqure whether the hors d’oeurves would be kosher. Though unhappy that we had to ask, we were pleased with their reply: it’s CJP’s policy only to serve kosher food.
Unfortunately, our brethren in the Golden State don’t seem to have so many institutions with this “progressive” point of view.
How can major Jewish organizations expect others to champion their cause when they present themselves as such apologists? Thank you for bringing this article (and your experiences) to my attention.
Nice posting. It is funny/sad that we too frequently find that non-Jews are more understanding of kashrut than our Jewish friends and organizations. Heck, my in-laws thought their daughter might be marrying a fanatic because I am a conservative movement Jew who keeps kosher.