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Eco-Kosher Shabbat Meals Becoming the Norm?

by Rabbi Matt Carl · May 8th, 2009

Eco-Kashrut, Farming, Food Conference, Hazon, Jewish Culture, Judaism, Kosher, Notable Press, On The Web, Personal Story, Shabbat Meals, Synagogues

My parents’ shul and rabbi are mentioned in this article, which should make the notion of an intentionally eco-Kosher Shabbat meal seem that much more normal. But it doesn’t. Every meal I host, like nearly every meal my friends host, is vegetarian, with special emphasis placed on organics, etc, during the “food tour.” This, too, should make it all seem so normal, but it doesn’t. I have vegan friends (and was vegan myself for 6 years) who host with or request water challahs, no hard-boiled eggs in the cholent (the best part, if you ask me, or most people, judging by the fighting that sometimes happens over them,) etc. I think the reason it doesn’t seem so normal is that it’s not really. Are my friends and me, Jews who do the whole Shabbat/Kosher/observance thing and do it in this way, a subculture within a subculture?

I’m bringing my Introduction to Judaism students to shul tonight where we’ll have services and dinner together, along with my shul members. It’s the “standard” chicken, brisket, etc, fare. I’ll have to accommodate my own and some students’ special dietary needs on my own, as soon as I’m done writing this post. But in a way I’m glad that the menu is what it is. This is an Introduction to Judaism course and for some of the students (Jewish and Gentile) this will be their first Shabbat experience. I kind of what them to experience what Judaism is in most places in the world. Or do I? I guess it’ll make for a lively dinner conversation.

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3 Responses to “Eco-Kosher Shabbat Meals Becoming the Norm?”

Hannah Lee Says:
May 11th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
No, we’re not the norm or it wouldn’t merit an article in the paper. When I was a new parent, I wondered if my daughter would be fully comfortable in the Jewish world without knowing how to cook chicken. I told myself that if she grew up to crave meat, she could get a book and teach herself. Hosting a vegetarian at the table makes people think about why they’re eating meat, akin to hosting someone of another political perspective.
Rabbi Matt Carl Says:
May 11th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Hannah,
Thanks for the comment. It reminded me of a funny incident that happened probably 10 years ago: it was my turn to cook for the Kosher co-op at school and some vote had been taken to serve meat one time as an experiment and that weeknight was the designated one. My co-chef and I had in front of us disposable baking pans and utensils, since the co-op only owned dairy ones, a large pile of ground beef and the kitchen’s normal condiments (the pareve ones, anyway.) He wasn’t much of a cook and I never really learned to cook meat until becoming veg. We sort of stared at each other, shocked that this might be the hardest assignment of that semester! I’m told our meatloaf was terrible, which is a good thing, since it ended the experiment. I hadn’t cooked meat before and I haven’t (besides fish) since. It’s an interesting question with regard to teaching children, especially because the first thing I did in that situation was obviously to call my mom, who’s a great cook but not over the phone.
Cheryl Says:
May 19th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
It’s funny you write about this. My husband & I are trying to figure out whether we want to feed our 11 month old baby meat. My husband is a vegetarian, I am not. The traditional approach would probably be – feed him meat – let him decide what he wants to do when he’s older. That’s one choice. Or an alternative is – don’t feed him meat – let him make his own decision about that serious choice when he’s older. Or maybe only meat from local organic farms – that also happens to be kosher (and that may also be the same thing as not eating meat).