Yesterday I posted a rather tongue-in-cheek Facebook status about some vegetables I cooked for dinner. When you are an orthodox Jew, a vegetable is never just a vegetable. The post inspired a lot of great comments, so I thought I would share it here. I think the main thing that struck me is the feeling of judgement or shame that a frum Jew sometimes feels when they do something that goes against the grain of orthodox society – even down to what produce they choose to eat. This was also touched upon in my post, Lady Pants, about the sense of superiority some women feel over those modern orthodox ladies who choose to wear slacks – even if those slacks are more tznius than skirts.
In some cases, this smugness is a defense mechanism against a feeling of jealousy that other people are “getting away” with leniencies or privileges not afforded to themselves (whether self-imposed or communally imposed). For example, “I wish I didn’t have to cover my hair. Why is it that she doesn’t cover her hair, yet everyone still considers her to be frum? It’s not fair!” or “I would love to wear pants like hers, but my conscience/religious sensibilities won’t permit me to do so. Why does she get away with it?” or “I would love to indulge in those hot Superpretzels at the amusement park being enjoyed by that frum family, but we don’t hold that way. Why do they think its ok for them to eat pretzels at a snack stand without rabbinic supervision, and now my kids are begging us to buy them?! Thanks a lot!”
In any case, the comments on my Facebook post highlight the many splintered and fractured groups among the orthodox, where one group holds that a certain action or item is fine, and another group holds that the same thing is absolutely forbidden. Of course, we judge the other groups based on what is or is not permitted within our own group – which ultimately leads to total harmony and Ahavas Yisroel (love for all Jews). Maybe not.
Here is the status update -
“Bet you never knew I was a rebel! Anyone else love Brussel Sprouts or Cauliflower? I do, and I make them once a week. Asparagus too! Broccoli you ask? My husband put his foot down on that one. Why would fresh roasted vegetables be scandalous? Because of the kashrut war on a host of leafy greens, fruits, and veggies that are deemed to have bug infestation. It is a stamp of orthodoxy to only use frozen Bodek spinach, veggies, and frozen berries – nutrients properly disposed of in the process. In a few years, only Bissli and Paskesz Nutty Chews will be acceptable kosher produce. I refuse to give up my health in the name of kashrut.“
The post sparked debate over everything from the ban on brussel sprouts, to the permissibility of broccoli, to the ingestion of insects, to the scam of frozen Bodek (rabbinically checked) frozen vegetables, to the history of checking veggies before our ancestors had bug lights and veggie wash, etc. Someone even posited that eating fresh broccoli was on the same level of treifness as eating McDonald’s or shrimp. The bottom line is that we are judged on everything from our clothing to what’s in our shopping carts. No detail of a person’s life is too minute for scrutiny.
