quote:

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KASHRUTH ALERT
Brand: Pocahontas
Product: Pork and Beans in Tomato Sauce- Food Service (#10 can)
Company: Progressive Group Alliance Inc.
Issue: This product mistakenly bears an unauthorized OU symbol. The product is being withdrawn from the marketplace.

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Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
 

 

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Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
 
How could anybody think that pork & beans is kosher?
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
I believe the company does actually produce some beans-without-pork that are kosher. I imagine it was a printing error.
 

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Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
 
Ouch.
 

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Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
 
Heh.
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
Yeah.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/30123
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Seen it.

Still find it extremely unamusing. Mostly because of the doctored pictures.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
Well, I'm sorry you find it extremely unamusing.
 

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Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
 
Wait, what if you get a Rabbi to bless it?
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Oh, don't you start!
 

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Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
 
I know. It's just that I always just want to crack up when I hear that line. But, you know, that would be rude.
 

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Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
 
Could a pig be genetically engineered to meet kosher guidelines?
 

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Posted by Dead_Horse (Member # 3027) on :
 
Maybe when they fly....
 

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Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
They already have those. They are called sheep.

I remember thinking that Onion article was funny a few years ago. Now I find it kind of nauseating. And there's a pretty large problem in that I don't believe there is a Jewish body whose authority would be recognized to change the law for all jews.
 

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Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
One of the funniest Onion articles ever was 100% factually accurate.

Muscleman Put In Charge Of World's Fifth-Largest Economy
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
It's funny because it's true.
 

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Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
 

quote:

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And there's a pretty large problem in that I don't believe there is a Jewish body whose authority would be recognized to change the law for all jews.

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quote:

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They already have those. They are called sheep.

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quote:

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And there's a pretty large problem in that I don't believe there is a Jewish body whose authority would be recognized to change the law for all jews.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Tante Shvester:
I know. It's just that I always just want to crack up when I hear that line. But, you know, that would be rude.

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quote:

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Originally posted by pooka:
They already have those. They are called sheep.

I remember thinking that Onion article was funny a few years ago. Now I find it kind of nauseating. And there's a pretty large problem in that I don't believe there is a Jewish body whose authority would be recognized to change the law for all jews.

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quote:

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Originally posted by starLisa:

quote:

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Originally posted by Tante Shvester:
I know. It's just that I always just want to crack up when I hear that line. But, you know, that would be rude.

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You laugh, but I can't tell you how shocked I was when I actually ran into someone who thought that was what kashrut meant.

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So was I, the first time. I was also shocked the first time someone tried to convince me that K and O-K were symbolic of affiliation with the KKK.
 

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Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
 
How about going to Israel and discovering people who think the O-R is an American kosher certification? (It stands for "Orthodox Rabbinate," doesn't it?)
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
You had to go to Israel to hear that one?
 

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Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
 
I thought it was the Reform hechsher.

And © is the Conservative one.
 

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Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by rivka:
You had to go to Israel to hear that one?

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As a joke? No. From people who genuinely believed it? Yes.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by starLisa:
I thought it was the Reform hechsher.

And © is the Conservative one.

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Yup. Heard that one too. Not as a joke.

Shmuel, I didn't mean as a joke. Not all of us grew up in NYC.
 

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Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by rivka:
Shmuel, I didn't mean as a joke. Not all of us grew up in NYC.

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Ooh, you make a good point.

(I have a copy of "The Reverend's Handbook" from 1920-something at home... it's a slim, pocket-sized volume in English and Yiddish, containing sample sermons and useful facts for rabbis. I got it for a few shekolim at a used seforim store in Mea Shearim. One of my favorite bits is the sunrise/sunset/candle-lighting-time table, which is labelled as having the correct times for America. New York City wasn't specified; that was taken for granted.)
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 


It still is. I can't tell you how many Jewish fora/email lists/yahoo groups/etc. I am on, where all the Tri-State people assume that everyone lives there.

That sounds like a very cool book.
 

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Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
 
On a similar note, Frumspeak: The First Dictionary of Yeshivish defines out-of-town as "n. & adv. anywhere but New York City."

(The dictionary in question was itself compiled out-of-town, in Philadelphia.)
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
I know. I have a SIL from Philly. (Who, of course, knows someone who knows someone . . .)
 

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Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
 
Of course.

In my case, I had a friend in Philly who wasn't in the author's class, but knew people who were. He got me a draft of the word list along the way, at which point I abandoned the yeshivish dictionary I'd been compiling with an eye toward publication, because Weiser was clearly way ahead of me.

(I did get an article in Country Yossi's Family Magazine out of it, though.)
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Must've been before June of '96. Given that Frumspeak was published in 1995, I guess it would have to be.

Ah, but on Amazon I found your review.
 

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Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
 
Yup. That's me.

I did meet the author briefly when he transferred to a job at my alma mater (well, the high-school extension of my alma mater) in New York, before he switched careers entirely. We didn't do more than exchange greetings, though.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Given that there are none of you, I figured two was doubly unlikely.
 

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Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
 
Like Abravanell's Rabbi exclaimed when he took the job as conductor of the Utah Symphony, "My G*d Maurice! Thats west of Denver!
 

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Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
 

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Originally posted by rivka:
Given that there are none of you, I figured two was doubly unlikely.

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Hee. I saw that.

On the other hand, I grew up surrounded by Shmuels. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry was named Shmuel.

My class of less than 20 students included a Shmuel whose middle name was the same as my first middle name. (I have two.) And I worked at a day camp which had another staff member with the same first name and surname as me. (We were unrelated, but my surname is extremely common even outside Jewish circles.)

But, granted, people with that exact name who have strong opinions about Yeshivish dictionaries and currently live in Boston, MA, are probably few and far between.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Shmuel:
On the other hand, I grew up surrounded by Shmuels. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry was named Shmuel.

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Ah, but how many had it as their legal name (and therefore what they'd tell the Census Bureau)? Although I do know quite a few Shmuels, I don't think any have that as their legal name. Most are Samuel. One I know is Steve.

And I know all about common names. I was one of four Rivkas in elementary and high school, and so went by first and middle name. Got to seminary all excited to go by just Rivka . . . and there were two other Rivkas. Even now, I have to think how to identify myself when I call people.

And there are two Rivkas in town whose last name (one is her married name) is the same as my maiden name. People keep telling me that they heard I was doing X. I tell them that I've heard that too . . .
 

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Posted by Dobbie (Member # 3881) on :
 
This reminds me of a rather amusing anecdote from Isaac Asimov's Treasury of Humor.
 

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Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by rivka:

quote:

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Originally posted by Shmuel:
On the other hand, I grew up surrounded by Shmuels. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry was named Shmuel.

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Ah, but how many had it as their legal name (and therefore what they'd tell the Census Bureau)?

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quote:

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And there are two Rivkas in town whose last name (one is her married name) is the same as my maiden name. People keep telling me that they heard I was doing X. I tell them that I've heard that too

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Originally posted by Shmuel:
I do, but now that you mention it, the one in my class had "Steven" as his legal name.

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Originally posted by rivka:
I assume it's not the same one I know. In fact, I don't see how it can be. (Um, how old are you again?)

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Maybe the Shmuel/Steven combination is more common than I thought!

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Yep. I believe Steven Spielberg is another Shmuel.

I've long said that if I had to have a non-Hebrew name, I'd want to go with "Steve." It just sounds cooler than "Sam."

quote:

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And yeah, my legal name and my kids' are all the same as our Hebrew names. (And it's mostly true of my brothers, although there are some y/j changes and such.) I know it is becoming more common.

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Maybe the next generation of that site will acknowledge all the Shmuels. Hey, it already acknowledges my first name (although it still thinks I don't exist).

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Safe bet that it isn't, and I'm mumblethirtythreemumble.

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Since I believe he's a couple years older, I assume not. Brooklyn is a big place.

quote:

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Yep. I believe Steven Spielberg is another Shmuel.

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I've long said that if I had to have a non-Hebrew name, I'd want to go with "Steve." It just sounds cooler than "Sam."

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HEY! On behalf of my cousin Sam, I say to you.

Not that anyone calls him Sam since they made aliyah. Now he goes by Shmuel.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Shan:
Hey rivka - - are you still coming up north to visit? (sorry to intrude on the conversation . . . )

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quote:

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Originally posted by rivka:
HEY! On behalf of my cousin Sam, I say to you.

Not that anyone calls him Sam since they made aliyah. Now he goes by Shmuel.

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I had a great-uncle Sam whom I quite liked, so I have good associations with the name... but I stand by my assessment. Not that it has any practical application, 'cause I'm sticking with Shmuel myself.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Good choice.
 

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Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
 
I have a Great Uncle Sam too. I think a lot of him, inspite of some really creepy guys who work for him from time to time.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 

 

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Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Shmuel:

quote:

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Originally posted by rivka:
HEY! On behalf of my cousin Sam, I say to you.

Not that anyone calls him Sam since they made aliyah. Now he goes by Shmuel.

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I had a great-uncle Sam whom I quite liked, so I have good associations with the name... but I stand by my assessment. Not that it has any practical application, 'cause I'm sticking with Shmuel myself.

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Originally posted by Tante Shvester:
Going by "Esther", there's one of me. Going by my legal American-type name, there's two of me.

I wonder which one I am?

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quote:

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Originally posted by ketchupqueen:

quote:

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Originally posted by Tante Shvester:
Going by "Esther", there's one of me. Going by my legal American-type name, there's two of me.

I wonder which one I am?

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Esther isn't an "American-type name"? I had a Korean friend in grade school whose "American name" (the one she went by, as opposed to her legal Korean name) was Esther. I also have a great-aunt Esther, from Kansas.

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Well, yeah, Esther is an American-type name. It's just not MY American-type name. It's my Hebrew name. My American-type name (the one on my driver's license) is completely different. My ma didn't like the name "Esther", so she wanted to give me a prettier name. I think it still bugs her that I've decided to go by my Hebrew name, but she still calls me by my American-type name. I'm not hard-headed enough to insist that people who are accustomed to calling me by one name switch to another. Just when I introduce myself to new people, I introduce myself as Esther. And at this point, I think of myself as "Esther". Or Tante.
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
Weird. If she didn't like the name Esther, why didn't she give you something else for a Hebrew name? (I hope I'm not insulting a family naming tradition asking that.) I love the name Esther! I actually have considered it for a girl's name or middle name, but since we have the next three picked out already, it's a ways off.
 

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Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
 
It is traditional to name the baby after a dead relative. That's how I landed up with Esther.

I like the name. It's classic.
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
But she couldn't have chosen another dead relative if she didn't like Esther? Or did she just really want to honor Esther, despite hating her name?

I agree completely, it's a classic, and it's very nice-sounding to my ears, as well. I think it fits pretty well with our other girls' names. I am definitely considering it for girl no. 5 if she comes along.
 

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Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
 
It was the relative that she wanted to honor and remember.

Actually, the relative's name was "Abraham". I do not understand how Esther was derived from Abraham, except for starting with the same first letter. My mother can't explain it very well, either, but, supposedly, her father sat down and did some letter games with the name and came up with Esther. In Hebrew, each letter has a numerical value, so sometimes things "add up" to be equivalent. I have no idea how it works in my case, though. Ma probably acquiesced to her father's request, figuring that it wouldn't matter all that much since I'd be known by my American name anyway. To her chagrin, not.
 

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
Huh, that's interesting. I have to admit I'm hard-pressed to come up with another girls' name that could be related to Abraham. Ava/Eva, maybe? (Although, like you, I'm mystified by the connection, I'll concede that your grandfather found one.)
 

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Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
 
Tante, were you raised "Orthodox"? (Just curious.)
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Esther, my best guess is that reduced-value gematria was used (see chart), combined with adding an extra 1 (which you are allowed to do in gematria for reasons I have never understood) for Esther. Then they both equal 14.
 

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Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
 
This is my favorite Onion article ever, though it's totally out of context here. I love how hatrack conversations wander all over the map, though. I like to think I had a little to do with preserving that fine hatrack tradition that so many other forums get wrong. Anyway, the people at the Onion are obviously prescient, since this article was published in 2001.
 

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Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
Oh, my, Tatiana. I remember the article, but I forgot how uncanny it was in prescience. It was published in January of 2001. Whoa!
 

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Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by ketchupqueen:
Huh, that's interesting. I have to admit I'm hard-pressed to come up with another girls' name that could be related to Abraham. Ava/Eva, maybe? (Although, like you, I'm mystified by the connection, I'll concede that your grandfather found one.)

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quote:

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Originally posted by Icarus:
Tante, were you raised "Orthodox"? (Just curious.)

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quote:

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I don't believe there is a Jewish body whose authority would be recognized to change the law for all jews.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Stephan:
Could a pig be genetically engineered to meet kosher guidelines?

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Well, I *suppose* someone could engineer a pig with uncloven feet that chews a cud...

But I doubt you're gonna find such a swine in a 89 cent can of pork & beans.


 

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