How is Pork Different Than Bacon and Ham?
David Zvi Kalman’s defense of the Orthodox Union’s refusal to certify Impossible Pork as kosher (“Judaism Often Thrives on New Technologies. That Doesn’t Mean Impossible Pork Should Be Kosher,” Oct. 14) would have been more convincing for me if he had explained why they certify Empire turkey bacon as kosher. Vegetarian ham slices also carry a kosher certification.
Why do kashrus-observant Jews need to be protected from the word “pork” and not from “bacon” and “ham”? If we can be trusted to shop appropriately for the latter two, why not the former?
I am not comfortable with the Orthodox Union as a language gatekeeper and suspect there’s a political dimension to their decision: fear of creating a new opening for derision of their entire kashrus certification operation by the yeshiva and Chasidic communities.
Steve Goldman | Bala Cynwyd
Politics Cloud Rabbi’s Mind
Rabbi Rachel Barenblat has let her politics cloud her judgment (“Rabbis Are Supposed to Offer Hope on the High Holidays. What if I Can’t?”, Aug. 12).
Does she fear letting hundreds of thousands of unvaccinated illegals enter our country as much as she fears her fellow citizens who do not want to wear a mask?
Robert M. Rubin | Huntingdon Valley
