Jewish Ritual Collides With Mother Nature

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On Religion
A Jewish Ritual Collides With Mother Nature
By SAMUEL G. FREEDMAN
Published: March 5, 2010

Rabbi Adam Mintz, a historian of eruvim in the United States, displayed maps of the boundaries of eruvim in New York City.

Last Saturday morning, as a blizzard sputtered out its last squalls over Passaic, N.J., Chaya Leah Smolen sent her husband and several children off to synagogue. She issued the children a message that might seem to contradict the essence of winter motherhood: do not carry any tissues.
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Ruby Washington/The New York Times

Rabbi Adam Mintz, a historian of eruvim in the United States, displayed maps of the boundaries of eruvim in New York City.

To that admonition, she added others. The children shouldn’t take their toys or candies, the diversions that usually make Sabbath service easier. Later, after the worshipers had returned, there was a serious theological discussion about whether it was permissible to make snowballs.

[Oy Veder]

And people wonder why I consider all of them to be meshuggah.

[Niels]

It's amazing how many problems people will create when nature doesn't supply enough of them.

[Oy Veder]

Every time I order a cheese burger I hear my grandmother's voice shrieking "that's not kosher."


It does not, however, stop me from enjoying it. As when she was alive I have learned to tune her out.

[Minimalist]

Make it a bacon cheeseburger and really piss off her ghost!

[pattylt]

Growing up keeping kosher, it was very hard to drop the anti-pork sentiment when I dropped the god shit. Took a bit of time but Oh! do I love me some bacon now.

[Oy Veder]

My doctor tells me I can't eat bacon.


Damn Jews.