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June 28, 2002/Tamuz 18 5762, Vol. 54, No. 41
Letters to the EditorJune 28, 2002
Kashrut questionsEditor:Why do I have such a tough time with kashrut? Could it be that the laws to me seem so arbitrary and molded to fit the convenience of the entrenched kosher establishment? Those who keep kosher have an additional place to shop for their kosher meats now that Albertson's, owned by non-Jews, has kosher meat products. The Vaad Hakashruth is worried that Albertson's may cut into the business of Segal's kosher market, owned by Jews. But for 37 years, Karsh's Bakery was the only kosher bakery in the Valley. At the suggestion of the Vaad, they closed on the Sabbath. Their business declined 20 percent. Their mistake, as I see it, is that they are owned by Jews. The message I get is that it's OK to run a business for Jews and be open on Shabbat if you are not Jewish. These kashrut laws are centuries old and could evolve with some modernity. After all, we at one time performed ritual sacrifice at the altar. Does anyone want to bring that back? I will continue to shop at Karsh's Bakery, the best bakery in town! David Rabenowitz Scottsdale Beware of corporationsEditor:Corporations do what is right for themselves, not the individual. HMO anyone? Corporations are not community based. Just ask those ex-employees of ABCO, Enron, K-Mart, and Lucent. Corporate goals are not synergistic. They want to put the little guy out of business and then ramp up their prices. How many privately owned pharmacies are there? Corporations such as those in the oil industry peddle themselves through lobbyists who meet with high government officials to influence policy. Watch out, Israel. Eventually, corporations will put all the Jewish-owned business out of business. Watch out, Phoenix. Livia and Michael Steingart Phoenix Shopping is not a hobbyEditor:For years the Jewish population has fought against negative stereotypes. I have always thought that J.A.P. (Jewish American Princess) should be considered one of these stereotypes. It reeks of a self-centered, self-indulgent woman who cares for nothing besides her own comforts and whose favorite reading material is a price tag. One criterion to qualify for this dubious distinction is a preoccupation with acquiring material items. I am sick of reading in the b'nai mitzvah announcements that some of these young ladies list "shopping" as a hobby. Are we raising a generation of women who feel shopping is an activity to be admired and who will worship at the doors of a mall, perpetuating the implied meaning of J.A.P. in its worst form? I certainly hope not. It's a pity that the focus is on the bar/bat and not enough on the mitzvah. Marsha Sklar Scottsdale
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