Rabbi Marc Angel (right) of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals recently blogged about superlatives, e.g., “strict,” “strictly” or “strictest.”
He also peripherally touched on “levels” of kashrut.
What he chose not to mention — perhaps deliberately and wisely — is the difference between Ashkenazi kashrut and Sefardi kashrut, a/k/a Bet Yosef or Halak, both for products and food preparation.
The rabbi also ignored the word “unique.”
Unlike “kosher” which may be modified with a superlative, e.g., “glatt” or “strictly,” unique is one of only a handful of words that stand alone: something either is, or it is not, unique.
The following is from R. Marc Angel’s blog (https://tinyurl.com/ybdhty2n).
The rabbi’s writings are, in my opinion, most important, very special, extremely brilliant — and on and on as will become clear as his words, below, are read.
Some words get overused, misused and abused. The words become degraded so that they no longer can be taken at face value.
The word “kosher” is an example of a word that has become compromised.
The packaging on kosher foods reflects the problem. The word “kosher,” by itself, seems no longer to indicate that a product is actually kosher. Much packaging states that the product is under “strict rabbinic supervision,” or that it is “strictly kosher;” apparently, without the words “strict” or “strictly” we couldn’t trust its kashrut. Some packaging now states that the product is under the “strictest rabbinic supervision,” implying that just being “strict” or “strictly kosher” isn’t kosher enough. Only “strictest” should be trusted.
To complicate matters, we often find products that are under multiple rabbinic supervisions…as many as four or five different hashgahot per item. Does having multiple hashgahot make the product more kosher? Are those items with only one or even two hashgahot not kosher enough?
The word “kosher” has been degraded; many people apparently don’t trust the word unless it is accompanied by “strict,” “strictly” or “strictest;” or unless it is authenticated by multiple hashgahot. This may be the fault of manufacturers, or of kashrut agencies, or of consumers…but the result is to downgrade the word “kosher” and to confuse the public.
The word “major” is another example of a compromised word.
We receive notices from various congregations and organizations announcing lectures, shiurim, and a variety of programs. Apparently, it is felt that just announcing the topic is inadequate to gain people’s attention. So we are told that the upcoming lecture/shiur/program is “important.” But since everything seems to be “important” these days, the announcements inform us that the upcoming event is “special.” Recently, I’ve begun receiving notices for upcoming lectures/shiurim that are “major.” But if these lectures/shiurim are “major,” does that imply that they are more significant than if they were just “special” or “important?” And does that imply that all “non-major” lectures, shiurim/programs are “minor?” When hyping events as “major,” the result is to downgrade all other “non-major” events…and ultimately to downgrade “major” itself.
Another phrase that has been popping up is “extremely brilliant.” It seems that just being smart, intelligent or even brilliant is no longer enough; one needs to be “extremely brilliant.” Yet, if so many people are upgraded to being “extremely brilliant,” then the phrase loses its significance. If you really want to stand out, you’ll need to find a phrase that goes higher than “extremely brilliant.” But then, many others will adopt that new phrase too, in a never-ending effort to outdo others. The more hyperbole we use, the less the words really mean.
Wouldn’t it be nice if people used words carefully, without need for hyperbole? It would be a very strictly, major, and extremely brilliant thing to do!
R. Angle didn’t mention it — perhaps for “shalom biet” amongst us — but we tend to apply superlative labels — and sometimes derogatory labels — to other Jews who are “not like us.” Hebrew’s חילוני and חרדי are relatively harmless words, as are orthodox, conservative, reform, etc., with initial capitals or not. But add “extreme” to any of those categories, or “Super Jew” to refer to the religiously orthodox residents of Bnai Brak or Mea Sherim and suddenly the words may take on pejorative meaning. “Black Hat” is, by itself, simply descriptive.
Kosher supervision = Big Business
As R. Angel noted, there are food products with multiple hecksures – kosher certification symbols. The image above is just a sampling!
The plethora of companies offering to certify something — food, appliances, utensils, clothing (שעטנז) and who knows what else — each competing with the others for the same currency. (Israel now has competition for the chief rabbinate that had, until recently, a strangle hold on on kashrut supervision in Israel. That did not prevent others acceptable-to-the-chief rabbis from setting up their own labels, usually bdatz. )
In the end, it comes down to who do you — or your father or mother or rabbi — trust?
Glatt, smatt — as long as it’s Bet Yosef.
PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.
Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.
Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.
Rabbi Marc Angel (right) of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals recently blogged about superlatives, e.g., “strict,” “strictly” or “strictest.”
He also peripherally touched on “levels” of kashrut.
What he chose not to mention — perhaps deliberately and wisely — is the difference between Ashkenazi kashrut and Sefardi kashrut, a/k/a Bet Yosef or Halak, both for products and food preparation.
The rabbi also ignored the word “unique.”
Unlike “kosher” which may be modified with a superlative, e.g., “glatt” or “strictly,” unique is one of only a handful of words that stand alone: something either is, or it is not, unique.
insert kosher labels.jpg
The following is from R. Marc Angel’s blog (https://tinyurl.com/ybdhty2n).
The rabbi’s writings are, in my opinion, most important, very special, extremely brilliant — and on and on as will become clear as his words, below, are read.
Some words get overused, misused and abused. The words become degraded so that they no longer can be taken at face value.
The word “kosher” is an example of a word that has become compromised.
The packaging on kosher foods reflects the problem. The word “kosher,” by itself, seems no longer to indicate that a product is actually kosher. Much packaging states that the product is under “strict rabbinic supervision,” or that it is “strictly kosher;” apparently, without the words “strict” or “strictly” we couldn’t trust its kashrut. Some packaging now states that the product is under the “strictest rabbinic supervision,” implying that just being “strict” or “strictly kosher” isn’t kosher enough. Only “strictest” should be trusted.
To complicate matters, we often find products that are under multiple rabbinic supervisions…as many as four or five different hashgahot per item. Does having multiple hashgahot make the product more kosher? Are those items with only one or even two hashgahot not kosher enough?
The word “kosher” has been degraded; many people apparently don’t trust the word unless it is accompanied by “strict,” “strictly” or “strictest;” or unless it is authenticated by multiple hashgahot. This may be the fault of manufacturers, or of kashrut agencies, or of consumers…but the result is to downgrade the word “kosher” and to confuse the public.
The word “major” is another example of a compromised word.
We receive notices from various congregations and organizations announcing lectures, shiurim, and a variety of programs. Apparently, it is felt that just announcing the topic is inadequate to gain people’s attention. So we are told that the upcoming lecture/shiur/program is “important.” But since everything seems to be “important” these days, the announcements inform us that the upcoming event is “special.” Recently, I’ve begun receiving notices for upcoming lectures/shiurim that are “major.” But if these lectures/shiurim are “major,” does that imply that they are more significant than if they were just “special” or “important?” And does that imply that all “non-major” lectures, shiurim/programs are “minor?” When hyping events as “major,” the result is to downgrade all other “non-major” events…and ultimately to downgrade “major” itself.
Another phrase that has been popping up is “extremely brilliant.” It seems that just being smart, intelligent or even brilliant is no longer enough; one needs to be “extremely brilliant.” Yet, if so many people are upgraded to being “extremely brilliant,” then the phrase loses its significance. If you really want to stand out, you’ll need to find a phrase that goes higher than “extremely brilliant.” But then, many others will adopt that new phrase too, in a never-ending effort to outdo others. The more hyperbole we use, the less the words really mean.
Wouldn’t it be nice if people used words carefully, without need for hyperbole? It would be a very strictly, major, and extremely brilliant thing to do!
R. Angle didn’t mention it — perhaps for “shalom biet” amongst us — but we tend to apply superlative labels — and sometimes derogatory labels — to other Jews who are “not like us.” Hebrew’s חילוני and חרדי are relatively harmless words, as are orthodox, conservative, reform, etc., with initial capitals or not. But add “extreme” to any of those categories, or “Super Jew” to refer to the religiously orthodox residents of Bnai Brak or Mea Sherim and suddenly the words may take on pejorative meaning. “Black Hat” is, by itself, simply descriptive.
Kosher supervision = Big Business
As R. Angel noted, there are food products with multiple hecksures – kosher certification symbols. The image above is just a sampling!
The plethora of companies offering to certify something — food, appliances, utensils, clothing (שעטנז) and who knows what else — each competing with the others for the same currency. (Israel now has competition for the chief rabbinate that had, until recently, a strangle hold on on kashrut supervision in Israel. That did not prevent others acceptable-to-the-chief rabbis from setting up their own labels, usually bdatz.
In the end, it comes down to who do you — or your father or mother or rabbi — trust?
Glatt, smatt — as long as it’s Bet Yosef.
PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.
Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.
Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.
