Israeli's Pork Cookbook Creates Controversy
In a country where religious law against consuming pork is also municipal law in a number of communities, a retired Israeli cardiologist’s self-published pork cookbook is creating controversy.
Although the author doesn’t follow dietary law, a number of other Jewish citizens consider it an affront to their shared nationalism, reports the New York Times.
Those most likely to object to Dr. Eli Landau’s The White Book, however, might not have heard of it, since their ultra-Orthodox religious views also forbid them to watch cable television or read mainstream news articles, the newspaper notes.
It suggests that the cookbook may encourage some communities in Israel to permit pork sales. The author and others say observance of dietary laws is less strict among the younger generation of adults.
Among its critics, Rabbi Yuval Cherlow of the Orthodox Hesder Yeshiva in Petach Tikva, expresses disappointment and says the publication of the cookbook “hurts me.” But nonetheless he doesn’t intend to lead the charge against pork consumption, because it isn’t a top priority for “improving Jewish identity in our society,” he tells the newspaper.
