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An Out-Of-This-World,
Space-Age Kid With A Jewish Name
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Q: On Sukkot, our house is filled
with the enchanting aroma of the
etrog. I wonder, does anyone oth-
er than Jews have a use for et-
rogim?
A: A member of the citrus fam-
ily, the etrog (citron) is grown far
less commonly than its popular
cousins the orange, grapefruit
and lemon. The problem is that
the citron is not easily eaten. If
you've ever cut into an etrog,
you'll find that the fruit comprises
a thick rind and a not-so-tasty
pulp. Candied citron peel is a
highly esteemed confection, but
you'll probably find it only in
gourmet shops.
Incidentally, Sukkot, which be-
gins on the 15th of Tishrei, will
start this year on the evening of
Oct. 8, 1995.
Also known as the Feast of
Tabernacles, Sukkot is observed
by dwelling in and eating meals
in the sukkah, and with the four
species, which include — in ad-
dition to the etrog — the lulav or
palm, the myrtle and the willow.
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Q: Like every thinking man alive
today, I am a big fan of "The Jet-
sons" cartoon series.
Just when I thought I knew
everything there was to know about
George and the rest of that crazy
cosmic clan, I was amazed when
someone told me that the name of
the Jetsons' son, Elroy, is Hebrew.
Is that true?
A:Jetson fans
everywhere will
be happy to know
that happy-go-
lucky futuristic
rugrat, the Jet-
sons' son and
Judy's brother,
does indeed have
a name with a Jewish connection.
In Hebrew, Elroi (pronounced
el-ro-ee) means "God sees me."
In a biblical context, it is one of
the names of God and occurs in
Genesis 16:13. In that context,
its meaning has been interpret-
ed as "vision God" or "God of vi-
sion."
Elroi also is a village in north-
ern Israel, near Kiryat Tivon.
(A second interpretation of the
name Elroy is that it is French,
derived from Latin and meaning
"the King.")
Although the "El" part of El-
roy can mean "God" in Hebrew,
it doesn't apply to all English
names. Sorry, but Elvin, Elwood,
Elmer and even Elvis are not He-
brew.
0: Aside from being regarded as
the emancipator of the Jews, did
Napoleon I have any other ties to
the Jews?
A:Only a Jewish grandchild.
Napoleon's illegitimate son,
Count Colonna-Walewski, had
an affair with the Jewish actress,
Rachel, who bore him a child.
Rachel was the stage name of
Eliza Rachel Felix, born in 1821
in Switzerland. Brought up in
Paris, she was the daughter of
a peddler. Her show-business ca-
reer began when, as a child, she
sang with her sisters in the
streets. At 17, Rachel became a
professional stage actress, and
her performances met with great
acclaim. She came to be regard-
ed as France's leading actress.
Never married, Rachel had a
number of affairs including one
with Prince Jerome, Napoleon's
nephew. By another beau, she
had a second child out of wedlock.
In 1855 Rachel toured the
United States. The trip exacer-
bated her tuberculosis and she
was forced to retire from the
stage. Rachel died in 1858. The
fate of her children is unknown.
Second, there is no difference
between Orthodox and Lubav-,
itch in terms of kashrut stan
dards. Lubavitch Jews follow
Halachah and are Orthodox
Jews. Lubavitch is, however, a
type of Chasidism: a charismat-
ic, mystical expression of Ju-
daism.
Like a number of other obser-
vant Jews, Lubavitcher Cha-
sidim consume only chalay.
Yisrael, dairy products derived.
from milk processed under
kosher supervision. In the past,.
Jews lived in societies where,
milk from non-kosher animals.
(like camels and horses) was
commonly consumed. There was
a risk that the milk of such ani-
mals might be mixed with milk
from kosher animals (such as
cows and goats) or be confused
with kosher milk. To ensure the
purity of milk for Jewish use, a
mashgiach (kashrut inspector)
observed the milking of kosher
animals and the processing of
the milk every step of the way.
Many rabbis have ruled that
Jews who live in places where
the gentiles themselves are care-
ful to drink only unadulterated
milk from kosher animals may
Q: I know there are different de- rely on the gentiles' assurances
grees of keeping kosher, but what of purity. For example, Michigan
is the difference between the way state law guarantees that when
Orthodox and Lubavitch Jews keep you buy a carton of milk you are
kosher? (I know it has something getting pure cows' milk (with
only vitamin supplements
to do with dairy products, but ex- added). You can be certain it does
actly what?) Also, why is there not include any pig or horse milk.
such a difference between the
The 0-U is a copyrighted sym-
times people wait between eat- bol of the Union of Orthodox
Jewish Congregations, one of
ing meat and milk?
many kashrut-supervising agen-
(From a reader who is "keep- cies in the world. There are oth-
ing kosher to the best of my er symbols. Locally, the Merkaz
knowledge.")
publishes a guide to kosher sym-
A:First, there are not differ- bols used in North America.
ent degrees of keeping kosher.
Now, regarding your last
In Halachah, Jewish law, there question. The Talmud does not
is no sliding scale
give a specific time period
that says, "this
for waiting between eat-
piece of meat is sort
ing meat and dairy foods.
of kosher, this one
It says only that they may
is more kosher and
not be eaten at the same
this third piece is
meal. Local traditions
really kosher." Ei-
have established the wait-
ther the meat is
ing periods. Most Jews of
kosher or it is not.
Eastern European origin
Similarly, Ha-
wait six hours. German
lachah dictates
Jews wait three hours.
that one must keep
Dutch Jews wait one hour.
separate dishes No thanks to hors es' Rabbinic law states that
and cooking uten- milk.
one should follow his an-
sils for meat and
cestral traditions.
milk. A slab of brisket cannot be
cooked in a pot where you've just
prepared a piping-hot cheese Send questions to 'Tell Me Why"
souffle and still be called kosher. c I o The Jewish News, 27676
Nor can one serve a piece of treife Franklin Rd., Southfield, MI
meat on kosher dishes.
48034 or send fax to 354-6069.