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And Speaking Of Fasting

A

nd speaking of fasting …
So here is where my ethical food
Although I like to think of
critique comes in. Should we, as a
myself as a “foodie,” I am no
community, be punishing a restaura-
Danny Raskin and have no credentials teur and his employees for stepping
whatsoever as a food critic.
forward and telling the truth in
Although I am not an
a very difficult situation?
expert on food, however, I
Do you really believe that no
do have some expertise in
other restaurants in the area
the field of ethics and, in
have had similar health issues
this case, the ethical situa-
but have buried them rather
tion in question just happens
than doing the responsible
to involve a restaurant. So
thing and reporting? When a
call me an ethical food critic,
business owner does the ethical
I guess.
thing, knowing that it is going
Rabbi Paul
As you know, at the begin- Yedwab
to cause him/her pain, even
ning of August, a local res-
to the point of putting his/her
taurant named Social Kitchen & Bar
operation out of business … well, that
in Birmingham announced that one
is a business that I personally want to
of its employees had come down with
patronize.
hepatitis A and made the following
As it turns out, I am nogei-ah
statement to the press:
b’davar (personally touched) by this
“The safety of our patrons and
matter. While leading an Israel trip as
employees is always our highest prior- a young adult, I contracted hepatitis
ity. An employee at Social Kitchen and from eating at a restaurant. It was a
Bar was diagnosed with Hepatitis A on terrible and harrowing experience I
Aug. 6. Immediately upon learning of
would not wish on anyone.
the diagnosis, we contacted the Health
But am I really at risk for that
Department. Fortunately, no one else
kind of infection when I dine at an
has reported any illness. On Aug. 8,
establishment that is honest about its
the Health Department inspected the
situation and takes immediate steps
restaurant and authorized us to remain to inform its patrons? I do not think
open. The restaurant is 100 percent
so. And although good things do not
compliant with Health Department
always happen to good people, I do
regulations and will continue to main- believe that as Jews, if we can reward
tain the highest food safety standards.” the righteous in this world, we should
Months have passed, and no patron
always strive to do so. In this case,
has come down with the disease
by patronizing a restaurant precisely
and the restaurant has been given a
because they did the right thing.
clean bill of health from the Health
So after the fast is over, I will see
Department. And yet we, its previously you at Social. And by the way, their
loyal customers, are staying away in
“make your own salad” menu is fan-
droves.
tastic. Four Jewish stars!
“Where should we go to lunch?” one
Paul Yedwab is a rabbi at Temple Israel in West
member of a lunch party asks.
Bloomfield.
“Not Social!” replies another with a
nervous laugh.

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October 6 • 2016

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