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Jackie Mason Has Cow Over ‘Kosher Cheeseburger’
Talia’s Steakhouse on New York’s Upper East Side has started serving a “Kosher Parve Cheeseburger,” made with a beef patty and tofu cheese, but according to the New York Post, some observant Jews aren’t salivating over the prospect — including Jackie Mason.
“I would never entertain the thought of eating cheese — real or fake — with meat… It makes me nauseous just thinking about it,” the comedian said.
Rabbi Basil Herring, executive vice president of the Rabbinical Council of America, gave a more serious assessment to the Post:
Jewish law is very concerned for appearances. Not only should you always do the right thing, but it should be seen as the right thing.
Any Jew who keeps kosher knows a cheeseburger is not permissible. But … what happens if a young kid, a 10-year-old, goes in there and says, hmm, maybe cheese on a burger is OK?
Detractors aside, there is apparently a constituency for a kosher cheeseburger. Talia’s owner, Ephraim Nagar, claims he has sold at least 20 of these $5-$8 burgers a night.
Note: Cheeseburger pictured above is not actual “Kosher Parve Cheeseburger” from Talia’s Steakhouse.
Comments
No one is better than the Jews at finding brilliant loopholes, and this one is particularly good. Are Mason, Rabbi Herring (what a great name!), and others aware of the "mock shrimp" found in many vegan kosher Chinese restaurants? There are hundreds of variations on this theme, and as new ways to play with food develop, this "loop-holing" will continue. Eating mock shrimp or soy-cheese-burgers doesn't appeal to me on a visceral level, but I find their existence quite a testament to Jewish ingenuity!
that guy in the picture is gonna give himself some e. coli contamination -- EW, those NAILS! dude, you wanna eat treyf, you go on with your bad self, but EVERYBODY should wash up before dinner.
Hi,my name is Sharon Morrissey Young and I am involved in a project here in Highland Park, Il, a documentary. I am interested in contacting Jackie Mason. Would you be able to provide me with a vehicle to contact him. Thanks
I think the amazing thing is that they managed to keep the price of the burgers to $5-$8. At Dougie's you can't get a burger for less than $10. Le Marai's "Classic Burger" is $15. Mendy's cheapeest burger, without the "cheese", is $8.95.