Caplansky's Deli - if it's not Kosher, how can they host a Passover Seder?

[ronin1701]

Got this in my email today.

http://i1.createsend1.com/ei/r/CC/C70/716/csimport/2012-seder-button.160639.jpg

My question is:

How can Caplansky's be hosting a Passover Seder if their food isn't kosher? Is there something about "Second Seder" that the food doesn't have to be Kosher for Passover (or Kosher at all)?

http://blog.caplanskys.com/2009/05/31/shnaer-zalman-duchman/


And I will NEVER serve kosher food in my restaurant.

And even if the meat were kosher, you can't have it with dairy (there goes the Reuben ....).

Not to mention that the bread wouldn't be Kosher for Passover because it's leavened (I can't really see anyone eating a smoked meat sandwich between two slices of Matzoh ....)

Discuss.

P.S. Hitman21 asked for a kosher thread. Now he's got one. Happy? :razz:

[YLSF]

Ha, interesting....

Will watch this thread for people's opinions :)

[duckdown]

I'd be more concerned with the food even being any good at all, let alone being kosher

[Pete_Coach]

Got this in my email today.

http://i1.createsend1.com/ei/r/CC/C70/716/csimport/2012-seder-button.160639.jpg

My question is:

How can Caplansky's be hosting a Passover Seder if their food isn't kosher? Is there something about "Second Seder" that the food doesn't have to be Kosher for Passover (or Kosher at all)?

http://blog.caplanskys.com/2009/05/31/shnaer-zalman-duchman/



And even if the meat were kosher, you can't have it with dairy (there goes the Reuben ....).

Not to mention that the bread wouldn't be Kosher for Passover because it's leavened (I can't really see anyone eating a smoked meat sandwich between two slices of Matzoh ....)

Discuss.

P.S. Hitman21 asked for a kosher thread. Now he's got one. Happy? :razz:
I don't understand the question?
I don't think every deli needs to be kosher and I don't think every person who is religious needs to follow the religious laws to their fullest. It does not stop you from believing or celebrating your religion.
There are German deli's, Italian deli's and so on. I don't even see where Caplansky's is claiming to be Jewish a Jewish deli, let alone a kosher one?

[ronin1701]

I don't understand the question?
I don't think every deli needs to be kosher and I don't think every person who is religious needs to follow the religious laws to their fullest. It does not stop you from believing or celebrating your religion.
There are German deli's, Italian deli's and so on. I don't even see where Caplansky's is claiming to be Jewish a Jewish deli, let alone a kosher one?

You do know what Passover (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover) is, right? Depending on who you ask, it's arguably the most important of the Jewish high holidays. And the Seder (the traditional meal taken during Passover) is central to that. Even many non-observant Jews will follow the kosher laws for this one.

As one of my good buddies says: "The whole basis of the Jewish high holidays is that we celebrate the fact that someone tried to wipe us out but failed .... and then we eat".

And you're right - Caplansky's doesn't claim to be kosher - but that's the point of the question, as you seem to have missed it: how can you have a non-Kosher Seder???

[slowtyper]

Perhaps its just tongue in cheek poking fun at those who always complain he doesn't serve kosher.

[sarnya]

Given the location of his restaurant, it's probably aimed towards non-Jewish people looking to take part in the Jewish culture. Whether or not it's kosher may not matter to his customers.

Usually I go up Kiva's or United, both of which feel authentic... nothing beats a Kiva's bagel and lox with a Dr. Browns soda.

[jerrysiz]

If you look at his Simcha catering menu, there's nothing there that would have chametz (bread or other foods not eaten at passover), or for the things that are during the rest of the year (like desserts) he provides a passover option. So I would assume that, for the seder, he's going to serve these and other traditional passover foods.

You're right, brisket sandwiches aren't okay for passover, but sliced brisket or turkey with a side of mashed potatoes and Tzimmes? That's what our family has for passover most years. And chopped liver goes just as well on matzoh as it does on bread or crackers.

Jewish people who are less religious and don't keep kosher may still avoid bread and other chametz on passover just for tradition's sake. I don't eat bread on passover, but I don't care if the meat I eat is kosher (just like I don't care if it is at any other time of the year). I wouldn't serve bacon at a seder, but I wouldn't go out of my way to make sure every single item was kosher certified either.

People who keep kosher wouldn't be eating at Caplansky's at any time of the year anyways, so if he wants to appeal to reform jews by having a non-kosher but kosher-for-passover type seder, I don't see people having a problem with it, as that's the way many of us approach the holiday ourselves.

[4flava]

If you look at his Simcha catering menu, there's nothing there that would have chametz (bread or other foods not eaten at passover), or for the things that are during the rest of the year (like desserts) he provides a passover option. So I would assume that, for the seder, he's going to serve these and other traditional passover foods.

You're right, brisket sandwiches aren't okay for passover, but sliced brisket or turkey with a side of mashed potatoes and Tzimmes? That's what our family has for passover most years. And chopped liver goes just as well on matzoh as it does on bread or crackers.

Jewish people who are less religious and don't keep kosher may still avoid bread and other chametz on passover just for tradition's sake. I don't eat bread on passover, but I don't care if the meat I eat is kosher (just like I don't care if it is at any other time of the year). I wouldn't serve bacon at a seder, but I wouldn't go out of my way to make sure every single item was kosher certified either.

People who keep kosher wouldn't be eating at Caplansky's at any time of the year anyways, so if he wants to appeal to reform jews by having a non-kosher but kosher-for-passover type seder, I don't see people having a problem with it, as that's the way many of us approach the holiday ourselves.


Great point! I was gonna say the same.

[slowtyper]

Given the location of his restaurant, it's probably aimed towards non-Jewish people looking to take part in the Jewish culture. Whether or not it's kosher may not matter to his customers.

Usually I go up Kiva's or United, both of which feel authentic... nothing beats a Kiva's bagel and lox with a Dr. Browns soda.

I tried a Kiva bagel for the first time last week and found it isn't much like a bagel at all, more like a big fluffy bun.

[Pete_Coach]

You do know what Passover (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover) is, right? Depending on who you ask, it's arguably the most important of the Jewish high holidays. And the Seder (the traditional meal taken during Passover) is central to that. Even many non-observant Jews will follow the kosher laws for this one.

As one of my good buddies says: "The whole basis of the Jewish high holidays is that we celebrate the fact that someone tried to wipe us out but failed .... and then we eat".

And you're right - Caplansky's doesn't claim to be kosher - but that's the point of the question, as you seem to have missed it: how can you have a non-Kosher Seder???
Like others have said, and correctly so, Caplansky never claimed to be kosher but he can still recognize and observe Seder.
There are many Jews that are not strictly observant and celebrate Passover, just as there are many Christians (and others) that celebrate Christmas but never go to Church.
For you (seemingly observant), it would be wise not to buy your smoked meat sandwich there. :D

[sarnya]

I tried a Kiva bagel for the first time last week and found it isn't much like a bagel at all, more like a big fluffy bun.

It's a New York style bagel.

[Xeros]

Food restrictions... ha... everyone should be eating like they are on the top of the food chain.

[ronin1701]

nothing beats a Kiva's bagel and lox with a Dr. Browns soda.

I gave up on Dr. Browns when they started using HFCS.

[ronin1701]

For you (seemingly observant), it would be wise not to buy your smoked meat sandwich there. :D

I'm Chinese.

(But a lot of my buddies are Jews).

[ronin1701]

People who keep kosher wouldn't be eating at Caplansky's at any time of the year anyways, so if he wants to appeal to reform jews by having a non-kosher but kosher-for-passover type seder, I don't see people having a problem with it, as that's the way many of us approach the holiday ourselves.

Huh?

[jerrysiz]

Huh?

Non-kosher, as in their meat, other products, and premises are not kosher certified by a rabbi.

Kosher-for-passover type seder, as in a type of seder consisting of the reading of the haggadah, songs, and traditional passover foods like chopped liver, gefilte fish, brisket, and tzimmes, all of which contain no bread or other chametz. Not strictly kosher by religious standards, but adhering to the tradition of the seder and serving foods that don't contain chametz.

They're two different things. If you're religious you keep kosher year round and keep kosher and kosher for passover on passover as well. If you're not so religious you may not keep kosher year round or at passover, but still choose to observe the traditions of passover by not eating things that contain chametz during passover. If I don't eat kosher meat during the year, I'm not going to start just because it's passover. I can observe tradition by refraining from eating bread and other things that contain flour, rice, corn, peanuts, yeast, grains, etc., during passover without making sure the non-passover foods are kosher certified. A lot of reform jews do this, as we keep passover as a tradition, not for religious reasons. So I would have no problem eating caplansky's non-kosher-certified brisket during passover, as long as I could get it without the rye bread (as would, I assume, anyone he is targeting with this second seder).

[Pete_Coach]

I'm Chinese.
(But a lot of my buddies are Jews).
Trying to protect your buddies from a religious faux pas? ;)

[ronin1701]

Trying to protect your buddies from a religious faux pas? ;)

Nah, they can take care of themselves ;)

This is more for my education. Inconsistencies bug me :P