Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-04
SHAM LARD FOR JEWS.
A New Product That the Hebrew
Housewife VIII Bless.


The other day l received II circu-
lar extolling the merits OF kosher
lard, that is, lard made from cotton
oil. And now the only thing left for
the ingenuity of the American inven-
tor is to discove some process by
which bacon and ham can be rendered
kosher enough to meet with the APP
proval OF Rabbi Joseph himself"
To the Christian reader this probably
has little significance, but it means a
great deal TO the jew. For many gem
erations the Jewish housewife has
been beset with vexations and diff
cuties from which her Christian sister
was altogether free. The Mosaic laws,
with their minute regulations concern
ing both the preparation and serving
of food, hampered her III many res
poets and made for her much labor
that would, without their interior
ence, have been unnecessary.
OF course, every body knows that
pork does not enter into the Jewish
house, but further than that the lInowl-
edge of only the minority outside the
faith extends Chapter ri. or Leviticus
contains bewilderiug list OF animals,
fowl and fish that were declared I'M
clean, but the restrictions that appear
in the Bible were OF little moment COM
pared with the many that were added
afterward by the rabbits or wise men,
so that now the orthodox Jcwess
stands in continual fear of transgre SIS
ing some OF the regulations OF the
household Us they are laid down by
Ra1Nbi InS.ph ap1 his Kind
The ban against the hog was pro-
nOunced in the sentence that forbade
the eating of any animal that did not
divide its hoof, and also chew its cud.
, This, of course, ruled against the fat OF
/ the hog also, and never has lard been
used by any jew who at all respected
the tencts of his faith. In fact, many
Jews who have departed from the ways
- of their fathers and who have thrown
aside the traditions OF their religion
would not use lard under any circum-
stances, and ii is undoubtedly true that
: while originally the flesh and fat OF the
hog were considered no worse than
those of any other Of the forbidden ami
mails, they became many centuries ago
the most sinful OF all in the eyes OF
lsraelites, and no more severe persecu-
tion was ever attempted by their encm-
les than when they forced the obnOX-
ious food down their abhorrcnt threats.
The New England wife who has made
her toothsome dOughuuts and heky pie
crust with the aid of lard will no doubt
wonder how any cook could get along
without it, but the Jewish cook had tC
stand even greater privations. In
making doughnuts and pie-crust she
could use butter, provided, however
that these dainties were not eaten with
any other dishes that contained meat
or its products. The rabbis have inter
Breted the Mosaic laws to mean that
flesh and milk must not be eaten at the
same time, and the orthodox Jew will
not eat them within an hour of each
other. As butter is the product oil
milk, pie-crust containing butter could
not, of course, be served at any mca
in which meat was also part, In fry
ing meats their regulation prevented
the cook from using butter or lard, anl
left her the choice between vegetable
oils and beef fat.
Even in regard to these there were
some restrictions. All beef fat is no
kosher, or clean. All chalet, that i
, the fat around the intestines and kid
\ neys. Mixer, the fat between the in
testines. is kosher, and this is what Tho
strict Jewish cook has used mainly at
long as there is any record. In Euro
peau countries where the jews still live
together for the most part in certain
4 quarters of the cities, towns and vii
Z lagos, no other grease is used than The
4 beef fat and goose grease. Polish Jew
4 are especially addicted TO the use o
goose grease, which is very fine auC
much more expensive than lard. Ger
4 man Jews use beef fat more.
4 In either case the cook tries out al
8 the fat she uses herself, and is thu.
} dOubly sure that it is kosher. In fact,
unless the assurance can be given that
it has been tried out in kosher vessels
and that it has not come in contact with
foreign substances, it would be just u.
unclean as the hog itself. Oicourse, the
trying out Of the fat means great dea
OF extra labor, and, what with keeping
two sets OF dishes, one for milk and one
for meat, which were never allowed L
touch each other, and observing all the
other regulations, the Jewish house
wife has nearly twice as much work al
any other. In this country and some o
the southern countries of Europe olive
oil was used instead OF fat, but not every
body cares TO have meals prepared il
oil, and the use of it was confined with
in narrow limits.
The words of the editor OF the
: Hebrew Journal will bring Joy to the
a hearts of all Jewish cooks. They NEAR
q that one Of their most vexatious trial.
y in in the past can now be obviated.
: The New York Sun reporter who in.
spected this new "lard" found it very
> appetizing in appearance. 1t resem
bles ordinary lard. 1t has a slight odol
OF the oil, but it is not at all objectiona
: Bile. 1t is said to be made of cotton
seed oil and pure beef fat. 1t sells a
the same price as the best lard, but the
manufacturers claim that it is cheaper
: inasHuch as it acquires a lesser quaint
ty to accomplish the same purpose. i
is necessary, in using it, to put IL in
cold pan with the meat or other food
and let them get hot together. If i
were put in a hot pan the oil and the
fnt in the lard would separate. AL