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<font size=3>At 01:27 PM 12/8/2013, Ben Waxman wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">There is nothing about eating
out which contradicts being scrupulous. As it has been pointed out ein
sof times, people have a chezqat ne'emanut. If someone says "this
piece of meat meets standard A, B, C", you can believe
him.</font></blockquote><br>
My experience is that most congregational rabbis do not eat out.
Someone who is a rabbi in a shul in Bensonhurst told me recently that he
does not eat in the homes of any of his congregants. He said when
he took the position of rov of the shul, he made this clear.
When he announced this, it caused some "grumbling"
amongst his congregants, but he felt that this is what he had to
do.<br><br>
Am I supposed to assume that there are two kashrus standards, one
for rabbis and the other for the rest of us? Wouldn't being
scrupulous in the observance of kashrus imply that one should follow the
standards of these rabbis, assuming that there is only one
standard? <br><br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font size=3>That you may feel
uncomfortable asking someone isn't the issue.</blockquote><br>
I have no discomfort at all about asking someone about their standards
when it comes to a restaurant or a caterer. Indeed, one of my
questions when I check out such an establishment is to inquire if
the owner and manager are observant. <br><br>
When it comes to a private person, there is never a need to ask
anything. If I am invited somewhere, I simply point out that I have
my "unique standards" that I do not expect anyone else to
adhere to. If the people really want to dine with us, then we
could go out to eat in one of the fairly numerous restaurants that I eat
in that are located in Brooklyn and in Manhattan.<br><br>
IMO, to ask someone about what their kashrus standards is not appropriate
and would border on the "disparagement" that Micha
referred to in one of his posts.<br><br>
YL</font></body>
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