Posted on 12/26/2007 10:36:53 AM PST by Kid Shelleen
The Berkowitz family of Ambler gathered yesterday for its traditional Christmas dinner: wonton soup, pan-seared pork dumplings, salt-baked shrimp and scallops, orange beef, and sweet-and-sour chicken. "So it is written, so it shall be done," lawyer Michael Berkowitz said between bites at the Lee How Fook restaurant in Chinatown.
He was only half-joking. As sure as Jews pack synagogues on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, so do they eat in Chinatown on Christmas.
"You want to know why?" teased Berkowitz's mother, Phyllis, who drove in from Allentown with her husband, Newton.
"Trad-i-tion . . . tradition!" she sang, mocking Tevye the Milkman from Fiddler on the Roof.
For many Jewish families, eating in Chinatown on Christmas is almost an 11th commandment
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
My school district actually allowed for all students, regardless of faith, off for Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, as my elementary school was, at most, 15% Jewish, those of us in the other 85% were greatful.
On another forum we were discussing this and one of the Jewish members said they call Christmas the “festival of immediate seating.” That cracked me up.
Although I am suspicious of the pork dumplings and the shrimp noted here. :)
I noticed that too - does ‘Christmas’ mean ‘to heck with kosher’ in Hebrew?
Odds are that this couple's grandkids won't be Jewish.
I used to be quite Reform, but long before I became more observant I gave up on all pork and shellfish dishes. More to the point, I never disrespected or mocked the true traditions of Judaism. How much you want to bet that these folks are all a bunch of Leftists?
What I don’t understand is why go out for Chinese? There is SOOOO much wonderful Jewish food, in fact were I Jewish I would probably be 20#s heavier.
“and don’t forget it you neighbor’s dog ruins your turkey dinner you can always finda Chinese restaurant open on Christmas day “
I had Dim Sum at that restaurant on Saturday. Some family got the “chopping duck head” ceremony, and video-taped the whole thing. The place has a “leg lamp” in the front window. Best Dim Sum in Cleveland! They stole a top chef from NYC’s Chinatown.
Pathetic and sad, but social.
I believe Leviticus classifies those three as "unclean."
ah-so. much more clear now, thanks.
That’s funny!
SHARON GEKOSKI-KIMMEL / Inquirer Staff Photographer
A group of 53 people from the Perelman Jewish Day School ate at the Singapore Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant on Christmas.
hmmmm, pork's vegetarian now. I still figure you may be right, who else would go to a Chinese vegetarian kosher restaurant?
“hmmmm, pork’s vegetarian now”
Vegetarian pork, fish, beef, etc., is typically some type of tofu or veggie cooked in the same style, sauces, etc., as the real meat and fish. Good stuff too!
A jewish friend of mine told me that the Chinese Restaurant was actually developed by Herb Lebowitz from the Bronx; and his nephew Lyman invented the fortune cookie.
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