I noticed 2 things that Rochel seemed not to be allowed to do. When she was at Nasira's house, she didn't want to have tea with them. And she couldn't shake hands with the guy at the party. Are those forbidden or was it something about the specific circumstances?
shareI don't remember, but the laws of Kashrut are very specific, and if you are orthodox often it's hard to eat anything in a situation where you aren't sure it's kosher. And you can't touch someone of the opposite gender who isn't related to you.
shareThe funny thing is that the Islamic dietary laws (Halal) are very similar to Jewish ones (Kashrut, or Kosher), in terms of how the animal is killed, such that, in a pinch, a Jew can eat meat butchered in the Halal fashion. Or so I've read.
I asked the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.
its actually the opposite: people who eat Halal can eat kosher but people who only eat kosher can not eat Halal
shareSome muslims (such as myself) hold the opinion that not only Kosher and Halal meat is ok, but so is regular North American meat (except pork). This is because of the Qur'anic verse "The food of the People of the Book is halal to you" (5:5) There are differing opinions; almost all Pakistanis and Indians only eat halal meat, whereas most muslims from the middle east eat American meat too. Regardless, almost all Muslims regard all seafood as halal.
shareSome muslims (such as myself) hold the opinion that not only Kosher and Halal meat is ok, but so is regular North American meat (except pork). This is because of the Qur'anic verse "The food of the People of the Book is halal to you" (5:5) There are differing opinions; almost all Pakistanis and Indians only eat halal meat, whereas most muslims from the middle east eat American meat too. Regardless, almost all Muslims regard all seafood as halal.
Please excuse my ignorance, but does "the food of the People of the Book" refer to people who follow a religion and have a God, or does it mean while in this country, you are OK to eat the food of this country, except pork?
Thank you for any insight. I found this movie fascinating but was disappointed to come here and discover it isn't a documentary; I thought the people were real, not actors. Now I don't feel so bad for painfully shy Elliot, though :^D. I kept hoping once they got away from the parents he'd loosen up and be fun and sweet, but they never showed that date.
"People of the book" are Jews and Christian.
Judaism, Christianity, Islam is known to worship the same God\Allah\Ilohim or as Jesus Christ said Eli (means My God in Aramaic)
though the majority of Christians now make it hard to say so, well that's not out discussion here
Each one has a book. Torah for Jews, Bible for Christians and Muslims have Quraan
so the are called People of the book.
We are not allowed to eat anything that was cooked/boiled etc. by a non-Jew. However if we start the fire to do the cooking it is as if we did the cooking/boiling etc. and we can eat it providing it has all kosher ingredients.
Orthodox women are not allowed to touch anyone of the opposite sex unless they are related or they are married to each other and the same applies for men touching women. However there are circumstances like for business deals and doctors examining patients etc. where it can be permissible.
I don't live too far from Postville, Iowa, where there is a meat-packing plant owned by an Orthodox Jewish family. A few years ago they were raided because most of the plant workers were illegal immigrants. I read an article by a Jewish Rabbi who said the meat packed there would not be considered kosher because the owners were breaking laws hiring illegals and doing some other things that I can't remember. It was a very interesting point of view.
shareThe pots & pans ALSO have to be Kosher, so it isn't just the ingredients, but the utensils that they are cooked with.
However, a cup of tea, with water from a tea kettle would have probably been OK, but perhaps her sect is more strict on this, so as to avoid further complications later on with more suspect dishes.
I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch; AND I WILL BE HEARD!
Jewish Orthodox women DO NOT shake hands with strangers! It's part & parcel with the laws concerning personal modesty.
She could possibly have drunk a cup of tea with the Moslem family, but nothing more. As it was, her sect of Orthodoxy doesn't even allow for tea, so as not to be put into more compromising situations later on!
I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch; AND I WILL BE HEARD!
Coming in late to this thread, but I think the filmmaker mainly wanted to emphasize the restrictions on Rochel's life, & perhaps point out that even in a close friendship there are still barriers. That said, the practical reason might have been an issue with micro-crustaceans in NYC tap water that renders it treif. Not sure where the Hasidic community is regarding the issue right now, but many Orthodox Jewish bakeries have signs assuring their customers that all water is ultra-purified.
share