>>>>>>>>Yes I do - but I married into a family which were not very observant - Shabbos is very peaceful if you follow the spirit
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>But then it its necessary to earn a living and this is more important than pure observance - that's why orthodoxy is now in a minority
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>See what I wrote here: message #
1420300>>>>>>>Apparently even nowadays an orthodox way of living is a luxury?!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I think that non-orthodox way of living is more a matter of convenience than a necessity.
>>>>>
>>>>>That's an interesting difference in pov. As I understood from my father, only the more wealthy jews could afford:
>>>>>1) not working on sabbath
>>>>>2) eat only kosjer food
>>>>>
>>>>>Admitted, that was 80-90 years ago, here in Amsterdam. Times have changed. But it might still be the case. Perhaps not in your city, but in other places, yes.
>>>>
>>>>I don't think it was a matter of social inequality. I cannot say for Amsterdam, but in schtetl environment Sabbat observation was quite universal. Naturally, our days, when 5-day workweek is very common and kosher food is available in supermarkets, it is even more difficult, in my opinion, to find income lines in this issue.
>>>
>>>Kosher food in supermarkets? Unknown to me. In the Netherlands you have to live in one of the few jewish neighboorhoods to get kosher food. I guess that's one of the main reasons why orthodox jews live together in a jewish neighboorhood.
>>
>>I didn't talk about Netherlands. My point was specifically to the proposition that observant behavior is available for rich people only.
>
>Jewish communities in your country are very small, so they don't have kosher supermarkets. It is different in NYC. I guess that Antverpen should have kosher grocery stores, (maybe supermarkets?) it's probably nearest example to your location.
>
>In the UK you can get prepacked Kosher food in supermarkets but not meat as a supermarket would very rarely have a Kashrut licence and therefore would not be able to handle unpacked food
I understand, but a layman can still make distinction between beef and pork in regular store, eh?
Edward Pikman
Independent Consultant