August 2, 2006
Touche!
For all you who said Delaware was devoid of yiddishkeit, check it: Rehoboth Shul Dedicated. I doubt you're going to be able to catch mincha there, but it's a start.
An interesting tidbit from the article, which had been the subject of speculation on our recent trip, was the origins of the name "Rehoboth":
Known as the "Nation's Summer Capital," Rehoboth Beach once had property restrictions barring Jews. The resort was established as a Methodist camp meeting site in the 1870s, and the reference to the biblical Rehovot is not lost on its religious residents.
The real secret to getting more Jews to Rehoboth? Get Thrasher's a hechser. If you build it, they will come.
Between that and tax-free shopping, its every Jewish woman's dream!
Posted by: aishel at August 2, 2006 10:56 AMThat would be wonderful if Rehoboth became Delmarva's answers to Onset, MA!
http://www.capecodshul.org/
Posted by: David at August 2, 2006 11:48 AMThe real question regarding Thrashers is whether it needs a hechsher at all. Last I checked, all they make is french fries and they use kosher oil. What can be bad???
Posted by: David Gottlieb at August 2, 2006 3:13 PMDavid (I'm assuming you aren't my rabbi, by the way),
I thought like you did initially as well. There are a few things that I thought of that I think might need to be resolved. I wasn't sure about the oils, but I think you are probably right in that there wouldn't be a problem there. I'm not sure if there would be an issue of bishul akum, though, which would be a hard one to get around.
Posted by: Greg at August 2, 2006 3:32 PMYes, there would be an issue of bishul akum, since potatoes are not usually eaten raw.
Also, you can't rely on a non-Jew's testimony regarding the oil. You can't be sure that they always use kosher oil. You don't know if they got their equipment from a going out of business sale of a fried chitlins factory, etc.
iirc from my youth, the only 2 ingredients they use are potatos and peanut oil. they pride themselves on not using other ingredients. i remember eating them, as did other frum families, as a kid.
that said, i would do the research before eating there today.
