Glen Silver – VIN News
Manhattan, NY – The Orthodox Union has forced a name change in an upscale kosher Soho eatery by refusing to certify its current name—-Jezebel.
The Jewish Week is reporting that the name change is one of two concessions restaurant owners made to the OU.
In a letter to investors, owners Menachem Sendrowicz and Henry Stimler, said the restaurant will go forward under the name ‘JSoho,’ and that they will also ban non-mevushal wines as part of the agreement.
The owners are hoping the changes will attract more traditional kosher diners.
“We felt the name Jezebel does not represent a person who has a positive reputation in the Tanach and was not a name we want to promote,” Rabbi Moshe Elefant, the head of the OU’s kashrut division told The Jewish Week. “This is the name of a rasha, a clearly wicked person,” said the rabbi.
Jezebel’s story is told in the Book of Kings, in which she is devoted to the Tyrian deity of Baal, a weather god. Rabbi Elefant referred to the situation as ‘atypical’ because the restaurant was formerly under another certification. Generally, the OU would work with a new restaurant in determining kashrut details prior to its opening.
He also said he could not recall a prior incident of objecting to an establishment’s name, but added that variables such as ‘ambience’ that have no bearing of food are considered in the certification process.
“We want to make sure there is a certain environment in the restaurant,” he said.
There are other cute funky names out there! Why choose the name of the most reviled woman in Tanach? She persecuted Nevai Hashem and personally introduced a form of idol worship to kingdom of Israel from which they never recovered! It really saddens me to to see such a sell out in name of “Jewish Trendy” Good for the OU b/c this establishment seems anything but kosher!!!!
kosher restaurants do not check each vegetable – trust me
well put I am a “moderate” sensible normal person (I think) of anash and I also as a rov give a hechsher to establishments. Certain things slide e,g. celebrating Jan 1st but there is a limit and this is ridiculous. It is naive to think they chose Jezebel randomly and they just happened to tell the waitresses to dress that way. Pritzus is ossur. The OU are right! They can choose to impose anything they like,. What would our REBBE say or our RABONIM if they stiopped fighting for five minutes? Our REBBE and our CHASSIDUS emphasises kol kvodah bas… Read more »
Hey cut me some slack, I did spend my Years in O.T., and
spell check will not find such mistakes, it’s nice to see that people are paying attention, and I really do appreciate the correction, that’s a mistake I will not make again, thanks
To comment #61, thanks for a great post! You are spot on. To comment #58, do you work for Jezebel? Why else would you pretend that there is no other classy kosher restaurant in Manhattan to take, and impress, non-Jewish clients? Your contention that the only choices out there are Jezebel or the “Mendy’s” and “Jerusalem Pizzas” of the world is naive, ridiculous and offensive to the many high quality kosher restaurants that preceded Jezebel, satisfying “classy,” “trendy” Jews and non-Jews over the past twenty plus years, with respectfully dressed waiters. Certainly, Jezebel (now JSoho) brings certain innovation to the… Read more »
I thought that song was about the skirt lengths in Crown Heights……
Somehow Hamentashen are Kosher and are named after a Rasha. They should stick to ingredients.
I had a blast reading through these comments! It really is a great read. As to the last comment, #58, you hit the nail on the head and revealed the basic issue here. The owners want to cater to the religious crowd who wants to cater to the goyish crowd. By doing so, you lower your standards and respect for Torah. You poke fun and say go eat at the fast food joints if you want true Chassidishe environment, but your compass is pointing in the wrong direction. What OU was implying as were other posters here, is that if… Read more »
how would name a restaurant like that
I disagree with you and agree with #19. Kashrus may span all realms of the human experience, but a kashrus agency does NOT span anything but food. When I eat out and seek the hechsher it is solely for the food aspect. The rest – that which I see – I can decide for myself. Do you depend on a food kashrus agency to decide for you whether a name is appropriate, or a dress code?
Your eloquent usage of the English language is to be truly admired. Someone who can use the word ‘antithesis’ properly in a sentence is one who has mastered the fine art of linguistics. I am immensely impressed with your skills. It is rather pleasurable to read a comment with proper spelling and grammar on this website. Regarding the article itself….The purpose of this establishment was to attract a very specific clientele margin. It lends itself to be an option for a business dinner with either a non Jew or a non religious Jew who would be otherwise uncomfortable in a… Read more »
LOL. Your barking up the wrong tree #6. Jezebel the movie came out in the 1940’s. The commenter abt the movie poster probably only learned it was a movie from that poster (picuring its’ star Bette Davis – long dead). I don’t that person ever watched that film unless they’re a classic-movie buff. Unlikely. Also – I know the owners and they have worked very hard a few times to get me and my husband in to their packed retaurant whilst my husband was in his full Rabbinical garb and black hat. So ha! Can the tznius sitch there be… Read more »
Did your chicken stick a stake in your wife’s STEAK?!!!!!!
🙂
even after the changes, there are some questions that a chosid should be concerned about:
1- Is the meat chassidishe shechita? not necessary
2- is the bread pas yisroel? probably not.
3- how do they check vegetables?
4- is the Mashgiach a ireih shomaim?
just think like a chosid.
let’s start bouncing back upwards.
like the song says “a tefach hecher”. that’s who we should strive to be.
Hatzlocho bakol!!!!!!!:-)
seriously, get a life!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the word is
STEAK
not stake
1) OU is not a government institution they can refuse to give a hechsher to whoever they want.
2) OU also has a right to refuse a hashgacha to a place that has improper activities yet serves kosher food.
3)Who woul be the mashgiach? A mashgiach with yiras shomayim wouldn’t hang out in certain places a mashgiach without yiras shomayim ain’t worth diddly.
NUMBER 7 UR AWESOME
…lacking an intellectual compass to the point of such a corruption of character, that they have no clue how apparent it is to any and every onlooker, except for those similarly corrupt. It is unthinkable that people, who remain free to do what they choose, will speak out against anyone who promotes modesty, or challenges immodesty. It is similarly unthinkable that one would claim that modesty or decorum is outside of the purview of a certification organization. As shocking as it is that anyone, Jew or gentile, would trample their human dignity by going about publicly half dressed, no words… Read more »
I wouldn’t go!
Just wondering, How is it that The O.U. did not advertise on COL the conditions that they are about to demand of that establishment, so that they could find out from the readers of this site, what is within their jurisdiction and where they step out of their boundaries. In the name of “freedom”, the readers should have their comments heard and listened to, not just expressed after the facts. Reading the comments I believe that they feel that they have the full right to ask that of the OU, so they somebody should implement it and the OU better… Read more »
Get a life.
This is absolutely pathetic and yet another example of Rabbis way oversteping their boundries. A Kosher certification is, as the name implies, a KOSHER certification. Get back to your job and stop imposing your personal ideas and problems.
When I went I did not see any untznius waitresses, and I Don’t know why people are saying that the food is bad, my wife and I went there to celebrate our Anniversary, and the food was outstanding and the portions were generous, I ordered A chicken special for 29.00$, and my wife ordered the 45.00$ stake, and we were both very happy,in fact I was blown away by how good the chicken was I’ve never tasted chicken this good, it was even better then the stake which was also Delicious, these are words I never thought I would utter,chicken… Read more »
how did you fall for this low i hold from you so highly this place is a real goyisher place by changing names and wines you are giving a hecsher its like the ou symbol in stead of an A rebb moshe why did you not see thru the balbatim of the place what a pity
Kashrus if far more than what goes on in the kitchen. The OU, as an organization, does not want to compromise its reputation by putting a stamp of approval on a place that doesn’t meet frum standards in every respect. Kudos.
The name says it all. The owners have no yiras shemayim and should a conflict arise between (even the most short term) business interests and Jewish interests, you just need to suspect that the business interests will win out. The employees pick up on the attitude of the patron and should a kitchen manager fail to bring in enough of a big seller…
The OU will not keep you safe.
To number 1: You should have walked out when you saw it.
then the name should be changed
Both the OU and the restaurant have the right to choose the organizations with which they wish to associate. The restaurant apparently believes that being OU certified would be a good business decision, while the OU believes that giving a hechsher on a restaurant named after a rashanta would negatively affect its reputation. If they choose to work together, these are the terms. If the restaurant owners don’t like it, well, there are plenty of other hechsherim out there.
There is more to Judaism than Kosher food.
All the child molesters, you complain about eat kosher !!
.
So i tell you and them go eat at a none kosher restaran where you can see what ever you want. and leave judaism for the modest and righteous .
why is something Frum always compared to Islam
there are more religions out there, and wether you like it or not judaism is one of them!!!
Last I heard, the owners specifically didn’t want the typical frum clientele. In fact, they were telling frum people they were full but still admitting other people who helped create the type of atmosphere and ambience they were looking for…
I salute the kashrus agency, and I hope it’s only a matter of time before they stop certifying all the junk which is more chemicals than food and terrible for everybody.
Your comment–with its detailed description–is the very antithesis of tznius. You’re so excited about the prospect of condemning lack of tznius, but you’re own words are peritzus of the highest order–no less a violation of tznius than wearing the clothes you describe with such relish
Nothing new about this restaurant. Look up the famous Ramban on Kedoshim Tihyu (Vayikra 19:2). The jist of it is that one may not eat kosher food gluttenously, drink kosher wine to excess or overindulge in physical matters. To keep the letter of the law without the spirit of the law is not acceptable.
This whole thing is crazy – the owners of a restuarant decide on a name, the food and service are good, then from out of nowhere someone complains about ‘Jezebel’, then another bright spark complains about the way a waitress was dressed – have you nothing more interesting in your lives to moan about? Go get a life!!!!!!!!!
I agree.
it’s a free country but we still have halachas and yiddishkeit right? america is nisht anderisht, no? Anyone? Have we fallen so far that we now just embarrassed outright pritzus?? I ate their with my wife. Food and service was VERY good. Credit due. But I was also commenting how shocking it was the way the servers were dressed. I had to double check for the Kashrus certificate I kept thingking I went to the wrong place. People can run their businesses however they want, this is true, but they will (and I’m sure already are) losing major possible clientele… Read more »
Kosher is just about kosher, all the other things are personal choices for each individual. If you don’t want to eat there that’s your choice but don’t say it’s not kosher.
the place feels like they went out of their way to be ‘goyish’ a magen david wreath at chratzmach time, soy mac n cheese, escort women who look like ‘professionals’,. I was with my husband and I was really uncomfortable, they are wearing ‘little dresses’ strapless and mini-mini, its their uniform, what does that say about the place? I felt like it was treife, if not the food, definitely the atmosphere.
Hechsharim are one big mafia
Seriously dude, it’s not cool to slander your people. Hashgacha laws have nothing to do with the laws of this country but obviously you already knew that.
Did you really enjoy being served in Jezebel by a pair of legs??? The waitresses were so not tzniusdik, and sooooooooo tall, that all you saw were legs.
What an utter disrespect to any Frum Jew who came and sat down at their tables. And to #15: What world do you live in???
“besides the atrocious food, and tiny portions”
That reminds me of a joke!
What a horrible comment-
One should think that if-
of all names in the entire world-
they chose to call their restaurant after such a woman-
what type of environment is in this restaurant in the first place….
You can say what you want-
The Torah dictates how we should live as Yidden
And an appropriate environment and influences
is paramount.
I think all you complainers need psych help and have deep seated issues.
Were you abused as children in yeshivah?
Leave everyone else alone!!!
It’s a free country. If you don’t like how someone dresses: leave the place and go eat at a Hallal restaurant where the waitresses wear burkas.
If you can remember exactly what she was wearing in such detail: then the fault lies within your sad, deprived mind.
Get help ASAP
Thats because you miss the point of what kashrus is. Kashrus is NOT just about the food. Its about the total picture. If the food is kosher but the name and the ambiance is not then its not a kosher atmosphere.
If she is a waiter in frum establishment then. She should be expected to dress accordingly. And regarding the issue with women in general dress inappropriate well then men will notice the details is that expected?!
By Achashverosh’s party, there was also kosher food.
But the Gemara still says that it was for enjoying themselves at that party that the Jews deserved to be destroyed, G-d forbid. It’s not just the food that can make a place not kosher…
V-dal, v-akmal, umisaimim bitoiv.
A total overreach…utterly ridiculous!
not very intelligent comment
I don’t think Kashrus agencies should be cerifying anything besides the food ingredients. Dress code, name, music are all open to the consumer to decide. Only the food which is hidden to the consumer does one need an outside certifier. It’s simply hostage and abuse of power.
Horrible, horrible restuarant!!!
Besides the “professional women” looking waitresses,
besides the atrocious food, and tiny portions
besides the goyishe pictures, and music
it’s not the place for any G-D fearing Jew to enter.
i was there the food is horrible, the place looks like p…. house, the music is tooooo loud , just very disturbing place to go
i surprised they put your comment up collive always has pictures of women
This is why chabad people push SO many people away from judaism. How can you say she was dressed as a “street woman”? Do you have ANY idea what other people dress like all over? tight tops and short shorts? You cant put people down for the way they dress. You can dress how you want… but dont judge others by their looks. That “street woman” waitress could be a MUCH better person and Jew than you. And i dont think by law, the restaurant is obligated to change the name or make their waitresses dress more tznius. They can… Read more »
they have non tznius pictures all over the place, that should be taken down
lol
He’s still right. What’s your point? Making fun of him?
Hard to believe religious people would eat in a place that has nearly naked people as wait staff. Jezabel is a name that Christians equate with women who lead the lowest lifestyle. I remember hearing the name and thinking “religious guys with money gone wild”
If Jezebel was definitely a wicked person as you agree, Why go any further than that? That’s good enough reason NOT to name after, logic would say.
But wasn’t the kitchen manager Ovadya- the ger tzedek and navi about whom it says was the most G-d fearing man, even in comparison to Avrohom, Yosef, etc. The only positive thing that Chaza”l say about Jezebel is that she went out of her way to dance for brides….
Jezebel was definitely a wicked person, but she did have a kosher kitchen and Eliyahu Hanavi ate food from her kitchen as is written in Melochim I 17:6 (see Braishis Rabah 33, 5).
Its amazing the minute details you describe what the hostess had on.The issue lays with you, why do you allow those thoughts to be embedded in your brain. From your remarks i see you are well versed in movies where i’m sure the woman are not dressed modestly.
I also thought the name was quite off for an upscale restaurant …..Sometimes people are trying to be different and funky,however, this name is simply poor taste.
good job by the OU on this one and to number 1 you are 100 percent right
Someone standing up for what is right!!
wow
Thank you, Rabbi Elefant! While you’re at it, please insist the waitresses dress with basic modesty. I ate there a few weeks ago, and while I was thoroughly impressed with the food and ambience, the waitress in the cocktail lounge (where everyone is forced to wait to be seated) was dressed like a street woman – arms completely uncovered to the shoulder, and in a super tight, super mini skirt. In this day and age, it is possible for a trendy restaurant to insist on, or provide, wait staff apparel which is both trendy and at the very least minimally… Read more »