Is It Kosher Enough?

Recently, I offered my boys to have some friends over for a melava malka (festive meal right after Shabbos that extends the joy of Shabbos into the week) in lieu of a typical birthday party. Basically, it was a birthday party with less emphasis on the birthday and more emphasis on their friends and the melava malka. They were thrilled. Our plan was to serve pizza and cook out marshmallows. Seemed simple enough… Ha! They warned me that many of their friends have dietary restrictions (kosher dietary restrictions). I promised that no one would feel uncomfortable and we would accommodate everyone’s needs. We keep very strict kosher, but apparently not strict enough. I remember when I first became observant watching my husband inspecting our pantry like he was the top chef of a 5-star restaurant. In his opinion, he was…at G-d’s restaurant. I’ve since adapted and mended my ways of sneaking in unapproved hechshers (kosher symbols). He once handed me a little card and it has about 50 symbols on it and told me to use it when purchasing packaged or boxed foods. I’ve memorized about 10 of them. Anyway, for this party, that was hosting thirteen 10-11 year old boys, I was told to make sure all the food was both Pas Yisroel (grain products baked under Jewish supervision) and Cholev Yisroel (dairy products processed under Jewish supervision). “OK. I got it,” I told them. “No Christmas cookies and no pig milk.” “Mooooommm!!” they both chanted, “We’re serious.” I promised to be careful. They checked on my purchases several times that week so to be sure I would not embarrass them or their friends. Really? Me? Then came in one additional request. You also need to get Chabad meat. “What is Chabad meat?” I asked. It’s the Aaron’s brand. Apparently, many years ago there was a Chabad vs Satmar feud and now they don’t eat each other’s meat. In addition, there is Hasidish and non-Hasidish slaughtering. My husband only eats Hasidish. And, we wonder why we are all a bit loony? “Oh and one ore thing, Mom. Not all Pas Yisroel items are OK. You have to get the ones that are ‘Yashan (old grain).” One of their friends only eats the non-Chabad meat and Pas Yisroel products with old grain. “Okie Dokie, “ I replied. “Got it. Chabad meat for the Chabad friend. Hasidish meat for the non-Chabad friend. New grain for the pas Yisroel kids and old grain for the pas Yisroel Yashan friend. Anything else?” I inquired. “Nope, that should just about do it.” So, off I went to the store stocking up on different milk and meat products and thanking G-d that none of these children were gluten intolerant or had a peanut allergy. Surely, G-d had bestowed me with blessings.