Voice of the Jewish News: Kosher porridge
This week's editorial focuses on news that prisoners in Scottish jails are requesting kosher food because it's better than regular grub
We always knew Jewish food was great — and now the prison population in Scotland has officially endorsed that belief.
For despite the fact that in the whole of Scotland, there were just nine Jewish prisoners in Scottish jails in 2013-2014, last month a startled HM Inspectorate of Prisons found that 111 prisoners in HMP Edinburgh had opted for a kosher diet, with a further 10 set to join them the following week. That means 13 percent of the overall prison population reckon kosher meals are better than the usual fare.
In its June report, the Inspectorate noted that a significant number of prisoners had decided to move onto a kosher diet, which did not appear to be for wholly faith-based reasons.
Going kosher is costing the prison an extra quarter of a million pounds a year, and it is claimed that some of the trend can be laid at the door of the TV show Orange is the New Black.
In one episode, a character converts to Judaism in order to get better food. Edinburgh prisoners, who are said to have watched the cell-set show avidly, are believed to have thought this a good wheeze — and tried it, with great success.
We think the prison authorities could cut this trend off at the knees by asking the men to say the appropriate blessing before each meal.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
