And therefore we don’t look down on dietary laws. Some Jews ridicule, they say “The Orthodox are only kishke Jews, only intestinal Jews. All they worry about is food, kosher food.” But it’s not a small thing. It’s important; very important, very, very important. What you eat, that’s what you are. It’s a mark of royalty. And the Torah itself says that. That’s the sign of distinction from the nations of the world and we won’t give it up. We’ll hold onto that badge of royalty forever.
Here’s a rich man and he could eat in all the restaurants but he’s sitting and eating a sandwich in his office because he’s a prince. A person is traveling for business and he doesn’t know where to go for lunch. Even if has to fast all day long he’s happy. That’s the mark of a prince!
And that’s why when a person passes a salumeria, an Italian delicatessen, and he sees in the window all kinds of appetizing baloney, if he says, “Oh well, it’s not kosher,” that’s a missed opportunity. Because according to the principle of the Torah, he should say, “Baruch Elokeinu shehivdilanu min hatoim. I thank You Hashem; You gave me a privilege not to eat that.”
You look at the window, at the dried wurst hanging from the ceiling and generate a certain feeling: “Feh! I’m too aristocratic for such food.”
