I’m going to confess this now; many years ago I ran a school trip to the Pennine Way. I had everything organised including a guaranteed meat-free diet for the Jewish kids (Liberal or Reform so not over hung up on Kosher, but still.) Imagine a youth hostel in a fairly isolated spot supplied by a local farmer with milk, eggs and pork related products.
Day 2 I had a small mutiny as the gentiles got the full English breakfast of what today we would call welfare-friendly organic bacon and black pudding. The spokeperson announced “We don’t think there’s a rabbi in a hundred miles and we want the proper breakfast”. I wrestled with my conscience all day and then, I’m afraid, let them have it for the sake of a quiet life. I think there was one holdout.
I did later discuss this dereliction of duty with a rabbi, but he was completely happy about it. He reminded me that Primo Levi’s father was unable to resist Bologna ham.
Edit - reviewing this story I am depressed at how things have become polarised over the last 40 years or so.
