Orthodox Jews Worry Water Isn't Kosher

[Champ]

NEW YORK - Orthodox Jews in New York have become concerned that the city's drinking water may not be kosher because it contains tiny crustaceans known as copepods.

The organisms, which measure about a millimeter long, pose no threat to human health, according to the city Department of Environmental Protection. But Orthodox teaching bars the eating of crustaceans — aquatic animals with skeletons outside their bodies, including shrimp, crab and lobsters.

The organisms first came to the attention of Jewish leaders in Brooklyn two weeks ago, The New York Times reported Tuesday. An Israeli produce company that exports kosher vegetables to New York alleged that its products had become infested with insects after being washed in the city's water.

An examination of the water under a microscope revealed the copepods, which are common in unfiltered ocean water and groundwater. The city's supply comes mostly from reservoirs upstate and rates high enough under federal standards not to be filtered.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=816&ncid=816&e=3&u=/ap/20040601/ap_on_fe_st/kosher_water

[Guy_Montag]

1. The should perhaps check Israeli water...

I'm sure these will be found in every water supply in the world.

[baldguy]

2. If they're worried about it, then they should filter the water.

[Loonman]

3. Easy to fix

[demnan]

4. How stupid!

Don't they know Jews have been drinking water with these tiny bugs for thousands of years - I bet Solomon drank that water. Big deal!

Don't they have more important things to worry about like poverty and unjustice? Things the Jews have always been involved with and made great strives to improve?

[skooooo]

6. Hey, the law is the law....

...I guess.

[skooooo]

5. Wow, concern with minutea...

Bet there were crustaceans in the water Moses drank, and he didn't have high-powered microscopes.

I better shut up before I say something obnoxious.

[spinbaby]

8. Don't need a high-powered microscope...

These things are about a millimeter long. That's big enough to see with the naked eye.

Yech.

[skooooo]

9. Wow, are you serious??

I respect the Jewish tradition for the law. Hope I didn't come off as callous. If what you say is true, then they have a right to be concerned I guess. Couldn't they just boil the water, though, and kill those critters???

[tjwash]

7. The water in Israel is probably twice as bad...

nt