KOSHER VICTORY

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

On March 29 the CRIMSON reported a "limited victory" for Jowish students at Harvard in their quest for kosher food. To begin, the proposed plan is grossly inadequate. It provides students with food for one meal a day, although they are missing three. For the fact is, during the six days of Passover for which we are in school, students observing the dietary laws can eat no meals in the University Dining Halls. So, for every three meals a student misses, he is given only one. In fact, even this one is not strictly kosher, because it has not been handled according to the dietary rules.

As an alternative, and as the only viable alternative, for those who wish to observe the dietary laws, we propose the granting of rebates/subsidies to pay for food bought during Passove. There are meals offered at Hillel House; however, the cost of these meals is $4.00 per day, and without a rebate or some form of rebate/subsidy, the cost of the meals is prohibitive for many students. Even if meals are not purchased at Hillel. but are made in one's won room, the cost of these meals is an added expense to the board fee which we have paid but from which we get no benefit,

It seems important to point out that Radcliffe already subsidizes over half the cost of meals eaten at Hillel during Passover. In contrast, the Harvard administration has consistently denied the granting of rebates/subsidies for a number of reasons. The latest reason for this policy was given by an officer of the University in Monday's CRIMSON article. Charles G. Hurlbut. Director of the Food Services Department, declared, "We don't subsidize meals at the Ritz... or at Elsie's so why should we subsidize meals at Hillel?" To compare any private eating establishment to a University recognized institution whose purpose is to serve students attempting to live according to their religious beliefs shows a great disregard for the importance of religious expression. Does not Mr. Hurlbut make a distinction between Hillel House and Elsie's?

Mr. Hurlbut's statement is representative of the University's attitude towards Jewish students trying to keep kosher at Harvard. Regular fare for these students is limited, and not comparable to that which others are provided: yet, the cost is the same for both kosher and nonkosher students.

We feel therefore, that Harvard ought to make a number of changes in its policy regarding Jewish students who wish to observe the dietary restrictions of their faith Such changes might include: 1) Rebates/subsidies for meals which cannot be eaten in the University Dining Halls, e.g., during Passover; 2) Rebates/subsidies for meals on Sabbaths and holidays which are eaten outside of the University Dining Halls; 3) An option to get off the meal plan for those Jewish students whose religious convictions would prevent them from eating meals at any time during the year in the University Dining Halls.

It is the moral duty of the University to provide the means for Jewish students to pursue unimpeded the tenets of their faith.