A typical wholesome English breakfast of fried bangers, eggs, bacon, tomatoes and baked beans on toast. [Not for me thanks, it's not kosher, but it does look delicious! ]
In a slightly tongue-in-cheek article entitled "England's soccer stars swallow hotel's pork ban" the Jerusalem Post revealed that when the English Football Association booked 80 rooms at the five-star Dan Accadia Hotel in Herzilya for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifying match between Israel and England, it accepted without a murmer the hotel's dietary restrictions, which ban the cooking of pork - or milk and meat together - in the hotel's kosher kitchens.
There was perhaps something of a quid pro quo here, since the FA had itself sent a 13-page list of requirements to the hotel that are "standard practice" for the English national soccer team on tour. (The FA official who spoke to Post would not discuss details of their requirements, but said they include removing mini-bars and restricting room service to all rooms reserved for the team.)
"The dietary restrictions will not cause any problem for the team," said an FA official. "We are satisfied that we will have an enjoyable time in Israel, and we are looking forward to our visit."
However, it appears that the Israel Football Association (IFA), is not happy with the arrangement (though what it has to do with them I fail to see). According to a source at the IFA, the local soccer federation - which has used various Dan Hotels to house players and officials for many years - has decided it will no longer do business with Dan Hotels because of this issue!
It would seem that while our English visitors can accept and respect Jewish customs, our own brethren here in Israel feel obligated to bash what is sacred to their own religion. Would the IFA demand pork - or alcohol - in a muslim country I wonder? Shame.
