Something Rotten in Denmark
First, there was the violent outrage sparked by a Danish newspaper’s publication of cartoons of the Muhammad. Now, there’s a new Danish target of Muslim discontent: cookies — “Jewish cookies.” Aside from their name, the traditional Danish cookies actually have nothing to do with Jews, but that apparently hasn’t stopped some elements of the Muslim community from hating them, according to this report in the European Jewish Press.
The head of the public food consumer department reportedly said that changing the name of the cinnamon and hazelnut treat is a possible response to the problem.
Denmark’s chief rabbi, Bent Lexner, said he wouldn’t particularly care if the non-kosher cookies had a name change, but added he would prefer that the views of the cookies’ detractors change instead: “There is nothing Jewish in it and I wouldn’t mind another name, but I think that it would be better to educate Muslims to respect the culture of the majority in Denmark, if they want the majority to respect their culture”.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
