☠°。Die Siebenschläfern *.ﾟ☠ (@sababausa.bsky.social)

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 14, 2026, 1:04 AM

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 10:33 PM

It’s hard for me to see the problem with a simple labeling reg that requires the menu to say “NOTICE: food at this establishment is not kosher or pareve“, and in this particular case the inspector appears to have given the owner two chances to correct the violation and was told to pound sand

KIBITZ ROOM CHERRY HILL LLC 100 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 INVESTIGATIVE CERTIFICATION
I, Aaron Leff, being of full age, do hereby certify as follows:
I am employed as an Investigator by the Office of the Attorney General, Division of Consumer Affairs, Office of Consumer Protection ("Division"), located at 124 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey 07101, and have held that position at all times relevant to this Certification.
2. On Wednesday, September 16, 2026 I visited "The Kibbitz Room" located at 100 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003. The purpose of my inspection was for compliance with the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act ("CFA"), N.J.S.A. 56:8-1 to -233, the Kosher Food Consumer Protection Act ("KFCPA"), N.J.S.A. 56:8-61 to -66, and the Regulations Concerning the Sale of Food Represented as Kosher ("Kosher Regulations"), NJ.A.C. 13:45A-21.1 to -21.8.
3. The Kibitz Room Website homepage, thekibitzroom.com, describes the restaurant as "A New York-style Jewish deli serving overstuffed sandwiches, hand-cut pastrami, and traditional favorites since 1996." The footer of the website pages has the statement "A New York-style Jewish deli serving the South Jersey & Philadelphia regions since 1996." The online and printable menus use the word Jewish for a Cheesesteak. All references to Jewish are without a disclaimer that the restaurant does not represent itself to be Kosher.
4. All attempts to discuss the issue in person on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 and by phone on Thursday, September 17, 2026 were not productive. I was told both times the menu will not change.
5. All documents submitted with this Certification are true copies of the documents in possession of the Division.
I certify that the foregoing statements made by me are true. I am aware that if any of the foregoing statements made by me are willfully false, I am subject to punishment.
Dated October 7, 2026. Aaron Leff

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 5:44 PM

See, e.g., New York AGRIC. & MKTS. LAW §§ 201-B, 201-D

www.nysenate.gov/legislation/...

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 5:40 PM

According to this 1998 law review, at the time there were similar laws on the books in 20 states (see footnote 58)

ecommons.udayton.edu/cgi/viewcont...

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 5:36 PM

It's based on a consumer protection / notice law NJ enacted in 1994 following a 1992 NJ supreme court decision which struck down a previous consumer protection law on Establishment Clause grounds that had expressly incorporatedkashrut into the law
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 5:27 PM

It's a civil fine

bsky.app/profile/saba...

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 2:51 PM

My dad's mother used to take us to an Italian-owned place on Route 130 in Bordentown that had a deli-style menu and catered b'nai mitzvot on-site (and was forced into permanent closure during COVID)

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 2:41 PM

I mean there's no religious monopoly on pastrami

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 2:32 PM

Anosh Ahmed only finished his residency around 2017, and by 2021 was COO & CFO of Chicago's Loretto Hospital He left, and misappropriated personal data of 150,000 patients to help effectuate mass false claims for reimbursement for PCR COVID tests meant for uninsured ppl, to the tune of $300 million

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 2:27 PM

I don't understand this point There are plenty of non-Jewish owners and Jewish owners of Jewish-style delicatessens in New Jersey, and the rule has no bearing on the product or the owner's personal practices

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 2:19 PM

*September 16–17 (The Inquirer links a few pages of the notices, including the inspector's one-page affidavit)

MIKIE SHERRILL Governor

State of New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION PO BOX 45025 NEWARK, NJ 07101
VIA CERTIFIED AND REGULAR MAIL Kibitiz Room Cherry Hill LLC D/B/A The Kibitz Room 100 Springdale Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 00Cat
October 7, 2026
Re: NOV2600225
Dear Mr. Parish:
JENNIFER DAVENPORT Attorney General
CHRISTOPHER L, PETERSON Acting Director
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Office of Consumer Protection ("Division") has prepared an Administrative Action against KIBITIZ ROOM CHERRY HILL LLC D/B/A THE KIBITZ ROOM. The Notice of Violation and Offer of Settlement ("NOV") requires you to choose and sign one of the three options within the Answering Certification.
OPTION 1:
OPTION 2:
If you do not contest the violations alleged, submit a certified check, cashier's check, or money order, or make payment by credit card or wire transfer, in the sum of $ 1,000
If you do not contest but you want to submit Mitigating documents that may persuade the Division to reduce the civil penalty, You may send written documentation to the Division concerning any mitigating circumstances that You believe may persuade the Division to reduce the civil penalty. Alternatively, You can attend a remote Mitigation Conference scheduled for October 28, 2026 at 10:30 A.M.
• Call in (audio only): (856) 288-3130 • Phone Conference ID: 703 077 18011

MICKIE SHERRILL Governor

State of New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION PO BOX 45025 NEWARK, NJ 071.01
October 7, 2026
VIA CERTIFIED AND REGULAR MAIL
Kibitz Room Cherry Hill LLC D/B/A The Kibitz Room 100 Springdale Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

Dear Mr. Parish:
JENNIFER DAVENPORT Attorney General
CHRISTOPHER L PETERSON Acting Director
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION NOV2600225
NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND OFFER OF SETTLEMENT
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Office of Consumer Protection (the "Division"), is charged with enforcement of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act ("CFA"), N.J.S.A. 56:8-1 to -233, the Kosher Food Consumer Protection Act ("KFCPA"), N.J.S.A. 56:8-61 to -66. and the Regulations Concerning the Sale of Food Represented as Kosher ("Kosher Regulations"), N.J.A.C. 13:45A-21.1 to -21.8. On September 16, 2026, the Division conducted an inspection of KIBITIZ ROOM CHERRY HILL LLC ("You," "Your," or "Yourself") located at 100 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 (hereinafter "Investigation").
As set forth in the attached certification of Investigator Aaron Leff, You have been found to have advertised, represented, or held Yourself out as selling, preparing and/or maintaining food as kosher. As a result of the Division's Investigation, you have been found to have violated the CFA, the KFCPA, and/or the Kosher Regulations by:
13:45A-21.7 UNLAWFUL PRACTICES a) In addition to a violation of any other laws, the following shall constitute an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act, N.J.S.A. 56:8-1 et seq.:
5) Use of any of the following in the advertisement or sale of any food by a dealer that fails to post or file the required disclosure or by a person not representing itself as selling kosher food:
iii) By display on any interior or exterior sign, menu or otherwise, or by advertisement, either oral or in writing, the words "kosher-style", "kosher-type", "Jewish", "Hebrew", "h…

location on the sign or menu or in the case of an advertisement in type no smaller than the smallest type in the advertisement, and in no event less than 10-point type, that the product or products offered for sale are not represented as kosher. (1) The disclaimer shall appear in a box within the advertisement and shall be preceded with the word "NOTICE" or other similar word, in not smaller than bold 14-point type.
Each of these violations subjects You to civil penalties, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 56:8-13, as well as reimbursement of the Division's investigative costs and/or attorneys' fees, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 56:8-11 and N.J.S.A. 56:8-19.
IF YOU DO NOT CONTEST THE VIOLATIONS ALLEGED and wish to avail Yourself of this opportunity to settle the Investigation, You should sign and return the enclosed Answering Certification within 15 days from the date of this Notice of Violation ("Notice"), and agree to the following:
1. Cease and desist from any practices in violation of the CFA, the KFCPA, and the Kosher Regulations; 2. Pay a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000. If the above-referenced payment is received by the Division, within 15 days of the date of this Notice, along with Your signed Answering Certification, You need not do anything further.
IF YOU DO NOT CONTEST THE VIOLATIONS ALLEGED, but want to present information to Division representatives supporting mitigating circumstances in Your case that may persuade the Division to reduce the civil penalty, You may request an informal Mitigation Conference. If You request a Mitigation Conference, You will waive Your right to an Administrative Hearing. The Mitigation Conference date is November 5, 2026 at 10:00 A.M., which will be held via Microsoft Teams:
Meeting ID: 233 140 374 005 034 Passcode: zi6Li2Tm
or teleconference by calling 856-288-3130 Conference ID 703 077 180#
with Investigator Aaron Leff ("Investigator Leff"), a representative of the Division. You may be accompanied by an attorney. Should You have…

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 2:12 PM

The rule applies equally to anyone who meets these criteria, though, not based on the owner's religion, just the indicia on the menu, displays, and website

iii) By display on any interior or exterior sign, menu or otherwise, or by advertisement, either oral or in writing, the words “kosher-style”, “kosher-type”, “Jewish”, “Hebrew”, “holiday (Jewish) foods”, “traditional (Jewish)”, “Bar Mitzvah”, “Bat Mitzvah” or other similar words, either alone or in conjunction with the word “type”, “style” or other similar expression, unless there is clearly and conspicuously stated a disclaimer in
the same size type or letters in some prominent place or location on the sign or menu
or in the case of an advertisement in type no smaller than the smallest type in the advertisement, and in no event less than 10-point type, that the product or products offered for sale are not represented as kosher.

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 2:09 PM

In this particular case the owner seems to have needlessly dug in his heels The article quotes the inspector as having twice given the owner, on the phone and in-person on Sept. 27–28, an opportunity to correct the violation, and he was told to pound sand The owner doesn't deny it

In a certification accompanying the Oct. 7 notice of violation, Leff cited the Kibitz Room’s website — which describes the restaurant as a “New York-style Jewish deli serving overstuffed sandwiches, hand-cut pastrami, and traditional favorites since 1996” — as well as its menu, including its Jewish cheesesteak, which contains brisket, coleslaw, Russian dressing, and pepper jack cheese.

Leff noted in the certification that attempts to resolve the issue during his visit and a phone call the next day were unsuccessful.

“I was told both times the menu will not change,” Leff wrote.

Parish acknowledged the visit but said the restaurant was busy during a Jewish holiday and had asked Leff to return.

“We can’t do this right now,” Parish recalled telling him. “You have to come back.”

Parish now plans to post a notice on the door or window and add one to the menu stating, “We are not a kosher facility.” He intends to contest the penalty, with his attorney joining him for an Oct. 28 hearing by Zoom.

“It’s not about the fine,” he said. “It’s merely the principle.”

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 2:08 PM

Eh, it's how does it infringe the owner's beliefs to publicly disclose what the product is or isn't? The rule just requires the menu to display "NOTICE: The food sold at this establishment is not kosher or pareve" in 10-point font See § 13:45A-21.7(a)(5)(iii) on page 122–23

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 1:38 PM

Yet in Churchill’s 1947 essay about meeting his father in a dream and telling him about the previous 50 years, Churchill feels the need to explain what the term “OK” means

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 1:13 PM

Like of course Palmer Lackey would not interpret Robocop as cautionary satire Lackey is a fascist who believes Verhoeven’s perspective on policing, violence, crime, and corporations is wrong

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 1:07 PM

It’s often said the Right doesn’t understand Apocalypse Now, Robocop, Starship Troopers, Fight Club, The Matrix, etc., but generally I don’t think it’s a failure to comprehend the work, it’s different (shittier) values & perspectives They don’t misunderstand Verhoeven’s message, they reject it

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 12:56 PM

most niche dunk so far (laudatory)

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 12:54 PM

really more like c.1528 even

@sababausa.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 12:37 PM

the Online Etymology Dictionary says it records the first use in print of “moron” as an insult in 1918

www.etymonline.com/word/moron