Orangutans in Tel Aviv prepared for Passover
(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
A safari park in Israel has altered the diet of its animals in preparation for the upcoming Jewish Passover holiday.
The eight-day Passover begins on Saturday but officials at the Ramat Gan Safari in Tel Aviv have already made the place kosher for the holiday.
So instead of eating foods made with flour, the orangutans at the zoo are being given the kosher version of bread - matzo.
Safari curator Amalia Turkel explained that during Passover “all leavened bread is removed from kitchens and everything is clean.”
“For the animals we are also required to do the same thing,” she added.
The orangutans appear to enjoy the change.
“The fact is, that they are getting a novel food, something new that they haven’t tasted for a while, maybe not since last year. For them that’s interesting in the short term,” MsTurkel said.
The Passover holiday celebrates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt back to biblical Israel.
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Source: http://itn.co.uk/news/5ae71d45e0ebdd80756e36789d43639a.html
April 28th, 2008 at 6:46 am
This is one kosher holiday diet that will, I think go without the usual accompanying prayer and remembrance. While I do appreciate the propriety of observing our tradition, I hardly think zoo animals share my enthusiasm.