Kosher Food Truck Faces Protests

At the end of the summer, Nathan Lichtenstein set up a kosher food cart in the heart of Williamburg, Brooklyn's ultra-Orthodox neighborhood. What a great idea! Well, maybe not so much. The cart, "Sub on Wheels," has been actively protested since its opening. Street posters warn, "If you know what's good for your kids, don't let them go." A few weeks ago, two men were taken into custody in connection with the protests.

Why are these Jews acting so crazy?

Protesters think the food truck encourages fress--a Yiddish expression meaning to eat more than is necessary, or purely for pleasure. Fast food is not considered a viable alternative to home-cooked meals by Haredim, so it is assumed that whatever food is bought from the truck is in addition to dinner at home. Some also fear that the truck encourages men and women to mingle on the streets.

Yikes, people.  

Born and raised in the neighborhood, Lichtenstein, who has since moved upstate, doesn't seem phased by the protests and isn't stressing over the hate mail he receives. Despite the resistance from a loud minority, he still gets about 200 customers a night to gobble down his hot dogs, hamburgers and, yes, cholent.