Posted on 04/22/2003 10:56:48 PM PDT by MikalM
Inside the Gertrude Hawk Chocolates store at the Oxford Valley Mall this week, employees had a passionate philosophical debate over whether to put a chocolate Jesus on the shelf.
As shoppers stood in line with Easter candy, Liz Samuel, a store supervisor and practicing Christian, was stocking shelves with palm-size dark and white chocolate crosses.
Assistant Manager Dov Reidenberg, who is Jewish, said it just didn’t seem kosher.
He pointed to a Gertrude Hawk Chocolates’ Star of David candy bar, and said he just couldn’t bring himself to eat it.
Samuel said her faith followed a different set of candy guidelines.
"I just don’t think that you should eat anything that’s Jesus. It’s OK to eat the cross as long as God is not on it," she explained.
As Christians prepared to celebrate Easter today, several area candy shops were selling everything from chocolate crosses to religious theme candy bars.
Some customers wondered if religion’s most revered symbols should be in the candy lineup. Others said the chocolate novelties were a great way to remind kids of the holiday’s true meaning.
Gabe’s Candy & Nut House in Bensalem sells a milk chocolate Blessed Mother and "The Last Supper" chocolate bars.
The classic image of Jesus and his 12 apostles sharing bread and wine is edible, and sells for $2.29. It’s one of the store’s biggest sellers, according to co-owner Pamela Roberts.
Roberts admits she was at first reluctant to sell the religious theme treats: "Sometimes I think it could be a sacrilege. But the nuns just love them."
Gabe’s Candy & Nut House has a series of candy molds that would create more intense religious scenes, like Jesus on the cross and another mold of three crosses on a hill. The store’s owners decided not to make them.
Rita Dura of Bristol Township likes the religious symbol chocolates but her grandson isn’t so taken with them.
"I think it’s a wonderful way to include Jesus in Easter. My one grandson wouldn’t eat the one I gave him. It’s still sitting in the fridge from last year," she said.
On Friday, Bristol Borough’s Nancy Girard was behind the counter of Brownie’s Coffee Break restaurant on Mill Street wearing bunny ears. The waitress, a practicing Catholic, said candy makers should stick with bunnies.
"I think eating the apostles is a bit of a stretch," Girard said. "But, maybe I’d eat it if I was having a chocolate attack."
Down the street at the Bristol Sweet Shoppe, owner Jane McPherson-Young was selling chocolate crosses.
"It’s one of those items that if you pick it up, you’re probably going to buy one," she said.
Bonnie Noll of Levittown said she’d probably think twice about anyone who bought her an edible Jesus or apostle.
But she’d still eat it.
"I’ll eat chocolate no matter what it is," she said. James McGinnis can be reached at 215-949-3248 or at james.mcginnis@phillyBurbs.com.
Okay, I'm with the people who think this is inappropriate.
That's what I thought of when I first read this. There's the tempting nature of chocolate, plus the satisfying feeling of biting the Adversary's head off as you would with a hollow bunny.
* Marzipan Moses
* Marshmallow Mohammed
* Butterscotch Buddha
* Krispy Kreme Krishna
My first thought. Love that tune.
"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....
If you want on or off this list, please let me know!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.