NEWS ITEM: Traif. That’s the name of a restaurant located in the heart of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg, not far from the neighborhood’s Hasidic enclave.

A restaurant named Traif? We fear
There’s something that’s not kosher here!
One guesses, from its bill of fare,
No mameloshn’s spoken there.

To underscore its stress on swine,
The store displays a warning sign:
It takes the form (so infra dig!)
Of guess? The profile of a pig.

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This porcine portent serves as pox
To keep away the Orthodox,
Those dedicated to the cause
Of heeding dietary laws.

The sign also provides a clue
To every non-observant Jew
Who wants to sneak a tasty bite,
Pursuant to his appetite.

Should we salute, should we decry
This monument to khazzerei?
It does indeed identify
Itself to every passerby.
It does not try to hide its spots
Among the dishes, pans and pots.

Let’s credit Traif, whate’er it be,
For luminous transparency!
A clearly branded place to sup,
It’s kosher — on the up and up!

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