The swine flu is a huge deal (by the way, for more EXCLUSIVE clever swine flu jokes, check out my Twitter) and may be discussed for a while. So the Jews are preparing for the possibility that they’re going to have to often discuss “their forbidden animal.” And blaming the Mexicans in the process!

It may be called swine flu around the world, but a senior Israeli official on Monday changed the term in order not to pronounce the name of the animal whose meat is banned by Judaism.

“We will use the term Mexican flu in order not to have to pronounce the word swine,” said Deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman of the ultra-religious United Torah Judaism party.

Eating pork is prohibited by Judaism, the religion practised by the majority of Israelis. Islam, adhered to by most of Israel’s Arab minority, likewise bans the consumption of pork.

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