(JNi.media) In keeping with their annual tradition, this year participating 7-Eleven stores gave away free Slurpees from 11 AM to 7 PM—whatever your local time—on July 11.
However, this year, Orthodox Jews in North America were unable to take advantage of the freebees, because 7/11/2015 fell on Shabbat, which only ended around 8:30 PM in most parts of the US, and even later in Canada.
But there is some joy in Hebville, according to YeahThatsKosher.com, which reported that 7Elevens in West Hempstead, Hewlett, and Great Neck in Long Island, NY, and the 7Eleven in Oakhurst, NJ (near Deal), and College Park, MD will continue to offer free small Slurpees on Sunday 7/12, in recognition of the local Jews who were unable to take advantage of the promotion on Saturday.
They say small slurpees, but we know what small means in 7-Elevenese — pretty big.
Reader Hart Levine posed a question on the YeahThatsKosher.com website: Why can’t someone get a free Slurpee on Shabbat?
Which the website’s Dani Klein answered: I’d assume for 1 of 2 reasons, 1) Slurpee machine could be muktzah (meaning prohibited to operate on Shabbat), and, 2) Marit Ayin (meaning someone will see a guy in a yarmulke shopping at 7-Eleven on Shabbat and figure it was permitted).
A short halachic discussion ensued, but did not touch on the fact that one might have to drive a car to get to their nearest 7-Eleven.
YeahThatsKosher.com also provided a list of slurpee flavors which are not certified kosher: Horchata Olé, Orange Bang Smoothie, Strawberry Twizzler, Monster Black, and Tropicana Grape Wild Strawberry.
Incidentally, starting Sunday, July 12, and going through the 18th, 7-Eleven is offering free select snacks and drinks under $2 whenever you buy a coffee, iced coffee, Slurpee, or Big Gulp and scan your 7-Eleven app. Just remember to check if they’re kosher.
Finally, one participant in the Twitter discussion of #FreeSlurpeeDay, tweeted: “Ya know, every day can be #FreeSlurpeeDay if you have a realistic looking prop gun.”
Words to live by.