 In December 1892 , the congregation expelled Rosenberg , charging him with eating a piece of pork , which is not kosher . To augment his salary of $ 400 ( today $ 10 @,@ 500 ) a year from Beth Jacob , Rosenberg also worked as an agent for a cigar company . While visiting a customer at a bar , he was alleged to have eaten the pork while partaking of some of the free lunch provided there . Rosenberg initially said that while he had drunk a great deal , he had not eaten anything at all , and subsequently stated that he was sure he had not eaten pork , because the bar @-@ keep had sworn in affidavit that there was none in the lunch provided that day . Rosenberg later averred consistently that if he had eaten any pork , it was inadvertently . He also alleged hypocrisy on the part of the members , stating " They are all reformed Jews in private , although orthodox Jews in public . " 
