ABNYC

@Bill in Yokohama Presumably the difference is that for Jews, it is not just uncomfortable or jarring to see the clue, it is not permissible for Jews to write it. Whereas in other religions, it is permissible to write any number of cusses or potentially racist words, despite them making people uncomfortable. Religious Jews would not (and did not) complete the puzzle, and it seems discriminatory, for lack of a better term, to include an answer that a group of people cannot type. And for the record, it's not merely offensive, it's deeply ingrained in religious Jewish culture that this word is not allowed. It is a significant sin, literally one of the 10 commandments. The discomfort presented isn't just 'write a word,' it's like asking someone to violate the Sabbath to solve a riddle. Sure no one is being forced to do this (although arguably if they only solve the across clues first...), but it's a slap in the face to be presented with it in so unexpected a place.