In oddness we find that religiously devout Jews barred by rabbis from surfing the Internet may now “Koogle” it on a new “kosher” search engine.

Yossi Altman said Koogle, a play on the names of a Jewish noodle pudding and Google, appears to meet the standards of Orthodox rabbis, who restrict use of the Web to ensure followers avoid viewing sexually explicit material.

The site, at www.koogle.co.il, omits religiously objectionable material, such as most photographs of women which Orthodox rabbis view as immodest.

Its links to Israeli news and shopping sites also filter out items most ultra-Orthodox Israelis are forbidden by rabbis to have in their homes, such television sets.

The site was developed in part at the encouragement of rabbis who wanted a solution to the needs of ultra-Orthodox Jews to browse the Web particularly for vital services.

Nothing can be posted on the Jewish Sabbath, when religious law bans all types of work and business.

Altman: “If you try to buy something on the Sabbath, it gets stuck and won’t let you.”

Well that’s nice then.