Hello, friends!
Food plays an important role in many religions and cultures. From turkey for Thanksgiving to chocolate eggs for Easter, it's clear that people often use food as a symbol of tradition and continuity in their various and several communities.
It will hopefully not come as a surprise for many of you that Judaism is no different, and let me just say...we sometimes eat some very strange things. Some would even deem them extremely unappetizing. As a very wise woman once said to me, "The Jews have already suffered so much. Why do they continue to suffer with these foods?" All joking aside, we've got some pretty good ones, too.
And now, here is a slightly-joking, ultimately-proud run-through of some traditional Jewish holiday foods in the fall (and others that are eaten all year round).
1. Gefilte Fish, All Holidays
Description: A grey-ish, chicken breast size-ish piece of mixed fish. Often served cold (my late Abuela [Catholic] used to eat it warm, but she was the only one I ever saw do so). Comes with transparent cold gel on top. And carrots. Some people add very spicy horseradish.
Why: This is one that gets a lot of non-Jews and Jews alike. Why? Why do we eat this? Not really sure, but I ate one at my aunt's house for Rosh Hashanah this past week. Bring on that cold slime!
2. Apples and Honey, Rosh Hashanah
Description: Literally just fresh apple slices dipped in little dishes of honey. No, I have never actually seen someone use one of those wooden honey stick things.
Why: Why not? (Also, to bring in a sweet new year, as Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish new year.) I literally had a snack of apples and honey today, even though the holiday is over.
3. Round Challah, Rosh Hashanah
Description: Challah is usually a type of braided bread, eaten on Shabbat but also pretty much any other time we can. It's only made round once a year, for Rosh Hashanah. In the U.S., it is often sweet and delicious, made with honey and a very light type of bread. In Rome, it was very different--more savory than sweet.
Why: Well, we have a blessing in Judaism, the motzi, over the bread. We do this at basically all occasions, like weddings and religious services, and very observant Jews would say it whenever bread is eaten at a meal. Like when asked to say most prayers in a group setting, it is considered an honor to recite the motzi with a group, like a wedding that honor might be given to one of the newlyweds' parents. When I attended liberal Jewish services in Rome one time, they very kindly asked me to say the motzi.
Also, at least in NY, challah french toast is a fancy thing and people of all religions eat it on Sunday mornings as
4. Chopped Liver, All Holidays
Why: Now, this stuff can be delicious if it's made right. But it's also slowly killing us all by clogging our arteries. I think a lot of people probably cannot get over how fattening this is to even try it, but hey--holidays are for celebrating. Plus, as Tevye always says when he can't explain something about Judaism: tradition!
5. Bagels and Lox, Yom Kippur (and always)
Description: What it sounds like: bagels. Lots of them. Include cream cheese and smoked salmon (and tomato and sometimes onion). Happiness. My family has (no joke) overnight shipped bagels to family members outside of NY in the past, because we love NY bagels so much.
Why: Yom Kippur is meant to be a reflective holiday, one on which we all focus upon our mistakes of the past year, seek forgiveness from those we have wronged, and vow to be better in the coming year so that G-d inscribes us in the Book of Life (and so we'll live another year). It's coming up on October 4th (which means we begin fasting at sundown on the 3rd).
What does this have to do with bagels? Well, all day you're meant to not think about vain things (no showering or mirrors) and fast (no eating or drinking anything, except for medical reasons). Also no cooking or watching TV or listening to music, etc. Now, I'm pretty sure many of the folks in shul on Yom Kippur morning spent more than a little time getting ready in the bathroom ahead of time (since particularly in liberal Jewish circles, Yom Kippur is probably the day you're guaranteed to go temple and see everyone else, possibly just this one day a year), but nonetheless many people would prefer to at least not have to cook on a reflective day such as this. And so, many people order in bagels and lox (and other things, sometimes quiche or chicken salad, etc.).
My disclaimer for this is that a whole wheat bagel with lox and cream cheese is literally my favorite food on the planet, which means Yom Kippur was always my favorite holiday. Not allowed to do work or schoolwork, forced to think or read all day, you spend time with family, and then by sundown you're starving, and the main dish is? My favorite food on the planet. And lots of it. In all seriousness, I do reflect and take serious time to consider how I can improve myself going forward, and while I will drive so that I can be home with my family, I will not turn on music or anything and spend the quiet time alone in the car thinking and reflecting.
And then...bagels.
Any funky food traditions you want to share, from either your religious or non-religious identity and culture? Post images or descriptions in the comments!
Now go out and love one another.
<3,
Allyson
