The Secret Behind Jews and Food

Every Jewish holiday and major life event is marked with food. Special foods are eaten on different holidays that relate to the specific theme or event the holiday commemorates.

Have you heard the one about the bum who walked up to a Jewish mother on the street and said, “Lady, I haven’t eaten in three days.”

“Force yourself,” she replied.

What’s the short summary of every Jewish holiday? The tried to kill us. We won. Let’s eat.

According to the Hebrew calendar the year is 5779 while according to the Chinese calendar it’s 4717. That means that against all odds the Jews survived for 1062 years without Chinese food.

There are countless other jokes about Jews and food and it’s no wonder. It’s no secret that Jews have a relationship with food. In fact, there is no way that you can practice Judaism religiously or culturally without food. Within the Jewish legal framework there is the idea that Jewish rituals should be celebrated with a special meal. Life cycle events such as a bris and bar or bat mitzvah are followed by an celebratory spread and a wedding is followed by seven days of elaborate meals prepared by family and friends.

Jewish holidays and festivals are also celebrated with large meals. The Sabbath is celebrated with a lavish dinner that includes fish…