By Joel H. Cohen
NEW YORK — Until recent events drained the humor out of almost everything, this frequently quoted, light-hearted comment was a welcome summary of the Jewish experience: “They tried to kill us, they failed, let’s eat.”
The eating element has always applied. Food-consumption plays a big role, some would say -“too big” — in the Jewish experience. Think about it. For example, the rules of kashrut — what can and can’t be eaten, and in what order or combination — can sometimes perplexing,
For instance, I Iearned only recently that letting meat and fish share the same plate is a no-no. And I’m not a dietician, never played one on TV, so I’m puzzled as to why we Jews have to wait six hours to eat dairy after meat in Brooklyn, for instance, but the combo can sprout in Brussels in only three.
The food-related regulations go back to Biblical days. Adam and Eve disobeyed a fundamental rule and ate from the Tree of Knowledge.
Abraham was celebrated for his hospitality. And also on the positive side, young women of the Bible showed their sensitivity by offering water to thirsty young potential suitors.
Yet, future Patriarch Jacob held back food for his famished brother, Esau until his brother turned over his blessing of the first-born.
Absence of food, of course, takes the spotlight on Yom Kippur, and many a secular conversation that day deals with how many hours until it’s legitimate to eat.
Every Jewish holiday has its own special food — latkes on Chanukah, matzah on Pesach, while Sukkot meals are even eaten in s special facility (a Sukkah).
Aside from religious holidays, food also reigns in Jewish life.
In modern times, the relatively subtle inquiry to determine whether someone is Jewish (“’Do you know where I can buy a herring?”) even has a foodish label: bageling.
A beloved Jewish lullaby centers on food: “Rozenkes unf Mandlen” = “Raisins with Almonds.”
And a seeming corny but incredibly touching vignette deals with Bonshe Shveig, an impoverished man who never complained through years of hunger and deprivation. a heavenly chorus of angels wants to reward him. Bonshe thinks for a moment and says, “so maybe a piece of bread,” and a moment later, “and maybe a little butter. The angels–and some audience members-weep.
My late wife Nancy, sister-in-law Ruthie, and I were in a car at a brother-in-law’s funeral. Ruthie mentioned she had Nancy’s estate and also money for the Shiva meal. To which Nancy, trying to lighten the mood, asked: “How did he know how much to leave for the Shiva meal?”
My sister-in-law replied: “Well you don’t have to serve them lox.”
Jewish food: wisdom to live by, don’t you agree?
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Joel H. Cohen is a freelance writer based in New York City.