First published 2020
Judaism embraces food with remarkable enthusiasm. Every Jewish holiday centers on eating specific dishes or fasting followed by feasting. Myers explores how these culinary practices weave religious tradition into everyday life. She examines the complex meanings behind kosher laws and investigates how food choices influence Jewish hearts and minds. The book tackles challenging ethical questions about how dietary decisions reflect competing values regarding community, animals, nature, and human identity. Myers brings together historical research, ethnographic studies, and theoretical analysis. Contributors examine the religious significance of specific ingredients like garlic, Crisco, peanut oil, and wine. The volume considers what Jewish food practices reveal about Christianity, Islam, and religion more broadly. It also asks whether food might shape Judaism's future. Jewish historian Hasia Diner provides the foreword while novelist and food activist Jonathan Safran Foer contributes an epilogue. Myers offers readers a comprehensive resource for understanding where food and faith intersect.
Genres: judaism, cooking, food, academic, cultural-studies, jewish, food-writing, food-history
Vibes: academic, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, cultural-exploration, food-as-identity
384 pages · Hardcover · NYU Press