Food - 2 Encounters of Eilat Interfaith Encounter - 2nd January & 14th February 2007:

Encounters on 2nd January & 14th February 2007

Theme: Food in the Different Religions

Food in Judaism:

Kashrut (dietary) laws come out of the will to elevate the human to a divine level, to follow God's attributes. Dietary laws and laws that govern sexual behavior go together – these are two basic needs that need to be performed in holiness.

Before eating anything one blesses, turning the food into a holy thing. After the meal one gives thanks for the food.

Blessings:

Bread – the One who brings bread out of the earth;

Pastries – the One who creates different foods;

Fruits – the One who creates the fruit of the tree;

Roots – the One who creates the fruits of the earth;

Wine – the One who creates the fruit of the grapevine.

According to the sages – the table is an altar.

In Judaism there is no limit to food, in Christianity gluttony is one of the main sins.

The grace after meals includes all elements of prayer: giving thanks, asking and nationality.

Pig is as forbidden as camel or rabbit but it is perceived as a symbol for impurity due to sociologic reasons.

"Do not cook a young goat in his mother's milk" – Philo of Alexandria explains: perhaps due to the cruelty involved. Another reason – there was an ancient Canaanite ritual to scarify to Molech or Kemosh a young goat cooked in his mother's milk and it is forbidden for us so that we will not be like them.

During the time of the Second Temple the interpretation turned to include all meat. Chicken is now considered as meat, as it looks similar, but fish is not.


Food in Islam:

In this session took part Shlomo Alon and he taught us about food customs in Islam.

Meat that is allowed to be eaten is called "Halal" and the forbidden – "Haram".

Foods allowed to the Jews are allowed to the Muslims and usually vice versa. Seafood caught by others – are allowed.

It is forbidden to eat carcass, blood, pig's meat, meat prepared for idol worshiping, an animal that died through choking, or any other form that is not the right slaughter.

Wine and gambling, together with idol worshiping are strictly forbidden.


Food in the Druze Tradition:

It is the role of the woman to set the table and host. Food must be at least 10 cm higher that the sitting level. The older man says the blessing. Before and after food – washing hands, like the Jews.

Meat has to be kosher – weed eaters, split hooves, ruminate. Camel and pig are forbidden. Birds: those with straight beak are allowed, with bent beak – forbidden.

Seafood: only fish with scales. It is forbidden to mix meat and dairy. After slaughtering the animal has to be hung upside down so that the blood will go out. The animal is also being salted.

A Druze always eats dressed.

Next encounter: March 8th. Theme: "Passover Haggada"

Reported by Malca Levin


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