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Religion and Food

On Dec. 10, Jews everywhere will begin observing the festival of Chanukah. The festival commemorates the heroism of the Maccabees, the early defenders of Israel. In recent times, it has served as an occasion for Jewish children to receive holiday gifts. But Chanukah also offers important insights into the Jewish dietary tradition.

The deeply religious Maccabees lived on plant-based foods during their struggle for freedom. They practiced the admonition of Genesis 1:29: "Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which the fruit of a tree yielding seed ... to you it shall be for food." Indeed, the traditional foods associated with Chanukah are potato pancakes and donuts fried in vegetable oil.

Since then, concern for personal and public health, compassion and respect for animals, and preservation of natural resources have been deeply rooted values in the Jewish religious tradition. Many religious leaders, including two chief rabbis of Israel, were vegetarian.

The Hebrew root of the word Chanukah means education, and the prophet Isaiah called on Jews to be a "light until the nations." This year's observance provides all Jews with an uncommon opportunity to set a good example for their friends and neighbors by celebrating a vegetarian Chanukah festival.

Sara L. Simpson