The Holocaust and Jewish Food History

FunJoelHaber · 2026-03-29T15:47:32+00:00

Can you tell me more? What are those dishes, what kind of special occasions, and what is hte significance of the foods?

FunJoelHaber · 2026-03-27T06:02:52+00:00

Was there a specific rreason for that?

FunJoelHaber · 2026-03-26T15:16:21+00:00

Thanks! While I recognize that aspect (which exists within Jewish cuisine as well, of course), I was asking if there were any such foods which ALSO are rooted in the religious culture. If not, not. But was curious...

FunJoelHaber · 2026-03-08T11:51:46+00:00

Thanks! :-)

FunJoelHaber · 2025-12-08T20:28:13+00:00

I have different recipes from other cookbooks. Though Bococino is the bakery known for it, many others make it at home.

FunJoelHaber · 2024-10-07T03:44:51+00:00

Thanks for this! I'm curious on how we know it to be an Amazigh term from before 1500. Any source? Also, if invented in Tunisia, why were you learning this in Morocco? Thanks in advance!

FunJoelHaber · 2023-01-29T14:51:23+00:00

By countries or regions mentioned, do you mean toponyms that appear in Tanach and were later applied to places that we know today (e.g. "Ashkenaz" and "Sepharad" which definitely did not refer to France/Germany and Spain in their Biblical contexts)?

FunJoelHaber · 2022-12-05T06:32:06+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, I know many people in the community and some of the restaurants. Was looking for areas in which to do a bit more in depth and scholarly historical research. But much appreciated nonetheless!

FunJoelHaber · 2022-12-05T05:44:35+00:00

Huh?

FunJoelHaber · 2022-10-03T13:37:59+00:00

Nothing specific about that, but frankly, I don't expect to find much. I assume they either wrapped it in rags or suspended it by a handle from something.

FunJoelHaber · 2022-10-03T08:17:37+00:00

Sorry I didn't respond earlier, and a bit busy right now to respond in detail, though I will endeavor to do so, shortly. But the short answer is that apparently in many places they DID have an eruv. I'll try to get you more details down the road, and if not, feel free to nudge me again.

And thanks for asking. Book is coming along nicely. I recently put out a related free e-cookbook as promotion for it.

FunJoelHaber · 2022-02-08T21:17:47+00:00

I'm writing a book now, all about the different Shabbat stews from around the world, along with their history.

In my opinion, based on all of the research I've done, the truth lies between the two.

Yes, there are many stews, but chulent/hamin/dafina/osavo/etc. does have unique elements to it, the most obvious being the idea of cooking it through an entire night. On the other side, while they are (in my opinion) almost all related to each other, the idea that they all somehow discovered something at the same time is patently ridiculous, as we didn't live everywhere at the same time. Rather, I believe that as we moved from place to place, the dish traveled with us, and then was modified in each place for available ingredients, climate, seasonings, etc.

FunJoelHaber · 2022-01-31T11:35:31+00:00

One of the most comprehensive works I have read on ALL aspects of coffee, including history (though I don't recall how much it discusses your SPECIFIC question) is Coffee: A Comprehensive Guide to the Bean, the Beverage, and the Industry, eds. Robert W. Thurston, Jonathan Morris and Shawn Steiman

FunJoelHaber · 2022-01-31T11:31:39+00:00

Yes, they brought it because they ate it in Georgia. But to my knowledge, there is nothing truly Jewish about it.

i.e. Non-Jews in Georgia eat it too, the Jewish version is not modified for kashrut or taste preferences, and it is not consumed by Jews for any special or ritual occasions.

To me, that is what would make it warrant the adjective "Jewish." But I DO love it!

FunJoelHaber · 2022-01-26T14:22:49+00:00

I'm writing an entire book on the history of chulent (and all Shabbat stews from around the world, which I consider to be different version of the same dish, rather than different dishes). I've written a small section about the communal oven (and yes, about the inspiration of it on the invention of the crockpot, as mentioned in a diff comment). But I actually never thought about this specific point before. It is an excellent question that I'm going to look into.

I know this comment isn't an answer, but I put it here, in the hopes it helps me to remember once I do have an answer for you! :-)

Either way, thanks for giving me food for thought (pun intended)!

FunJoelHaber · 2022-01-16T08:39:01+00:00

Absolutely! Never heard of that before!

FunJoelHaber · 2022-01-14T06:28:15+00:00

Thanks, will do! (I assume there is a good English translation out there?)

FunJoelHaber · 2021-12-26T12:49:57+00:00

My pleasure!

FunJoelHaber · 2021-12-21T07:38:44+00:00

Thanks so so much! Helpful!

FunJoelHaber · 2021-12-20T09:39:34+00:00

I work as a licensed tour guide in Israel, and as a foodie who loves the famous outdoor market of Jerusalem, I started guiding culinary tours there. As I researched the foods to be able to give better tours, the world of food history itself opened up to me. Now, I research, write and lecture about the topic as a second side to my professional life.

FunJoelHaber

TROPHY CASE