When one eats food purchased at a Hadassah fundraiser, is that food 'Jewish food' or is it 'Hebrew food'? I bought a bagel with cream cheese, some sort of sweet macaroni and cheese dish, a coconut dessert and some tuna salad.
User Detail :
Name : Ann, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 29, City : Evansville, State : IN Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, What you ate was American food, with a Jewish flavor to it. Bagels are of Eastern European Jewish origin. The macaroni and cheese dish is from the same region, and there's another version without the cheese (to accompany meat-based meals, since dairy products wouldn't be allowed). Coconut and tuna would probably have baffled my Eastern European Jewish ancestors, unless they happened to live in a fairly cosmopolitan city. Most of the Jews in America are from Eastern European roots. That all being said, there are Jews from other parts of the world (India, the Mediterranean, the Middle East) that have their own culinary traditions. In fact, Roman-style Italian cuisine is considered to be of Jewish origin, and to this day the part of town that used to be the Jewish neighborhood is full of excellent 'Italian' restaurants. Generally, Jewish cuisine is similar to that of the people around them but adapted in some ways to accommodate the Jewish dietary laws (no pork, no mixing of milk and meat). As for 'Hebrew' food, that's not a term that gets used -- mostly because modern Jews don't refer to themselves as Hebrews. If you want to look at what folks were eating in the Old Testament, I suppose you could call that 'Hebrew' food; but nobody else does. It's mostly just roast meat, barley cakes, and lentils -- pretty typical for peasants in the Middle East down to this day. The big exception is unleavened bread, which has ceremonial meaning to Jews (matzoh) and Christians (communion wafers) today.
User Detail :
Name : JerryS, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 52, City : New Britain, State : CT Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 
SuParticipant
I suspect by 'Hebrew food' you mean kosher food, which is likely what would be available at a Hadassah gathering. 'Jewish food' may be foods associated with Jewish culture but not necessarily kosher. For instance, a pastrami sandwich with swiss cheese on rye might make you think of a Jewish deli, but that sandwich is not kosher (mixes meat product with dairy product).
User Detail :
Name : Su, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, City : Detroit, State : MI Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, I was raised in a Jewish family, and the only things we ever described as 'Hebrew' were actually written in that language. All the cultural stuff--food, music, literature (if it wasn't in Hebrew)--was simply 'Jewish'. By the way, that macaroni dish is called noodle kugel.
User Detail :
Name : A23992, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : asexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 22, City : West Hartford, State : CT Country : United States, Occupation : programmer, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, The food would probably be considered Jewish. To my understanding Hebrew refers to the Language of the Jewish people. It may also have been Kosher. Jews who follow the strict guidelines of the Law of Moses would eat Kosher and conduct a Kosher kitchen. Unfortunately I am unable to tell you whether or not the food was Kosher vs. non-Kosher.
User Detail :
Name : P-Landis, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, City : Peoria, State : AZ Country : United States, Occupation : Wife and Receptionist, Education level : 2 Years of College, Jewish means 'related to or pertaining to Jews'. Hebrew is a language, the language in which (most of) the (Jewish) Bible is written. Some people assume that Hebrew is synonymous with the word Israelite, i.e. a descendant of Israel (Jacob), or one of the many people who left Egypt with them. The problem is that this association, in English, carries with it connotations that are Christian. (Altho many in the Reform movement in the 1800s and later, adopted the appelation 'Hebrew' in order to shuck off the 'negative connotations of being called a Jew', this has now almost completely petered out. There are remnants, but now even the Reform Movement's synagogue arm, once called the Union of American Hebrew Congregations has renamed itself the Union for Reform Judaism or something like that.) Jewish ('Yehudi') technically means, 'descenant or resident of Judah ('Yehuda')'. After the Babylonian Exile, the returnees to Jlem, regardless of 'tribe', were referred to as 'Jews', only secondarily by their actual 'tribe'. Anyways, 'Jewish Food'. So anyways, what is 'Jewish' food. Jewish food is far more a preparation specific term than any specific ethnic identification. Howso? Judaism proscribes the consumption of certain things that other nations regard as 'food', and also proscribes certain combinations of foods that even Judaism regards as fit for consumption. Probably the most well-known prohibition is against the consumption of pork and shellfish. In food preparation, tho, a more important consideration is the prohibition against mixing red meat and dairy products. Out of this single prohibition have developed a host of foods that were once regarded as 'Jewish', although in the US especially, they've long since become regarded as American. Among these are such things as carrot cake, as well as all the other cakes that are made with shortening instead of butter or other dairy products. Why? So that they can be served as dessert after a meat meal. Bagels are actually an eastern European bread. What makes a bagel and cream cheese 'Jewish' is that instead of smearing them with lard (*shudder*), the Jews spread them with cream cheese or sour cream or a host of other kosher (fit (for consumption)) spreads. So, the foods purchased at a hadassah fundraiser are presumably KOSHER, but to describe them as 'Jewish' or 'Hebrew' is erroneous. They're best described as 'acceptable (according to Jewish dietary law, for Jews) to eat'
User Detail :
Name : Tomer, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : human, Religion : Jewish, Age : 32, City : Eau Claire, State : WI Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, As for BAGELS & CREAM CHEESE - they are neither 'Hebrew food' nor 'Jewish food' - they are EASTERN EUROPEAN FOOD & AMERICAN FOOD! The origin of the bagel is up for debate, although it seems to have early taken a foothold in Poland. The first printed mention occurs in Krakow, in 1610 in a list of community regulations that stipulate that bagels are to be given to pregnant women. (Interestingly, given the bagel's association as a 'Jewish' food, there is no mention of religion in this regulation-apparently Christian women ate bagels as well). Others support the theory that an Austrian baker created a stirrup (or 'beugal') made out of dough to give to the King of Poland in 1683, in thanks for his help in defeating the Turks, and in honor of his great horsemanship. (Other German variations of the word are: 'beigel', meaning 'ring', and 'bugel', meaning bracelet.) The dough of the bagel is BOILED before baking. The BIALI is not boiled before baking. Despite being popular in Europe among the Jewish residents, it is in America that the bagel becomes widely popular, especially in Chicago and New York. The next bagel breakthrough came in 1872, with the making of cream cheese. In 1880, Philadelphia Cream Cheese was started, and in 1920, Breakstone Cream Cheese. Continued ...
User Detail :
Name : Eileen, Gender : F, Religion : Jewish, City : New York, State : NY Country : United States, For the most part, anything - food, holidays, traditions - associated with Judiasm are referred to as 'Jewish', not 'Hebrew.' Another way to look at it: When asked ones ethnicity, people in the US would say that they're Irish, Polish, Chinese, Korean, Egyptian, etc. I'll respond 'I'm Jewish,' even though my heritage includes German, Russian, Latvian, and English roots. So, pretty much all things associated with Judiasm are commonly called 'Jewish.' The traditional laguage of our religion is Hebrew and - in Biblical times before organised Judiasm began - those folks [characters?!] like Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Leah and Rachel were called Hebrews. Nowadays, reffering to Jews as Hebrews or Heebs is deemed derrogatory. All that beign said, you ate 'Jewish Food'...
User Detail :
Name : J. Freedman, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 34, City : Cumberland, State : RI Country : United States, Occupation : Video Producer, Social class : Middle class, Actually the food you enjoyed (I hope) is kosher or kosher style food. That has much to do with the type of food and the way it is prepared and served. Jewish people would not call it Jewish food but rather kosher or deli style. Many of the kosher foods are enjoyed by Arabs as well and many come from old European areas where many American Jews came from by ancestry like Germany, Poland, etc. Hebrew in modern terms is a language and not normally used in the biblical term of the 'Hebrews'. The macaroni and cheese dish was likely a baked dish we'd call 'kugal'. The coconut dish sounds unfamiliar, and the tuna salad was probably actually what is called 'whitefish salad' and not from tuna. The fish is smoked and then made into salad. Thanks for asking, food is an important part of any religion or race.
User Detail :
Name : Gary21766, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 49, City : Ft. Lauderdale, State : FL Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, If you wanted to refer to the food, you might call it Jewish food. But it sounds like the food wasn't necessarily Jewish. For example, I can't think of a typical Jewish dessert with coconut in it. Probably the food you ate was 'kosher' which means that it was prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary restrictions. These restrictions are based on scriptures included in the first five books of the bible.
User Detail :
Name : Linsey, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 25, City : Brookline, State : MA Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, Effectively, maybe even literally, Hebrew = Jewish in today's society/language. Food is either kosher or not kosher. The rules for being kosher start with not eating pork, shellfish or other unkosher animals, and not mixing dairy and meat. More specifics can easily be found with just about any search engine, I'm sure.
User Detail :
Name : Michael-S, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Disability : Paralyzed, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 27, City : Portland, State : OR Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, Lets back up a moment. Jewish is a religion. Hebrew is a language. Different foods may have a cultural implication i.e. brats and saurkraut assocated with Germans, and pasta and spagetti sauce Italians, but eating food at a Hadassah fundraiser is no more 'Jewish Food' than eating a roast beef sandwich at a Church fundraiser would be 'Catholic or Luthern' food. Eat! Enjoy! That bagel will taste just as good no matter what you call it!
User Detail :
Name : Jeff, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 49, City : Lansing, State : KS Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, What you bought was definitely Jewish food, traditional cultural recipes and favorites. I've never heard of Hebrew food. What it probably also was is Kosher food, which means it was prepared according to the laws of the Torah, never mixing meat and dairy, not eating blood and only eating certain specific species of birds, fish and animals, among other rules.
User Detail :
Name : kelsey, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 49, City : santa monica, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, Dear Ann, There really is no difference between 'Hebrew' or 'Jewish' food. I think the distinction you are looking for is Kosher vs. Ethnic cuisine. The Kosher laws (Kashrus in the Hebrew language) are religious laws dealing with various dietary laws, including selected animals and animal parts that are acceptable for consumption. Appropriate methods of slaughter and cleaning of the animal, as well as seperation between dairy and meat dishes. A similar, though not exact, system is found in Islam (called Halal in Arabic). This is compared to what's traditionally known as 'Jewish food' in the US, or ethnic dishes associated with the Jewish people. Some better known examples include, as you mentiond, bagels and (a shmeer) of cream cheese, many times topped by Lox (smoked salmon). Chicken Soup, usually with Matzah balls, deli sandwiches, especially pastrami, and noodle kugul (pudding), your aformentioned sweet macaroni dish. Such dishes, which came over with the wave of Eastern European Jewish immigrants at the turn of the 20th century may or may have been prepared according to the kosher dietary laws. For more information, a good place to start would be the cookbook The Book of Jewish Food by Claudia Roden.
User Detail :
Name : Harold, Gender : M, Religion : Jewish, City : New York City, State : NY Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, I always refer it as Jewish Food. 'Hebrew' is typically only used to describe the language spoken in Israel. If food is specifically from Israel, it is referred to as 'Israeli food.' However, no matter what you call it, its yummy.
User Detail :
Name : Jaymie, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 23, City : Suffern, State : NY Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 
Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences .
