Even More Interesting Pieces of Jewish Historical Trivia (Food Edition)

Food and history are irrevocably intertwined, and it is difficult to talk about the scope of one without the influence of the other. Accessibility to food has affected the march of empires, and cultural recipes are the conduits that connect a people with the traditions of the past. The very essence of kosher food is the fact that it follows laws written down long ago in history, and to keep kosher is an act of keeping one’s heritage alive - that one thing that enriches one’s kosher vacations is discovering the history of kosher food that originated from the places you’re visiting.

While we can’t freely travel to these places right now (because of the global pandemic), we can still read about them. Here are a few pieces of Jewish food trivia that might pique your interest.

The Kosher Sausage that Saved Jews from the Spanish Inquisition

Photo Credit: blog.education.nationalgeographic.org
Photograph by The Photographer, courtesy Wikimedia. CC-BY-SA-4.O

The Expulsion of Jews from Spain in1942 was a tragic event. Harsher still was the force of the Spanish Inquisition at time, a force that sought to persecute the non-Christians of Spain in horrific ways. Some Jews pretended to convert but kept their Jewish faith, and to keep themselves safe, they decided to trick the Inquisitors by hanging alheiras outside their houses. Alheiras are non pork sausages stuffed with beef, chicken, and breadcrumbs. These decoys were totally kosher, but the Inquisitors, assuming that the household ate pork, suspected nothing. This Portugese dish saved plenty of lives, and is quite delicious too.

The Contribution of Jews in Popularizing Chocolate in France

Photo Credit: blog.bayonne-tourisme.com/bayonne-chocolate-capital

The aforementioned Spanish expulsion led to some Jews fleeing to other parts of Europe, such as France.  Back in Spain, chocolate was a luxury of the nobility, but as the Jews spread out from Spain, some Sephardic Jews brought the secrets of chocolate-making with them, most notably the ones that migrated to Bayonne. They taught the people of Bayonne how to make chocolate, and were expert chocolatiers until the locals attempted to ban them from the chocolate industry (unjust, we know.) Thankfully this unfair ban was lifted, and Bayonne, now known as the chocolate capital of France, seeks to give honor to the Jews, who first brought the art of chocolate making to them. When this pandemic subsides, Bayonne might be a good place for a Jewish vacation.

It's the End of Passover. What Do We Do Next?

Passover has just concluded, no doubt in a way that you have never done before. Unlike previous Passovers in previous years, this year’s celebration was marred by the effects of the current global pandemic, COVID-19. Families can’t come over, synagogues are closed, and it’s more difficult to buy groceries due to the less than ideal situation worldwide. Jewish travel options have diminished greatly too. After cleaning up the plates and putting back the Haggadah on the shelf, what comes next? What do we do next now that Passover is over?

Ease back into One’s Daily Routine, Whatever That May Be

The period after every celebration can be slow or abrupt, depending on how fast a person adjusts back into their daily routine. For some, the celebration feels too short, while others might feel the need to jump right back into their duties. Some of us work at home, using the internet to perform their duties. Others have to put on their masks and go out into the outside world, putting themselves at risk to provide important and valid services to society at large. Despite the pandemic, the world continues to turn, and everybody has to do their part for their family and community, whether it’s to stay home or work (remotely or otherwise.)

Contemplate One’s History and Heritage

Passover was an opportunity to remember the past, to commemorate the struggles and triumphs of our ancestors. The Haggadah of the Passover Seder facilitates this remembrance of the liberation in Egypt. However, it is not the only time that you can remember and cherish one’s history and heritage. You can always read more about ancient Jewish history and learn from the experiences of one’s ancestors. There are several engaging Jewish history YouTube channels that you can watch to get a better glimpse of Jewish life a long time ago. We recommend the videos of Dr. Henry Abramson, Dean of Touro College in New York and scholar in residence of Kosher River Cruises’ kosher cruises.

Passover has come and gone, in a time when celebrations are hampered by a global pandemic. However, the lessons and experiences of Passover don’t have to come and go, and can instead be cherished and used to help us move forward.

Enjoying Your Day Like A Kosher Holiday

To enjoy your time at home today, you need to spend each day like it is a kosher holiday!

Whether you are just lying on your bed binge-watching your favorite series or working from home, there are various ways to have a little Jewish fun.

Watch Jewish Films on Video-on-demand Platforms

Are you a film nerd or just someone who wants to kill time during home quarantine? You need to watch these films that show Jewish culture from different eras:

• Jojo Rabbit - Fresh off its Oscar win for Best Adapted Screenplay, Taika Waititi’s crowdpleaser is comical, parodic, and inspirational take on an unlikely bond between a young Nazi boy and a brave Jewish girl. The film stars Scarlett Johansson, Rebel Wilson, Sam Rockwell, and newcomer Roman Griffin Davis.


• Son of Saul - A Hungarian film that hit Oscar gold. Laszlo Nemes’ haunting yet inspiring World War 2 drama shows the experiences of a Hungarian Jew in an Auschwitz concentration camp. Available online at Vudu, iTunes, and Prime Video, the film is a great watch for lovers of art films.


• Uncut Gems - One of the most underrated films of the past year, this exhilarating and anxiety-inducing motion picture by the great Safdie Brothers is a character study of a Jewish jeweler and gambler in the busy city of New York. Starring Adam Sandler in a performance of a lifetime, Uncut Gems will make your knees tremble and your palms sweat.

Cook Sumptuous Kosher Food

Since you can not go to your favorite kosher restaurant right now, why not do the cooking yourself? Here are some easy-to-do kosher meals you can do alone or with your family:

Herring and Apple Salad - Prepare 500 grams of boiled potatoes, a green apple, 2 pickled herring fillets,200 grams cooked beets, ½ tbsp. Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar, 4 tbsp. olive oil, and 1 tsp. sparkling water (seltzer). Slice all the ingredients (you can check the video on the link for a reference), then mix the liquids in a small bowl. Then plate your salad, and drizzle it with dressing.

Whole Fish with Olives - Prepare the following ingredients: 1 whole Denise fish (cleaned), 1½ teaspoons pink Himalayan salt, a teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 8 cloves garlic (peeled and diced), 6 cherry tomatoes cut in half, a cup olives, teaspoon honey, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, 2 lemons (juiced), and ¼ cup fresh thyme leaves with stem discarded. Pat your Denise fish dry and sprinkle the Himalayan salt and pepper on the side. Then, pour the oil on a skillet then heat it. When the optimum temperature is achieved, add the fish and cook for three minutes. Turn the fish over, then add all of the ingredients except the lemon and thyme. After that, add half a cup of water and turn the heat down to mid. Cover the skillet and let it cook for ten minutes. Turn down the heat, add the lemon juice and thyme, and serve it whole.

Do you want to learn more about the Jewish lifestyle? Visit the Kosher River Cruises website. We provide Glatt Kosher Tours for Jews all over the world. Since we are one with you in this pandemic, we urge you to stay safe at home right now and be entertained by our fun articles.