Religion and Taste: Wine and other “Spirits” in Judaism
Religion and Taste: Wine and other “Spirits” in Judaism
By Genesis Lantigua Diaz
Why is wine so important to Jewish ceremonial practices?
Introduction
Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus and Betsey Dexter Dyer’s Cultures and Cultures: Fermented Foods as Culinary ‘Shibboleths’ introduces the importance of fermented foods in Judaism and their symbolic relevance to Jewish culture. According to the authors, these fermented foods such as wines, breads, cheeses etc are what is described as ‘shibboleths’. Shibboleths are items that distinguish one culture from another- it originally was used in the book of Judges to identify different tribes based on pronunciation skills. The word is believed to have been unpronounceable to some groups which was an easy identifier of “the other” culture. Since then, the word shibboleth is used to indicate anything that draws a line between cultures, although its original definition is an ear of corn according to the Oxford online dictionary. Fermented foods are a shibboleth. As the authors conclude, the foods one group of people find absolutely delicious are the same foods another group of people consider unpalatable.
Why is wine a cultural shibboleth?
The authors of the text explain that although Jewish wine and gentile wine are gustatorily almost the same, a strict border is religiously placed in between them. Jews are pretty much prohibited from consuming wine made or sold by gentiles. Wine is considered a shibboleth not because of the taste of the wine, but the production and its ceremonial intentions. Wine is used by both Jews and gentiles in drink libation offerings. During Jewish ceremonial offerings, wine is poured as an offering to the Abrahamic God and gentiles were known to do so for their gods. Jews did not participate in gentile wine consumption because it could have or had been offered as a sacrifice to idols. According to OU Torah, stam yainum is the appropriate term for a drink that could have been offered in worship but perhaps has not been witnessed offered and yayin nesech is the term of a drink that has been witnessed offered in sacrifice. Regardless of speculation, Jews prefer to restrain from contact with gentile wine overall.
Biblical Symbolism of Fermentation
Fermented foods are created when local bacteria interact with the food resulting in a stronger taste than the original. In order for the local bacteria to alter the original dish, a set amount of time is required. During the Exodus, the Israelites did not have time for the yeast to affect their bread , or for the yeast to provoke its effect in the bread. The bacteria active in the fermentation process of these foods can either represent moral good or evil- similar to the natural conduct of bacteria which some can harm us and some can help us. Although the Bible does not clearly state what yeast represents in order for it to be prohibited during the feast of unleavened bread, it does explain that Israel did not have time for the bread to rise and this event must be remembered by celebrating this feast annually.
Biblical mentions of Wine
The same way that there are good bacteria and bad bacteria, there is also a good way to consume wine and a bad way to consume wine. In contrast to many religions, Judaism does not seem to make mention against wine consumption as long as the wine is used to worship the Hebrew God. The first intoxication of the Bible stars the Ark builder, Noah. It seems that drunkenness was not known to Noah. Perhaps the nutritional component of fruits changed after the flood resulting in what appears to be an accidental intoxication. Noah, after becoming drunk, becomes naked and his son sees and mocks his nakedness. This results in the curse of this son by Noah himself. Many Proverbs instruct one to restrain from excessive recreational alcohol consumption. All the other mentions of alcohol consumption in the Bible refer to God worshiping ceremonies which gladdens God and men, according to the book of Judges 9:13. One usage of wine leads to nakedness, embarrassment, wrath and should be avoided by kings and princes. And another usage of wine leads to a symbolic ritual where God is pleased and the human soul is happy. The line perhaps may be drawn in the amount of wine consumed.
Why was wine chosen for Jewish ceremonies?
Why wine offerings? Why not not juice offerings, water offerings or beer offerings? The reason why wine was chosen for ceremonial worship in Jewish tradition is not mentioned in the Bible. But perhaps we can attempt to find hidden meanings behind wine that might explain why wine out of all drinks. In terms of wine, grapes must undergo a long process prior to becoming the delicious attraction to your next event. Perhaps this might be a representation of man’s purification as he leaves the Adamic sinful tendencies to live in holiness. Perhaps this long process of fermentation can represent Israel’s forty years of purification in the desert. Perhaps God simply chose wine since water might have been scarce at specific times in middle eastern history. Perhaps this can be explained with numerology. According to Bezalel, wine has the same numeric value as secret and since “wine comes out of the innermost part of the grape” it might be a symbol for the innermost part of a person. This might also explain why alcoholic beverages are referred to as ‘spirits’.
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