Kosher Nation by Sue Fishkoff
(Why More and More of America's Food Answers to a Higher Authority)
Let's get one thing straight: I am not Jewish. I do not think this book was necessarily written for Jewish people. Apparently, there are a lot more than just Jewish people who want to eat kosher food.
This book is fascinating. There is a myth among ... er, how should I say it.... non-Jews? that "kosher" food is just food that is blessed by a rabbi. Kosher Nation will show you that it is soooo much more than that!
There are rules and regulations on how the food needs to be prepared, in what order food needs to be eaten, on what plates the food needs to be presented on and which utensils need to be used. (I had a hard time keeping it straight!)
Where I live in the Hudson Valley in New York, we have a huge Hasidic Jewish community just over a mile away. So I have always been interested in their way of life and customs and beliefs. Kosher Nation definitely helps to understand the ins and outs of keeping a kosher home (not as easy as you think!)
But like I said, more than just religious Jews are looking for kosher food these days.... Muslims also have rules and regulations; vegetarians, and Seventh-Day Adventists are also some of the 11.2 million Americans who regularly seek out kosher food for purchase and consumption.
I totally love this book! It was interesting to see what goes into making a kosher home, why people choose to observe kosher rules, and what making food "kosher" entails.
It's not a religious book. There are some Biblical references as to why some parts of the animal are okay to eat but others are not, etc....
But it really deals with consumerism. (Interesting tidbits on how Coca-Cola, Nabisco, and other big name companies have jumped on the kosher bandwagon!)
From the inside front flap: "A revelatory look at the state of kosher in America, this book will appeal to anyone interested in food, religion, Jewish identity, or big business."
I agree, wholeheartedly.
