This morning Sharón had the Arava interns over for breakfast. The food was phenomenal- just how phenomenal you ask? Phenomenal enough for V. to pull out her camera upon entering the room. (seriously, if you’re looking for photos, drop her a line. she’s moving to Tel Aviv on Friday, and i’m sure she’s looking to make new friends). This morning we had fresh fruits galore, yogurts, rolls, granola– even eggs and pancakes. There were also mangos. Now, I’m not passionate about mangos- I can take ‘em or leave ‘em. However, there is a history with Mangos here on Ketura, one that created an almost mango like revolution. Ask a kibbutz member their feelings on mangos, and i can almost guarantee that you will not get an ambivalent response. (I’ve been advised to avoid the subject all together with a certain AIES staff member, for fear of an inevitably awkward, graphic and overly enthusiastic response). Why such passion? Because besides from being undeniably delicious, repeated contact with the sap from the mango tree (which is often left on the skin of mangos) can cause one to develop a severe allergy. Ketura used to have mango trees, until the community as a whole developed such a horrific allergy that mangos were actually outlawed in any public area on the Kibbutz. The trees were thus removed, except for two small rows, which were kept for those brave souls who were willing to transport mangos back to their homes, and pass them out safely (possibly under the cover of night, it’s unclear). Many people who developed the allergies weren’t deterred from the actual fruit, and instead would get others to actually wash, peel and feed them the mangos, as to avoid any actual contact with the skin or sap. Sharón recalled walking into a supermarket once and seeing a whole pile of mangos just sitting there and being totally taken aback– forgetting that in most places in the world, mangos aren’t outlawed. Besides being the setting for an amusing anecdote, this amazing breakfast set the scene for another discussion. Where does our food come from? In the states, the main mentality of folks is: food comes from the store. When you run out, you go get more. It’s not really all that complicated– in fact, its pretty safe to say that in America, the idea that food actually comes from the earth is kind of, well, earth shattering.
Mountains of Olives
The idea that so much work is put into gathering our food comes through in many of the blessings that Jews say before and after meals. We are thankful for the grapes that provide for the wine, the earth that allows our grains to grow, and we’re also thankful for those who farm and make our daily feasts possible. Judaism offers advice on how to treat the Earth so that farming can be done in the most efficient and friendly of ways- from letting the land rest every so often, to ensuring that there is food available to those who are in need. In reality- where food comes from is such a simple and basic concept– grade schoolers in America are all given cups of dirt and watch a seed sprout into a plant. But how often do you really think about what it takes for your food to get to you? How often are you actually thankful for what you eat? The idea of paying attention to what we eat is important- not just where it came from, but what effect it has had on the land. Look at some of the simple facts that support decreasing our meat consumption (or cutting it out completely): It takes 3 to 15 times more water for the creation and processing of animal proteins as it does for plant proteins. Our water crisis is getting worse by the day and small changes in diets could make a huge difference in the amount of water that goes into our food. More so, large amounts of food and energy could be conserved with less meat consumption worldwide. It takes up to 16 pounds of soybeans and grains to produce 1 lb. of beef and 3 to 6 lbs. to produce 1 lb of turkey & egg. 100 acres of land can either be used to produce enough beef for 20 people or enough wheat to feed 240 people. As it is, approximately 60 million people a year die of starvation. If American’s were to eat 10% less meat, the grain not utilized by farm animals could make a huge difference to the world’s hungry. I’ve been a vegetarian for a long time, so it’s easy for me to spout these statistics. I know, however, if someone were to tell me just how much ice cream i’m allowed to eat a year, I’d probably punch them right in the face. However, being aware of what you eat, what you don’t eat, and why you make these choices is important- and not just for your own health.
Not Everything Can be Jesus in Cheeto Form...
There are a lot of rules about food here on the Kibbutz. You pick up your fruit and dairy for your home on Monday’s and Thursdays. Bread comes from the bread room- not the dining hall. Breakfast and dinner are dairy meals– no meat. Lunch is meat– no dairy. Mangos are not allowed in public buildings. Rules are not foreign to the Jewish people- especially not rules about food. With those 613 mitzvot that Moses so graciously brought to the Jewish people, came a pretty strict cookbook. There are rules on what to eat, how to eat it, when to eat it, and when not to eat it. The Laws of Kosher are quite strict, and trust me, difficult to follow. Two years of working for a Jewish organization and I can tell you enough Kosher details to make your head spin. However, to me, the idea of Kosher has always fallen a bit short. There are so many rules that I barely understand… I can follow them, and ensure that the food you’re about to enjoy is as Kosher as it gets, but I can’t tell you if it’s healthy, where it was grown, or why it’s any more spiritual than any other diet with a bookload of rules. Here in Israel, we have kosher mcdonalds– can you really make an argument that fast food is holy food.
I want to put more thought into what I eat. And, I want to call it keeping kosher. There is something to be said for appreciating the world around you, and thinking before each bite of food. I firmly believe that the laws of kosher were originally designed for this purpose. In my time here at AEIS I’ve had a chance to discuss religion with many folks from many different backgrounds. I had a wonderful conversation with a friend who hails from Jordan; he’s followed different degrees of Islamic law throughout his life, and has reached a point where he feels comfortable following the spirit of the laws, if not the letter. My decision to eat healthy, eat locally, and to put thought into the food I eat mirrors his religious choices. For me, and I am not in any way saying this is the case for all, following the laws of kosher does not bring spiritual fulfillment. However, thinking before each bite, knowing where my food comes from, realizing that its organic, locally grown and truly contemplating how those who harvested it are treated? That’s a moment to be aware, and to be thankful for the planet that sustains me and for my chance to return the favor- to my body and to the earth.
I think if Moses saw the spread that Sharon provided for us this morning, he’d be proud. With the rules of what to eat, how to eat it, and why, Moses really set the bar high for Jewish mothers everywhere. The least we can do is make sure the next time we ask someone, “nu? are you hungry? eat more!” that we’ve given some real thought to where our food came from.
