Department of Judaic Studies Presents 'Foodaism' Lecture Series
According to a classic Jewish text, Without food, there is no Torah; without Torah, there is no food. (Pirkei Avot, 3.17). Eating practices are deeply embedded in Jewish civilization, including questions of what Jews eat, forbidden foods, when to eat, when not to eat, with whom to eat, and how to prepare foods.
The Department of Judaic Studies at UCs McMicken College of Arts and Sciences is hosting a lecture series this fall devoted to exploring the connections between Judaism and food. The Foodaism lecture series presented in cooperation with the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Ohio Humanities Council, the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center, and Mayerson Jewish Community Center will feature topics including Jewish food in antiquity, food and contemporary Jewishness, as well as modern Jewish food practices.
Scheduled speakers include:
- Jordan Rosenblum is the Belzer Associate Professor of Classical Rabbinic Literature at University of Wisconsin, Madison. Rosenblum, author of Food and Identity is Early Rabbinic Judaism, will present his lecture "Crying Fowl: How Chicken Upsets the Kosher Laws." This lecture will be presented on Monday, Oct. 20 at 1 Edwards Center on UCs main campus at 7 p.m.
- Claudia Roden is an internationally renowned cookbook author and food intellectual. The winner of the James Beard Award for Best Cookbook of the Year and the National Jewish Book Award, among many others, Roden will discuss Jewish food within the broader framework of cultural practices, sharing recipes and the stories behind them. Roden will also be offering a cooking demonstration. Check the Judaic Studies website for details. This lecture will be presented on Sunday, Nov. 9 at the Mayerson Jewish Community Center at 7 p.m.
- Jenna Weissman Joselit is the Charles E. Smith Professor of Judaic Studies and Professor of History, and Director of the Program in Judaic Studies, at George Washington University. An authoritative expert on issues of contemporary Jewish food culture within American culture, Weissman Joselit will offer a presentation called The Great Vinegar Controversy of 1986 and Other Food Fights in American Jewish History. This lecture will be presented Wednesday, Nov. 19 in McMicken Hall on UCs main campus at 7 p.m.
Related Stories
Meet UC’s Miss Ohio
July 1, 2024
UC biomedical science student Stephanie Finoti credits UC for helping to prepare her for the Miss Ohio Scholarship Pageant. She will represent Ohio in the national competition in January.
UC alum credits journalism program with early success
June 26, 2024
Zachary Jarrell came to the University of Cincinnati in 2019 to pursue a degree in statistics. In 2023, he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Journalism. For many undergraduates, the journey through college rarely takes the expected track. Detours happen, and majors change. When plans switch up, it can be helpful to a student’s success to find support. For Jarrell, it was the people he worked alongside in the journalism department who helped him on his journey. It has left a lasting impression on his life so far, guiding him to multiple internships as an undergraduate, real-world experience in prominent news outlets, and eventually a successful career in the highly competitive field of journalism.
The health impact of living near a natural gas leak
![BBC logo](/content/dam/refresh/uc-news/news-icons/dark/bbc.png)
June 25, 2024
UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor Amy Townsend-Small talks to the BBC about the health issues faced by neighbors of leaking natural gas wells.