Since this episode is being released during a period of mourning, on the Jewish calendar, I am looking at how food also reflects one of the near constant negative aspects in Jewish history: Jew-hatred. Adafina is a dish that dates back to medieval Spain, and during the Inquisition, it literally became a matter of life and death.
But other foods in our history have also helped us persevere despite the near-constant attacks we’ve endured, and actually facilitated our triumph and persistence as a nation! I look at some of those in this episode, as well.
Interview: Helene Jawhara Piner
Episode Notes
“Adafina” – A Shabbat stew from medieval Spain. The name was primarily used in the south, with the term hamin becoming more commoin in the north. It infused the basic harisa stew (of wheat and lamb), with chickpeas or fava beans, and some other vegetables. The name continues to be used, in modified form, in stews of North Africa Jews. Some refer to theirs as dafina, tafina, or t’fina.
“Converso” – A Jew who converted to Christianity in medieval Spain.
“Crypto-Jew” – A converso who secretly maintained Jewish identity and practices, while outwardly living as a Christian.
“Final Solution” – The Nazi plan to kill all remaining Jews in Europe, formulated at the Wannsee Conference.
“Spanish Expulsion” – Established by Ferdinand and Isabella via the Alhambra Decree, it forced all Jews remaining in their territory, who had not converted to Christianity, to leave Spain by August 1492. Many converted to remain legally in Spain, as had many more before them, but they were then subject to the suspicions and power of the Spanish Inquisition. Estimates vary among scholars, but an estimate of 100,000 Jews who fled as refugees is a good approximation.
“Spanish Inquisition” – A powerful tribunal, established first in 1478, that sought to weed out what the Catholic Church considered illegal: Jewish converts to Christianity who were not true believers in Christianity. It lasted for centuries and spread to many parts of the world, leading to witch trials and myroad executions.
“The Three Weeks” – A period in the Jewish calendar that falls in summer (in the northern hemisphere). It begins with the 17th of Tammuz fast day and ends on the 9th of Av fast day, more commonly known by its Hebrew name, Tisha B’Av. Customs include not getting haircuts, not shaving, not getting married, and not listening to live music. During the final 9 days of the period, the mourning practices intensify, with many avoiding eating meat and drinking wine.
Sources and links:
On the term “antisemitism”
Expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290
About blood libels
About cocido Madrileño
About agristada
About alheira sausage
Eating various “body parts” of Haman
About Sfratto dei Goym
Episode 12: Adafina
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