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Posted February 26, 2009, by Rabbi Judy Abrams. Please refer to Maqom's home page for information about previous passages.

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DOES YOUR FOOD HAVE FEELINGS? THE YERUSHALMI'S ANSWER
© Judith Z. Abrams, 2009

Does your food have feelings? Not animal food; vegetable food. The Yerushalmi seems to think it does. The most famous instance is one I can't find. It's the idea that the bread is embarrassed on Shabbat that the wine is being blessed before it is, so it¹s covered so it doesn't have to witness this.

Professor Mark Washofsky of HUC-JIR in Cincinnati, tells me that this is in the Tur, Orach Hayyim 271 but that he can't find it in the Yerushalmi itself. He also says this is a common occurrence.

What I can find is this instance of the Yerushalmi attributing feelings to your food:

Concerning the dessert tray of assorted nuts and fruits, Rabbi Jeremiah in the name of R. Ammi: One recites the blessing over the lupine, even though one of the seven species of the Land of Israel (grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, wheat, oats and (date) honey) are among them.

Said R. Levi: this ruling is based on the verse, "Do not rob the poor because he is poor. (Proverbs 22:22)" That is, do not deprive a lupine of its blessing, just because it is a common food. (Y. Berachot 6:4)

Discussion Questions:

1. Can anyone find that text about the challah in the Yerushalmi itself?
        
2. What do you think about the Yerushalmi attributing feelings to food? This seems to be an extention of the idea of honoring others. Everything deserves honor, even the lowliest of foods. How will you put this into practice in your day-to-day life?