Bagels & Bigotry
Bagels are a traditional Jewish food that has been around for centuries, and it is important to recognize the cultural significance of this food. Eating bagels is a way to show respect for Jewish culture and to honor the history of the food. At the same time, it is important to be aware of the potential for food appropriation and antisemitism. This can be seen in the way that bagels have been adopted by non-Jewish cultures without acknowledging their Jewish roots.
Antisemitism has been a pervasive issue for centuries. The minority group often faces discrimination on a basis of religious and cultural mores. In more recent history, criticism has been aimed at the so-called “power” Jewish individuals hold. Particularly in industries such as banking, medicine, law, and entertainment. Jews falter towards such industries, as following the Holocaust many were small business owners, like Bakers to make. During this time the foods of the Jewish people especially Ashkenazi Jews were brought to the Americas and proliferated. As time progressed many of these delicacies became appropriated for their deliciousness and unique taste and disconnected from their Jewish origins. Jewish delicatessens seemed to pop up around the country – especially in hubs like New York and Chicago. Black and white cookies, bagels, blintzes, and challah bread filled display cases and in hours, they went empty. The popularity of Jewish food completely contradicts the discriminatory treatment Jewish people face.
1,090,000,000 People in the world harbor Anti-Semitic attitudes according to the Anti-Defamation League. Antisemitic incidents are at a record high – rising 34 percent from previous years. With the marginalized group who endure hate from both the Left and Right, one may assume all parts of the culture are condemned. However, Jewish food seems to be celebrated or more accurately appropriated. The Bagel has been a part of Jewish culture since the 1500 hundreds but, by the 1940s, it wasn’t just food that Jews ate, it had become Jewish food. As time progressed and the bread became popularized beyond Jewish circles, it became mass-produced and lost its uniqueness. Non-Jewish bakers took the boiled torus and it lost its significance and flair. In addition to Bakeries being tagged with swastikas, Bagels seem to be a common food found everywhere from Dunkin to one-off cafe’s.
The line between appreciation and appropriation is disguised by the presence (or lack) of exploitation. In the case of the Bagel, a craft product Jews were once barred from making and selling, the food has been commodified. Through industrialization, the handmade delicacy had transformed into any other breakfast food. The once classic concoction has been altered into frozen pizza bagels, and some establishments even top them off with cream cheese flavors like cookie dough. While arguably tasty, Aa bagel without lox and schmear (smoked salmon and cream cheese for the Goyim) seems criminal.
Jerry Coyne, a Jewish intellectual and American biologist notes the following: “Although cultural theft from Jews is rampant (look at the Yiddish words and phrases like “oy vey,” “nosh”, and “schmuck” that regularly litter the language of oppressive Christians), I want to mention perhaps its clearest instantiation in America—the pervasive consumption of bagels. I’ll be brief, but I need to establish three things: Jews are an oppressed minority, bagels are a Jewish food, and borrowing foodstuffs from Jews is clearly cultural appropriation. That appropriation is, by the way, defined in its most Sophisticated Form as follows. . . a particular power dynamic in which members of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group.” He goes on to say non-jews should not have the luxury of eating Jewish bagels.
While Coyne is correct that Jews are often victims of exploitation – being a small minority that is criticized by both the Left and Right – he lacks nuance in his argument for the implications Bagels can have on being a positive marker of Jewish culture. Eating bagels, when prepared accurately – especially at a Jewish Bakery can be a way to show solidarity with the Jewish community and demonstrate respect for their culture and traditions. By eating bagels with an appreciation for their origins, non-Jews can help combat antisemitism and food appropriation while also honoring Jewish culture. Food alterations can be partially positive when it is done with respect and acknowledgment of the culture from which the food originated. For example, if a Starbucks serves an atypical bagel preparation inspired by the traditional Jewish dish, they should make sure to credit the original source and use authentic ingredients. Furthermore, they should acknowledge the iteration is not a classical form of the cuisine but simply inspired by it. This can help to spread awareness of different cultures and their cuisines, as well as provide an opportunity for people to try something new. Additionally, it can help to create a more inclusive environment where people of all backgrounds feel welcome. Lastly, given that the Jewish population is highly discriminated against, profits from these modified foods should go towards Jewish empowerment.
After Kanye West’s recent antisemitic statements, comedian Jimmy Kimmel joked saying West should not be allowed to eat bagels anymore. What makes Kanye’s bigotry so different from any other antisemite? Aside from his elitist status, nothing. Therefore, if Jewish culture and its people cannot be treated with proper respect one does not deserve to indulge in their practices – including their food. That being said, I disagree with Coyne that all non-Jews are undeserving of eating Bagels. If one is able to appreciate its robust history, and origins, and stand up for the Jewish community, the beauty of Bagels should be shared with them.
Through our food and unique cultural practices, Judaism can become more widely appreciated and celebrated. One would hope this could lead to a decrease in discrimination. At the opposite end of the discussion, altering the dish to meet commercial needs for new products is wrong. Unless at the hand of a Jewish baker, by changing the bagel’s identity one strips its Jewishness for profit. Overall, Judaism and its creations should be celebrated and indulged in by those who actively engage in uplifting the Jewish people, not just their food. Eat a bagel, don’t be a bigot.
