Jewish Museum Berlin: The special exhibition "Kosher & Co. An Exhibition on Food and Religion"

Did you know...?

... that in the cult of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, bread played an important role in the Temple ritual as a symbolic offering to God. Ancient Temple practices are referenced and echoed when Jews prepare and eat hallah loaves, which are blessed and consumed at the start of Sabbath and holiday meals.
... that, according to the Hebrew Bible, twelve cakes of flour were laid out on a golden table in the Temple as an offering to God. The loaves were placed in two groups of six, the twelve loaves corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel.

... that liberal and orthodox Kashrut experts differ in opinion about the sturgeon. The bony plates (scutes) on its skin are in fact not true scales because they cannot be removed without damaging the skin.
... that, though it might seem surprising, some impure animals had once been considered edible for humans? In Christian Europe of earlier centuries, the now strictly protected beaver was valued as a Lenten meal because older, arbitrary categorizations of natural species classified the beaver as a member of the fish family.
... that the Jewish-Polish cuisine developed a special penchant for sweet-and-sour dishes. Sweetened versions of gefilte fish were originally prepared in Poland.
... that the symbol of the fish is closely identified with Christianity, although its precise origin is unclear? One common explanation is that the initial letters of the Greek word for fish (Ichthus) stand for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."

... that traditional Hindus avoid ceramic dishes: ceramic is porous, which makes it susceptible to contamination. In the past, food was served on banana leaves that were discarded after use. Today, Hindus prefer a "thali" - a round metal tray with a smooth surface. As opposed to ceramic, it can be washed after use and thereby made pure. When Hindus are traveling, they favor clay vessels that can be disposed of after use.
... that water glasses can be used in a kosher household for meat as well as dairy meals, because glass is not considered absorbing. This does not include fireproof glass, as the heat makes the glass absorbing.
... that Jews observing kaschrut who have eaten meat must wait for a certain amount of time before eating a dairy meal. The amount of time required to pass between meals is disputed, but can range from one to six hours.

... that bread stamps date back to antiquity. In Christianity, stamps are used to mark bread intended for the Eucharist ceremony and for various types of blessed bread (eulogia), which are offered to the church and blessed by priests.
... that bread used for Eucharist ceremonies may include no ingredient other than flour and water.

... that the first known machine for rolling matzah dough was produced in 1838?
... that in the baking process of matzah, all baking utensils must be thoroughly cleansed of all traces of dough before each step to ensure that no dough residue remains and ferments?
... that the matzah dough must be mixed, baked and removed from the oven within 18 minutes?
... that until the mid-nineteenth century, most matzah was baked within synagogue premises. Special ovens were maintained for this purpose?

... that the consumption of the carcass of a dead animal - which, in principle, includes any animal that has not been slaughtered - is strictly forbidden by both Jewish and Islamic dietary laws?
... that the company "Koschere Fleischerei-Betriebe" had two branches in Berlin between 1947 and 1953?
... that one-tenth of all the cows in the world live in India?
... that in 1970 East Berlin's only kosher store sold 1,5 tons of kosher meat each month, including 400 kg of sausage?
... that three months after the National Socialists seized power, kosher butchering was made illegal in the Reich? Before, since the beginning of the 20th century in Germany, kosher butchering had been ubiquitous due to "Ausnahmeregelungen", exceptional rules.

... that the largest part of our salt consumption is through processed food? Adding salt to one's dish does not carry as much weight in terms of our total absorption?
... that salt used for koshering food must be free of additives?
... that a bowl of salted water is one of the symbolic foods that belong on a Passover seder plate? It is supposed to recall the tears shed by slaves in Ancient Egypt.

... that in ancient Near Eastern religions it was common to offer wine libations to the gods. In Egypt, kings presented wine offerings to appease the gods? They hoped for divine protection in return.
... that grapevine was cultivated in Egypt from at least the 3rd millennium bCE?
... that date wine was a common alternative to grape wine in Egypt?
... that the Hebrew drinking toast is "Le - Haim! - To life!"?
... that during the Passover seder ritual meal, each participant should drink four cups of wine or grape juice. Ten drops of wine are also sombrely dripped to remember the ten plagues that - so the legend has it - befell the Egyptians and made possible the exodus of Jews from Egypt.
... that at the Passover seder, one wine glass is filled for the Prophet Elijah, who is supposed to announce the arrival of the Messias, and left in front of an open door.
... that the bride and groom twice share a cup of wine during the Jewish wedding ceremony?
... that the Jewish festival of Purim is the only festival in the Jewish year which encourages total intoxication: The Talmud states that Jews are obliged to drink wine on Purim until they cannot distinguish between the hero and the villain in the Purim story.
... that for wine to be kosher, no plants may be cultivated between the grape vines?