THE JEWISH POPULATION OF GREECE: NUTRITION HABITS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract: Based on my doctoral thesis, this article explores the culinary heritage of the Jews of Greece from the historical perspective, religious temperament, and cultural background. The study of traditional Jewish cuisine in Greece explores how these gastronomic practices have been integrated into everyday Greek culinary life while preserving the identity of the religious background of their cultural heritage. The methodology used is qualitative research based on data from archives, literature reviews, and interviews with members of the Jewish community of Chalkida and Athens. Jewish cuisine in Greece is researched through the study of historical documents, cookbooks, and personal narratives, to highlight the broader changes in the community's diet over time and the religious significance of everyday food. In addition, interviews with individuals from the Jewish community of Chalkida helped to understand religious and cultural practices, such as adherence to dietary restrictions and celebration of holidays, and how pre-existing Greek cuisine influenced Jewish cuisine. Early findings indicate that Greek-Jewish cuisine is a mixed canvas, resulting from the use of a wide range of ingredients, flavors, and cooking techniques which contribute to its unique and varied taste. The study also took into account the importance of food in Jewish religious and cultural traditions, such as the observance of kashrut (dietary laws) or holiday rituals. Finally, the study fills an important gap in Jewish gastronomy, as it focuses exclusively on Jews living in Greece, thus offering a broader perspective on the coupling of Jewish and Greek identity concerning their gastronomic heritage, taking into account its historical and cultural parameters. The results provide a perspective through which to understand aspects of the survival and transformation of Jewish food culture in an immigrant context while filling gaps in the broader comprehension of how food contributes to cultural heritage Keywords: Jewish cuisine, Greece, culinary tradition, multiculturalism, cultural heritage. Title: THE JEWISH POPULATION OF GREECE: NUTRITION HABITS AND SUSTAINABILITY Author: Lena Xarcha, Dr. L. Vasiliadis, Dr. Th. Papadogonas International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online) Vol. 12, Issue 4, October 2024 - December 2024 Page No: 296-301 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 20-November-2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14190418 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/the-jewish-population-of-greece-nutrition-habits-and-sustainability