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Eating and Drinking Narratives in Biblical-Rabbinic Versus Graeco-Roman Writings

  • Philosophical Exploration
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Abstract

The writings of ancient Greece and Rome and of biblical Israel are filled with descriptions of food. The narratives in Greek and Roman mythology and poetry often describe violent and repulsive behavior associated with food. The biblical narratives, in contrast, tend to view food in a respectful and purposeful manner. We compare and contrast some of these stories with regard to the specific themes: restraint, respect, purpose, and order. In each comparison, patterns of eating described in biblical laws and narratives will be contrasted with those emerging from Graeco-Roman stories and customs.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the assistance of former JORH Editor-in-Chief, Rev. Curtis Hart, and the current JORH Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Lindsay Carey, and Associate Editor Dr. Jeffery Cohen, for their assistance with this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Kalman J. Kaplan.

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Kaplan, K.J., Schwartz, M.B. & Markus-Kaplan, M. Eating and Drinking Narratives in Biblical-Rabbinic Versus Graeco-Roman Writings. J Relig Health 62, 338–354 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01209-6

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