The Beer of the Jews

Brewing beer has been known for more than 3,000 years. In the pyramids of Egypt we see figures showing how beer was made. The code of Hammurabi, from the 18th century before our era, speaks of beer. Ancient Greece learned the way of making beer from the Egyptians and brought the drink to Europe. In Judea, the name of the Jewish country in antiquity, wine was preferred to beer. After the exile to Babylon, the Jews took a taste for beer and adopted the drink into daily life. The Talmud, it seems, speaks of different kinds of beer: barley beer (pirzuma), date beer (shekhar), fig beer (taini). Beer is known to have been one of the fermented drinks that man used to satisfy himself.

The word beer comes from the Latin bibere, meaning to drink. We are used to adding a little 'hops' (şerbetçi otu) to beer, which gives it the attractive flavour we know.

Our fathers told us that drinking alcohol in moderation brings joy and pleasure, but that drinking with 'goyim' (people who are not Jews) could be dangerous. The Shulchan Aruch also tells us not to drink with goyim. Until the 1800s the Jews in Germany were not allowed to brew beer, but they traded in hops, the product indispensable for brewing. Until 1930 the Jews controlled 70% of the production of this plant. The Jew generally drinks on Shabbat eve, to welcome and gladden Queen Shabbat.

In the 18th century nearly 80% of the Jews of Poland worked in this industry and also in the tavern trade. Although in the 1800s Jews were forbidden to live from the income of this trade, many Christian owners had Jewish masters to run the work, because the Jews had centuries of experience. The famous German feast or festival called 'Oktoberfest', where beer is drunk to the point of deadly drunkenness, was invented and organized by young Jews to promote beer. The famous decorated jugs or steins for drinking beer are also a Jewish invention. The famous brand Löwenbräu was confiscated from the Jewish family of Joseph Schülein, and his son died in the concentration camp of Dachau.

Some famous brands in the United States, such as 'Messiah', 'Menne', 'Jewbilation', are Jewish productions.

Today in Israel many beers are made with recipes surviving from the 4th century, using dates, pomegranate and etrog to give them a particular taste of excellence.

Drinking in measure is wisdom, elegance and gastronomic knowledge.

It is said that a friend is known on journeys, at card games and above all at a merry table where alcoholic drink is taken.

Adapted and adjusted from the article by Yvette Alt Miller