Jewish Culinary Predilections

As a general principle, Jewish holidays are divided between days on which you must starve and days on which you must overeat. 

 Many Jews observe no fewer than 16 fasts throughout the Jewish year, based on the time-honored principle that even if you are sure that you are ritually purified, you definitely aren't. 

 Though there are many feasts and fasts, there are no holidays requiring light snacking. 

 Note: Unlike Christians, who simply attend church on special days (e.g.  Ash Wednesday), on Jewish holidays most Jews take the whole day off. This is because Jews, for historical and personal reasons, are more stressed out. 

 The Diet Guide to the Jewish Holidays 
Rosh Hashanah -- Feast 
Tzom Gedalia -- Fast 
Yom Kippur -- More fasting 
Sukkot -- Feast 
Hashanah Rabbah -- More feasting 
Simchat Torah -- Keep feasting 
Month of Heshvan  -- No feasts or fasts for a whole month. Get a grip on yourself.  Hanukkah -- Eat potato pancakes 
Tenth of Tevet -- Do not eat potato pancakes 
Tu B'Shevat -- Feast
Fast of Esther -- Fast 
Purim -- Eat pastry 
Passover -- Do not eat pastry 
Shavuot -- Dairy feast (cheesecake, blintzes etc.) 
17th of Tammuz -- Fast (definitely no cheesecake or blintzes) 
Tish B'Av -- Very strict fast (don't even think about cheesecake or blintzes) 
Month of Elul -- End of cycle

[Posted 11/27/08]