Chinese Food on a Jewish Christmas
By Zhaoyang Liu
In the United States, there is a tradition of Jewish-Americans eating at Chinese restaurants on Christmas. Although this practice may seem odd on the surface, a deeper exploration into its history reveals an interconnection between two immigrant communities in the United States. In an interview published by NPR, Robert Siegel speaks with Rabbi Joshua Plaut about the link between Jews and Chinese food.
Plaut starts off by suggesting one possible origin of the custom:
He then explains that the relationship between Jews and Chinese food is likely even older:
Additionally, Plaut mentions the role of Chinese food in Jewish kosher (religious dietary laws) traditions:
The interview can be heard below:
Reflection Questions:
1. To what extent is this a Jewish story? A Chinese story? An immigration story? An American story?
2. What does this story reveal about Jewish identity in the U.S.? What does it reveal about the Chinese-American immigrant community? In what ways did this relationship arise out of a shared unfamiliarity with the holiday of Christmas?
3. Over time, the ritual of Chinese food on Christmas has expanded beyond Jewish-American communities. Why do you think this practice ended up filtering its way into general American culture? How do traditions spread from immigrant communities into the dominant society? What do these stories tell us about the integration of newcomers?