Jewish Drinking Customs: Beer Included Or Forbidden?

The stereotype that Jews don't drink alcohol is common, but it's not entirely true. While it's true that wine is the preferred drink for religious rituals, and that Jews have historically been vital to the production and marketing of beer, there is no religious imperative to drink alcohol. However, there are certain occasions where alcohol is customary, such as Purim, when it is traditional to drink until one can't tell the difference between cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordacai.

The stereotype of Jewish sobriety

The stereotype likely stems from the late 1950s, when a study by the Yale Center of Alcohol Studies stated that alcoholism among Jews was virtually non-existent. The study suggested that the prevalence of wine in Jewish rituals lessened Jews' desire to drink recreationally. Jews drank, but in the context of Sabbath dinner, not at the pub.

However, this stereotype is not entirely accurate. For example, in the 18th century, Jews were vastly overrepresented in tavern-keeping and alcohol distribution. While Jews tended not to do their drinking at taverns, they certainly profited off the drinking culture. In fact, in Poland, approximately 80% of Jews living in villages worked in the alcohol trade, distilling and selling wine, vodka, liqueurs, and beer. This led to the image of the kindly Jewish innkeeper, which became ingrained in Polish life.

In addition, while ancient Israel favored wine over beer, Jews adopted the Babylonian taste for beer after they were exiled to Babylonia in 586 BCE. The Talmud even records four different types of beer brewed from barley, dates, figs, and beer.

Today, the stereotype of Jewish sobriety is being challenged by Jewish producers of craft beers and microbreweries, both in the United States and Israel. These Jewish brewers are at the forefront of the craft beer movement, creating innovative and boutique beers that celebrate their Jewish roots.

Alcoholism among Jews in the 1950s

While the stereotype that Jews don't drink alcohol persists, there is evidence to suggest that Jews have had a long and influential history in the alcohol industry. This includes the production and marketing of beer, as well as the ownership of breweries and taverns.

In the 1950s, a study by the Yale Center of Alcohol Studies stated that alcoholism among Jews was virtually non-existent at the time. The study suggested that the prevalence of wine in Jewish rituals likely reduced Jews' desire to drink recreationally. However, this notion has been challenged by some, including the owner of the Shmaltz Brewing Company, who has built his business on crafting beers for "Jewish celebrations".

Despite the stereotype, Jews have been key figures in the beer scene, both historically and in contemporary times. For example, in the 19th century, German Jewish immigrants to the United States were disproportionately represented in alcohol production, particularly in the distilling of whiskey. Similarly, in Colonial America, Jews are known to have consumed beer regularly, as evidenced by household records from a middle-class Jewish family in New York City.

Today, there is a growing number of Jewish producers in the craft beer industry, and several well-known breweries and beer labels have been founded by Jews. While the exact prevalence of alcoholism among Jews in the 1950s may be difficult to determine, the existence of Jewish individuals and communities struggling with addiction cannot be denied.

Jewish beer consumption in the US

Jewish people have had a long and complex relationship with beer, and this continues to evolve in the United States today.

Historical Jewish Beer Consumption

The consumption of beer by Jewish people dates back to ancient times. While ancient Israelites favoured wine, after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BCE, Jews were exiled to Babylonia and adopted the Babylonian taste for beer. The Talmud records four different types of beer, brewed from barley, dates, figs, and beer (although the fourth type is unclear). Beer was also an acceptable substitute for wine in the Havdalah ceremony, marking the transition from Shabbat to the rest of the week.

In the Middle Ages, Jews were barred by law from brewing beer in Germany, but they became central to the industry in another way: by growing hops, a crucial ingredient in beer. By the time the Nazis rose to power in the 1930s, Jews controlled about 70% of Germany's hops industry.

In Colonial America, ale was a popular drink, and Jews are known to have partaken in beer consumption during this time as well.

Jewish Influence on the Modern Beer Industry

In Germany, Jews were allowed to make and sell beer from 1868 onwards, and they quickly revolutionized the industry, introducing modern manufacturing methods. Jewish brewers were pioneers of modern beer factories and improved beer production in Germany and beyond.

Jewish people also played a significant role in bringing beer to the United States. In the 19th century, waves of German immigrants, including Jews, brought their taste for beer and brewing expertise to cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee. One of the most renowned and long-lasting beer brands, Rheingold Beer, was owned by a German-Jewish family, the Liebmanns.

Jewish Beer Consumption in the Contemporary US

Today, Jewish people in the US are key figures in the craft beer movement. Many Jewish producers are making boutique beers, some emphasising their Jewish roots with names like "Messiah", "Manna", and "Jewbilation".

The story of Jewish beer consumption in the US reflects the broader process of American acculturation. While previous generations of Jews may have preferred other alcoholic drinks, today, Jewish people are just as likely as their non-Jewish neighbours to enjoy a frosty brew.

Jewish involvement in the beer industry

While the stereotype of Jewish sobriety persists, Jews have a long and influential history in the alcohol industry, including beer. This involvement spans Europe, Israel, and North America, and dates back to ancient times.

In ancient Israel, wine was preferred over beer. However, after the destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BCE, Jews were exiled to Babylonia and adopted the Babylonian taste for beer. The Talmud records four different types of beer brewed from barley, dates, figs, and beer (Pesachim 107a). Beer was also an acceptable substitute for wine in the Havdalah ceremony, marking the transition from Shabbat to the rest of the week.

During the Middle Ages in Germany, Jews were barred by law from brewing beer, the popular national drink. However, they became central to the beer industry in another way: by growing hops, a crucial ingredient in beer. By the time the Nazis rose to power in the 1930s, Jews controlled about 70% of Germany's important hops industry.

In Poland, a 1764 census found that approximately 80% of Jews living in villages worked in the alcohol trade, including beer. Many of the innkeepers who ran taverns were Jews, as they were seen as more sober and responsible than the general population. By the middle of the 19th century, approximately 85% of all Polish taverns had Jewish management.

In Colonial America, ale was a popular drink, and Jews are known to have partaken in beer consumption as well. For example, the household of Judah Hay, a middle-class Jew in New York City, recorded monthly spending on three barrels of beer.

In Germany, Jews were allowed to make and sell beer in 1868, and they quickly revolutionized the industry. Jewish brewers introduced modern manufacturing methods, with pioneers like Jakob von Hirsch, who opened Germany's first industrial-scale brewery. Jewish involvement was also significant in well-known beer brands such as Lowenbrau and Carlsberg Beer.

In the 19th century, waves of German immigrants, including Jews, brought their taste for beer and brewing expertise to America. One of the best-known beer labels founded by a German Jewish family was Rheingold Beer, started by Samuel Liebermann in Brooklyn in 1850.

Today, the current explosion of craft beer brewing in America has included a high number of Jewish producers making boutique beers, such as the Schmaltz Brewery of New York.

Israel might not have been known for beer in ancient times, but today it boasts a cutting-edge beer scene, with high-quality microbreweries and annual beer festivals in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The first beer company in modern Israel was Palestine Brewery Ltd., opened in 1934 in Rishon Le Zion.

Jewish drinking culture in Poland

Historical Jewish Drinking Culture in Poland

From the early 19th century until the early 20th century, approximately 85% of registered taverns in Poland were leased by Jews. This was due to a few factors:

• Jews were usually denied permission to buy land, join guilds, or pursue higher education, so they became tavern-keepers and bartenders as it was a lucrative middle-class occupation.
• Polish nobles were happy to have Jews run their taverns because of the stereotype that Jews didn't drink much.

During this time, drinking in Jewish taverns was a place of social intermingling for Poles and Jews. Jewish tavern-keepers commonly played the fiddle while Catholic customers danced to both Slavic and Yiddish tunes.

However, Jewish drinking culture in Poland also led to anti-Semitic vitriol. A common Polish proverb at the time was: "The peasant drinks at the inn, and the Jew does him in."

Modern-Day Jewish Drinking Culture in Poland

Today, Poland has a steady increase in alcohol consumption. Beer is the most popular drink, with over half of the surveyed group consuming it. Vodka is also popular and is considered the national drink.

Poland has a strict approach to drinking in public—it's forbidden by law to drink alcohol in public places like parks and town squares. The country also has strict laws about blood alcohol content while driving.

Frequently asked questions