The History of Antisemitism: “All Consuming”
09/09/2025 @ 7:00 pm
Meat is one of the most visible markers of Jewish distinctness and social separation. In his book, All Consuming: Germans, Jews, and the Meaning of Meat, John Efron argues that meat has played an especially important role in the formation of Jewish and Christian identities in Germany from the Middle Ages until today. To an extent not seen elsewhere in Europe, the importance of meat is reflected in many realms including the visual arts, literature, religion, politics, commerce, and home life. Studying the history of meat and its multiple meanings in Germany tells us much about the changing nature of German and German-Jewish identity, the links between religion, nationality, politics, and food. Above all, focusing on meat provides us with a singular window into the rich, fraught, and ultimately tragic history of German Jewry. Efron will be in conversation about his book with Michael Brenner.
