Multicultural Manners : Right Food, Wrong Holiday

Executives at supermarket headquarters think highly of Bob. He is considered one of their best managers: Employee turnover is low; Food receipts are high, and he capably caters to the special food needs of his large multiethnic trade.

Someone informs Bob, who is not Jewish, that the Jewish High Holy Days occur very early this year, right after Labor Day. Accordingly, Chapman arranges for a prominent display of Jewish foods. He creates an attractive presentation of matzos and matzo meal products. However, when one of his Jewish customers catches sight of his handiwork, she bursts into laughter.

What went wrong?

Bob’s intentions were good, but he had his Jewish holidays confused. Matzos and matzo meal products are a necessity at Passover time, observed in the spring. They have no relevance to Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. At this time, leavened bread may be eaten, especially a round holiday egg bread.

Errors are bound to occur when we live in a multicultural society: A Latino student innocently served roast beef to her strictly Hindu classmate; an American teacher naively brought a bottle of wine to her Pakistani hosts, unaware that alcohol was forbidden; and an engineer barbecued slabs of pork ribs for his Muslim coworkers.

Rule: When we make cultural blunders, we should apologize. At the same time, we should inform others gently when they have broken our cultural rules.

Norine Dresser is a folklorist and author of “I Felt Like I Was From Another Planet,” (Addison Wesley). Tell her your experiences c/o Voices.