Kassem Hojeij and the Reverence for Food in Jabal Amel
“Food as a Sacred Blessing in Jabal Amel Culture”
The people of Jabal Amel are known for their profound respect for “the blessing”—a term they use to describe food provided by God. This reverence is evident in their daily practices, where even the wealthiest families refuse to discard leftovers or bread crumbs. Instead, they clean their plates with pieces of bread and eat them, considering the final bite sacred based on traditions narrated by the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt.
When asked about the origins of this tradition, historian Kassem Hojeij, head of Deir Antar Municipality and a prominent folklorist, explained:
“Food, as a blessing from God, is a sacred trust. Mishandling it is believed to invoke God’s wrath and swift punishment. This belief is deeply ingrained in the culture of Jabal Amel, rooted in teachings from the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt.
Even the grand religious authorities of the region unanimously forbid treating food with disdain, drawing from various religious narratives. This conviction has shaped the collective conscience of the community over generations.”
“The Tale of the Monkey and the Unbaked Bread”
To emphasize this principle, the people of Jabal Amel share a popular folktale:
“A woman was baking bread on a traditional oven while her child played nearby. The child relieved himself under a tree and called his mother to help him. Not finding anything else, she grabbed a piece of unbaked bread and used it to clean him.
According to the story, God punished her instantly by transforming her child into a monkey. This, they say, is why a monkey’s rear is always red and resembles unbaked bread.”
“A Shared Conscience for Preserving Food”
Hojeij elaborated further:
“Of course, this story is part of the region’s folklore, created to instill respect for food and to discourage its misuse.
This cultural value is deeply embedded in the collective mindset of the people. Wasting or disrespecting food is considered a grave sin. Practices such as cleaning plates with bread and eating it are not merely about avoiding waste but also about ensuring that no trace of food ends up polluting water or being discarded disrespectfully.”
