A small sampling of cookbooks for the frum cook:
1977, revised throughout the 70's into the 80's, 3-4 recipes per page, close to 200 pages, no photos of recipes
1985, 2-3 recipes per page, 260 pages, no photos of recipes
1990 2-3 recipes per page, nearly 500 pages, no photos of recipes
1995 1 recipe per page, lots of explanations, 400 pages, no photos
1999 Usually 3-4 recipes per page, nearly 300 pages, a small section of color photographs of a few recipes in the book
2003 1 recipe per page, close to 300 pages, many pages taken up by color photos and words from the author
2007 mostly 1 recipe per page, 300 pages, many pages taken up by color photos and lots of talk from the author
2009 1 recipe per page, many pages taken up by color photos, 200 pages
end of 2011 - 1 recipe per page, many pages taken up by color photos, 350 pages, many of which are not recipes
Summary: Years ago, we usually got more recipes per cookbook and no photos.
Commentary: Are there other parts of frum life that are similar to the evolution of cookbooks - less substance and more frills than in years gone by? In certain areas, yes. Though romanticizing frum life in previous decades does not give us an accurate picture either.
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I would say that in years gone by, the frum world had more leadership that was directly involved with the people. I guess that I would say that as a member of the Lubavitch community. We had constant fresh input from the Rebbe and very strong and vibrant leadership. We still have the writings and the letters and the buildings and the ohel but we do not have the physical face to face yechidus. I would be hard pressed to identify the leader of the Chabad movement today. There are esteemed rabbonim and roshei yeshiva but no one leader that has earned the respect of the entire community.
ReplyDeleteLife has changed in many ways since the Rebbe became Rebbe and since gimmel Tammuz. Parnassa is a bigger struggle, the internet has taken over, observance of tznius is in jeopardy, there are lawsuits in civil courts of Jew against Jew, chinuch costs are driving down birth rates, etc. All of this is to make us cry louder for Moshiach because there is no one alive in a physical sense to direct us.
So yes, there is less substance. Frills? We have numerous kosher websites and some that are questionably kosher. We have frum clothing stores; some also with questionable tznius, and more frum restaurants and catering facilities that we truly hope are as kosher as eating at home. We pay lots more for yeshiva tuition but fewer kids remain true to what they learned in yeshiva. We have more Jewish music, some of which isn't really Jewish; it is merely performed by Jews. We have large asifas and siyumim so hopefully that means more inspiration.