The Origins of Bagels and Medieval Polish Anti-Semitism

Medieval Polish anti-Semitism led to the creation of bagels as Jews were forbidden from baking bread. They formed bread into rings and boiled it. During lockdown, the narrator became interested in the process of boiling bagels and discovered historical reasons behind it. There were laws enacted and lifted regarding Jewish people's ability to touch and sell bread. Some theories suggest concerns about contamination of communion bread or poisoning of bread by Jews. This anti-Semitism stemmed from the belief that Jewish people were trying to harm others through their bread.