The Sweet Jewish History of Jelly Beans

The Sweet Jewish History of Jelly Beans

“The difference between a cow and a bean is a bean can begin an adventure.” – Stephen SondheimAs a child, I was so dazzled by the diverse flavors and hues of jelly beans that I begged my mother to help me dress as a bag of ’em for Halloween. To achieve this effect, she wrapped me in flammable diaphanous white tulle into which she stuffed no fewer than 10 fully inflated multicolored balloons. Miraculously, I survived trick-or-treating despite the…