Difference between revisions of "Kosher"

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[[Image:Kashrut advertizement.jpg|thumb|right|300px|As illustrated by this advertizement for a New York delicatessen, the observance of kosher transforms food into a vehicle for holiness, making the kitchen the spiritual hub of the home. Through observance, every activity associated with food becomes an opportunity for spiritual refinement.<ref>"Y2K" (2002) [http://www.ok.org/Content.asp?ID=22 Committee For The Advancement of Torah]. Retrieved 23 July 2008.</ref>]]
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[[Image:Kashrut advertizement.jpg|thumb|right|300px|As illustrated by this advertisement for a New York delicatessen, the observance of kosher transforms food into a vehicle for holiness, making the kitchen the spiritual hub of the home. Through observance, every activity associated with food becomes an opportunity for spiritual refinement.<ref>"Y2K" (2002) [http://www.ok.org/Content.asp?ID=22 Committee For The Advancement of Torah]. Retrieved 23 July 2008.</ref>]]
 
[[Kosher]] is the [[English|Anglicized]] form of the [[Hebrew]] term ''kasher'', which literally means "good" or "proper," but came to indicate an item "fit for ritual use." '''Kashrut''' thus means "fitness" for ritual use.<ref>"Kosher Terminology" [http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/practices/kosher.htm Keeping Kosher: Jewish Dietary Laws]. Retrieved 23 July 2008.</ref> The Hebrew word for non-kosher is ''trayf'', derived from the word ''terayfa'', "torn", stemming from the commandment not to eat meat that has been "torn" by other animals.<ref name="k">http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm</ref> Any style of food may be kosher or non-kosher, from [[China|Chinese]] to [[Mexico|Mexican]] to [[Jewish]] food. Similarly, traditional Ashkenazic Jewish foods like knishes, bagels, blintzes, and matzah ball soup can all be non-kosher if not prepared in accordance with Jewish law.<ref>"Kashrut: Jewish Dietary Laws" [http://kosherfood.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=kosherfood&cdn=food&tm=18&gps=180_189_1436_754&f=10&tt=14&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm Judaism 101]. Retrieved 23 July 2008.</ref>
 
[[Kosher]] is the [[English|Anglicized]] form of the [[Hebrew]] term ''kasher'', which literally means "good" or "proper," but came to indicate an item "fit for ritual use." '''Kashrut''' thus means "fitness" for ritual use.<ref>"Kosher Terminology" [http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/practices/kosher.htm Keeping Kosher: Jewish Dietary Laws]. Retrieved 23 July 2008.</ref> The Hebrew word for non-kosher is ''trayf'', derived from the word ''terayfa'', "torn", stemming from the commandment not to eat meat that has been "torn" by other animals.<ref name="k">http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm</ref> Any style of food may be kosher or non-kosher, from [[China|Chinese]] to [[Mexico|Mexican]] to [[Jewish]] food. Similarly, traditional Ashkenazic Jewish foods like knishes, bagels, blintzes, and matzah ball soup can all be non-kosher if not prepared in accordance with Jewish law.<ref>"Kashrut: Jewish Dietary Laws" [http://kosherfood.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=kosherfood&cdn=food&tm=18&gps=180_189_1436_754&f=10&tt=14&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm Judaism 101]. Retrieved 23 July 2008.</ref>
  

Revision as of 12:24, October 21, 2008

As illustrated by this advertisement for a New York delicatessen, the observance of kosher transforms food into a vehicle for holiness, making the kitchen the spiritual hub of the home. Through observance, every activity associated with food becomes an opportunity for spiritual refinement.[1]

Kosher is the Anglicized form of the Hebrew term kasher, which literally means "good" or "proper," but came to indicate an item "fit for ritual use." Kashrut thus means "fitness" for ritual use.[2] The Hebrew word for non-kosher is trayf, derived from the word terayfa, "torn", stemming from the commandment not to eat meat that has been "torn" by other animals.[3] Any style of food may be kosher or non-kosher, from Chinese to Mexican to Jewish food. Similarly, traditional Ashkenazic Jewish foods like knishes, bagels, blintzes, and matzah ball soup can all be non-kosher if not prepared in accordance with Jewish law.[4]

While Jewish Dietary Laws originated in the Bible (Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 17), they have been codified and interpreted over the centuries by rabbinical authorities, and the definitions of kosher have evolved in response to changes in the food industry, the Jewish people, and world culture.[5]

Rules of Kashrut

  1. A land animal, may be eaten if it chews its cud and has split hooves.[6]
  2. Animals which live in the water must have a skeleton and fins.[6]
  3. Blood is forbidden even from kosher animals.[7]
  4. The sciatic nerve and its adjoining blood vessels may not be eaten[8]
  5. Insects are forbidden.[6][9][10]
  6. Rodents, reptiles, and amphibians, are all forbidden. [6]
  7. Vegetables and fruits must be checked for insects.[9][10]
  8. Milk and meat and or poultry derived foods must not be mixed.[11]
  9. Also, animals must be killed in a specific way by a shohet (the exception being fish).[12]
  10. Separate silverware must be used for fleshig (meat and poultry) and milchig (milk) foods.[11]
  11. Utensils (pots, pans, plates, flatware, etc., etc.) must also be kosher. A utensil picks up the kosher "status" (meat, dairy, pareve, or treif) of the food that is cooked in it or eaten off of it, and transmits that status back to the next food that is cooked in it or eaten off of it.[13]
  12. Jews must wait 3 to 6 hours after eating fleshig to eat milchig, the reverse is not true though.[11]
  13. Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains can be eaten with either meat/poultry or dairy.[14]
  14. Amongst poultry, birds of prey are considered treyf.[6]
  15. Also wine can only be considered kosher if made by a Jew, because of the importance wine plays in Jewish holidays, the exception is if the wine is boiled.[15][16]
  16. When, after the ritual slaughtering, an animal, apparently sound during its life, is found to have been diseased, its milk, or cheese made of its milk, is forbidden as food. [17]
  17. The ancient Israelites looked with horror upon the custom prevalent among the surrounding nations of cutting off a limb or a piece of flesh from a living animal and eating it.[17] Such limbs had to be thrown away.[17]
  18. Water that was left uncovered overnight was not permitted as drink in olden times, because of the apprehension that a serpent might have left its venom in it.[17] Where serpents are not found this prohibition does not exist.[17]

Use in popular culture

The term kosher has entered the popular culture to describe anything or anyone which is considered legitimate, honest or pleasing.

Further reading

  • Binyomen Forst, The Laws of Kashrus, Mozniam, 1999
  • Isidore Grunfeld, The Jewish Dietary Laws, London: Soncino, 1972
  • Isaac Klein, A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice, JTSA, 1992
  • James M. Lebeau, The Jewish Dietary Laws: Sanctify Life, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, New York, 1983
  • Yacov Lipschutz, Kashruth: A Comprehensive Background and Reference Guide to the Principles of Kahruth. New York:Mesorah Publications Ltd, 1989

References

  1. ↑ "Y2K" (2002) Committee For The Advancement of Torah. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  2. ↑ "Kosher Terminology" Keeping Kosher: Jewish Dietary Laws. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  3. ↑ http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm
  4. ↑ "Kashrut: Jewish Dietary Laws" Judaism 101. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  5. ↑ Shimoni, Giora "What is Kosher Food?" About.com: Kosher Food. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm#Animals
  7. ↑ http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm#Blood
  8. ↑ http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm#Fats
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm#Fruits
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://www.skskosher.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=32
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm#Separation
  12. ↑ http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm#Shechitah
  13. ↑ http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm#Utensils
  14. ↑ http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm#Rules
  15. ↑ http://www.skskosher.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=32
  16. ↑ http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-thirst-wine.htm
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 Jewish Encyclopedia's article on Dietary Laws

External links

Resources on keeping kosher

Ritual slaughter

Miscellaneous

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