Kosher

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The circled U indicates that this product is certified as kosher by the Orthodox Union (OU). The word "Pareve" indicates that this product contains neither milk- nor meat-derived ingredients.

Kashrut or kashruth, or "kosher" is the name of the Jewish dietary laws. Food in accordance with halakha (Jewish law) is termed kosher in English, meaning fit for consumption by Jews according to traditional Jewish law.

Food products that are not in accordance with Jewish law are named trafe; the Hebrew word refers to animals (from a kosher species such as cattle or sheep) which had been either incorrectly slaughtered or mortally wounded by wild animals and therefore were not fit for Jewish consumption. Among Sephardim, it usually only refers to meat that is not kosher.

The basic laws of kashrut are in the Torah's Book of Leviticus, with their details set down in the Talmud. Numerous reasons have been offered for these laws, ranging from philosophical and ritualistic, to practical and hygienic. Although rabbis will typically tell you that claiming that kosher food is more hygienic than non-kosher food, this is a popular misconception.

The word kosher in its strictest sense is defined as meaning, "fit", but as in Yiddish it also generally means, authentic, acceptable, permissible, genuine or legitimate.

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

External links

Resources on keeping kosher

• Online resource for keeping Kosher and becoming Kosher certified - The Orthodox Union
• Questions and Answers about specific food products and kashrut in general
• Guide to keeping kosher and Kosher Recipes
• Guide to keeping kosher
• International Kosher Symbols and Kosher Food Guidance
• Kosher Certification
• The Star K's website
• The O-K's website
• A useful guide to the issues of kashrus

Ritual slaughter

• About Shechita: The Method of Animal Slaughter
• Controversy over recent PETA complaint
• Studies on pain during slaughter
• Conservative Judaism viewpoints on which methods should be considered kosher
• Proposed British ban on kosher and halal meat
• Campaign against all ritual slaughter

Miscellaneous

• About Kosher Food: Menus and Recipes
• Kosher.com
• Traditional Kosher foods recipes
• The Torah and vegetarianism
• Second Jewish Encyclopaedia's excerpt on kashrut and Jewish dietary laws
• Kashrut certification agencies (partial list) from around the world, and their symbols which are found on all food that has been deemed kosher.