-
Many Jews around the world keep a kosher diet.The word "kosher" refers to a food which as been prepared according to a set of Jewish dietary laws known as "kashrut." These complex rules are based on principles set out in the Torah, which is the primary document of Jewish law. Some rules are stated specifically in the Torah, while some have been formed with the help of tradition and rabbinical rulings. -
The Torah states that "beasts of the earth" which have cloven hooves and chew their cud are the only mammals which may be eaten. Mammals that only fit one of these criteria are forbidden. This means, for example, that the pig and hare may not be eaten, while cattle, sheep, goats and deer are permissible.
The Torah also provides a list of about 20 species of birds which are forbidden to be eaten, all of them scavengers or birds of prey. Permitted birds include chickens, geese, turkeys and ducks. Rodents, reptiles and most insects are forbidden in kosher diets. Seafood must have fins and scales, which means that shellfish and crustaceans are not allowed, while fish--such as tuna and salmon--are within kosher law. Products such as milk, eggs and cheese from forbidden animals are also not allowed. Dairy products coming from cows or goats are allowed, because these are permissible animals. - Birds and mammals must be slaughtered in a specific way, known as "shechita," in order to be eaten in a kosher diet. Mammals must have their throats cut with a special, very sharp knife, in a manner which causes rapid death. All blood must then be completely drained from the animal's body, since the Torah forbids it from being consumed. The innards are then inspected for abnormalities, in particular for any adhesions on the lung, which would render the meat nonkosher. Certain nerves, veins and fat must be removed, since they too are nonkosher. Due to the difficulty involved, some portions are often simply removed and sold as nonkosher. Finally, to remove any remaining blood, the meat is covered in coarse salt and then rinsed. This entire process must be completed within 72 hours in order for the meat to be considered kosher.
- Dairy and meat may not be eaten together, according to the Torah, which also forbids cooking the two together. In addition, the Talmud forbids serving the two on the same dish, at the same meal, or even within several hours of each other. Thus, kosher households maintain two sets of dishes, one for meat and one for dairy, each of which may be shared with other, neutral items (known by the Yiddish term "pareve"), such as vegetables, fruits or grains. In addition, kosher and nonkosher foods are not allowed to be prepared together under the rules of kashrut. Because of this, many people choose restaurants that only serve kosher foods, and buy products labeled as having been prepared only with other kosher foods.
