Kosher meals are foods that are prepared in line with Jewish dietary laws (also known as kashrut). These laws are lifted from the Bible in the book of Leviticus chapter 11. Food that conforms to these requirements must meet a number of predetermined conditions. Any sort of combination of a kosher food with one that is considered non-kosher makes the whole meal unclean. Overtime, there have been various modifications to these requirements in an effort to conform to modern practices in the Jewish community.
The diversity of these meals can no longer be restricted to the Jews since many more cultures and ethnic groups have embraced them for various reasons. The Muslims, for instance, now partake of it simply because it fits in to their definition of clean and pure foods as described in their Islamic dietary laws. In addition, people conscious of their health may opt to incorporate some of the foods considered clean as per kashrut as they are prepared under extremely hygienic conditions.
It is no very clear why many Jews still follow the kashrut principles. Many say that they do this simply because it is a law that has been passed to them by their ancestors. They cannot question a law that is Biblical in origin. The authorities support these principles with the assertion that they help keep the community clean. They also think that it is a way of ensuring that the Jews maintain their identity.
In the Biblical book of Leviticus, the law approves the consumption of meat obtained from an animal with a split hoof and chews the cud. If it only fulfils one of these conditions and not the other, then it is considered unclean. The law goes further to prohibit the handling of carcases belonging to these animals. Animals that fall in this category include the camel, the pig, the hyrax and the rabbit.
Some sea creatures, birds and insects are detestable under the Jewish law. Among the sea creatures, only those that have fins and scales are to be eaten. Some birds such as eagles, vultures, kites, owls among others were considered unclean. Some of the winged creatures that hop on the ground were fit for food. These included locust, katydid and grasshopper.
The general rule is that all products obtained from an unclean creature are similarly unclean. These include, among others, milk, eggs and other products such as cheese and butter. The reverse is also true. The only exception to this rule is the consumption of an egg from a clean animal but showing signs of hatching.
There is another interesting assertion of these laws. Authorities insist that any kind of food prepared by a non-Jew is also unclean. The only exception to this rule is non-Jew Christians. Their food may be eaten by the Jews. Any meat that is consumed must be from an animal that was slaughtered in a humane manner whether by a Christian or a Jew.
Certain measures have been put in place to ensure meals available meet the requirements. Foods have to undergo a form of standardisation and approval from rabbinic leaders before they are released in to the market. Currently, kosher meals carry a mark of approval or a kosher certification label. It should however be noted that the blessings some of the very observant Jews speak over their food before eating, has nothing to do with making the meal kosher.
The diversity of these meals can no longer be restricted to the Jews since many more cultures and ethnic groups have embraced them for various reasons. The Muslims, for instance, now partake of it simply because it fits in to their definition of clean and pure foods as described in their Islamic dietary laws. In addition, people conscious of their health may opt to incorporate some of the foods considered clean as per kashrut as they are prepared under extremely hygienic conditions.
It is no very clear why many Jews still follow the kashrut principles. Many say that they do this simply because it is a law that has been passed to them by their ancestors. They cannot question a law that is Biblical in origin. The authorities support these principles with the assertion that they help keep the community clean. They also think that it is a way of ensuring that the Jews maintain their identity.
In the Biblical book of Leviticus, the law approves the consumption of meat obtained from an animal with a split hoof and chews the cud. If it only fulfils one of these conditions and not the other, then it is considered unclean. The law goes further to prohibit the handling of carcases belonging to these animals. Animals that fall in this category include the camel, the pig, the hyrax and the rabbit.
Some sea creatures, birds and insects are detestable under the Jewish law. Among the sea creatures, only those that have fins and scales are to be eaten. Some birds such as eagles, vultures, kites, owls among others were considered unclean. Some of the winged creatures that hop on the ground were fit for food. These included locust, katydid and grasshopper.
The general rule is that all products obtained from an unclean creature are similarly unclean. These include, among others, milk, eggs and other products such as cheese and butter. The reverse is also true. The only exception to this rule is the consumption of an egg from a clean animal but showing signs of hatching.
There is another interesting assertion of these laws. Authorities insist that any kind of food prepared by a non-Jew is also unclean. The only exception to this rule is non-Jew Christians. Their food may be eaten by the Jews. Any meat that is consumed must be from an animal that was slaughtered in a humane manner whether by a Christian or a Jew.
Certain measures have been put in place to ensure meals available meet the requirements. Foods have to undergo a form of standardisation and approval from rabbinic leaders before they are released in to the market. Currently, kosher meals carry a mark of approval or a kosher certification label. It should however be noted that the blessings some of the very observant Jews speak over their food before eating, has nothing to do with making the meal kosher.
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