The kosher food guide is a set of guidelines to what people can eat according to Jewish rules. Also termed kashrut (fitness for use), food that is allowed to be eaten according to these rules is called kosher or kasher. Literally meaning in Hebrew \”fit for consumption according to Jewish law\”, the concept of kosher is created to adhere with the concepts of being clean, intact, and spotless. A lot of the basic laws of kashrut are derived from 2 of the Torah\’s books: Leviticus and Deuteronomy, with some of the rules transmitted over time by word of mouth way back from the generation of Moses. Finally, this was codified in the Mishnah, one of the earlier parts of the Talmud. Kosher, as an English word, is actually a slang that roughly translates to proper or acceptable.

Any style of cooking can actually be prepared the kosher way. However, even Jewish style cooking can be deemed non kosher. Non kosher food is termed trayf, derived from the Hebrew word terayfa, meaning torn. The logic behind this is that a commandment states that meat \”torn\” by other animals must not be eaten. There are 2 primary driving forces behind the following of the kosher system. First, it is a way to show obedience to his/her faith, and second, it is a way to show and preserve Jewish unity and identity.

The kosher food guide explicitly tells its followers what food is kosher and what is not. Generally, all fruits and vegetables are considered to be kosher. However, grape products such as wine and grape juice may or may not be considered kosher due to its history of involvement in pagan offerings. Wine and grape juice is considered kosher only if it is made under Jewish supervision. As for meat, only animals that possess cloven hooves, non-carnivorous, and chew cud are considered to be kosher. Therefore, meat coming from swine, camels, and rodents are considered to be non-kosher. For water dwelling animals, those that do not possess fins and scales are considered non-kosher. That means, animals such as crabs, bivalves, lobsters, and mollusks (octopus, squid) are considered to be non-kosher. With regards to birds, they are considered non-kosher if they are birds of prey or if they feed on carrion. Reptiles are not allowed for consumption.

In addition to these, there are specific conditions that must be followed in order to keep food kosher. Animals that are going to be slaughtered for their meat must not have diseases to be considered kosher. Also, a ritualized slaughter must be enforced because blood is not allowed to be consumed and a systematic technique which involves cutting the throat cleanly, draining the blood, washing, salting, and proper cooking must be followed. Also, the meat part that locates the sciatic nerve is considered non-kosher (an example is fillet mignon). In addition, meat and dairy products cannot be combined on the same meal. This means, meals such as cheeseburgers and cordon bleu are considered non-kosher. Lastly, there are also rules governing utensils used for cooking that can deem a food product to be kosher or non-kosher.

The kosher food guide can be a pretty complex diet to follow. But for devout Jews, it is the right way to go. In fact, in recognition of them, consumer groups can now be certified to be kosher so long as they follow the proper processes.

Are you looking for more information regarding Kosher Food Guide? Visit http://www.ehalal.org today!

Are you looking for more information regarding Kosher Food Guide? Visit http://www.ehalal.org today!

Author Bio: Are you looking for more information regarding Kosher Food Guide? Visit http://www.ehalal.org today!

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: kosher food,considered non kosher,kosher food guide