Kashrut Food Laws

Kashrut: These are religious laws that concern what Jews can and cannot eat. These rules are relaxed in life and death situations.

Most of the basic laws of Kashrut are derived from the Torah's Books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. While the Torah does not state the rationale for most kashrut laws, many reasons have been suggested, including philosophical, practical and hygienic.

Jewsish kitchens are often divided into 2 sections: one for handling meat products and one for handling dairy products. Therefore, there are 2 sets of cutlery, utensils, pans etc.

Meat and dairy utensils can never be washed in the same dishwasher at the same time, hested in the microwave at the same time or dishes cannot be washed in the sink at the same time!

Kosher: fit to eat. Foods that are Kosher may be prepared in a certain manner. The following foods are Kosher.

1. Eggs - kosher unless there is a spot of blood. They must be drained of blood completely.

2. Meat and poultry must be drained of blood, killed without pain and with kindness and compassion. This process is called schechitah. 

3. Fish with fins and scales.

4. Pareve - food that is organic or plant based. ie. fruit and vegetables.

5. Herbivores with a split hoof - lamb, goat, etc.

in Kosher supermarkets and shops, there is usually a K marked on each package to show that a food product would be kosher or not.

Treifer: foods that are not permissible to eat. The following foods are treifer:

1. Shellfish are  not permissible to eat. For example, prawns, clams, mussels, crabs etc. To add to this, seafood without fins or scales cannot be eaten also.

2. Among the numerous laws of Kashrut are the prohibitions on the consumption of unclean animals - pork is part of this. Also, animals must be drained of blood and killed with compassion and kindness and no pain. 

3. Meat and dairy cannot be eaten within 3 hours of each other. eg. lasagne, cheeseburger

4. Birds of prey cannot be eaten.

5. Animals wit a solid hoof and don't eat grass cannot be eaten. eg. horse, pig etc.

In an Aetheist or non - religious view, one must appreciate that some of these rules have certain value, however some may not have an apparent reason behind them. For example, eating shellfish could cause an upset stomach at the time of these laws and blood in meat could be unhealthy. However, waiting 3 hours between meat and dairy may be considered unpractical.