The meat of those animals that chew cud and have paired hooves is considered kosher: sheep, goats, cows, deer. You cannot include in your diet the meat of a pig, dog, rabbit, cat, horse, bear, camel, whale, seal, lion and other animals that belong to the class of carnivores. Do not eat meat from a sick animal, or the meat of an animal that was improperly slaughtered, as well as the meat of an animal that died a natural death.
To make meat kosher, the animal is slaughtered in such a way as to cause it as little pain and suffering as possible - in one movement using a sharp knife, and then all the blood is removed: for this, the meat is soaked in water, salted and placed on a wire rack so that the remaining blood drips off, and after an hour, rinse well.
According to the Jewish law 'Do not eat blood (blood is considered to be a sign of a living being)' liver is not permissible to boil or fry in a frying pan: it can only be cooked over an open fire - the product is cut and washed with water, salted and fried over the fire, after heat treatment the offal should be rinse again with water. Only after the manipulations have been completed is it allowed to be consumed or cooked (frying) in a special container for meat.
The thighs of an animal from which the sciatic nerves have not been removed, as well as the fat near the stomach, are not suitable for food. According to the commandment: “Do not boil a kid in its mother’s milk” (Ex. 23:19), you cannot mix meat and milk, you can even eat these products only with a time interval of 6 hours, and the interval between meals from milk and meat is no less two. The word “milk” in this commandment means all dairy products: sour cream, cheese, butter, cottage cheese, kefir. This requirement is followed so carefully that different utensils are used to prepare such dishes, which are kept in separate cabinets. Jews with sufficient financial resources set up two kitchens: dairy and meat.
The following birds are considered kosher: geese, chickens, ducks, turkeys, quails, pigeons and pheasants. Unsuitable for food are many birds of prey and wild birds, including the eagle, pelican, owl, crow, stork, and seagull. The eggs of these birds are also unclean. All birds must be healthy and properly slaughtered.
According to the commandments of kashrut, a product from a non-kosher animal (milk, eggs) is also non-kosher. For example, you cannot eat turtle eggs - the turtle is a type of reptile that is unfit for consumption. Camel milk is also considered club milk. The exception is honey, a waste product of bees.
Kosher fish
A fish that has scales and fins is considered suitable for Jews. Clubs include dolphins, catfish, catfish, and eels. Crustaceans (crabs, crayfish, lobsters, shrimp) and mollusks (mussels, snails, oysters) are considered clubbed (unclean) - not consistent with the principles of kashrut. The anti-blood law does not apply to fish. Sturgeon caviar is one of the unclean waste products of fish. Fish is a parevous (neutral) product; it can be combined with dairy products. Cooking meat and fish dishes is not recommended from a medical point of view.
The Torah prohibits eating snakes, frogs and worms, as well as all insects (with the exception of four types of locusts).
Other Kosher Products
Bread and wine that were not made by a Jew are not considered kosher. During Easter, it is forbidden to eat bread that has been prepared with yeast. Instead, Jews eat thin flatbreads made with flour and water, called matzah.
Dishes
Tableware can become non-kosher if hot clubs are placed on it. In a family where food consumption laws are strictly adhered to, this cannot happen, but violations of this rule are possible when visiting or visiting a restaurant.
Food prepared from milk and meat is prohibited from being served together.
Almost every person knows about the existence of the concept of “kosher food”. What is this term? What does it mean? The concept of kosher products came to us from Israel. It is there that there is a strict set of specific laws and rules for Jewish believers - halakha. This list of norms covers the foundations of both family and religious, as well as social life. The concept of kashrut is present in halakhah. It means the suitability and permissibility of something for the life of believers.
Jews strictly adhere to the laws of kashrut when choosing products for preparing various dishes. They dictate religious rules and ways of storing food. In other words, control over the quality of kosher food is quite strict. It is carried out by one hundred and seventy organizations in Israel, each of which has its own seal. If the food meets the kosher requirements, everyone who wants to try it will know about it. The product will be marked with one of these seals.
What does it include? Foods that must be eaten according to the laws of halakhah include:
- “basar” (meat products);
- “freebie” (dairy products);
- “parve” (neutral products).
What does kosher basar food mean? This is animal meat. Moreover, only ruminant herbivores with cloven hooves, whose habitat is land, are suitable for the term “basar”. Thus, kosher animals include cows and sheep, gazelles and goats, giraffes and moose. Pigs, rabbits and camels are not included in this list. To be kosher, meat must not have any blood. Religious laws are very strict in this regard. It is believed that eating food with blood (even if it is contained in an egg in the form of a clot) awakens cruelty in a person.
Among poultry, only turkeys and ducks, chickens and geese, as well as pigeons are included in the kosher list. Eggs allowed by religious laws to be eaten must have one pointed end and the other rounded. Fish considered kosher has two characteristics. It must have fins and scales. Eating insects, worms and snakes is prohibited by halakhah.
Dairy products that qualify as kosher food, what are they? The list of “freebies” includes only those foods that are considered clean. In other words, dairy products must only come from kosher animals.
Neutral foods that fit the term kosher food, what is it? "Parve" are non-worm fruits and vegetables. In addition, neutral foods are allowed to be eaten by religious laws only when there has been no contact with non-kosher food. For example, it is forbidden to enjoy a tomato greased with pork fat.
Kosher products are quite common in the Israeli market. However, this trend has begun to change steadily in recent years. Kosher food has already appeared in Moscow. And the point here is not an increase in the number of Jews living in the capital. It’s just that more and more people are attaching importance to proper and healthy nutrition.
A dozen Moscow restaurants offer dishes prepared from products that comply with kashrut. Moreover, the number of such establishments is growing steadily every year. In Izmailovo, you can taste food prepared in accordance with Jewish religious canons at the Eshel establishment. On Tsvetnoy Boulevard you can visit the Tel Aviv restaurant, and on Sadovo-Triumfalnaya the Shokoladnitsa coffee shop will offer a wide selection of kosher dairy products.
Kosher food can be purchased at the store
Kosher food or food means any food that is allowed to be consumed according to the religious laws of Judaism - Kashrut. The laws of Kashrut are clearly established in the Torah and Talmud (Oral Torah).
Kosher food rules
The Hebrew word “kosher,” which we are accustomed to pronounce as “kosher,” means “fit.” When it comes to food, these laws are quite complex, but in short, they completely prohibit the consumption of certain types of food, such as pork and shellfish. A number of restrictions are imposed on other products, the most important of which is that meat and dairy products cannot be cooked together and consumed at the same meal.
This automatically excludes Western fast food, such as cheeseburgers and meat-filled pizza, from kosher food. In addition, lighting a fire is prohibited on Shabbat, so only cold or simmered foods are allowed during this period. With all this, thanks to the secular way of life of the majority of the Israeli population, you can find food here for every taste, and many restaurants offer non-kosher menus depending on the region. Kosher laws do not generally apply to the Arab regions of Israel (unless the restaurant is trying to cater to a mixed audience), but halal (the Muslim equivalent of kosher) is observed here.
There are very specific rules for kosher food:
- Only the meat of animals that are both ruminants (strictly herbivores) and artiodactyls (having cloven hooves) is allowed for food. Eating pork and hare is strictly prohibited. There are also specific rules for the slaughter of kosher animals - shechita. The slaughter must be carried out by a specially trained person - a shoikhet.
- As for poultry meat, the Torah does not give any specific signs of kosher birds. She simply rattles off a list of trap birds. Among them are such as eagle, owl, pelican. However, the main feature of the prohibited species is that they are birds of prey.
- Kosher eggs can only come from kosher birds. One of the main signs is different ends (sharp and blunt). Eating blood is also prohibited, so eggs with blood clots are considered non-kosher (however, the part with the clot is often simply cut out).
- Kosher fish are those that have scales and fins. Therefore, for example, catfish and sturgeon are prohibited for consumption (they do not have scales). Roe from non-kosher fish is also prohibited.
Kosher food on a plane
Kosher meals on planes are offered by many airlines flying to Israel, including Russian ones, for example Aeroflot. According to the standards of the International Air Transport Association, on regular flights, a passenger can be provided with a special meal KSML (Kosher Meal) - lunch prepared in compliance with the laws of kashrut. All rations must be approved by the leadership of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, the Moscow Jewish Community and personally by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Mr. Berl Lazar. Each diet comes with a kosher certificate. The packaging must contain seals and marks of compliance with the level of kashrut. For those who keep kosher, lunch on board will be served without pork or meat-dairy combinations.
Which Russian airlines provide kosher meals:
- Aeroflot - provides kosher meals on board free of charge, the order must be made 36 hours before departure.
- S7 - quite difficult to order (at the ticket office or by special phone), kosher meals on board will cost an additional 500 rubles.
- Transaero - provides (or provided, since the company is under threat of bankruptcy) kosher food for free.
And if you, for example, fly with El-Al, then all the food on board will be kosher by default.
Kosher food on an airplane has a number of features. For example, such food is usually purchased by the air carrier from special organizations. And the lunch box with kosher food has a special lock that can only be opened by a passenger on board, thereby ensuring that the food is kosher.
Kosher menu in restaurants and hotels
Many Israeli hotels offer kosher food. Be prepared to be served dairy products for breakfast, and for lunch and dinner there will be no milk for coffee or butter to spread on bread (however, soy milk substitutes and spreads are often found). Most large supermarkets sell only kosher products, but in recent years more and more non-kosher supermarkets and department stores have been popping up, thanks in part to the huge number of non-religious Jews who have moved to Israel from the former Soviet Union.
The situation with restaurants is somewhat more complex: Tel Aviv has fewer kosher restaurants than more religious cities such as Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, on the contrary, kosher cafes and restaurants are much more common. Remember that restaurants that remain open on Shabbat cannot obtain kosher certification, so some restaurants that are not kosher certified may still serve kosher food. So, if in doubt, there is no need to speculate - just ask. If a restaurant is kosher, it means that it will serve either only dairy-based food or only meat dishes. Restaurants serving dairy products are suitable for vegetarian tourists, but some dishes are likely to contain fish and eggs.
Kosher fast food
For devout Jews and tourists, there are kosher McDonald's restaurants. Please note that most restaurants in this chain are still non-kosher, so check before you place your order. Most Burger King restaurants in Israel are kosher, and the same applies to the Israeli fast food brand Burger Ranch. Also kosher establishments in Israel include Pizza Hut restaurants, so get ready to get pizza without meat topping. But Domino snack bars are not kosher and therefore the set of fillings in them coincides with the European standard.
There is one pitfall in finding kosher food: there are scammers selling fake kashrut certificates. So if you want to try real kosher food (or your religion prevents you from eating anything else), ask to see a certificate issued by your local rabbinate or a reputable kashrut certification agency. Certificates issued by unknown organizations should never be trusted.
Kosher food ( product or food) - This that food that conforms to the ancient Jewish dietary laws is KASHRUTH. The word Kosher itself can be interpreted as: correct or suitable. Accordingly, food that meets all the rules of Kashrut is called “kosher food” - “healthy food”.
What is Kashrut, Kosher and Kosher food - in simple words.
As has already become clear from the first paragraph, the word “kosher” means that a particular product is good and suitable for consumption by Jews from the point of view of their religious worldview. But, in order to understand why some products are considered kosher and others are not, we need to break this concept down into its simple components.
So, we already know that the concept of “kosher” comes from a set of rules - Kashrut. In turn, Kashrut corresponds to the laws prescribed in Halacha. For a complete understanding, let's consider what these terms mean.
What is Halacha.
Halacha is a set of Jewish laws that regulate absolutely all aspects of Jewish life, including family life, religion, social behavior and even nutrition. In simple words, we can say that this is a kind of instruction, where it is written what and how to do in order to live life correctly.
What is Kashrut?
Kashrut is term ( list of rules) from the above-mentioned set of rules that determines the suitability or unsuitability of something. This list of rules is very extensive and contains many elements from various religious sources. That is why some rules are very controversial. Which in turn leads to some Jewish communities considering some foods to be kosher, while others consider them not to be kosher. However, despite differences in views, it is customary to adhere to general rules.
Kashrut - basic rules. (Kosher Laws):
- Some animals cannot be eaten at all. This restriction includes the flesh, organs, eggs and milk of prohibited animals;
- Animals that are permitted to be eaten must be killed in accordance with Jewish law;
- All blood from animal or poultry meat must be extracted.
- Not all parts of legal animals can be eaten;
- Fruits and vegetables are allowed, but just in case, you should check whether this product is on the list of allowed ones;
- Meat should not be eaten with dairy products;
- Vegetables, fruits, grains and eggs can be eaten with both meat and milk;
- Fish is a controversial product. Depending on the community, it is permitted or prohibited to eat it with meat or milk;
- Utensils that come into contact with meat cannot be used with dairy products and vice versa;
- Utensils that have come into contact with non-kosher food cannot be used with kosher food. (the last 2 rules apply only to the area where contact occurred while the food was hot);
- Grape products produced by non-Jews cannot be eaten or drunk.
Kosher and Non-Kosher ( prohibited) animals.
There are many rules regarding which animals can be eaten and which cannot. For example, the most famous of these laws is the ban on eating pork. A pig is considered an “unclean” animal; therefore, eating anything connected with it is prohibited. The list of all animals allowed and prohibited for consumption is of course large, but we will give the main representatives:
This is Kosher:
- Cow;
- Deer;
- Sheep;
- Goat;
- Chicken;
- Duck;
- Geese;
- Turkey;
- A fish that has scales and fins ( tuna, carp and herring, etc.).
This is not kosher:
- Pig;
- Rabbit;
- Shellfish;
- Lobster;
- Cancers;
- Shrimps.
Use of the term "Kosher" in other areas.
The term “kosher” can be heard quite often in areas far from cuisine, food, and even from Jews themselves. The fact is that this word has become very popular in everyday speech and has acquired an approving or condemning connotation of this or that subject of conversation. For example, if someone during a conversation says a phrase like: “This is not kosher at all.”, this will mean that he does not like the idea being discussed or the like. By analogy, the expression: “This is kosher!” would mean approval.
Almost everyone who is planning to travel to Israel, or those who have already visited this country, have heard that food in Israel is kosher. Some believe that this is a special, dietary or separate diet. In fact, kosher food is food prepared according to the rules of kashrut.
Kashrut- a term in Judaism meaning the permissibility or suitability of something from the point of view of Halakha (the set of laws contained in the Torah and Talmud). In Judaism, the term kashrut is used not only in relation to nutrition, but is also used in other aspects of traditional life - from legal to everyday life.
Since ancient times, Jewish laws have strictly controlled every aspect of human life, this applies to food and methods of their preparation. The laws of kashrut state that Jews are forbidden to eat anything, and even permitted food must be prepared according to the rules.
What are these rules?
Animals:
Kosher animals have two characteristics: they must have cloven hooves and chew the cud. These are herbivores such as cows, sheep and goats. Many wild herbivores: moose, deer, gazelles, mountain goats, etc. also kosher. The Torah lists four types of animals that have only one of two signs of kosher: pig, camel, hyrax and hare - these animals are prohibited for food. An animal that is sick or killed during a hunt is not suitable for food. Fat near the stomach and intestines is forbidden, as is the thigh from which the sciatic nerve has not been removed (in memory of the forefather Jacob, whom an angel wounded in the thigh).
The laws of kashrut also apply to the process of slaughtering an animal. For meat to be fully kosher, it must meet certain requirements. A shochet (skilled carver) typically studies for many years to gain a general knowledge of Jewish law. Then he undergoes a special course for carvers, lasting about a year and ending with an exam. Only after this does he receive the right to slaughter the animal. The laws on shechita (animal slaughter) and testing an animal carcass for kosher are very numerous and complex, so only a person who has thoroughly studied them and received the appropriate diploma has the right to engage in this craft.
Bird:
The Torah does not define any signs for kosher birds, therefore only poultry, the kosher of which is confirmed by tradition, is eaten. These are chickens, turkeys, quails, ducks, geese and pigeons.
Eggs also have a sign of kosher: they must be from kosher birds, have different ends (one sharper, the other more rounded). Since blood is strictly prohibited for consumption, eggs that contain a blood clot in the yolk are unsuitable, but such eggs are not necessarily thrown away, but are simply freed of blood and eaten.
Fish:
Kosher fish have two characteristics: they have scales and fins. Only those fish species that have both of these characteristics at the same time are allowed.
All crustaceans (crabs, crayfish, lobsters, shrimp) and shellfish (octopus, oysters, squid) are non-kosher and prohibited for consumption.
Insects and amphibians:
Kashrut strictly prohibits eating insects (except locusts), amphibians and reptiles. This restriction requires careful selection and processing of herbs, vegetables, fruits, as well as flour and cereals.
The only exception to this rule is honey, a non-kosher insect product, which is allowed to be eaten because it (according to kashrut) is flower juice processed by a bee, and is therefore considered a product of plant origin, and not a waste product of the bee.
Beverages:
Basically, kosher beverages are associated with the consumption of wine. Since all the agricultural laws of the Torah are associated exclusively with the Land of Israel and do not apply in other countries, wine grown only in Israel, exclusively by religious Jews who observed all the rules of kashrut, is kosher.
Separately meat and dairy: this rule is one of the well-known rules of kashrut. It is prohibited to mix dairy and meat products: cook or eat them together. Because of this, a kosher kitchen must have separate utensils and, preferably, separate kitchen equipment for preparing meat and dairy.
In addition, the laws of kashrut establish the need for a time interval between eating meat and eating dairy.
Kosher food is associated not only with the food itself, but also with the utensils. All new utensils are kosher. Utensils can become non-kosher if non-kosher food was prepared or stored in them; such utensils can be made kosher by boiling them or calcining them over a fire. But this applies only to metal and glass dishes: dishes made of porcelain, wood or clay cannot be kosherized.
What explains such a set of rules for preparing and eating food? At the moment, there are several explanations for the commandment of kashrut:
Will of the Almighty: The fulfillment of the laws of kashrut is carried out solely as a sign of submission to the will of God.
Health (benefits of kosher food): observing the rules of kashrut is a sign of trust in God, who created the world, who gave humanity the Law in accordance with which to live. He knows better than anyone what is good and beneficial for a person’s spiritual well-being and physical health. Kosher food is traditionally considered healthier and safer than regular food, since the entire production process is strictly controlled and all technical and hygienic requirements are met.
Mercy (moral values): Cruelty to animals is expressly prohibited by the Torah. Hunting and killing animals for entertainment is prohibited. According to scientific research, “shechita” (slaughter of livestock according to the Torah) is one of the most humane methods of killing an animal. According to kashrut laws, any injured animal is no longer kosher. Therefore, the slaughterer kills animals in one motion to reduce pain to a minimum, while the animal loses consciousness in a split second.
Striving for Holiness: wherever kashrut is discussed, the Torah speaks of holiness. According to this view, the purpose of kashrut laws is to instill qualities such as self-discipline and self-restraint. By controlling his diet, a person learns to control his desires and passions and, thereby, grows spiritually.
Maintaining Unity: Kosher brings Jews together, no matter where they are. When a kosher-observant Jew travels to another city or country, he will look for a synagogue, a rabbi, and a community where he can get kosher food. Thus, a Jew who observes the laws of kashrut will never find himself alone in any city in the world where Jews live.
Because the kosher quality of foods cannot be objectively verified, some Jewish communities rely on the judgment of a rabbi, a recognized authority in the community, to determine kosher.
Loading...