When it comes to religious dietary regulations, many people first think of the halal food of Islam or the vegetarian tradition of Buddhism.
In fact, as one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world, Judaism has an extremely strict and complex set of dietary laws, which are collectively called kashrut (food that conforms to the rules).
This set of rules is not just about what to eat, but is deeply rooted in Jewish belief, deeply rooted in Jewish history, and deeply rooted in Jewish identity.
For those who want to understand Jewish culture, for those who plan to dine with Jewish friends, and for those who are simply curious about religious food, knowing some basic taboos can avoid a lot of embarrassing situations. This is also a sign of respect for other people's beliefs.
What is “kosher”? core principles
The term kosher refers to foods that comply with Jewish dietary laws.
Its core principles are not concepts of modern nutrition, but derived from the Torah, the sacred commandments in the Jewish law Bible.
Its fundamental purpose is to practice the concept of "holiness" in all aspects of life, including diet.
Therefore, what and how to eat has been given religious and moral significance.
The law divides animals into two categories, namely "clean" and "unclean". Only animals that belong to the clean category must be slaughtered and processed in a prescribed way before they can be used for food.
Meat taboos: Pork is an absolute no-no
When it comes to meat, the rules are very specific.
First of all, perhaps the most well-known one, pork and all pig products are strictly prohibited.
also, rabbit , horsemeat , camel meat etc. are also prohibited.
Those animals on land that can be used for food must meet two conditions at the same time. One of the conditions is that the hoof part is divided into two parts, and the other condition is that the animal has the characteristic of rumination.
Common meats such as beef, sheep, and venison are allowed.
In the category of poultry, the "Torah" lists categories that are forbidden to eat, such as carnivorous and fierce poultry such as eagles and owls. However, poultry such as chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys are accepted in traditional cognition.
Strict distinction between seafood and aquatic products
The regulations for aquatic products are also clear: only if both fin and scale Only fish can be eaten.
This shows that all kinds of shellfish, such as shrimps, crabs, lobsters, and clams, scaleless fish such as eels and catfish, molluscs such as squid and octopus, and aquatic mammals, namely whales, are all unclean.
Therefore, you will never see a seafood dinner on the dining table of an Orthodox Jewish family.
Common salmon, snapper, carp, etc. are kosher.
Slaughtering and processing: a sacred process
Even if the animal itself is clean and tidy, its slaughtering steps and processing procedures must comply with the law, which is called Shechita.
If slaughtering is to be carried out, it must be performed by a specially trained and certified kosher butcher, that is, a Shochet. An extremely sharp knife must be used to quickly cut off the trachea and esophagus, in order to minimize the pain suffered by the animal.
After slaughter, strict inspection is required.
After that, there is a critical step, which is salt soaking to remove the blood remaining in the meat, because Jewish law strictly prohibits the consumption of blood.
Milk and meat cannot be mixed
This is a very special and key commandment in Jewish dietary law. This commandment is "You shall not cook a kid in its mother's milk." The practice derived from this commandment is that dairy products and meat must not be mixed in the same meal.
After eating meat, you generally need to wait for several hours. According to the traditions of different communities, the waiting time ranges from three to six hours before you can eat dairy products.
Therefore, Jewish homes will prepare two independent sets of tableware, as well as kitchen utensils and even sinks. One set is specially used for processing meat, and the other is used for placing dairy products.
Foods such as cheeseburgers and spaghetti bolognese would not exist in a family that strictly abides by the law.
Other ingredients and certification marks
Processed food products, condiments, drinks and even medicines, their ingredients and the equipment used in their production all have the possibility of involving kosher issues.
For example, there are some food dyes whose raw materials may come from insects. In addition, some cheeses use animal-derived rennet.
Therefore, when purchasing packaged food, it is extremely important to look for the Kosher certification mark issued by an authoritative organization. The certification mark is usually a letter K with a circle, or a U, Star-K, etc.
This means that the product has undergone full supervision from raw materials to the production line by rabbis or certification agencies.
The culture and meaning behind dietary taboos
These dietary laws have shaped the daily lives of Jewish people and the structure of their society for thousands of years.
It's not just a set of restrictions, it's a powerful identity and community bonding agent.
They have been dispersed many times in history and suffered a lot of persecution. Under such circumstances, observing Kashrut has helped the Jews maintain their unique national character.
It also reminds believers at every moment that life has sacred qualities, and even daily actions such as eating should be carried out with awe and self-discipline.
In modern society, it has become a cultural tradition and lifestyle choice.
Knowing the dietary prohibitions of Judaism is like opening a window into the spiritual realm and survival wisdom of an ancient nation.
It is not just limited to "don't eat pork", but a complete system that embodies the integration of beliefs; it includes ethical aspects; it has health considerations (although this is not the main purpose); and it also covers relevant parts of community norms.
Whether it is due to cultural respect, social needs, or personal interests, knowing these basic knowledge is of great convenience.
In today's diversified world, understanding each other's differences is the basis for harmonious coexistence.
