Eating kosher food is one of the ways Jews serve God by being obedient to His laws, according to the website Judaism 101. Observant Jews view the dinner table on par with the Temple. As they partake of their meals, the Kashrut laws keep them mindful that they are Jews and are the chosen people of God. The simple act of eating is elevated to an act of religious ritual.
History
The books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the Old Testament of the Bible describe the laws concerning the diet of the Jews. In those books, God defined the animals and plants that were acceptable to eat. These laws categorized animals as clean and unclean, with clean animals being suitable for eating. They also defined the types of fruits and vegetables that were acceptable. These laws concerning food are the Kashrut, notes Judaism 101. All practicing Jews base their observance of these laws on the interpretation of their religious leaders. Kosher foods usually bear a special symbol that certifies that the foods have been prepared according to the Kashrut laws.
Kosher Meats
Kosher meat not only must originate from a certain animal, but it also must be slaughtered and processed in a certain way. According to the Kashrut, the animals and wild game that are acceptable as food must possess a cloven hoof and they must chew their cud. Cows, sheep and goats all are clean. but pigs and camels are not. The laws also require that a ritual slaughterer, or a Schochet, must kill the animal. Then a team trained in the preparation of kosher meat prepares the meat for sale. The team removes the blood, skin and veins from the meat and then soaks it in water and rolls it in salt to draw out the remaining blood. This procedure is kashering, according to KIR, a Kosher certification organization in Europe.
Kosher Poultry
Only the goose, duck, chicken and turkey are kosher as defined in the Bible. Both their meat and eggs can be eaten. All other fowl and their eggs are unclean according to Leviticus, notes KIR.
Kosher Dairy Products
Milk products cannot include any additives that originate either from an unclean animal or from a meat source. Many cheeses utilize animal enzymes to form the curds. Kosher cheese necessitates using vegetable-based enzymes. Only kosher-certified milk and milk products are acceptable.
Acceptable Fish Species
According to the Kashrut laws in the Bible, the only types of fish that are allowed for food must possess scales and fins. No bottom fish or shellfish are kosher and, therefore, are not acceptable for food.
Other Kosher Foods
All unleavened grains and cereals are kosher. Fruits and vegetables are kosher, provided they are free of insects. Honey is kosher if it hasn't been processed using any non-kosher agents. Seaweed is also kosher. Wine is kosher if it uses kosher additives to accomplish the fermentation. The grapes used must come from a kosher vineyard, and a Rabbi must oversee the process.
Eating Kosher Foods
The dietary laws don't end with simply ensuring that the foods are kosher. There are also laws governing what foods may be eaten together. For example, according to KIR, the Kashrut laws prohibits Jews from eating meat and dairy products at the same time. The restrictions are so strict that the utensils used for preparation and the plates used to consume the food are separate. Meals containing both of these types of foods serve them in specific order. The dairy foods precede any meat dishes. When eating meat, depending on the particular sect of Judaism, a defined period must pass before you eat any dairy product. The amount of time varies from a half an hour to as many as four hours.
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