Kosher

The laws of Kashrut, also known as the "Kosher Laws", are a series of rules based around the consumption and preparation of food. The Hebrew word "Kosher" simply means "appropriate" or "fit."

Animals that we get meat from can be divided into three main divisions:
 * 1) Beasts (land animals)
 * 2) Fish
 * 3) Birds


 * For the meat of a beast to be kosher, the beast must have split, or "cleft" hooves, and must also chew cud. A cow is a good example of this because it has these characteristics and is therefor kosher. A pig only has one of these characteristics, because it does have split hooves, but does //not// chew cud, which is why it is not kosher.
 * For Fish to be kosher, it must have lived with fins and scales. The reason most Jews do not eat crustaceans is because they do not have fins nor scales, and are not kosher.
 * For Birds to be kosher, the Torah must be consulted. In the Torah, there is a list of birds which are kosher, and a list of birds which are not. Inferred from these two lists comes the rule: A bird must not be a bird of pray or scavenge for food for it to be kosher.

One rule about the preparation of meat is that it can not be eaten at the same time as any milk products. This rule is derived from the quote: "You shall not boil a kid in it's mother's milk." This is said to prevent psychological pain, because it was thought that I young animal would sense that it's mother had been killed. This is taken farther making it so that no meat can be "boiled" in any milk, and then even farther so that all meat can not even be with milk.
 * Milk and Meat Rule**

Blood, certain fats, and the sciatic nerve must be removed before cooking. If a mother bird is still alive, eggs may not be taken from the nest. If the bird is not protecting the eggs, than the eggs are kosher. Chickens must be treated humanely for their eggs to be kosher.
 * Other Non-Kosher Items**


 * The rules of Kosher slaughter**
 * All Kosher food must be slaughtered in a certain way to keep **cleanliness**
 * The animal must have no disease or problems at the time of slaughter
 * Animal is slaughtered by a //Shochet//, which is similar to the Muslim that must say a prayer to render an animal Halal, who does not necessarily need to be a Rabbi but is more than just a butcher
 * Ritual slaughter is known as //shechitah//, in which one deep, quick cut across the throat of the animal is made
 * This method is painless, causes unconsciousness in two seconds, and is recognized as the most humane method of slaughter possible
 * It also ensures rapid, complete draining of the animal's blood, which is a requirement as well for food to be Kosher

In a Kosher household, there will be two sets of silverware, two sets of dishes, two sinks, and possible two dishwashers (though this is hardly the case). This is done entirely because of the milk and meat rule.
 * A Kosher Kitchen**

The purpose of keeping Kosher
There are many reasons that Jews (however, not all of them) keep Kosher. One primary reason is health. The foods that are allowed are all relatively healthy, and because of the rules of Kosher slaughter, are guaranteed to be clean. Speaking of cleanliness, hygiene is another reason that is cited for keeping Kosher. However, hygiene is sometimes offered as a reason to not keep Kosher as well. As for why people started the Kosher diet in the first place, it is simply because the Torah says so (see below). It shows an obedience to God, and is designed as a "Call to Holiness."

Some people think that Kosher is a culinary style, as in restaurants serving dishes that are "Kosher style." Kosher is not a culinary style, it is a dietary system.

Deuteronomy 12:21-25.
"If the place where the Lord your God chooses to put his Name is too far away from you, you may slaughter animals from the herds and flocks the Lord has given you, as I have commanded you, and in your own towns you may eat as much of them as you want. Eat them as you would gazelle or deer. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat. But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat. You must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water. Do not eat it, so that it may go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord."

(from the Torah)

Robinson, George. Essential Judaism. New York: Pocket Books, 2000. Olitsky, Kerry M., and Daniel Judson. Jewish Ritual. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 2005. Rich, Tracy R. "Kashrut: Jewish Dietary Laws." Judaism 101. 15 Apr 2007. 19 Dec 2007 <[|http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm>.]
 * Bibiography**