What food is considered kosher? What is “kosher” food

10/07/2014 17:31

There are a total of 365 prohibitions that affect all aspects of Jewish life, and more than half of these prohibitions relate to food. Kashrut, kosher in Yiddish, is a set of laws that regulate the diet of the Jewish people. Kosher is translated as “suitable”, “suitable”.

Yulia Shapko

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Basic principles of kosher nutrition

Kosher food produced from kosher products, in a strictly defined way and only by Jews. The definition of “kosher” food is described in the Torah. All products that do not comply with the concept of “kosher” are prohibited and harmful to human bodily health.

More important aspect, indicated in Kashrut, is hygiene. Products must not contain harmful substances , animals must be healthy, dairy and meat products should not only be stored separately, but also consumed separately.

, corresponding to the Torah description:

• Meat– beef, lamb, goat meat, venison, elk meat, etc. You can eat the meat of those animals that are artiodactyls and ruminants. Rodents (hares, rabbits, etc.) are not kosher. Animals must be slaughtered in a special way. It is carried out only by a shoykhet (slaughterer) - a specially trained person. To remove all the blood from the meat, it is soaked in water and sprinkled with salt, which absorbs the last drops of blood.

• Bird– chickens, ducks, geese, quail, pigeons and turkey meat.
  It is forbidden to eat meat birds of prey and scavengers.

• Eggs Only kosher birds are considered kosher. If both ends of the egg are the same shape (both pointed or round) they are not kosher.

• Fish- only the one that contains scales and fins. Red caviar is considered kosher, but black caviar is not included in this list. Eel, catfish, shark, sturgeon are not considered kosher - just like shellfish and crustaceans.

• Milk- only from kosher animals. Another important aspect: according to the Torah, different utensils (even different stoves) are used for cooking meat and dairy products, meat and dairy products are stored separately (in different refrigerators) and milk after meat can only be consumed after 6 hours.

• Insects. Only four types of desert locusts are allowed to be eaten. Other insects are prohibited. Only honey, a waste product of bees, is an exception and is considered kosher. It is precisely because of the ban on all types of insects that housewives check cereals, herbs and vegetables very carefully.

• In a relationship alcohol The instructions of the Torah are very strict: wine is made only by Jews, grapes are collected at a certain time in vineyards at least 4 years old, outsiders should not see the production process - only such wine is considered kosher.

Remember, kosher eating is not a new fad diet or cooking trend. True kosher nutrition is full compliance with religious canons, not only in food, but also in the spiritual world.

Is kosher nutrition healthy?

Now products with the distinctive kosher mark have begun to appear in stores.

It cannot be said with confidence that a kosher diet is completely balanced and healthy. But the fact that kosher products are healthier and safer is an irrefutable fact.

These products do not contain dyes, stabilizers, synthetic additives, GMOs, medicines, processed and packaged in a sterile environment, and these are the main indicators of quality and usefulness for the human body.

That is why today representatives of other religious faiths have often begun to choose kosher products.

We've all heard the word "kosher" at some point. It means fit or suitable. Often used in relation to food by Jewish believers. Stores with the same name are required to have a certificate from a rabbi. It guarantees that only kosher products are sold. There is a special set of rules that determines what a Jew can eat and what not. It's called kashrut. These rules are very difficult to understand ordinary person, but for Judaism this is the norm. For example, you cannot eat dairy and meat at the same time or pork. We won’t go too deep into the essence of the rules, let’s just say that modern concept“kosher” is not at all what we described above. Now its meaning has acquired a new connotation: “normal, suitable.”

Nutrition

Kosher nutrition is now becoming increasingly popular. This desire is not at all connected with religion, but is a simple desire to improve the health of the body, make its work easier and free it from heavy food.

Kosher is a diet that includes environmentally friendly, healthy foods that are included and permitted by kashrut. They are marked with a special sign, which guarantees usefulness, environmental friendliness and highest quality. Kosher food costs much more. What exactly is this - we will tell you a little further.

Products

As for meat, it includes lamb, beef, goat, and wild herbivores. Kosher animals are those with cloven hooves and the ability to chew. There are also a number of rules for slaughtering and processing meat.

Everything is simpler with fish. If it has fins and scales, it can safely be classified as “kosher products”.

“What does this mean, every fish has scales,” you will be surprised. We'll explain. Scales are not present in all fish species. For example, it is absent in eel, catfish, shark, and sturgeon. Accordingly, black caviar is also not suitable for consumption, and kosher - this, as we already know, means “suitable”. Seafood is not like this either - due to the lack of fins.

As for birds, the Torah says nothing about them; it only talks about predators and scavengers. They cannot be used. Cutting and slaughter here must also be carried out in a special way.

Eating insects and rodents is prohibited. Forbidden species also include the meat of hares, rabbits, amphibians and reptiles. Tora makes an exception for honey, although it is produced by insects.

Kosher food: what it is and how to prepare it

Cooking such food baffles many people. For example, you cannot cook meat and dairy products together, or eat them. If you want to cook poultry in white sauce, it will be simply unforgivable. Deeply religious people prepare these products using different dishes. Some even use different stoves, but this is a cost of beliefs. Dairy products can be eaten or drunk only six hours after meat products, and this is correct. Such a mixture is not very beneficial for the body. After cheese, it is also better to eat meat after six hours.

The consumption of milk for Jews is permitted only from kosher animals. According to the rules, the milking is supervised by a rabbi or his authorized representative.

So, kosher. What does this mean for products? In relation to bread, this word implies baking by the believers themselves. During the baking process, you need to tear off a piece and burn it. It's called halu. If bread is not baked at home, even there the ovens should only be turned on by Jews and monitored by them.

Regarding eggs, there should be no spots on them, especially blood. IN Everyday life we don't pay attention to it special attention, but for believers this is very important. Also, you can’t cook them all together. It is allowed to cook only three pre-washed pieces in one container.

If you think that with plant foods simpler - you are mistaken. Let's understand the concept of kosher products, what they are and how to use them. Since insects and various worms are prohibited for consumption, Jews have to carefully inspect and sift cereals, flour, legumes, herbs, fruits, vegetables, and berries. We, of course, also check food for the presence of the above, but we are not so scrupulous about this process.

Are kosher products beneficial?

These products include wine and all drinks that contain grapes, as well as their derivatives. Such wines are much more expensive than even the highest quality foreign ones. They are produced and manufactured exclusively by Jews. Grapes must be harvested at a certain time from those bushes that have reached four years of age.

Before each production, a ritual sacrifice is made and a prayer is read. At wine factories, all other processes must be stopped at this time. You haven’t yet understood the whole essence of the term “kosher products”, what is it? Then we will go deeper and say that this is the constant sterilization of everything from equipment to communications. This is done not only to disinfect, but also to clean everything. Something like cleansing before the new.

Prohibitions

Under no circumstances should a stranger be allowed to see how wine is made. It is believed that this is a sacred ritual during which unauthorized entry strictly prohibited.

Work on Saturday - terrible sin. All production stops for one day.

If someone does not touch the products Jewish blood, they will lose their kosher status and become unsuitable for cooking.

Kosher wines began to be pasteurized. All this is done to prevent loss of "fitness". Therefore, these and any other wines should be uncorked and poured only by Jews.

Of course, you need to understand that this is just a religious approach to making products, and it has nothing to do with healthy eating. Today, winemakers often avoid such rituals, since it takes a lot of time, and produce ordinary wine drinks.

Conclusion

Summarize. We touched only on the main points in the article about kosher products. These traditions are significant only for Jewish believers and do not apply to ordinary people. You should also not confuse ordinary environmental and healthy foods with kosher.
Alcoholic grape drinks are widely used in other cultures, different peoples. For example, Christians use it as communion wine, like the blood of the Lord.

But still, kosher products are many times healthier, tastier and cleaner than regular ones. All production is well controlled and products are produced to the highest quality standards. You don’t even have to think about hygiene, since it is constantly checked, especially regarding meat. All living creatures undergo total control and are constantly tested for diseases and so on. You can’t even eat an injured animal, let alone a sick one. When caring and feeding, hormones or antibiotics are not used.

The definition of “kosher” comes from the name of the set of Jewish religious rules “kashrut”, most often associated with food. Kashrut clearly regulates the foods that a true Jew can eat.

Kosher meat

Only the meat of animals that are both ruminants and artiodactyls is considered kosher. The absence of one of these signs makes the meat unsuitable for food. That is why the Jews do not eat hare. But Jews can eat beef and lamb in unlimited quantities. Even the meat of artiodactyls and herbivores is allowed by kashrut to eat.

But the fact that meat belongs to one or another type of animal does not in itself serve as a sign of its kosher. There is a whole set of rules for kosher slaughter of animals - shechita. This is a whole science. An animal slaughterer, a shoikhet, has been studying his bloody craft for about a year and even passes an exam. Indeed, in order for the meat of an animal to be recognized as kosher, it must be killed with one movement of a sharply sharpened knife, without causing even the smallest lacerations or punctures. Otherwise, the meat is considered non-kosher and is not allowed to be eaten by Jews.

The Torah also strictly prohibits the consumption of blood. Therefore, the skinned animal carcass is subjected to a thorough examination for the presence of blood on it. And even after this procedure, the meat is still thoroughly soaked in water.

Kosher poultry, fish and other products

The two main signs of kosher fish are easily detachable scales and fins. Therefore, all fish, with the exception of catfish, sturgeon, eel and, are kosher. And even black sturgeon caviar is not recognized as such due to its own fault.

Most birds are also kosher. The only exceptions are predators. Absolutely all poultry is suitable for food for the Jews.

As for dairy products, they themselves are all kosher. But kashrut prescribes their consumption separately from meat. After eating them, from one to six hours must pass (the period varies in different Jewish communities) before you can start a dairy meal. The time interval between eating meat after dairy products is much lower and is only half an hour. Failure to comply with these rules makes both meat and dairy products non-kosher.

The same set of rules categorically does not recognize the kosher nature of the meat of reptiles and amphibians.

Every devout Jew must know and unquestioningly observe the laws of kashrut. These rules apply to many areas of activity, but primarily they apply to food products. Food that is considered kosher is primarily good for the body. It must be natural and meet strict criteria. Production facilities and restaurants that offer kosher products to customers in Russia must have the appropriate certificate.

What is kashrut

Kashrut is translated from Hebrew as “fit.” This is a set of regulations for what is permitted and prohibited, relating not only to food, but also to other aspects. The laws of kashrut are aimed at instilling self-discipline and the ability to self-restraint, as well as the spiritual cohesion of believers Jewish origin. They are governed by the Jewish holy book The Torah, which prohibits cruelty, violence, and bloodshed. The rabbinate carefully monitors compliance with the rules.

With the help of the laws of kashrut, eating is elevated from the animal to the conscious level. What is he like? This is, first of all, healthy, wholesome, environmentally friendly food. According to it, it has a positive effect on both the physical and spiritual health of a person. Exist special lists permitted food products and their manufacturers. If you would like to purchase or drinks, please note special sign or check with the seller for the availability of the appropriate certificate.

The Rabbinate divides all kosher into three main groups:

• basar - meat products;
• freebies - dairy products;
• parve - neutral food (fish, vegetables, etc.).

Animal products - meat, milk, eggs

What does kosher animal product mean? This is considered to be the meat of animals that are ruminants, artiodactyls, and herbivores at the same time. For example, sheep, cows, goats, moose, etc. It is strictly forbidden to eat hare, hyrax and pig. Among birds, predators are considered non-kosher. These are an owl, a pelican, an eagle, an ostrich, and a heron. You can cook food only from poultry - chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, quails, pigeons.

In order for the product to be suitable for consumption, the animal must be killed according to special kashrut laws. Since the Torah does not allow the consumption of blood, there are regulations regarding how to process the meat. In addition, the carcass must be checked for the absence of any diseases.

In addition to meat, there are other animal products. For example, eggs. They belong to the category of parve. Eggs suitable for consumption must be laid only by kosher birds. One end of their shell should be rounded, and the other should be sharper. If suddenly there is a blood clot inside the egg, you should not eat it.

Milk from kosher animals can be eaten. However, there is one limitation. Kosher laws prohibit the consumption of meat and dairy products together. The break between dishes should be at least 30 minutes - depends on the community. Milk can be combined with products of other categories - vegetables, fruits, fish, etc.

Fish and seafood

Kosher fish product, what is it? According to kashrut, non-predatory fish that have fins and easily removable scales are considered permitted. According to these criteria, eel, sturgeon, shark, and catfish are not kosher. Red salmon caviar can be eaten, but black sturgeon caviar cannot. Various seafood - octopus, crabs, oysters, lobsters, shrimp - do not have scales or fins, and are therefore prohibited as food.

Although fish belongs to the neutral category of foods, it should not be mixed with meat when preparing dishes or during the same meal. Dairy and fish can be eaten at the same meal, but always from different dishes.

Insects

The Torah prohibits eating insects, amphibians, and reptiles. It is allowed to cook dishes only from certain types of locusts. You should be careful with vegetables and fruits, because they may contain worms or their larvae. Flour and cereals must be sorted and re-sowed so that insects do not get into the food, which can live in the bag and spoil kosher products. The list of prohibited foods does not include honey produced by insects (bees). It can be eaten because, according to the Jews, it is a processed flower juice. Accordingly, it is a product of plant origin. In addition, honey is extremely healthy, which does not contradict the laws of kashrut at all.

Vegetables and fruits

Vegetables, fruits and greens are classified as parve. What does kosher plant-based product mean? Undoubtedly, it must be grown in Israel. If the product comes from another country but is located in natural form, it can also be eaten. Unprocessed fruits and vegetables do not require a certificate. They can be mixed with meat and milk.

Products of plant origin should not be wormy or come into contact with non-kosher food. In such cases, they become unsuitable for nutrition.

Beverages

Among the drinks considered kosher are those made from grapes. The process of producing the right product is extremely complex. It must comply with certain laws of kashrut. What does kosher mean when it comes to wine? The basic rule is that it should only be made by a Jew. If a person of a different nationality or religion touches the drink, it will lose kosher.

The grapes for proper wine must be harvested only in a certain period and in a special place. The vineyard must be more than four years old and need to rest once every seven years. Before starting wine production, a mandatory ritual must be performed. All equipment at the plant is constantly sterilized. No strangers should come here. Production is closed on Saturday.

Due to the difficulties that arise in observing all the laws of kashrut, many winemakers prefer to make a regular drink. For the same reason, a real kosher product (read what it is - read above) is very expensive, its price is much higher than good Italian or French wines.

Bread

Bread belongs to the category of parve. According to the laws of kashrut, a kosher flour product (what is permitted food is written above in the article) is one that is baked by a devout Jew. The person overseeing the process must separate a small piece of dough from each loaf and burn it. If we're talking about about large production, then Jews should at least control the baking of bread and turn on the ovens. Do not forget that all ingredients used in preparing the dough must be kosher.

Every person has heard the phrase “kosher food” at least once. This phrase pops up in films and books; we hear questions about this category of goods in the store. But for most of us, the word “kosher” means nothing. Someone remembers that there is a connection with Judaism. Let's figure out what kind of food this is, who can eat it and where to buy it.

Definition

Jews in many life situations They adhere to kashrut, that is, they analyze the suitability and permissibility of something from the point of view of Jewish Law. Cooking was no exception. Before trying a dish, Jews will find out whether the products and the method of preparation meet certain requirements.

How to prepare kosher food

While preparing a dish at home or in a cafe, the cook must read a prayer. Dishes for different categories of products, for example, milk and meat, must be stored and washed separately.

The most favorite addition to dishes among Jews is hummus. This is a fragrant nut butter. Appearance, the taste, the features of serving kosher food are no different from regular food. I wonder what for a long time There were debates about the kosher nature of honey, and as a result it was approved for consumption.

Meat and poultry

Any meat except pork is considered kosher; sick animals and animals killed during hunting are also prohibited. The flesh must be obtained correctly. The cooking technology is also important: definitely in the oven.

Even a well-known catering chain has changed its menu for Jews: kosher hamburger patties are cooked over charcoal. Poultry is also acceptable to eat, and the menu, in addition to traditional chicken, turkey, and duck, also includes pigeons and quails.

Fish products

It's acceptable to eat sea ​​creatures, which have fins and scales. Other fish products and delicacies (squid, oysters, scallops etc.) – prohibited. Red caviar is kosher, but black caviar is not.

Fruits, vegetables, grains

Dairy

Milk and its derivatives are allowed to be eaten in any type and quantity. The main thing is to remember food storage standards and take a break between consuming milk and meat.

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