Jewish Dietary Laws and Kosher Food

Kosher Laws

• Certain species of animals, their eggs, and milk are permitted for consumption, while others are forbidden, such as pork and shellfish.
• Meat and milk are never combined, and separate utensils are used for each, with a waiting period observed between eating them.

Animal Slaughter

• Meat must come from animals slaughtered in a specific, painless manner known as shechitah.
• Certain parts of the animal, including the blood, must be removed.

Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains

• These are basically always kosher, but must be insect-free.

Wine and Grape Juice

• Wine or grape juice must be certified kosher.

Certification

• Even a small trace of a non-kosher substance can render a food not kosher.
• All processed foods and eating establishments require certification by a reliable rabbi or kashrut supervision agency.

History of Kosher Laws

• The kosher laws were commanded by G‑d to the children of Israel in the Sinai Desert.
• The details were handed down through the generations and eventually written down in the Mishnah and Talmud.
• Various ordinances were enacted through the generations by the rabbinical authorities as safeguards for these biblical laws.

Significance of Kosher

• Observance of kosher has been a hallmark of Jewish identity for 4,000 years.
• Kosher laws emphasize that Judaism is more than a religion, and that life in its totality is a sacred endeavor.
• Eating is a G‑dly act and a uniquely Jewish experience.

Kosher Animals

Mammals

• A mammal is kosher if it has split hooves and chews its cud.
• It must have both kosher signs.
• Examples: cows, sheep, goats, and deer are kosher; pigs, rabbits, squirrels, bears, dogs, cats, camels, and horses are not.

Fowl

• The Torah lists 24 non-kosher bird species, mostly predatory and scavenger birds.
• Examples of kosher birds are domestic species of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and pigeons.

Reptiles, Amphibians, Worms, and Insects

• With the exception of four types of locust, these are not kosher.

Fish and Seafood

• A water creature is kosher only if it has fins and scales.
• Examples: salmon, tuna, pike, flounder, carp, and herring are kosher; catfish, sturgeon, swordfish, lobster, shellfish, crabs, and all water mammals are not.

Learn about the rules and regulations of kosher food in the Jewish faith, including permitted and forbidden foods, preparation and cooking guidelines, and more.