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This site is still a work in progress. Please let me know what you think by emailing: kosher@zerykier.org
Kosher is a term used to refer to Jewish dietary law. In Hebrew, it literally means proper or fit. Kosher is a collection of diet related laws from the Torah, Talmud, tradition, and other Judaic sources. It primarily consists of the following tenets:
Kosher Species. Only certain species are considered Kosher. Most Kosher mammals have a different pulmonary structure in their neck, leading to a quicker and less painful death when slaughtered. Cows, sheep, and lamb are Kosher and commonly consumed in the US. Pigs, horses, and most house pets are not.
There are only 24 species of birds that aren't Kosher but many birds on that list are not known (their translation has been lost). Therefore only birds that Jews traditionally ate (Chicken, Duck, and according to some Turkey) are considered Kosher.
Only fish with scales are considered Kosher, shellfish are not. Insects and other bugs, for the most part, are not Kosher.
Kosher Slaughter. Mammals and birds must be slaughtered in a specific fashion. A special perfectly sharpened knife must be used. The carotid artery and jugular veins must be severed in one rapid motion. This hopefully kills the animal quickly and with as little pain as possible. This is necessary as Jewish law prohibits bringing undue harm to animals. Additionally, any parts of an animal dismembered while it is still alive are not considered Kosher (with the obvious exception of offspring). Animals that die of illness are also not considered Kosher. Animal blood is not considered Kosher and thus all Kosher meat has had its blood drained or removed through salting or other methods. Fish can be killed in any way desired and their blood is considered Kosher provided it is kept with the fish.
Separation of Meat and Dairy. Kosher law requires complete separation of Meat and Dairy products. This comes from the Old Testament, in Exodus, where it says "You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk." In later Jewish law, a complete separation was necessitated.
Additional lesser kept laws, traditions and stringencies also exist and I discuss them more here.
Misconceptions about Kosher are quite common.
Blessing. For something to be Kosher, a Rabbi does not need to bless it. Most Kosher food never comes into contact with a Rabbi (unless they are the ones cooking/eating it). Though slaughter is generally done with a blessing, that blessing is not required for consumer consumption according to many religious scholars. Therefore, from an outside perspective, Kosher is a purely mechanical process, not a spiritual one.
Cleanliness. Kosher food is not necessarily cleaner either. However, when it comes to Kosher restaurants the ingredients are more likely to be what they purport to be (Kosher fish will generally be the fish it claims which is not always the case). Also, a restaurant certified as Kosher Dairy will be Meat-free and visa versa.
Delis and bagels. "Kosher style" food (including delis and bagel shops) is not necessarily Kosher. In fact, many of New York City's most famous "Jewish" delis are not Kosher. Making a Reuben (a classic deli item) involves putting cheese on pastrami and thus is not Kosher. These foods though common in the Jewish community, would better be called Ashkenazi-Jewish Food than Kosher food.
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