Religious rules for eating food are not taken from the ceiling and are mostly ancient simplified sanitary norms and healthy lifestyle rules (at the then existing level of knowledge). However, these laws often become obsolete under the onslaught of scientific knowledge. For example, we've all heard of "kosher" food, so let's look at what "kosher" (and non-kosher) food is.

“Kosher” is any food (even from Chinese food or Russian folk), but corresponding to the strict laws of “Kashrut” (the permissibility of something in terms of the laws contained in the Torah, Talmud, etc.)

The word “kosher” itself means “permissible”, the word “kosher” is just a Russian derivative meaning that the food complies with the rules of Judaism.

Kosher McDonald's in Buenos Aires.

Contrary to popular belief, rabbis or other religious figures do not "bless" food to make it kosher. "Blessing" has nothing to do with the term "kosher".

Kosher is not a style of cooking. Chinese food can be kosher if it is prepared according to Jewish law, and there are many excellent kosher Chinese restaurants in Philadelphia and New York.

Conversely, traditional Jewish foods such as bagels, pancakes, matzah, and shara soup may not be kosher unless they have been prepared in accordance with Jewish law.

Some laws of kashrut are outdated in terms of healthy lifestyle

Many modern Jews believe that the laws of kashrut are just primitive health rules that are outdated. For example, according to modern scientific knowledge, there is no reason to consider camel or rabbit meat less healthy than cow or goat meat. There is also no direct scientific evidence or observation of harm from the compatibility of dairy and meat products (and this is not kosher).

However, the logic here is different: a camel (not kosher for consumption) is more useful as a beast of burden than as a source of food.

The short answer is why the Jews keep these laws: because the Torah says so. The Torah does not specify any reason for these laws, and the traditional Jew does not need to see any other reason. A more detailed version of the book "Being a Jew" by Rabbi Chaim Halevi Donin: keeping the laws is such self-control that you learn to control even the simplest, most basic instincts.

We will give here the basic rules of kosher with the comments of Zozhnik.

Basic rules for kosher food

The laws of kashrut follow from a few fairly simple, understandable rules:

1. Some animals cannot be eaten completely. This restriction includes the flesh, organs, eggs and milk of animals, which are prohibited.

2. Of the animals that may be eaten, birds and mammals must be killed in accordance with Jewish law.

3. All blood must be removed from meat and poultry prior to cooking.

4. Some parts of permitted animals may not be eaten.

5. Fruits and vegetables are allowed but must be checked for parts that cannot be eaten.

6. Meat (meat of poultry and mammals) cannot be eaten together with dairy products. Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains can be eaten with any meat or dairy products. (According to some opinions, fish cannot be eaten with meat).

There is no scientific or medical evidence of harm from the combination of dairy and meat products in the diet. It is important to understand that both meat and “milk” are foods rich in protein. Protein products- “heavy”, require more effort for the body to digest them. It is for the digestion of protein foods that the body can spend up to 30% of the energy that it receives from them ().

7. Utensils (including pots and pans and other cooking surfaces) that come into contact with meat cannot be used with dairy, and vice versa. Crockery that has come into contact with food products not of kosher origin, cannot be used with kosher food.

8. grape products made by non-Jews cannot be eaten.

9. There are several other rules that are not universal.

And now a little more on these issues.

Animals that cannot be eaten

Of the "beasts of the earth" you can eat any animal that has cloven hooves and is ruminant. Any land mammal that does not have both of these qualities is prohibited. The Torah indicates that camels, jerboas, hares and pigs are not kosher because they each lack one of these two qualifications. Cattle, sheep, goats, deer, bison are kosher.

From the "water" creatures, you can eat everything that has feathers and scales. Thus, from shellfish such as lobster, oysters, shrimp, clams and crabs, everything is prohibited. Fish such as tuna, carp, salmon and herring are allowed.

complete exclusion of some healthy seafood on the one hand, it impoverishes the diet with some trace elements. On the other hand, there are some:

For birds, the criteria is less clear. The Torah provides a list of prohibited birds, but does not specify why these particular birds are prohibited. All birds included in the list are either birds of prey or scavengers, the rabbis claim that this was the basis for their distinction.

Other birds allowed, for example, chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys.

Rodents, reptiles, amphibians, insects are prohibited.

Kosher slaughter

Mammals and birds that may be eaten must be slaughtered in accordance with Jewish law. It is forbidden to eat animals that died of natural causes or were killed by other animals - which is quite logical from a health point of view.

In addition, the animals must be free from diseases or organ defects at the time of slaughter. These restrictions do not apply to fish, only small and large livestock.

There are special rules for kosher slaughter of animals. Their meaning is reduced to a minimum of pain experienced by the animal before death. And this has an important meaning.

Comment on this topic by the chef of the restaurants Delicatessen and Yunost Ivan Shishkin, given by Afisha:

If an animal experiences fear or stress prior to slaughter, muscle glycogen stores drop and after slaughter, the natural process of muscle pH drop slows down or stops. There is such a phenomenon dark, firm and dry meat - dark, hard, dry meat obtained in the process of improper stress slaughter. It has a higher pH and tends to retain water inside. In appearance, such meat becomes tough and dark, which reduces its attractiveness to the buyer. Higher pH causes meat to spoil faster: many disease-causing bacteria are more likely to survive in a less acidic environment.

A sharp knife called a challef is used to open the animal's throat, causing the animal to immediately lose consciousness.

If the process is not done correctly, or the animal is not kosher, or the animal was killed by hunters not in accordance with biblical kashrut laws, Jews are forbidden to eat this meat.

bleeding

The Torah forbids the consumption of blood. Jews do not eat blood because animal life (literally, the soul of animals) is contained in the blood. This applies only to the blood of birds and mammals, but does not apply to the blood of fish.

An egg that contains very little blood can be eaten. Also according to kashrut good idea Crack an egg into a glass or cup to check for freshness and suitability before putting it into a heated pan. This simple rule should be noted by all cooks, regardless of religion.

According to kashrut, the consequences can be serious - if you suddenly break a bloody egg into a heated frying pan or pan, this dish becomes not kosher. Can't cook on it anymore. kosher food.

If your recipe calls for multiple eggs, break each one into the glass one at a time so you don't waste all the eggs unless the last one is kosher.

Ban on fats and nerves

Kashrut requires careful attention to cutting meat. The sciatic nerve and adjacent blood vessels cannot be eaten. The process of removing this nerve is time consuming and not cost effective, so most harvesters kosher meat just sell the hindquarters to non-kosher butchers.

A certain type of fat that surrounds vital organs and the liver cannot be eaten. Kosher butchers also remove this part of the carcass.

According to some sources, scientists have found biochemical differences between this type of fat and acceptable fats around the muscles and subcutaneous fat.

Kosher vegetables and fruits

All fruits and vegetables are kosher, but there are a few caveats.

Wormholes and wormy fruits and vegetables are not kosher. Fruits and vegetables that are prone to this kind of damage should be checked to ensure they are free of wormholes and rot. Leafy vegetables, lettuce and greens, strawberries and raspberries should be carefully checked.

In addition, there is a separate ban on grape products made by non-Jews. Wine is widely used in the rituals of all ancient religions. For this reason, the use of wine and other grape products made by non-Jews was prohibited.

A real Jew should only drink "kosher" wines - that is, wines made by Jews.

Separation of meat and dairy products

There is a phrase in the Torah "do not boil a kid in its mother's milk." The Oral Torah explains that this passage forbids eating meat and dairy products together. In addition, the Talmud forbids cooking meat and fish together.

This, however, allows eating fish and dairy products together.

Also it is acceptable to eat dairy products and eggs together.

This division includes not only food, but also dishes, pots and pans in which they are cooked, plates and cutlery from which they eat, dishwashers and sinks in which they are cleaned, sponges and towels with which to wipe dishes.

Kosher living conditions must include at least two sets of dishes - one for meat, the other for dairy products.

However, as we have already answered above, this strict and key prohibition does not find support in the form of a scientific and practical explanation. Combining meat and dairy products according to the latest scientific knowledge is not harmful from the point of view of a healthy lifestyle.

Kosher accessories

Crockery (pots, pans, plates, cutlery, etc., etc.) must be kosher. The utensil raises the kosher status of the food cooked in it. So if you are cooking chicken soup in a saucepan, the saucepan becomes a dish for the meat.

Kosher status can be transferred from food to dishes or from dishes to food only in the presence of heat (including hot spices) or prolonged contact with fire, so if you eat cold food in non-kosher conditions, this is not a problem. For example, for ice cream milk product) the dishes do not matter, because it is cold.

This also means that you can use the same knife to cut a slice of sausage and cheese, but this is not a recommended procedure.

The clash of ancient laws with modern devices can be a comically serious problem. In theory, it is necessary to have 2 dishwashers - for "milk" dishes and "meat". However, common sense modern interpretation Torah takes over and is allowed either to have separate compartments for dairy and meat dishes in the “dishwasher”, or even easier - run meat and dairy dishes separately in the dishwasher.

Kashrut certification

The task of maintaining kosher food is greatly simplified by the widespread certification of kashrut. Foods that have been certified kosher are marked with a mark that is usually identified by rabbis or certified food organizations.

Signs of "kosher" food products.

An example of kosher certification on domestic pasta.

The certification process is not related to the "blessing" of food, but rather we are talking about considering the ingredients used to prepare food.

The processes by which food is prepared are also reviewed, and periodic inspections of processing plants are carried out to ensure that kosher standards are being maintained.

Many have heard such a thing as "kosher". What does this term mean? In what cases is it used? What is the origin of this concept? The article will provide answers to these questions.

"Kosher" means "suitable" in Hebrew. Therefore, under the concept kosher food"Today, one should understand the process of maintaining life and health with the help of food, which does not harm a person.

Judaism - the oldest monotheistic religion in the world - involves the observance of religious prescriptions, norms and rules - kosher, which apply not only to clothing, cosmetics but also to products. According to this setting, Jews must prepare food in accordance with the laws of kashrut and strictly at a certain time.

The main purpose of the law is that kosher is a rational and healthy eating creating harmony in the development of the human body.

Kosher food

In the instructions of Moses, which are reflected in the written five-book law "Torah", it is indicated that non-kosher food has a bad effect on the health of the individual, his religious level decreases and his sensitivity worsens, therefore he is not capable of spiritual perception.

This law says that a person who has tasted the meat of a predator is capable of showing aggression and is able to stray from the true path. Therefore, only the fillets of herbivorous animals will be considered clean food. The meat of predators is classified as treif products, i.e. prohibited.

Features of kosher food and products

Kosher food involves the use of strictly pure food by a person. According to Jewish precepts, all types of plants are foodstuffs suitable for consumption. However, not all fish, poultry or animal meat will be kosher food.

The blood of birds, animals or fish slaughtered in a certain order must be absolutely excluded from the diet, except for fish. A prerequisite for killing animals is the use of a sharp knife cutter: so that the animal does not suffer, the slaughter process must be carried out quickly.

Before proceeding with the process of boiling or frying meat, it goes through the stages of soaking in water, then aging in a special brine, and finally it is well rinsed.

The process of cutting and checking compliance with the conditions and criteria of kosher is carried out by a special qualified specialist - a shochet, who has a certain permission to slaughter the animal. In addition, the pig is considered unclean by the Jews, so pork will never be kosher.

Thus, the teaching of the "Torah" instructs a person in discipline and restrictions, instills antipathy to the shedding of blood and cruelty.

List of kosher foods and dishes

Kosher food is divided into three categories: meat (basar), dairy (free), and neutral (parve). The basic principle of kosher nutrition is the complete separation of dairy food from meat. Especially in order for the position of kosher to be observed, special canteens and kitchen appliances and utensils. Kashrut requires some utensils to be dipped in the mikvah before their initial use.

The process of preparing such products according to these principles involves the preparation of food in specially designated places.

Category neutral foods can be eaten at the same time as one of these categories. This variety includes those fruits and vegetables that have not come into contact with non-kosher foods or are not worms.

List clean products pretty big. This is pasta and legumes, fresh, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables, lean, peanut and olive oils, certain types alcohol and soft drinks, individual brands of tea and chocolate.

This list can be continued, but in any case, it is necessary to pay attention to the packaging of the product: it will definitely have a kosher sign on it. In the event that the sign is missing, consultation with a rabbi is necessary.

How to prepare kosher meals? Suitable are those in the process of preparation of which certain products were used. Therefore, a dish will not necessarily be considered kosher if it has been checked by a rabbi, or was prepared in an Israeli kitchen or in Jewish restaurant. Not at all. It is very easy to prepare a kosher dish yourself, given all the signs of kosher for the products that you have in the refrigerator in the kitchen. However, the main and main feature is, of course, the purity in their preparation.

We will talk about the features of products that are suitable for use in food below.

kosher meat

Jewish cuisine involves the use of the meat of artiodactyl ruminants that feed on grass. They, thanks to the muscular and glandular sections of the stomach, have a thorough digestion of food. These are cows, and sheep, and goats, and elks, as well as gazelles. In addition, animals that do not have a cut of hooves are included here: rabbits, camels and hyraxes. In the "Torah" you can find a complete list of kosher animals.

According to the Torah kashrut, kosher meats are chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys. However, there are still exceptions: the meat of carnivorous warm-blooded egg-laying animals.

Kosher dairy products

Does the concept of "kosher" apply to dairy products? What does it mean? Suitable products are considered milk, which is obtained from clean animals. Only in this case the product is acceptable for consumption. Otherwise, it cannot be used for food.

Kosher food has a number of specific customs and traditions. The principle of kosher states that after drinking milk or other dairy products, you should rinse your mouth and eat solid, neutral food that will not stick to your palate.

It is considered a very common custom to take breaks between doses. different categories kosher food. To eat meat, you need a break of 30-60 minutes. After meal durum varieties cheese and between the use of "basar" and "freebies" you must wait 6 hours. Milk can be eaten with fish, but from different dishes.

Fish classified as kosher

She does not need to be killed in a special way. However, there are exceptions here too: kosher fish must be with an external horny cover and limbs. These are cod, flounder, tuna, pike, trout, salmon, herring, halibut, haddock. You can not eat crustaceans arthropods and soft-bodied. Insects, snakes and worms also do not belong to pure species products.

Jews do not eat fish with meat products, but they can be placed on the table together.

Kosher "parve"

As noted earlier, even unprocessed fruits and vegetables belong to the parve category. The only condition for keeping kosher in this case is the absence of insects in these products. Therefore, fruits and vegetables that are susceptible to damage by bugs and other insects are carefully checked and processed.

Bird eggs also belong to the neutral category. However, food is mostly allowed poultry with unequal ends, namely chicken, goose, turkey, pheasant and quail are also allowed. Jews consider the eggs of predators or those that feed on carrion to be unclean. Bloody foods are non-kosher. Therefore, they are checked before use.

These types of pure products do not even require a special mark and can be mixed with others in any combination. However, if they were mixed with dairy or meat types, then they no longer belong to the category of "parve".

Where can you find this product

Kosher products are marked with a special sign, which guarantees compliance with the principles of such nutrition, their usefulness, environmental friendliness and high quality. Due to some difficulties in preparing such food, the price of goods suitable for Jews differs significantly from the prices of food products that can be found in the market or in the supermarket.

Where is kosher food most often considered traditional? Mostly suitable products can be found in Israel, but recently even the population of other countries great importance proper nutrition, so you can find such products almost everywhere. And to make sure of its quality, the presence of the kosher sign of the rabbi, who controlled the production process of the product, will help.

Religion is not only the observance of certain traditions, but also the rules of nutrition. Kosher food is a term taken from Judaism and is commonly eaten by Jews, but recently it has begun to appear in stores in many countries.

What does kosher food mean ^

Kosher food is food prepared according to the laws of kashrut, which, in turn, is included in the list of rules of the Halacha.

According to this code, dishes must be prepared in accordance with certain customs, and the control over their preparation is carried out by Jewish organizations that put their stamp on the packages.

What is kosher food

Generally, kosher products Foods are divided into three groups:

• "Basar" - meat products;
• "parve" - ​​neutral;
• "freebie" - dairy.

The very concept of "kosher" means that such food is healthy and suitable for consumption, so the products used by Jews can now very often be found on store shelves.

Kosher Food: Benefit or Harm

Is kosher food healthy? Of course, it only has a positive effect on health, because it does not contain dyes, preservatives, stabilizers, GMOs and various drugs, and the packaging in which the products are stored is absolutely sterile.

As for the harm from Jewish kosher food, it was once announced by experts from the United States who compared such food with ordinary food. They managed to find out that the bird, cooked in the usual way, contains less harmful bacteria than that which was made in a kosher way.

Kosher food: how to prepare meals

According to kashrut, you can not mix milk and meat in one meal: the time interval between their use should be at least five hours. In addition, separate requirements are imposed on the method of slaughtering animals: this should only be done by a specially trained person, and before meat products falls into the hands of the cook, blood is pumped out of it by soaking.

It is strictly forbidden to eat the meat of sick animals, and dairy and meat food is prepared not only in different dishes, but also in rooms. That is why in Jewish families there are two kitchens, but if this is not possible, you can cook on two stoves.

What food is considered kosher ^

Kosher food: food list

To eat kosher, you need to know what foods are customary to eat in accordance with kashrut:

• Meat: this includes beef, goat meat, as well as moose, giraffes, gazelles and sheep - i.e. animals that have cloven hooves and eat plant food. From those who do not have cloven hooves, hyraxes, camels and rabbits are allowed, and from non-herbivores pork is allowed. The most important thing in such products is the absence of blood: according to the Jews, those who absorb it inside can become aggressive and cruel. Eggs with blood clots are also prohibited;
• Bird: owl, eagle, pelicans and hawks are prohibited, because You can eat only homemade food: geese, ducks, chickens. The only exceptions are pigeons;
• Eggs: they should have a special shape - be sharp at one end and rounded at the other. If both of their ends are blunted, they cannot be eaten, because. it is quite probable that they belong to carrion-eating birds of prey;
• Fish: it must have fins and scales. All seafood (octopuses, shrimp, worms, etc.) is completely prohibited. they have neither one nor the other;
• Milk only that which was obtained from kosher animals is allowed, otherwise it cannot be consumed;
• Vegetables and fruits: there are no restrictions here, except when they are wormy or have come into contact with non-kosher products.

Kosher food: what to eat kosher, halal and delicious

Non-kosher food: what to eat is not kosher

Kosher food recipes

Forshmak recipe from herring:

• We divide the herring into fillets, soak it in milk for 40 minutes, then take it out and grind it;
• We clean and remove the seeds from the apple, rub it on a grater;
• Boil eggs, three on a grater;
• Finely chop the onion, grind the potatoes boiled in their skins;
• We mix everything, chop with a knife to a creamy consistency;
• Add to the melted mass butter, pepper;
• Serve chilled.

Shakshuka Recipe:

• We cut into cubes a couple of sweet peppers, peel the tomatoes;
• Fry in olive oil crushed in a frying pan onion, then add pepper and fry for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally;
• We crush the garlic in a garlic press, mix with cumin, turmeric and chopped small pieces hot pepper, put everything in a pan for one minute;
• Add tomatoes there, fry for 3 minutes;
• We make a small indentation in vegetables with a spoon, drive eggs into it;
• Salt and pepper, cook until the protein is cooked;
• Sprinkle with herbs before serving.

Charlotte recipe:

• Peel apples from seeds and peel, cut into cubes;
• Whip raw proteins with a mixer, simultaneously pouring sugar in small portions;
• Add the yolks, melted margarine and vanillin, add flour, salt and baking powder;
• Lubricate the mold with oil, pour a layer of dough there, place apples on top and add the remaining mixture;
• Lay out on the surface apple slices, grease with oil and sprinkle with cinnamon;
• Bake for half an hour in the oven at 200 degrees.

Is kosher cuisine useful: the opinion of doctors ^

According to doctors, kosher dishes are of great importance only from a religious point of view, however, in medicine in general, such products are not so categorical, arguing that the method of preparation and the ingredients themselves can affect health.

In the past, Jews faced many culinary difficulties during travel and flights, but now kosher food on planes is not uncommon, and it is provided by some airlines, so it is possible to observe religious traditions and rules, even when far from home and not being able to cook food yourself.

Eastern horoscope for April 2019

Kosher is considered the meat of those animals that chew the cud and have paired hooves: sheep, goats, cows, deer. You can not include in the diet the meat of a pig, dog, rabbit, cat, horse, bear, camel, whale, seal, lion and other animals that belong to the class of carnivores. Do not eat meat from a sick animal, or the meat of an animal that was wrongly slaughtered, as well as the meat of an animal that died a natural death.

To make the meat kosher, the animal is slaughtered so as to cause him as little pain and suffering as possible - in one motion with a sharp knife, and then all the blood is removed: for this, the meat is soaked in water, salted and placed on a grate so that the remaining blood is glassed, and washed well after an hour.

According to the Jewish law ‘Do not eat blood (blood is considered to be a sign of a living being)’ the liver is not allowed to be boiled or fried in a pan: it can only be cooked on open fire- the product is cut and washed with water, salted and roasted over the fire, after heat treatment offal should be washed again with water. Only after the manipulations have been done, it is allowed to be consumed, or to be cooked (frying) in a special dish for meat.

The thighs of the animal are not suitable for food, from which the sciatic nerves are not removed, as well as the fat near the stomach. According to the commandment: 'Do not boil a goat in its mother's milk' (Ex. 23:19), one cannot mix meat and milk, even eating these products can only be done with a time interval of 6 hours, and the interval between eating from milk and meat is no less two. The word "milk" in this commandment means all dairy products: sour cream, cheese, butter, cottage cheese, kefir. The fulfillment of this prescription is so thorough that for the preparation of such dishes, different dishes, which stands in separate cabinets. Jews with sufficient financial resources equip two kitchens: dairy and meat.

The following birds are considered kosher: geese, chickens, ducks, turkeys, quails, pigeons and pheasants. Unfit for food - a lot of predatory and wild birds, among which the eagle, pelican, owl, crow, stork, seagull. Unclean and the eggs of these birds. All birds must be healthy and properly slaughtered.

According to the commandments of kashrut, a product from a non-kosher animal (milk, eggs) is also non-kosher. For example, you can not eat turtle eggs - a turtle refers to a type of reptile that is unfit for consumption. Camel milk is also considered club milk. An exception is honey, a waste product of bee insects.

Kosher fish

Suitable for Jews is the fish that has scales and fins. Clubs include dolphins, catfish, catfish, eels. Crustaceans (crabs, crayfish, lobsters, shrimps) and shellfish (mussels, snails, oysters) are considered clubs (unclean) - not corresponding to the principles of kashrut. The blood prohibition law does not apply to fish. Sturgeon caviar is one of the unclean waste products of fish. Fish belongs to the steam (neutral) products; it can be combined with dairy products. Cooking meat and fish dishes is not recommended from the point of view of medicine.

The Torah forbids eating snakes, frogs and worms, as well as all insects (with the exception of four types of locusts).

Other Kosher Products

Bread and wine that was made by a non-Jew is not considered kosher. During the Easter holiday, it is forbidden to use bread for the preparation of which yeast was used. Instead, Jews eat thin cakes with flour and water, called matzah.

Dishes

Eating items may become non-kosher if hot club food has been laid out on them. In a family where food laws are strictly adhered to, this cannot happen, but violations of this rule are possible during a trip to a party or a restaurant.

Food made from milk and meat is forbidden to be served together on the table.

Many at least once in their lives heard the definition of "kosher". Most associate it exclusively with Jewish cuisine.

In fact, the meaning of the word "kosher" is much broader. What does this concept mean in Israel and how does it relate to food and drink?

Kosher means natural

The word "kosher" comes from the concept of "kashrut" - laws and regulations relating to the life of Jews. The set of these provisions is described in the Torah, the main Jewish collection of religious texts. Of the more than 600 commandments, over 50 relate to food and define what a kosher food is.

The requirements are mainly for the cultivation of crops, the slaughter of livestock and pretreatment raw materials, composition of products. The content of any foreign impurities and non-natural additives is almost always excluded. In other words, kosher means that it corresponds to the accepted canons, natural. Therefore, you should not be afraid of kosher food at all.

The concept of "kosher" in the world has become synonymous with naturalness and health benefits. So, kosher cosmetics can never contain parabens and other artificial ingredients.

Animals, plants, and even insects can be kosher.

Meat and fish

So, what is kosher food for Jews? The Torah allows you to eat mammals that simultaneously correspond to two characteristics - ruminants and artiodactyls (goats, sheep, cows, deer, roe deer). This means that horse meat, hare meat, camel meat are immediately banned.

As for birds, the book lists 24 non-kosher species. Basically, these are those winged ones that we would hardly eat every day anyway: crows, owls, cuckoos. Jews traditionally cook chicken, duck, goose and turkey.

The answer to the question of what a kosher food product means has another important condition. Meat must not contain blood. Therefore, the slaughter is carried out by a specially trained rabbi (shochet). Among other things, he must know how not to hurt the animal - this is one of the strictest prescriptions.

The fish should also have two differences: scales and fins. Jews consider catfish, sturgeon, eel and seafood (crayfish, shrimp) unfit for consumption. Caviar is recognized as kosher if it is obtained from fish allowed for consumption.

The list of unlawful food among the Jews includes tigers and other predatory animals, as well as reptiles, worms and insects, with the exception of some types of locusts. Interestingly, honey is also included in the list of kosher products, although bees are not considered kosher.

Vegetables, fruits and other plants

Plant foods should not be poisonous (tops of potatoes, tomatoes, raw bones plums, peaches, apple seeds) and contain insects. Compliance with the latter requirement is achieved by a special check of vegetables.

Basically, all vegetable, fruit and grain crops among Jews are recognized as kosher. There are several regulations for the cultivation and cultivation of the soil, planting plants, but they are not of fundamental importance for tourists.

Dairy and flour products

Since cereals and the flour made from them are recognized as kosher, the main requirement relates to the composition finished products nutrition. Jews consider unacceptable the use of animal fats, flavoring and aromatic additives.

An additional standard is set for the baking of "Jewish bread" (pat-yisrael), which involves the use of certain cereals and the obligatory participation of a Jew, for example, in lighting a fire. But this prescription more often affects the household.

With dairy products, too, everything is quite simple. Everything that is given by kosher animals is considered permissible. This means that Jews do not have categorical prohibitions on milk and eggs. The main thing is that there are no non-kosher additives in the composition - they can be, for example, some thickeners or flavorings. It is strictly forbidden to mix meat and dairy products.

The drinks

- in the list of the most stringent restrictions. Non-kosher wines are all wines produced outside of Israel. Only Jews should participate in the process of their manufacture. Special requirements apply to the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. For example, you cannot take the fourth crop for production. In addition, many pasteurize - in this case, even if a non-Jew opens the bottle, it will not lose its kosher.

Also on the list of prohibited drinks is alcohol that has been aged in wine barrels, such as cognac or whiskey, or contains non-kosher additives. Most of the beers, rum, vodka, tequila, gin do not cause any complaints.

Any coffee, tea, and most juices, as long as they do not contain dairy or wine components, are kosher drinks.

Kosher foods can be recognized by the sign

In order not to make a mistake in choosing and not to memorize the list of what is permitted, when buying, you need to look for kosher signs on products - “echsher”. They have the right to assign only Jewish organizations that control the quality of goods. There are at least 100 variations of such signs in the world.

The most common word on food labels is “kosher”. In European and American versions - the letters "K", "U" or a combination of "KS".

What's up Catering, then there are practically no non-kosher restaurants in Israel. Even McDonald's hamburgers are subject to certification.

Kosher and Halal are different products

There is an opinion that kosher and halal mean the same thing. In a broad sense, this is true. Both terms are related to food and are regulated by the main religious law - the Jewish Torah and Muslim Quran. But if you look deeper, there are differences. How is kosher food different from halal food?

In both Judaism and Islam, the slaughter of an animal is whole ritual carried out by a particular person. Similar are the prohibitions regarding food, for example, in relation to the blood of animals.

Also, in Muslim countries they do not eat pork (you can cook the meat of any herbivore with a "split hoof"). The meat of land-dwelling carnivores and birds of prey is prohibited, while fish and seafood can be served without restriction. Finally, Muslims do not drink alcohol.

Like kosher, halal cosmetics can only contain natural oils, minerals and extracts. It is strictly forbidden to use animal fats, unhealthy additives, alcohol, glycerin in the production.

Orthodoxy does not exclude kosher products

Many people wonder if Orthodox Christians can eat kosher food? If we turn to the canons of the Christian religion, there are no food prohibitions in Orthodoxy. Restrictions are set for special periods of humility and spiritual renewal. Christmas, Great, Petrov, Assumption fasts, as well as all Wednesdays and Fridays - the time of complete abstinence from meat and dairy products. So, nothing forbids an Orthodox tourist to try kosher products in Israel.