Is it really true that Kosher meat has to be killed without any pain or suffering fro the animal?

Answer 1

Yes...

All plants are kosher, but not all animals, birds or fish. Animals must not only fit the criteria in Leviticus but must also be killed in a special manner and have all the blood removed before the meat can be eaten by Jews.

Kosher animals

There are two things that tell if an animal is kosher. Firstly its hooves are completely parted at the bottom to form two horny pads, and secondly if it chews the cud. Cows, sheep, goats and deer are the common animals that have both these features and so these are kosher. Pigs, whilst they do have split hooves do not chew the cud are so are not kosher, likewise camels while they chew the cud only have partially split hooves and so are also not kosher.

Cow/Sheep Camel Horse

(Split hoof) (Partially split hoof) (Non split hoof)



Kosher Poultry

There are no ways to recognise kosher birds. The bible gives a long list of birds that are not kosher. The Jews could thus eat any bird that is not on this list but in practice most only eat chicken, turkey and duck. Even these may be declared treyfah if they have defective internal organs.

Lev. 11:13-19 : These you shall regard as detestable among the birds. They shall not be eaten; they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey, the buzzard, the kite of any kind; every raven of any kind; the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind; the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the water hen, the desert owl, the carrion vulture, the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.



Killing animals and birds (Shechitah)

Jews may only eat animals and birds that have been killed by Shechitah. Shechitah is killing the animals by slitting the throat with a very sharp knife. This has been shown to be painless to the animals, as causing pain to living things is against Jewish law. The theory is that the shape knife cuts the carotid so that the animal loses consciousness before they are able to feel pain. By the time it is possible for the animal to feel pain it is already dead. The animal must then have all the bood drained from them.

All Vegetables and fruit are kosher, but they must be carefully checked for non-kosher foods like insects.

All dairy products are kosher (Must be bloodless), but it must be checked that the product does not contain any meat based products (for example many cheeses contain rennet which is made from the stomach of pigs or cows and thus breaks two of the kosher rules (i) that meat and diary must be separate and (ii) that products from the pig are treyfah). Also the kosher Jew must to sure that the milk is only from kosher animals (some farmers made a practice of topping up cow's milk with pig's milk - this would make the milk treyfah)

All shellfish is treyfah.

Answer 2

The practice of kosher slaughter emphasizes the sharpness of the knife and the accuracy and precision of the skill of the shochet, in order to slit the jugular of the animal with an absolute minimum of pain and suffering. In general, over the years authorities have ruled that any unnecessary suffering by the animal can render otherwise kosher meat traife. Nevertheless, the method of slaughter used in strict adherence to Jewish law has been criticized as being inhumane by a number of animal rights organizations, in particular because animals are killed without the use of anesthesia (traditional kashrut would often not allow for anesthesia, as it may severely injure the animal before it is slaughtered, rendering it Treifa, and because Kashrut prohibits slaughter of an unconscious animal.)

Answer 3

I dont know the what the true meaning of kosher is.. I always thought it meant, no pork.. Like in Islam, halal means no pork, but also killing in the name of God and no other name, god or goddess etc. and also no pain or suffereing. Muslims cant eat meat that was killed by goring, stabbing, dieing through illness, road kill etc.. It has to be slaughtered by slitting the vertibrae in the neck swiftly and by a really sharp knife so as to not cause suffering.

Answer 4

yes, it has to be slaughtered in a certain way that gives less pain, but thats not the only criteria for making it kosher... it can also only be certain animals, it can't have any blood in it, etc

Answer 5

No. It just happens to be the most painless. The idea is to bleed out the animal as much as possible. For conservative Jews .. I think they are not to eat the blood of an animal. Which is also why they also eat a steak very well done. Good Luck ! :)

Answer 6

Dont think you can kill anything without causing it pain. By killing something you have to inflict imense pain for it to die. I love meat

Answer 7

Yes, and only by a person who is especially trained to do so.

Answer 8

To a certain degree:

Answer 9

Do u kill Palestinian according to Leviticus.

Answer 10

I think they throw the animal against a brick wall first