A question about the Jewish Faith?

Question

Why is it that Jewish people can not eat pork (pig)? I have always grown up and was told that it had something to do with the shape of their foot? Can anyone please give me a better explanation? And also why can we not eath meat with dairy? I am 19 years old and i have been raised that way my whole life, not knowing why we can not eat it? Thanks!!

Answer 1

The Details
Animals that may not be eaten
Of the "beasts of the earth" (which basically refers to land mammals with the exception of swarming rodents), you may eat any animal that has cloven hooves and chews its cud. Lev. 11:3; Deut. 14:6. Any land mammal that does not have both of these qualities is forbidden. The Torah specifies that the camel, the rock badger, the hare and the pig are not kosher because each lacks one of these two qualifications. Sheep, cattle, goats and deer are kosher.

Of the things that are in the waters, you may eat anything that has fins and scales. Lev. 11:9; Deut. 14:9. Thus, shellfish such as lobsters, oysters, shrimp, clams and crabs are all forbidden. Fish like tuna, carp, salmon and herring are all permitted.

For birds, the criteria is less clear. The Torah lists forbidden birds (Lev. 11:13-19; Deut. 14:11-18), but does not specify why these particular birds are forbidden. All of the birds on the list are birds of prey or scavengers, thus the rabbis inferred that this was the basis for the distinction. Other birds are permitted, such as chicken, geese, ducks and turkeys.

Of the "winged swarming things" (winged insects), a few are specifically permitted (Lev. 11:22), but the Sages are no longer certain which ones they are, so all have been forbidden.

Rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and insects (except as mentioned above) are all forbidden. Lev. 11:29-30, 42-43.

Some authorities require a post-mortem examination of the lungs of cattle, to determine whether the lungs are free from adhesions. If the lungs are free from such adhesions, the animal is deemed "glatt" (that is, "smooth"). In certain circumstances, an animal can be kosher without being glatt; however, the stringency of keeping "glatt kosher" has become increasingly common in recent years.

As mentioned above, any product derived from these forbidden animals, such as their milk, eggs, fat, or organs, also cannot be eaten. Rennet, an enzyme used to harden cheese, is often obtained from non-kosher animals, thus kosher hard cheese can be difficult to find.

Answer 2

It is written in the laws of Moses that animals with a cloven hoof can be eaten, hence cow, venison, goat, and pig would be okay. It rules out horses because they have a solid hoof. Ah, but it also says that the animal must also chew it's cud. That rules out pigs because pigs only have one stomach. Here's an interesting for you. Some cheeses are not kasrush ( kosher ) because they use a part of the cow's stomach that contain rennin. This is stuff that helps to curdle the cheese. The rennin is considered a meat product ( cow's stomach ) and can not be mixed with a dairy product. Now, the reason why you can not eat a cheese burger is that somewhere in the Old Testament it is written that you shall not seeth ( to stew or cook or marinate ) a kid in it's mother's milk. Sorry, I don't have the biblical references for you.

Answer 3

The pig is considered to be an unclean animal. Jews cannot eat animals with cloven hoofs nor can they eat shellfish which are considered to be unclean. Why Jews cannot eat meat with dairy products I do not know but it is definitely against Kosher dietary laws. Jews must also eat meat on one set of dishes and diary products on another. Same for eating utensils. Muslims cannot eat pork. If they do it is a strict violation with their dietary laws.

Answer 4

It was part of the Law given to the Jews by G-d.

Not to eat animals without cloved hoof and chewing cud(like a pig)
Not to mix meats (dairy is a meat so u cant have milk with chicken)

Answer: Bible says so. Torah says so. G-d is looking for obedience. People who will obey even if it means doing things His way.

Blessings,
David

Answer 5

What you are referring to is in the Old Testament.
When the New Testament began .
New laws became effective. That does not however mean that all old laws are no longer valid.

The Old Law - Mosaic & Levitical LawA Bible based study of the validity, or invalidity, of the Old Law, also called the Law of Moses (Mosaic Law) & the Law of Leviticus (Levitical Law).
acharlie.tripod.com/oldlaw.html - 12k - Cached - Similar pages

Not eating swine is part of the Levitical Law.

Answer 6

Kosher laws about what is and is not clean to eat and certain rules about combinations of foods.

I've never heard anything about shape of feet - that's pretty funny.


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Answer 7

Because back in the old times, the bible forbade them from eating unclean or dirty animals. Given the unsanitary conditions back then it really safeguarded them from disease.

Answer 8

gotta do with one of the laws that says you cant eat animals with hooved ears or something