why kosher?

Question

Why would someone choose a kosher diet, unless he/she is Jewish?

Answer 1

If food is certified kosher, that means that it's production has been supervised from beginning to end. It was kept clean and sanitary throughout. No disgusting ingredients have been added. The animals put in the food were killed in a humane way. If it's not kosher, you just don't know. I know a Rabbi who tried to supervise a food plant in China to give it kosher certification, but they couldn't understand why he minded the local rat population falling into the vats of food. After all, in China, rats are food too. So he couldn't certify it. If it's not certified there could be plenty of things in there that aren't listed on the label.

Answer 2

1) Hygienic: There are many laws that promote health. Judaism forbids eating animals that died without proper slaughter and the draining of the blood (which is a medium for the growth of bacteria). Judaism also forbids eating animals that have abscesses in their lungs or other health problems.

Shellfish, mollusks, lobsters (and yes, stone crabs) which have spread typhoid and are a source for urticara (a neurotic skin affliction) are not on the diet. Milk and meat digest at an unequal rate and are difficult for the body; they are forbidden to be eaten together.

Birds of prey are not kosher -- tension and hormones produced might make the meat unhealthy.

2) Moral Lessons: We are taught to be sensitive to others' feelings -- even to the feelings of animals. A mother and her young are forbidden to be slaughtered on the same day, and of course "don't boil a kid (goat) in its mother's milk."

The Torah prohibits cruelty to animals. We must not remove the limb of an animal while it is still alive (a common practice, prior to refrigeration). When we slaughter an animal, it must be done with the least possible pain; there is a special knife that is so sharp that even the slightest nick in the blade renders it impermissible. This prevents pain to the animal.

And we are reminded not to be vicious, by the prohibition to eat vicious birds of prey.

3) National Reasons -- The Jewish people have a mission of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. A special diet reminds us of our mission and keeps us together as a people to fulfill it. (Intermarriage is kind of hard when you have to take your non-Jewish date to a kosher restaurant, or if you go to a prospective mother-in-law's home and you won't eat her food...)


Jewish mysticism teaches that non-kosher food blocks the spiritual potential of the soul.

Keeping kosher is also a reminder of gratitude to the Almighty for taking the Jewish people out of Egypt, and a symbol of the holy covenant. (see Leviticus 11:45-47)

4)Mystical -- The Torah calls the Jews a "holy people" and prescribes a holy diet (see Deut. 14:2-4). You are what you eat. Kosher is God's diet for spirituality. Jewish mysticism teaches that non-kosher food blocks the spiritual potential of the soul.

Kosher animals properly slaughtered and prepared have more "sparks of holiness" (according to the Kabbalah) which are incorporated in our being.

5)Discipline -- If a person can be disciplined in what and when he eats, it follows that he can be disciplined in other areas of life as well. Kashrut requires that one must wait after eating meat before eating milk products and we may not eat certain animals or combinations of foods. (Even when you're hungry!) All of this instills self-discipline.

Answer 3

The source of all Kosher dietary laws is the Bible, in the Five Books of Moses (the Pentateuch). The Bible details which forms of meat, fowl, fish and insects are not Kosher. In addition, Jewish scholars have studied, interpreted and applied Kosher law for many centuries.

Where Koshering Comes From… The term kosher means "clean, fit or proper." Its origins can be traced back to ritual requirements referenced in the Bible. These rituals were highly regarded and are still followed today, thousands of years later. The exacting attention to preparation and unmatched old world flavor explain why more than two-thirds of all kosher products are bought by non-Jewish consumers for their superior quality and excellent taste.

The Kosher Process… Only healthy animals can be slaughtered for use in kosher foods. Kosher species must have split hooves and chew their cud; this includes cattle, sheep, goat and deer. "Thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock which the Lord hath given thee as I have commanded thee." (DEUT.XII, 21)

Answer 4

I just happen to like the food. Not that I eat only a strict kosher diet. Some other faiths have similar dietary restrictions and kosher food is widely available.

Answer 5

I am Jewish and I do keep kosher.
Although buying kosher food is much more expensive, it is worth it. It is much healthier than regular meat. Animals are slaughtered in a pain free way. If they feel pain, they are concidered non kosher and may not be used.
Overall, it is much more cleaner and healthier for you. And its what the torah (bible) says.

Answer 6

According to my best friend, who is Jewish and an avid cook, the food is freer from contamination and cleaner too. I find that the taste and texture is also different from most mass produced foods even when you buy Kosher foods at the grocery.

Answer 7

I like to eat kosher sometimes because it tastes good.

Answer 8

It seems that kosher foods have stricter processing guides. I like that idea.

Answer 9

i'm muslim and we eat kosher cuz it's healthier (dead animals could be diseased).. & the way of killing the animals is more merciful cuz when u cut the throat the animal wld not get hurt!!!

Answer 10

I'm Jewish, and it beats me. It's mostly the ultra-orthodox Jews who are into it. I would question whether or not it's actually healthier.