A Serious Question About Pickles?

Question

Are the Jewish people allowed to eat non kosher pickles?

Why not? I'm curious on the whole pickle idea. I understand beef, pork, and other stuff. I'm just not understanding the pickle thing.

Answer 1

Jewish dietary laws, generally called 'kosher', are not accepted (or observed) by all Jews. There is even some difference in view as to the details of these laws; they're derived from some statements in the first few books of the Bible's Old Testament. As modified by assorted authorities in the millenia since then. All Orthodox Jews seriously observe kosher dietary practices in one variation or another, some Conservative Jews do, and many Reform Jews don't.

For those unfamiliar with Judaism, these differences are somewhat analogous to the differences between Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholic Christianity (a break now about 1000 years old), and any of various flavors and styles of Protestant Christianity (now around 500 years old, formally). Roman Catholics formerly permitted only fish on Friday for the religiously observant, and conducted services in Latin. The Eastern Orthodox conduct services in Greek (usually) and allow some of their clergy to marry, unlike the Roman Catholics. Protestants have been characterized by conducting services in the local language (German for the first of the lot, Martin Luther, or English for the theological father of Protestantism, John Wycliffe, whose English Bible was the pioneer). Various Protestants groups have had varying attitudes toward meatless Fridays, and other Catholic practices. All Christians, but rather different in detail.

However, if you're Jewish, and observe the dietary laws, you may not eat some foods, or some foods prepared certain ways, or foods which don't meet kosher standards of cleanliness, and so on. The equivalent system under Islam is called halel.

To assist in determing whether a food meets kosher standards in a world in which industrial food preparation is often done a continent away from a buyer/consumer, there has developed a system in which rabbis specializing the dietary laws inspect factories and preparation methods, for a fee. If they agree that the ingredients, methods, cleanliness, etc meet the kosher requirements, they issue an approval, which is nearly always printed on the package label. The word usually used on labels is Pareve, which means kosher.

So pickles which are labeled Pareve (typically with the name or symbol of the rabbinical group which issued it) are OK for those who keep kosher, and pickles which aren't might be, but who knows? It's safest to avoid pickles which are marked kosher.

=====
Dietary laws and Christianity

Early in the last millenium, there was considerable controversy between some followers of Christ (mostly those at Jerusalem, it seems) who maintained that only proper Jews (circumcized, keeping kosher, etc) could join the movement. Others, most notably Paul, disagreed, taking the position that with the coming of Christ, the rules had changed and the dietary laws had been relaxed, along with the requirement for circumcision. The Christian community in Jerusalem, and indeed throughout what is now called Palestine, was destroyed in the 60s along with the Temple. Only those Christians outside of the area remained to spread their views, and so the Jewish dietary laws (and circumcision too) came to be abandoned by the Christians. Since the Jews, by and large, didn't accept that Christ and his message was the New Dispensation, they kept kosher and retained circumcision -- though both changed in detail over time.

Answer 2

Kosher comes from the Hebrew word meaning fit. So things that are questionable as to "fitness" must be supervised in the making. Here's what the issue is with PICKLES - Require supervision. Common problem: turmeric flavoring, non-kosher equipment. Note: government standards regarding the term "kosher pickle" merely require that they contain garlic, and then they are permitted by law to be called "kosher pickle"

Answer 3

you obviously know nothing! Kosher means blessed by a rabi! And not all jews HAVE to eat kosher food! My best friend is jewish and she'll eat whatever!!!

Answer 4

No, all food needs to be kosher

Answer 5

Oh, for heaven's sake...........!
With all the serious issues we should be addressing nowadays...
famines, unjust wars, a dying planet - really, who cares about pickles?!

Answer 6

if they are practicing their religion it must be kosher

Answer 7

'kosher pickle
n.
A pickled cucumber flavored with garlic.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

[From its use in kosher delicatessens.] '




Hope this helps.

Answer 8

no