Kosher Rules

In most of the large cities of the world, where Jewish communities are found, kosher restaurants have become very popular. In cities like Toronto or New York, one can find various kosher restaurants. Basically, for people having faith in Judaism, it is a very deep belief that meat of only certain animals can be eaten.

Kosher rules are recommended according to Jewish dietary laws and some regard it to be difficult. Most of the dietary laws are believed to have found their origin in the Bible. The rules are same for all Jewish followers irrespective of the country. However, Jewish food system adapts to various inevitable factors like ingredients available in the respective country and production of food. Nonetheless, the basic rules for Kosher are the same everywhere.

Basic Kosher Rules

Recommended Kosher Foods
Many people have a false assumption that kosher foods are blessed by the "rabbi" and hence they can be eaten. However, kosher foods are not some blessed foods, rather they are the ones that have been recommended by Jewish dietary laws.

As per kosher laws, food is generally divided into 3 parts, that is meat, dairy and pareve. One of the most significant kosher rules is that meat and dairy foods can't be eaten or prepared together. While meat is used to indicate anything derived from animal flesh dairy foods comprises products from cow's milk. Pareve, on the other hand, is a kosher food that are categorized between animal flesh and fruits, for instance, eggs, fruits, candies and vegetables. Generally, the categorization of pareve foods is complex and not very clearly defined. A list of general kosher foods are as follows:

• Fish (that can be removed without tearing the flesh)
• Certain animals such as cow, goat, giraffe, antelope and deer.
• Poultry animals like chicken, turkey, goose and duck are allowed to be eaten.
• Forbidden birds are not allowed to be eaten although the criteria for forbidden birds is not very clear. Scavenger birds and preys are generally categorized as "forbidden" birds.
• Fish can be eaten as per kosher rules if the fish has fins and scales that are detachable from skin.

According to food rules in kosher only meat of few animals is allowed; at the same time, it's very important that all the blood must be drained before the meat is cooked. That is why kosher salts have become increasingly popular. Not only meat of forbidden animals but the dairy products of those animals are also forbidden.

Utensils Cleaning
Generally, in homes where Jewish laws are followed, it's imperative that both meat and dairy products are cooked in separate utensils. It's customary to have separate vessels for both these types of food and they are never mixed, unless accidentally.

Slaughtering an Animal
Among the various kosher rules, the way an animal is slaughtered is also very important. Slaughter of weak and diseased animals is discouraged. Moreover, the animal must be slaughtered in the most humane manner possible. Generally, cutting the throat with a sharp knife is recommended and the knife must not be old or worn out.

Since the rules enshrined in kosher cover a wide range of laws, it is generally tedious to be aware of each and every aspect of kosher rules. However, the rules mentioned here, that is those related to dietary rules or "kashrut" must be strictly followed by a Jew. For children also, all rules are the same and generally children born in Jewish families are able learn the practices and rituals as they grow up and attain adulthood. The basic kosher rules have been mentioned in the sacred books of Jews, the Torah and are concerned with basic dietary laws.