Kosher laws, also known as Kashrut, are a guide to food and life for Jewish people. While some Jews follow the multitude of rules with military precision, others pick and choose certain aspects of Kosher law that they value. For many Jews, the kosher dietary laws are of the highest priority. There are certain foods that are absolutely outlawed, while others can only be consumed in certain combinations or at specific times.
Dairy and Meat
A widely recognized aspect of the kosher diet is the separation of dairy and meat. The Torah, the religious text for Jewish people that is also known as the Old Testament, mentions this rule twice in the book of Exodus and once in Deuteronomy. While the exact quote that appears in the Torah is that one shouldn't "boil a kid in its mother's milk," it has been interpreted as a dietary rule separating meals with dairy (milk, butter, cheese, yogurt) from meals with meat (beef, chicken, goat, sheep). Fish is not considered meat in Kosher law.
Animals with Cloven Hooves
Kosher law restricts the mixing of dairy and meat, but it also specifies the kind of meat that one can eat. Particularly, animals that chew their cud and have cloven hooves are considered acceptable food sources. Cattle, bison and goats are examples of this. Pork is the most widely recognized meat that is banned from the Kosher diet.
Sea-borne Animals
Many fish are acceptable according to Kosher law. These include herring, cod, whitefish and salmon, among others. If the fish has scales and fins it is Kosher. Shellfish (lobster, crab, shrimp, oysters) are not Kosher and some believe that this rule extends to bottom-feeding fish like catfish as well.
Kosher for Passover
When shopping in the supermarket, you may discover a symbol on some foods that implies a food is "Kosher for Passover". This means that the factory where the food is produced has been visited by a rabbi, verified that the production and the food products comply with Kosher law and are acceptable to eat. Foods with Kosher for Passover symbols can range from seltzer water to matzoh. Matzoh is an unleavened bread consumed during Passover, a Jewish holiday celebrating the freeing of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.
Vegetarian is Kosher
All fruits and vegetables are considered Kosher. This means that vegetarian meals are Kosher meals, a fact that can be helpful if you're ever concerned about serving a friend or family member who is strictly Kosher. Be aware that certain insects or worms that can inhabit fruits and vegetables are not Kosher, so wash your produce well before preparing it. For more information on inspect vegetables for pests, consult the link in the Resources section below.
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