From a Gentile (Just Wondering). What are common Kosher foods?

[MasterWolf1]

Just wondering,, cause I do notice on grocery labels the seal, but what are common Kosher cuisine?

[Dr. Dan]

Salt and pickels

[Lisa]

Hi Masterwolf,

First off, there are certain animals which are kosher to eat (if slaughtered properly) and ones that are not permissible to eat.  Jews are allowed to eat beef, chicken and fish with fins and scales, such as tuna, yellowtail, salmon, cod mackerel red snapper, striped bass, sole, bluefish, etc.  (Now I'm sure I've left some animals out, but others can fill in what I left out.)  For cows, it's because they chew their own cud, and it's something to do with cloven hoofs.  Furthermore any animal that is a predator is unkosher. Shellfish is definitely not kosher because of the lack of fins and scales. 

Then there's the issue of not mixing meat, and chicken with dairy.  That comes from part of the Bible (I forget exactly where) which says "You shall not seethe a kid in it's mother's milk."  The idea is that life and death are separate.  Milk signifies life, and blood signifies death, and we don't mix the two. 

Now for the slaughter.  The laws of Kashrut are such that the animal must be slaughtered in the most humane manner possible.  That means making a few small cuts in it's throat, with a special kind of knife that is extremely sharp, so that the death is as fast as possible. The Talmud provides specific instructions on how the knife should be shaped.  On a side note hunting is prohitibed, as it is cruel to the animals, and any animal killed by a hunter is unkosher for that very reason.  Furthermore, Jews may not slaughter an animal in front of it's mother or on the same day as the mother is slaughtered.  Also, if the animal escapes, you are not allowed to go after it. 

After the animal is slaughtered the next course of action is to check the internal organs.  If they appear to be abnormal or look diseased, then the animal is still not kosher.  On the other hand, if everything looks good, the animal is OK to cook.  But before that, we remove all traces of blood and veins, by rinsing in water and salting, as the blood contains the soul of the animal. 

A month of two ago, one of the members here put up a link to a speech given by Rabbi Tovia Singer about the Talmud.  However, it might be worth listening to just to hear the Rabbi's experience when he went to a slaughterhouse as a young rabbinical student.  If I find the link, I'll send it to you if you like. 

Now if you're asking about specific cuisines, they vary depending on regions/countries.  Some common kosher foods are gefilte fish, and matzoh ball soup.  But there's lots more. 

[MasterWolf1]

This is in a way interesting, cause it also gives someone like me to know more, looks like it is more strict in any form of animal products compared to produced products.  What about wearing the skins of the animal,, Leather, fur or wool for example?

[Rubystars]

Also, if the animal escapes, you are not allowed to go after it. 

What if someone else brings it back? Or say, can a Jew send someone else to go retreive it?

[Kiwi]

Also, if the animal escapes, you are not allowed to go after it. 

What if someone else brings it back? Or say, can a Jew send someone else to go retreive it?

Ruby many go at get it any way, I know I do.


And this is where I shop  http://www.solomon.com.au/

[Kiwi]

Also, if the animal escapes, you are not allowed to go after it. 

What if someone else brings it back? Or say, can a Jew send someone else to go retreive it?

Rudy many go at get it anywway, I know I do.

But do you use kosher slaughter? Do you bring in a shochet?

I never kill my animals  they die of old age 

http://www.solomon.com.au/ <---this is much better. 

[Kiwi]

Ok now you know I am not a good farmer 

[Maccabi]

Then there's the issue of not mixing meat, and chicken with dairy.  That comes from part of the Bible (I forget exactly where) which says "You shall not seethe a kid in it's mother's milk."  The idea is that life and death are separate.  Milk signifies life, and blood signifies death, and we don't mix the two. 

I've been curious recently. Is there any halachic argument in favor of allowing cheeseburgers?  I'm being serious.

Seething a kid in it's mother's milk is quite a bit different from putting a slice of cheese on a hamburger.

Now I would agree that having a tall glass of milk with a burger is kind of disgusting, as well as obviously the idea of cooking a burger or steak in butter or milk or any dairy product.

But a slice of cheese is in no way seething.

Also, what about cooking chicken in butter - I have done so using season salt, and found it delicious.  Butter is not from from a chicken, so it would be impossible to be seething a chicken in it's mother's milk etc...

[Kiwi]

Also, if the animal escapes, you are not allowed to go after it. 

What if someone else brings it back? Or say, can a Jew send someone else to go retreive it?

Rudy many go at get it anywway, I know I do.

But do you use kosher slaughter? Do you bring in a shochet?

I never kill my animals  they die of old age 

http://www.solomon.com.au/ <---this is much better. 

Do you milk them or use their eggs?

The goats yes, and the chicken yes I sell alot of the eggs we get 3 dozen a day. I also have quail and their eggs are sold. The duck eggs are used in the dogs food, and given to a friend who is a baker, and they give me bakers flour.

I barter alot here, its very much not allowed. But we do it any way.

Oh I use the bakers flour to make my own bread.

[MasterWolf1]

But can Jews wear the hides or use the hides of the animal in anyway such as clothing?

[Lisa]

Rubystars, as it was explained to me by my mother, you cannot go after an animal after it has escaped.  I should think the same would hold true for having someone else go after it. 

Masterwolf, Jews are allowed to wear leather.  In terms of fur, that's an interesting question.  Some rabbis would say no, and some would say yes. 

[MasterWolf1]

What if through medical breakthrough if something from an animal, maybe its bone or blood can be used for a break through drug that can say help with diabetes or cancer?  Would that be ok for consumption or would there be a religious objection?  Just wondering

[Kiwi]

What if through medical breakthrough if something from an animal, maybe its bone or blood can be used for a break through drug that can say help with diabetes or cancer?  Would that be ok for consumption or would there be a religious objection?  Just wondering

Everyone one has a right to reject medical treatment for what ever reason.

Currently 80% of diabetes medication is pig product. Skin grafts, heart values, livers, lungs, speen, whole blood products are produced with Pig products or come directly from them.

[Lisa]

What if through medical breakthrough if something from an animal, maybe its bone or blood can be used for a break through drug that can say help with diabetes or cancer?  Would that be ok for consumption or would there be a religious objection?  Just wondering

As I understand, a person's life is the most important thing.  I've never in my life heard of any Jew rejecting life saving medicines just because they came from unkosher animals.  Jews are allowed to break the Sabbath if it's a matter of life and death.  So I should think the same would hold true for medicine.