Every true Jew should know and obey the laws of kashrut unquestioningly. These rules apply to many fields of activity, but they are primarily concerned with food. Food that is considered kosher is primarily beneficial to the body. It must be natural and meet strict criteria. The factories and restaurants that offer kosher products in Russia must have a certificate.
What is kashrut
Kashrut is translated from Hebrew as “suitable.” This is a set of regulations that are allowed and forbidden, concerning not only food, but also other aspects. The laws of kashrut are aimed at instilling self-discipline and the ability of self-restraint, as well as the spiritual cohesion of believers of Jewish origin. They are governed by the Jewish holy book of the Torah, which prohibits cruelty, violence, bloodshed. Compliance with the rules is closely monitored by the rabbinate.
With the laws of kashrut, food intake rises from the animal to a conscious level. Kosher product, what is it? This is primarily healthy, healthy, organic food. According to the scriptures, it positively affects both the physical and spiritual health of a person. There are special lists of permitted food products and their manufacturers. If you want to purchase kosher food or drinks, pay attention to the special sign or check with the seller for the appropriate certificate.
The rabbinate divides into three main groups all kosher products, the list of them is as follows:
- basar - meat products;
- freebie - dairy products;
- parve - neutral food (fish, vegetables, etc.).
Animal products - meat, milk, eggs
What does a kosher animal product mean? Such is considered the meat of animals that are ruminant, cloven-hoofed, herbivorous at the same time. For example, sheep, cows, goats, moose, etc. It is strictly forbidden to eat camel, hare, daman and pig meat . Among birds, predators are considered non-kosher. This is an owl, a pelican, an eagle, an ostrich, a heron. Cooking is possible only from poultry - chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, quails, pigeons.
In order for the product to be usable, the animal must be killed according to the special laws of kashrut. Since the Torah is not allowed to eat blood, there are guidelines on how to process meat. In addition, the carcass is mandatory checked for the absence of any disease.
In addition to meat, there are other products of animal origin. For example, eggs. They belong to the category of parve. Suitable eggs should only be laid by kosher birds. One end of their shell should be rounded, and the other should be sharper. If suddenly there is a blood clot inside the egg, you can not eat it.
Kosher milk can be eaten. However, there is one limitation. Kashrut laws prohibit the sharing of meat and dairy products. The interval between dishes should be at least 30 minutes - it depends on the community. Milk can be combined with products of other categories - vegetables, fruits, fish, etc.
Fish and seafood
What is a kosher fish product? According to kashrut, non-predatory fish, which has fins and easily removable scales, is considered allowed. According to these signs, eel, sturgeon, shark, catfish are not kosher. Salmon red caviar can be eaten, and black sturgeon can not. Various seafood - octopuses, crabs, oysters, lobsters, shrimps - do not have scales and fins, therefore they are forbidden as food.
Although fish belongs to the neutral category of products, you should not mix it with meat during cooking or during one meal. You can eat dairy with fish at one meal, but always from different dishes.
Insects
The Torah forbids eating insects, amphibians, reptiles. Only certain locust species are allowed to cook. You should be careful with vegetables and fruits, because they may contain worms or their larvae. Flour and cereals must be sorted and re-sifted so that insects that can get in a bag and ruin kosher products do not get into the food. The list of unauthorized food does not contain honey produced by an insect (bee). It can be eaten, because, according to the Jews, it is a recycled flower juice. Accordingly, it is a plant product. In addition, honey is extremely useful, which does not completely reread the laws of kashrut.
Vegetables and fruits
Vegetables, fruits and herbs are classified as parve. What does a kosher plant product mean? Undoubtedly, it must be grown in Israel. If the product comes from another country, but is in its natural form, you can also eat it. Raw fruits and vegetables do not need a certificate. They can be mixed with meat and milk.
Vegetable products should not be wormy or come in contact with non-kosher food. In such cases, they become unfit for food.
The drinks
Among drinks about kosher, those made from grapes are considered. The process of producing the right product is extremely complex. It must necessarily comply with certain laws of kashrut. What does a kosher product mean when it comes to wine? The basic rule is that only a Jew should make it. If a person of a different nationality and religion touches the drink, he will lose kosher.
Grapes for the right wine should be harvested only in a certain period and in a special place. The vineyard must be more than four years old, and it needs to rest once every seven years. Before starting the production of wine, a mandatory rite should be performed. All equipment is constantly sterilized at the factory. Outsiders should not get here. Production is closed on Saturday.
Due to the difficulties encountered in observing all the laws of kashrut, many winemakers prefer to make a regular drink. For the same reason, a real kosher product (what is it - read above) is very expensive, its price is much higher than good Italian or French wines.
Bread
Bread is classified as parve. According to the laws of kashrut, a kosher flour product (what is permitted food, is written above in the article) is one that is baked by an Orthodox Jew. A person who monitors the process should separate a small piece of dough from each loaf and burn it. If we are talking about large-scale production, then here Jews should at least control the baking of bread and turn on the ovens. Do not forget that all the ingredients used in the preparation of the dough should be kosher.