Kashrut (Kosher laws)

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

For those whom may not know, here is a list of the tahor, and tamai (clean, and unclean foods) that can be found in Leviticus 11:

Unclean Foods

Mammals
*Badger *Bear *Camel *Cat *Cheetah *Coney
*Coyote *Dog *Donkey *Elephant *Ferret *Fox
*Gorilla *Hare *Hippopotamus *Horse *Hyena
*Jackal *Kangaroo *Leopard *Lion *Llama *Monkey
*Mule *Opossum *Panther *Porcupine *Rabbit *Raccoon *Rhinoceros *Skunk *Squirrel *Swine *Tiger *Wallaby *Wolf *Zebra

Sea Creatures
*Abalone *Catfish *Clam *Crab *Crayfish *Cuttlefish *Eel *Jellyfish *Limpet *Lobster
*Marlin *Mussel *Octopus *Otter *Oyster *Porpoise
*Prawn *Scallop *Seal *Shark *Shrimp *Squid
*Sturgeon *Tarbot *Walrus *Whale *Albatross

Birds
*Bat *Bittern *Buzzard *Condor *Cormorant *Crane
*Crow *Cuckoo *Eagle *Flamingo *Glede *Grosbeck
*Gull *Hawk *Heron *Kite *Lapwing *Loon *Ossifrage *Osprey *Ostrich *Owl *Pelican *Penguin *Plover *Raven *Stork *Swallow *Swift
*Vulture *Water hen *Woodpecker

Creatures
*All Reptiles *All insects, except locust family (and some beetles) *Crocodile *Frog *Ground hog *Lizard *Mole *Mouse *Newt *Rat *Salamander *Snail
*Snake *Slug *Toad *Turtle *Weasel........


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

Clean Foods

Mammals
*Antelope *Bison *Buffalo *Cattle *Caribou *Deer
*Elk *Gazelle *Giraffe *Goat *Hart *Ibex *Moose
*Reindeer *Sheep

Fish
*Albacore *Anchovy *Bass *Bluefish *Bonita *Carp *Cod *Crappie *Drum
*Flounder *Garfish *Grouper *Grunt *Haddock *Halibut *Hardhead *Herring *Mackerel *Minnow
*Perch *Pickerel *Pike *Rockfish *Salmon *Shad
*Sheepshead *Skipjack *Smelt *Snapper *Sole
*Sunfish *Tarpon *Trout *Tuna *Yellowtail

Birds
*Chicken *Dove *Duck *Goose *Grouse
*Guinea fowl *Partridge *Peathingy *Pheasant *Pigeon *Songbirds *Sparrow *Quail *Turkey

Creatures
*Crickets *Grasshoppers *Locusts *Some beatles

Note: Eating blood (an animal that was not killed properly to let the blood drain) renders an animal unclean.

Also note many products in the stores contain pork. A few examples: Refried beans, and gelatin.

May you all eat tasty kosher meals!

[Curt]

Thankyou so much for the list. I knew some of them but certainly not all. I was wondering about herring. I also did not see anything about sardines or are they covered under another name. The only clean mammal that surprised me was the Giraffe. The only real mammal I had to give up was porky the pig. The only real sea creature from your list I gave up was shrimp. I tried lobster once but did not like it. Of the bird list I only really liked turkey and chicken. I was surprised to find duck on the list and was surprised to find it was clean. The only other birds I've eaten once were the duck and the pheasant. I knew about the pork in refried beans when I finally asked a restaurant owner how they were made. I knew about pork in gelatin because I read about it.

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Shalom achi,

Sardines are kosher. Although, I never have eaten one.

Shabbat shalom!

Reuel

[Frank T. Clark]

I gave up all animal flesh at the age of about 14. Nearly 40 years ago. It seems to me like the risks are too great to encounter something undesirable. Modern mass production causes so much problems. I still eat some dairy but feel reluctant even there. It is interesting to note that when eating fresh, washed plant products it is very rare to catch anything.

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Vegetarianism is one way to stay kosher

Shalom brother,

Reuel

[el Gusano]

Vegetarianism is also a good way to stay hungry!

I think God gave us meat for a reason.

Vegetarian: An old Indian word meaning "lousy hunter".

[Frank T. Clark]

You've seen my picture. Do I look hungry to you? :-)

[Jessica]

TEXTI would like to hear opinions on the milk-meat verse in Ex 23:19

"The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk."

I'm not sure if I should have started a new thread somewhere else, if so, I'm sorry

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Shalom Jessica,

I would like to hear opinions on the milk-meat verse in Ex 23:19

"The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk."

I'm not sure if I should have started a new thread somewhere else, if so, I'm sorry

I would say that this is a good place to discuss your question. In regards to Exodus 23:19, I believe there are is a deeper understanding to why this commandment was given, and probably has it's roots in some of the surrounding nation's pagan customs. No doubt we should observe this mitzvah, but the question is how? Traditionally we see that Many sects of Judaism have placed a total ban on the consumption of any flesh with any milk product. As you probably know, great lengths have been taken to safe-guard this mitzvah (commandment) in many Jewish homes such as two totally seperate kitchens...one for the preperation of items that may include dairy products (no meat), and one for the preperation of items that may have meat (no dairy).

Many that observe this mitzvah obstain from eating all types of meat with any type of dairy product. I believe the reasoning is that the meat is somewhat boiling in your stomach with dairy product (milk). Personally, I don't think this is the intent of the commandment. I believe the commandment is simply, "Thou shalt not seethe (boil) a kid in his mother's milk.".

To me this would not include eating any type of meat with milk, nor would it include boiling fish with milk, products, or even poultry for that matter. In other words, I think the commandment is much more simple than what many make it out to be. Seeing that this commandment is directly linked with agricultural practices, I believe that this commandment probably has root's in abstaining from some of the agricultural pagan rituals that were prevelant during the time.

Just my thoughts

Reuel

[The 614th Mitzvot]

I enjoy many foods and all of them are kosher. People think; oh kosher, now he can only eat cacti and bugs.
Then I invite them over for some kosher hot dogs (only glatt) and hamburgers and they stare at me like I am burning a bible!

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Shalom Chumash614,

Are your friends evangelical Christians that believe otherwise?

Shalom,

Reuel

[The 614th Mitzvot]

Some are and some are just non-believers.

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Do they take offence to you observing kashrut?

[The 614th Mitzvot]

No one really does because they just think, oh he doesn't like pork, my father doesn't keep kosher outside the home, yet he doesn't like pork at all.

[Kallah]

B"H
Shalom-shalom, mishpochah!

How wonderful when we desire serving HSHEM in every aspect of our life. I don't grant myself enough time to post on many of the threads. However, I took time to share on this one, and hope my sharing, will add, and not take away from what everyone else has posted, in His love.

The question of keeping KASHRUT(Kosher) and the non-mixing of dairy and meat products? A couple of common reasons given...(1) because cooking and/or eating meat and milk together was an idolatrous practice, and idolatrous practices are forbidden by the , and (2) according to Kabbalah(what explains the spiritual), milk symbolizes life and meat symbolizes death, and combining the two "creates a spiritual clash in the celestial realms both of one's soul and in the worlds beyond us" .

Perhaps a way to best illustrate this, is the mandate of the Kohenim (by HSHEM) which was to reunite man with G-d through the sacrificial offerings which served to bring man closer to G-d and G-d closer to man. The Kohen's function, to bring about oneness or wholeness, a return to the original state forfeited by HaAdam and Chava. In this respect, we can understand why the Kohenim were to avoid contact with death. The corpse(or that which is dead) represents the separation of the Divine(life source) from our physical existence, the difference between a corpse and a living person being only the breath of God, the soul.

I would like to mention, that not cooking and/or eating of milk and meat together is not observed by all Jews. The KARAIM (also known as 'Karaites'), from the Hebrew "followers of Scripture", eat milk and meat together, and disagree with Rabbinical interpretation in this regard. The reason being, that though there is a Biblical prohibition not to boil a young goat or sheep in its mother's milk, there is no such prohibition against eating milk and meat together.

Perhaps the best way to grasp the significance of Kashrut (kosher), is understanding the overall Jewish approach to eating and life itself. Simply, to transform the physical realm into a place that G-d can call home. In making the world G-d's home we are like His housekeepers. Every aspect of our life ought to be an element for Divine dwelling. As Believers, our general objective in life is to serve G-d. Maintaining a healthy physical and spiritual lifestyle, supporting our families and relaxing are all important components to this service. Eating sensibly and consuming nutritious meals for example, is an aspect of serving G-d. As Maimonides puts it: "keeping the body healthy is part of serving G-d."

Whatever the reasons given why we keep Kashrut, ultimately its reason is still beyond us. It belongs to a category of Mitzvot called 'Chukim'.

There are three categories of Mitzvot. They are 'Mishpatim', 'Eidut', and 'Chukim'. Mishpatim are logical laws that we would think of on our own even if G-d had not commanded them.
Eidut; we would not think of these(laws) had they not been commanded, but now that they have been commanded we understand their significance, and obey them. Lastly, is Chukim; laws that after they were commanded, we really cannot understand them, but obey them anyway. Kashrut is such a set of laws. What does it represent? We (really)do not know.

It is easy to do the act of mitzvot when we know the reason for something, but, then we are doing the act because of our understanding, not because of G-d's will. We cannot truly define this as connecting with Him, or having true relationship with Him (in this regard),because we are moved not by HSHEM, but rather by our understanding.

B"H The Holy One, Blessed is He, covers every aspect by which we may live a life of total surrender and separateness for Him. Keeping the Chukim is a special part of our relationship with HSHEM. We do it, simply because HE says so. Learning to love Him, by trusting Him. No need to question Him, or be given an explanation. To do what He asks us to do, because He says so; because He is G-d. B"H After all, our Heavenly Father does know best. Happy KOSHER eating!

'b'ahavah Yeshua, Kallah