Kosher foods

Kosher foods are those that conform to the regulations of the Jewish Halakhic law framework, kosher meaning fit or allowed to be eaten. A list of some kosher foods are found in the book of Leviticus 11:1-47. There are also certain kosher rules found there. Reasons for food not being kosher include the presence of ingredients derived from nonkosher animals or from kosher animals that were not properly slaughtered, a mixture of meat and milk, wine or grape juice (or their derivatives) produced without supervision, the use of produce from Israel that has not been tithed, or the use of nonkosher cooking utensils and machinery.

Animal species

The Torah lists birds which may not be consumed, mainly birds of prey, fish-eating water-birds, and bats (which are mammals). Leviticus and Deuteronomy state that anything residing in "the waters" (seas and rivers) is ritually clean if it has both fins and scales, according to both Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Leviticus lists four exceptions, including locusts. With regard to animals, Deuteronomy and Leviticus state that anything which chews the cud and has a cloven hoof is ritually clean, but animals that only chew the cud or only have cloven hooves are not. The texts identify four animals in particular as being...
Read More