What exactly is kosher?

Question

i know what foods are kosher but i was wondering what it really means and and if anyone knows could you tell me why jewish people prefer kosher food

Answer 1

Kosher means that the food was blessed by a rabbi and made in the presence of that rabbi.  Many Jewish people who are devout will only eat kosher food becasue of their faith.

Answer 2

Kosher is generally one of two things.  First it is a set of laws called kashrut that entail what a Jew can and cannot eat.  secondly it refers fo the way animals are slaughtered and the way certain foods are prepared, such as keeping dairy and meat seperate at the same meal.

Edit:  Among the stranger things that are kosher: grasshoppers!  Never ate one, but my turtle loves 'em!

Answer 3

that it's blessed by the rabbi? I know they slaughter their meat really weird...

Answer 4

"Kosher food is food that meets Jewish dietary laws, or kashrut, which comes from the Hebrew word for "fit" or "proper."

Kosher food laws are rather extensive. Some are derived directly from the bible and others through rabbinic interpretations over the years. What are some of the laws governing kosher food?

According to the Torah  cloven hoofed, cud-chewing mammals are kosher. Deer, sheep and goats, for example are all kosher, while pig and rabbit, for example, are not.

Only certain birds are considered kosher in the United States. This includes chicken, duck, goose, and turkey.

Lobster lovers might be dismayed to find that for seafood or fish to be kosher, it must have fins and easily removable scales. Shellfish generally, and lobsters, shrimp, and clams, specifically are not kosher.

Fish, on the other hand, such as tuna, carp, and herring, are kosher, but only if they are prepared by a kosher fish monger with kosher cutting implements and machines. There's more. In most cases, scales must be present on the fish in order to be purchased by the consumer.

Fish and meat cannot be served together.

Milk and meat cannot be served together. Rabbinic law includes poultry in this prohibition, however fish is excluded. This gives rise to the popular, and kosher, bagel, lox, and cream cheese combination.

Processed food must be prepared in the presence of a rabbi.

Poultry and meat must be slaughtered under strict guidelines called "shechita." This means the animals are slaughtered without pain. Only those who are trained and qualified are allowed to slaughter kosher animals. Once the animal is no longer alive, another team of experts will examine the animal to be sure the animal is without illness, abnormalities or anything else that can be considered unsanitary. The lungs in particular must be pure. In addition, all blood, nerves, and most fat must be removed.

Kosher kitchens must maintain separate sets of utensils, pots, pans, dishes, and anything else that comes in contact with food. In addition, dishes and utensils in a kosher kitchen can't be washed together. If a kitchen has two sinks, it is an ideal setup for a kosher family. If not, separate wash buckets are often used. Dishes and utensils must be dried using separate racks or dishtowels as well.

There are many other rules to be followed for anything to be considered kosher food. To make identification easier on the consumer, kosher food is often identified as such by its kashrut certification on the food's package. Kashrut certification is generally indicated by an identifiable symbol that includes the letter K, or by the word pareve, which means the food is neither dairy nor meat, but rather neutral."

Hope this helps answer some questions

Answer 5

it means it doesnt have pork which they cant have

Kosher foods are those that conform to the Jewish dietary laws. Reasons for food being considered non-kosher include the presence of ingredients derived from non-kosher animals or from kosher animals that were not properly slaughtered, a mixture of meat and milk, wine or grape juice (and their derivatives) produced by gentiles, the use of produce from Israel that has not been tithed properly, or even the use of cooking utensils and machinery which had previously been used for non-kosher food

Answer 6

One thing that I didn't see in the answers is that Kosher is also a lifestyle that is determined by Torah and Talmud. It's not just the foods that you eat, it's also way your life is lead. Remaining strictly Kosher is an extremely rewarding way to live.

Answer 7

1.   Certain animals may not be eaten at all. This restriction includes the flesh, organs, eggs and milk of the forbidden animals.

   2. Of the animals that may be eaten, the birds and mammals must be killed in accordance with Jewish law.

   3. All blood must be drained from the meat or broiled out of it before it is eaten.

   4. Certain parts of permitted animals may not be eaten.

   5. Fruits and vegetables are permitted, but must be inspected for bugs

   6. Meat (the flesh of birds and mammals) cannot be eaten with dairy. Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains can be eaten with either meat or dairy. (According to some views, fish may not be eaten with meat).

   7. Utensils that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy, and vice versa. Utensils that have come into contact with non-kosher food may not be used with kosher food. This applies only where the contact occurred while the food was hot.

   8. Grape products made by non-Jews may not be eaten.

Jewish people don't prefer to eat kosher, it's just a part of the religion. Kosher food is from the Torah and many people think it is also healthier.

Answer 8

i think it means no animals were harmed in the making of the food. or it doesn't have a face. something like that.