“The blood is the life”
(Deuteronomy 12:23)
This quote explains that the blood of an animal is the life of the animal, and so is too sacred to be eaten. Therefore when preparing meat, as much blood as possible is removed, using the salting process. First the meat is soaked in water for 30 minutes. This removes any congealed blood on the surface and softens the meat. It is then placed on thin boards. These allow the blood to drain away. The meat is then covered with coarse salt. It is left for 60 minutes to drain more blood away. The meat is then finally rinsed, and then ready for cooking.
An animal has to be killed in a certain way in Jewish Law, as humanely as can be done. Shechitah does this. It is cutting across the throat with a razor sharp blade. It is considered kosher. It does however bring some concern from the RSPCA. The Jewish butcher, a Shochet usually does this, but I am being taught how to as well.
In the Torah it says “You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.” This is saying that meat cannot be eaten or cooked together with dairy products. There are many strict rules about this. Jewish kitchens are laid out in two different parts: meat and dairy. Work surfaces will only be used for one or the other before completely cleaning it. Some families have 2 cookers, and most have 2 sinks. This means that the plates aren’t washed together. If families have dishwashers then they must only load either things used with meat, or with the dairy. With fridges and freezers, meat and dairy can be kept together as kosher does not affect cold foods. If mistakes are made, for example spilling milk on a meat, then the Jewish person consults the rabbi who tells them if their food and utensils are still kosher. My sister spilled some milk on our chicken, and we had to cook a new chicken as the rabbi said the first one wasn’t kosher. We must also wait from 2-6 hours between meat and dairy meals, which can be awkward.
When we go shopping we look out for the hechsher symbol on tins and other foods. This tells us whether the product is kosher or not. The Bet Din decides whether foods are kosher or not in supermarkets, and check regularly. There are sometimes kosher corners in shops as well, and this makes shopping much easier. Some foods can easily become treifah, for example when a chicken is bruised or a bloodspot is found in an egg. We also have to thoroughly check lettuce for insects. All people do this, but you would be surprised how many are left over when you have finished, and we have to remove these as well.
We keep these rules of kosher food because they were given to us by God. They are a constant reminder that Jews are holy, and different from other religions. These laws discipline us Jews towards holiness and give us a sense of Jewish identity. We are God’s people, and He has asked us to keep the food laws, and so we must.
The foods that we are forbidden to eat by God are considered unclean and not fitting for Jews to eat.
With all these rules, there are some difficulties however. The amount of time and effort that goes into checking all foods so carefully is very strenuous. Other people who come to eat with us often point out that it takes much longer for us to prepare a meal, and it is true. On the other hand, though, if I go to a friend’s house I cannot stay for dinner as they have not prepared the food for me, not that I would expect them to. When I go out with my friends they always go to McDonalds. I cannot eat here though as the food is not cooked in the right laws of Jewish religion. At school I have to take a packed lunch too as the food is not fitting to Jewish laws either. And whenever I eat I must say a prayer, even if it is in my head. This also takes time, but it is my religion.
A serious problem is that medicines that are in capsule form have gelatine in them, and this is made from crushed animal bones, and obviously I cannot take them. However, if it really is urgent that I take these medicines, for instance if it was a life or death situation, then the food rules are put to one side for that moment. Many restaurants are also not kosher. Some do though have a license from the rabbinical authority, and they can serve meat or dairy foods, but never both.
