Q: What is Kosher?

Kosher? Huh?

I have gotten some email asking me to explain what it means when food is 'KOSHER.'

When a food item is kosher, it doesn't mean it was blessed by a Rabbi, as is commonly thought. It means that it was prepared according to the strict kosher dietary laws, some of which include not mixing meat food items with dairy food items (when something is "pareve," that means it contains neither dairy nor meat), not eating products of non-kosher animals or animals that were not ritually slaughtered ( a very humane way of killing the animals, I might add), and not eating any shellfish. Not only does the food need to be kosher in order to conform to dietary laws, but the vessels and utensils used in preparing them need to be kosher as well.

The laws of kashrus, or kashrut (keeping kosher) cannot be adequately outlined in a website - not even close. This is just a general description of some aspects of keeping "kosher."

If you are interested in learning more about kashrus, click over to OU Online, where they provide an interesting description of what keeping kosher is about, or more effectively, power down your computer and call your local Rabbi.