Hebrew for "fit" or "proper " In Judaic culture, kosher refers to the proper methods of food preparation and the dietary laws governing its consumption Kosher or non-kosher can refer to the very nature of certain foods, as well as the various combinations thereof For example, pork is not kosher and shellfish is not kosher Beef is kosher as long as the animal is slaughtered properly, and cow's milk is kosher But the mixing of meat and dairy products is never kosher "Keeping kosher" is important, not only because it would seem to address some apparent health issues, but because certain foods are associated with certain cultures (the goyim, or "the foreign nations") Also, the mixing of certain foods is not unlike a metaphor for cultural, ethnic and religious assimilation For the orthodox Jew, the experience of assimilation is like that of exile; it is nothing short of a loss of identity
~ That which is permissable to eat by biblical and rabbinic standards Most notably precludes pork, shellfish, and any combination of milk and meat products
'Ritually correct'; said particularly about food consumption and food preparation 'Ritually correct'; said particularly about food consumption and food preparation
Made according to a complex set of Jewish dietary laws Does not imply VEGAN in any case Does not imply OVO-LACTO VEGETARIAN in any case Even KOSHER products containing milk products may contain some types of animals which are not considered 'meat'
Derived from the Hebrew word "kasher," which means "proper" or "pure " Kosher foods conform to strict Jewish biblical laws pertaining to the type of food eaten, the kinds of foods combined in one meal, and how an animal is killed
Kosher foods conform to strict Jewish biblical laws pertaining to the type of food eaten, the kinds of foods combined in one meal, and how an animal is killed
1 Kosher "fit," used of anything in the sense of "proper" or "good " 2 Iin reference to food, used to mean complying with the requirements of Jewish dietary laws