What is Kosher ?
Kashrut
(in Hebrew) is the system of Jewish dietary laws. Kosher (kashur in
Hebrew) means 'fit, or proper for use' according to Jewish
law. Examples of kosher are: the meat of the 'fore quarter*' of the
cattle
slaughtered ritually, fruits, vegetables, all fish that have fins*, all
wines*, all cheeses, gelatin.
The
opposite of Kosher, as applied to food in Treif
(in
Yiddish), or Trefah (in Hebrew) meaning 'not suitable for use', or
'forbidden'. Trefah literally means 'torn by a wild beast' (Exodus
22:30). Examples
of Trefah are: blood, swine, rabbit*, all shell fish*, wild birds such
as
wild
hen*, wild duck*, and the birds of prey.
(*)
These food items exhibit a marked difference between Kosher and Halal as well as Trefah and
haram. The
differences are
explained
elsewhere in this section.
Salient
differences between kosher and halal are:
Islam
restricts all intoxicating alcohols, liquors, wines
and drugs. kashrut regards all wines kosher. Hence food items and
drinks
showing the kosher symbol containing alcohol are not halal.
Gelatin
is considered Kosher by many Jews
regardless of its
source of origin. If the gelatin is prepared from non-zabiha, Muslims
consider
it haram
(prohibited). Hence foods items such as marshmallows, yogurt,
etc.,
showing kosher symbols are not always halal.
Enzymes
(irrespective of their sources even from non-kosher
animals) in cheese making are considered mere secretion (pirsah
b'almah)
according to some kashrut organizations, hence all cheeses are
considered kosher.
Muslims
look for the source of the enzyme in cheese making.
If it is coming from the swine, it is considered haram (forbidden).
Hence cheeses showing kosher symbols may not be halal.
Jews
do not pronounce the name of God on each animal while
slaughtering. They feel that uttering the name of God, out of context,
is
wasteful. Muslims on the other hand pronounce the name of Allah on
all
animals
while slaughtering.
The
salient differences between kosher and halal have been
illustrated so that Muslim consumers can distinguish halal from kosher.
Muslims
in non-Muslim countries should strive to follow the Islamic
injunctions in their diet (as well as in every walk of life)
and
establish their own businesses and institutions to cater to the needs
of the Muslim Ummah. By doing so, not only the identity of the Muslims
will be
preserved, but they will be recognized and respected for their beliefs
and
practices.
Differences
within Kosher:
There
are different sects within Judaism and there are
several hundred Jewish Kosher authorities in the US
who certify when buying anything Kosher based on
extremely liberal to extremely conservative rules. Therefore it is
difficult to
come up with one uniform opinion regarding Kosher practices. A symbols
"k" for kosher is not governed by any authority. Any manufacturer can
use it at will. A website guiding Jews about Kosher states "it may take
a
great deal of detective work to ascertain the standard that a
particular rabbi
is using." For this reason many Muslims kosher
look
for "u" in a circle which are more conservative Kosher symbol
