Every day, just about every consumer in
America and throughout the western world eats something that
is kosher. Did you know that familiar foods like Coke,
Folger's coffee, Haagen-Dazs ice cream, McCormick pepper,
Heinz ketchup, Fleishman's Egg Beaters, Cap'n Crunch cereal,
and Coors beer are all kosher?
It has been said that keeping kosher is as much a diet for the
soul as for the body. Because every Jew has a soul which is
eternal and holy, if forbidden foods are eaten, that holiness
is affected. This in turn lessens the ability to absorb all
the spiritual rewards of Torah. This is why Jews have followed
strict dietary laws throughout the generations, passing this
way of life on to their children.
The Dietary Laws which govern which foods are kosher and which
are not, are found in Deuteronomy and Leviticus in the Torah
(the Bible). Collectively known as "Kashrus," these laws have
been followed for over 3,000 years. Not only those of the
Jewish faith but millions of Americans from all ethnic
backgrounds and religious convictions look for the kosher
label on foods for reasons of health and quality.
Today, there are over 30,000 different food products on the
American supermarket shelf that are certified "kosher." The "kosherness"
of a food is indicated by a little symbol representing a
particular agency's certification that the food has been
processed in accordance with the Jewish Dietary Laws.
So what exactly is Kashrus? Simply put, Kashrus deals with
what foods may be eaten, what foods may be eaten together, and
how those foods are to be prepared. All foods are divided into
three categories: Dairy, Meat and Pareve.
* All milk and milk derivatives are considered dairy and may
not be mixed with meat products.
