What is Kosher?: An Introduction to the Laws of Kashrut - Paperback

by Juan Marcos Bejarano-Gutierrez (Author)

The term Kashrut refers to the Jewish religious dietary laws derived from the Torah. The term kashrut is derived from the Hebrew word kasher meaning fit or acceptable. From the word kasher, we derive the word kosher in its anglicized form. But before we discuss what kosher is, let's discuss some ideas as to "why" kosher exists. Why after all, would a religious faith be concerned about what people eat? This book answers these questions and provides the student or curious individual with the basics of what kosher is and why it is observed by religious Jews around the world.Ttraditional Judaism holds that Moses revealed the Torah to the Jewish people in both written and oral forms at Mount Sinai. The written form is referred to as the Torah She'biktav, literal-ly the Torah, which is written. The written Torah consists of the Five Books of Moses, the first five books of the Bible (i.e. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). The oral form is referred to as the Torah She'be'al Peh, literally the Torah of the mouth. It is found in a legal code known as the Mishnah and its associated commentary, which comprises the Talmud. In its written and oral form, the Torah serves as the guidepost by which a traditional Jewish life is understood and practiced. The term Kashrut refers to the Jewish religious dietary laws derived from the Torah. The term kashrut is derived from the Hebrew word kasher meaning fit or acceptable. From the word kasher, we derive the word kosher in its anglicized form. But before we discuss what kosher is, let's discuss some ideas as to "why" kosher exists. Why, after all, would religious faith be concerned about what people eat? Answering this may seem complicated at first, but I believe it's important to understand the "whys" before the "hows."