Biblical Kashrut

Biblical Kashrut Kashrut from the biblical perspective for the modern times ‫נ‬ ‫נ‬ ‫נ‬ R. Travis Wheeler 1 Copyright © 2013 Travis Wheeler All Rights Reserved 2 Contents Introduction .................................................................................................. 4 Dedications ................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 1: Overview of Kashrut.................................................................... 6 Chapter 2: Kashrut in the Tanakh ................................................................. 7 Chapter 3: The Classes of Kashrut from a biblical perspective ..................... 8 Chapter 4: Meat .......................................................................................... 10 Chapter 5: Dairy .......................................................................................... 12 Chapter 6: Pareve ....................................................................................... 13 Chapter 7: Karaite perspective on the Food Categories ............................. 15 Chapter 8: Keeping Kosher at Home........................................................... 16 Chapter 9: Keeping Kosher on the Road ..................................................... 18 Chapter 10: Practical Advice ....................................................................... 19 Chapter 11: Food Ingredients ..................................................................... 20 Chapter 13: Processed Foods ..................................................................... 22 Chapter 14: Parting Words ......................................................................... 24 Appendix: .................................................................................................... 26 3 Introduction In the United States keeping Kosher (Kasher in the Sephardic pronunciation) is a very difficult thing to do from a Biblical perspective. Meat and poultry consumption, from a ready to cook standpoint is on a steady downturn. The reason for such a shift is due to quick meals and fast food. This short study on Kashrut is here to help people make choices that do not violate the Torah or are questionably close. When we go to the supermarket and purchase food, we assume that all products containing a Hekhsher is acceptable to eat. This is not the case for all groups within Judaism and many products are rendered non-kosher based upon their processing or supervision. As a note to my readers who may or may not agree with the opinions described in this book I will say only the following: “earch the “criptures well, and do not rely upon anyone’s opinion. 4 Dedications This book is dedicated to all the Jews in Israel and the Diaspora as without Jews, we would not have Kashrut. For we are the chosen people and we are required to keep the commandments. I would like to give a special thanks to the following people: Chief Rabbi Moshe ben Yossef Firrouz of Universal Karaite Judaism in Beer Sheva Israel for being in my support through my journey to become a Shochet for the Karaite community. Without the support of Moshe there may have not been Karaite conversions in our time. Council of Hakhams in Ramle Israel for being supportive of all Karaites in our different forms. A special thanks to Rabbi John Ludemann of UTOM for believing in me and giving me the support to continue my literary achievements as I grow as a person and a leader in the community. 5 A thanks to David ben Shaul (Karl Werner) for being there as a light to me in some of the darkest times. Whether you know it or not, it was your works that helped me to keep my head high. Chapter 1: Overview of Kashrut Kashrut is the set of Jewish dietary laws. These laws have their basis in the Torah and include meat, seafood and other foods. Though the basic requirements are listed in the Torah, there is no mention of processed foods. The reason for this is simple, the world is going further away from fresh foods and more to processed foods. In biblical times, food was prepared fresh and consumed the same day and at the latest the following day. Living in industrialized countries and in a high paced society, Kashrut has had to evolve to remain a relevant part of the Jewish world. Gone are the days of the Rabbi of each community checking the vegetables grown locally and overseeing the slaughter of all meat consumed in his particular community or a neighbor community. Replacing the actual hands-on of each individual Ra i the e a e a Vaad’s a d o ga izatio s that have taken on the responsibility of ensuring that the foods being produced meet the standards of the community. The most notable organizations are listed below: – The Orthodox Union of Rabbis. The OU is the o ld’s most recognized Kashrut certifying agency as they are one of the oldest and most 6 respected organizations for Kashrut. The OU has been certifying companies since 1923. – Star K is the Vaad Hakashrus of Baltimore is one of the largest Kashrus certifying agencies in the US. Star K is planning to allow for female Mashgiachs to supervise catering halls and restaurants in certain circumstances. Star K has a policy of not certifying a dairy product or establishment that is not Cholov Yisroel. – Star D is the Dairy certifying branch of Star K for those companies who serve non-Cholov Yisroel products. - CRC is the Chicago Rabbinical Council. The CRC publishes many lists including a list on Kosher fish as well as beverages and other foods. There are many other national Kashrut Certifying agencies in existence. The fact that they are not listed here is in no way a reflection of the services offered by any agency. All agencies should be judged by the quality of services and their adherence to Torah. Chapter 2: Kashrut in the Tanakh The Torah outlines the foods that are acceptable and those that are not. These foods include fruit and vegetables as well as meat and fish. When it comes to land animals, Leviticus 11:3-8 and Deuteronomy 14:4-8 give a general set of rules for the animals that are ritually clean. When it comes to fish and seafood, Leviticus 11:9-12 and Deuteronomy 14:9-10 state that anything residing in the waters is pure if it has both fins and scales. When it comes to birds, Leviticus 11:13-19 and Deuteronomy 14:11-18 gives the guidelines as to birds that are acceptable and unacceptable. Leviticus 11:2023, 11:29-31, 11:41-44 define those swarming things that can be consumed. 7 In the Tanakh, there are some animals that have their true meanings lost. The reason for this is due to dispersion of the Jewish people and the loss of the use of Hebrew as a daily language. The sages went to great length to decipher the language and find the true meaning of the Tanakh as written. Chapter 3: The Classes of Kashrut from a biblical perspective The various classifications of Kosher foods are based upon the prohibition to oil a kid i its othe ’s ilk . This state e t is fou d i the To ah at three separate locations (Ex23:19, Ex. 34:26 and Dt. 14:21). It is this repetition that led to the interpretation of not eating meat and dairy products at the same time. I e ie of these passages, e a dedu e that it lite all kid in its mother’s milk. ּ ea s to oil a ֲ ַ , ְ ‫תְ ַש‬- ֹ lo-tevashel gedi bachalev immo Thou shalt not seethe a kid in its mother’s milk (mechon mamre) (Ex23:19, Ex. 34:26 and Dt. 14:21) To look deeper into this passage, one must know what seething ( ְ ֲ ַ ‫)תְ ַש‬, a kid ( ) and milk ( ) is. Seething is to boil or cook, a kid is a young goat and milk is of course milk. With this quite basic description of this passage, it is easily determined that we should not cook a young goat in the milk of its mother. A question is then raised, if the Miqra tells us to not perform the practice of boiling a kid in its mother’s milk then how did the prohibition against eating meat and milk come about? The simple answer is from Rabbinic decree. The reason for this decree is debatable and is not mentioned in the Talmud but there is commentary on the subject from later Ra i’s. 8 From a literal standpoint, one should simply not boil the young goat in its othe ’s milk. The literal interpretation does not include the later additions of time between meat and dairy or not eating them at the same meal. The choice is up to the person consuming the meal yet it would be quite disrespectful to a person who adheres to the meat and dairy separation decree if you serve them a cheeseburger so be mindful of your guests or others who may use or eat from your kitchen. To further explain Kashrut, it is good to know the difference between the practices and traditions of Rabbinic Judaism and Karaite Judaism. Law Separation of meat and dairy Rabbinic View These items may not be consumed together under any circumstances. There is also a waiting period between the time a person consumes meat and they are able to consume a dairy product. The time is generally longer if meat is eaten 1st. Chalav Akum Mixtures of certain foods and mixtures are considered a health risk and are therefore forbidden. Gevinat Akum Non-Jewish cheese: cheese that may have been produced with non-kosher rennet. Stam Yeinam Non-Jewish wine: wine that while not produced for idolatrous purposes may otherwise have 9 Karaite View Karaites may eat meat and cheese but to ensure that meat and dairy from the same animal or its offspring is consumed, Karaites generally do not consume meat and cheese from the same species (i.e. a cheeseburger with goat cheese rather than cheese from a cow). No such law exists No such law exists yet cheese should only be used from reliable sources. No such law exists. Bishul Akum been poured for such a purpose or alternatively when consumed will lead to intermarriage. Food cooked by a nonJew: this law was enacted for concerns of intermarriage Pat Akum Non-Jewish bread: this law was enacted for concerns of intermarriage Sakanah Mixtures of certain foods and mixtures are considered a health risk and are therefore forbidden. No such law exists as any food cooked or prepared by a non-Jew would have to meet biblical requirements. No such law exists yet the Karaite community would normally purchase bread from a reliable source. No such law exists The next 3 chapters will provide a basic description of each category of food as dictated by Rabbinic decree and Jewish tradition. Chapter 4: Meat When it comes to meat, raw meat that is without additives, from a biblical standpoint this is quite simple. We are permitted to eat any mammal that chews the cud and has cloven hooves. For the sake of argument, I will include birds and fish in this section as well. When it comes to birds, the only written animals are doves, pigeons. Of creatures of the sea, they must have fins and scales. To be simple, I will list the mammals that are permitted for consumption:    The ox The Sheep The Goat 10        The Deer The Gazelle The Yahmur – translated ambiguously as roe deer and oryx The The’o – translated ambiguously could be wild goat or wild ox The Pygarg – unknown 100% could be a form of antelope of ibex The Antelope The Camelopardalis – unknown 100% but could be the Mouflon When it comes to birds, the list is much more difficult as there is no generic list of birds that are accepted yet there are birds that are prohibited. This list is very difficult to follow and we rely on tradition to intervene. The reason that birds are listed as meat is because some view it as Pareve and some view it as meat.            Sparrow Pigeon Turtle dove Quail Partridge Pheasant Ducks Geese Chicken Guineafowl Songbirds *note that Turkey is not mentioned yet it is consumed. “ou ds uite si ple the a o e defi itio s does ’t it? Ho e e , this is ot so as there are many things that can occur between live animal and the supermarket. The start of the process of meat is the live animals. The commandment is for us to not eat the blood of any animal (Gen. 9:4, Lev. 17:10, Deu. 12:21-24) and to achieve this requires a method to remove blood from meat. It is this need to remove blood that led to Kosher slaughter laws (shechita). There are 11 varying opinions when it comes to proper slaughter and these opinions have led to the research of the sages to reduce the amount of blood in meat. The live animal should not be sick or dying prior to slaughter. If an animal is sick, it should be nursed back to health prior to slaughter. If the animal is pregnant or nursing, it cannot be slaughtered. When the live animal is brought to slaughter, it should not be in a panicked state. The animal should be allowed to calm down prior to the actual Shechita step. If the animal is unable to be calmed, the animal should not be slaughtered. The first measure is the actual Shechita itself. The quick cutting of the arteries, esophagus and windpipe results in instant unconsciousness*. This is the due to the sudden loss of blood to the brain that causes the animal to be ai dead ithi se o ds. The second measure is Kashering. The Kashering process is the salting and rinsing of meat to remove blood. Though this process is not detailed in the Torah, it encompasses the research of the Mitzvot by the sages to remove the blood from meat. The t o a o e p o esses e de denominations. eat fit to eat fo Je s of all *Some traditions render an animal Kosher if not all 4 signs are cut (2 arteries, windpipe and esophagus). Karaite tradition holds that all 4 must be cut. After the removal of blood, the next issue is the removal of the sciatic nerve from the hind quarters. Many processors will not process the hind quarters of meat due to the sheer difficulty of the removal of the vein and potential damage to the meat. When home slaughter and processing of meat, care should be taken to remove the sciatic nerve. To remove the nerve, there should be consultation with a Rabbi or a duly trained Shochet. Some no longer teach the method for removing of veins from the hind quarters due to hind quarters being rendered non-kosher so be careful to consult a specialist in Kashrut with experience removing the sciatic nerve. Chapter 5: Dairy 12 Dairy products are an area of great concern especially when it comes to cheeses and other products other than milk. When it comes to the process of making cheese, the primary issue is rennet which may be animal or vegetarian. For a cheese to be Kosher the rennet must be vegetarian or from a kosher animal. There are brands that are not certified kosher that use vegetable rennet. For the sake of brevity, I will not list them here as these companies may change their formula in the near future. Milk must be free of blood during harvest and during processing. To ensure that blood is not in the finished product, the milk should be checked for blood spots. Butter or any food prepared with dairy should be scrutinized as well as milk. Yogurt, ice cream, cookies, cakes and pies are all items that can contain dairy products and should be checked. When checking finished dairy goods, always read the ingredients list. Do not rely upon someone to tell you that nothing non-kosher is in the food as they may not have a working knowledge of Kashrut at a level to determine if an ingredient is forbidden. Though it goes without saying, only milk from a Kosher animal can be Kosher. When in foreign countries or ethnic restaurants be careful to inquire of the source of the cheese being used. Chapter 6: Pareve Pareve products are those that are neither meat nor dairy. This includes grains, fruit, vegetables and other foods that are free of dairy or meat. Grains Grains have the potential to be infested with insects so it is of vital importance to check items produced from grains such as flour, corn, rice, wheat, barley and oats. Items when in a processed state should also be checked for not only Kashrut status but also other ingredients. It is important to understand that grain products should be inspected at home as a final verification of Kashrut. Fruit and Vegetables 13 Fruit and vegetables are potential insect harborage points as flies and other small insects can burrow into the flesh of vegetation. All fruit and vegetables should be not only checked but also washed prior to consumption. If a portion of an item has a small part that appears to have been damaged by insects, it is permissible to remove that portion, clean the item and use it. If there is major damage from an insect, the food must be discarded. Eggs Eggs are listed as Pareve but an egg has the potential of being meat as once the egg is fertilized it can grow into a bird. Commercial egg production companies do not allow a rooster in the hen houses for the express purpose of not fertilizing the eggs. Without a rooster to fertilize the eggs, they cannot grow into chicks and therefore the egg is neither meat nor dairy. Be careful when purchasing eggs from farmers markets and other non-commercial places unless you are 100% certain that the hens were not kept with a rooster. Taking this additional step will ensure that the eggs that you consume do not have the potential of being fertile. There is a second issue with eggs, blood. Blood in eggs would render the egg as being non-kosher (treif in Yiddish). Therefore one should check each egg for any signs of blood and if blood is found in an egg, you must remember the passages in reference to blood (Gen. 9:4, Lev. 17:10, Deu. 12:21-24). It is advisable that the egg not be eaten but in the event of economic hardship of sheer necessity, the blood spot may be removed and the egg consumed. Seafood When it comes to animals of the sea, it is very simple; all Kosher sea animals must have both fins and scales. In this, shellfish are not Kosher nor are fish without fins acceptable for consumption. There is a debate, or was one, about the Hoki (Macruronus novazelandiae) as to its acceptability as a Kosher fish. The Hoki loses its scales during the life cycle and therefore has been deemed non-Kosher. On the other end of the debate, there are those who maintain that since the fish may not shed its scales until a certain age, it is Kosher if caught before its scales are shed. The choice to eat or not to eat Hoki is up to the individual. Insects Insects are listed in the pareve category as they are living creatures and neither of meat nor dairy origin. The prohibition is against all flying creepy 14 thi gs ith the e eptio of the a eh, sol’a , ha gol a d the haga . These four creatures are translated as the locust, bald locust, cricket and the grasshopper all according to its kind (see Lev. 11:20-23). Insects, due to them being Pareve can be eaten as other Pareve foods are consumed with or without meat or dairy. Chapter 7: Karaite perspective on the Food Categories The classes of foods as mentioned above are not a part of the Karaite Halakah or mentioned in the Tanakh and are therefore not enforced. Though the classes are not enforced as a matter of law, some Karaites refrain from eating meat and dairy together out of respect for Rabbinical Jews. To go explain the Karaite perspective in more detail, the following opinions have been followed by Karaites: Perspective Full separation of meat and dairy Separation of meat and dairy from same species No separation Description Some Karaites follow the Rabbinical decree to fit in with other Jews. A few maintain separate kitchens, sinks and utensils. Though this practice is followed, Karaites understand that this is not commanded. Some Karaites view that meat from cattle cannot be eaten with cheese from a cow as well as the same from goats. Many will eat a hamburger with goat cheese and goat meat with cheese from cattle. The separation of species is a way to ensure that the meat from a young is not eaten with cheese from its parent. Many Karaites hold that the only separation that is if the dairy source comes from the mother of the animal being eaten. i.e. milk from a cow and eating the meat from her offspring is forbidden as it violates 15 Exodus 23:19. Even though the commandment mentions cooking meat in milk, it is generally held that meat from an offspring should not be consumed with the milk from mother. Food Classifications In the United States commercial food processors primarily only kill the males and use the females for dairy purposes. It is always a good idea to check with the company providing meat to ensure that they are not a slaughterer of female animals. Ground beef can be especially dangerous as the meat in the production of it sometimes comes from different facilities and some may slaughter both male and female cattle so be careful. In review of the Miqra, one can deduce that the classifications for foods should be as follows:  Meat  Dairy  Birds  Insects (swarming things)  Seafood (foods from the sea)  Vegetation Karaites have long held the tradition of not adding or subtracting from the written Torah and therefore Kashrut in a traditional setting would not involve the separation of meat and dairy. The extension of separation of meat and dairy from the same species is a measure that has been long inacted to help ensure that the prohibition is ’t accidentally broken. Chapter 8: Keeping Kosher at Home 16 When it comes to keeping Kosher in the home, there are many considerations that must be made. The following portions provide basic guidance into keeping and maintaining a Kosher home. Commitment There must be a total commitment to keeping Kosher. Keeping Kosher is not a single person’s responsibility. If living in a home with those who are not interested in keeping Kosher then much care must be taken to ensure there is no mixing of foods. In this case, a second set of utensils may be necessary to help ensure that there are no issues. Keeping Kosher is a very significant step and must be viewed as such. Not only should the commitment be in getting the process started but also in the maintenance of keeping Kosher. Being human beings, we should work hard to create good practices that become habits. Cleaning When the decision has been made to keep clean/kosher, it is in the best to clean the entire home from top to bottom. This includes cleaning ovens, floors, walls, chairs, changing air vents and dusting especially if living in or moving to a new residence. Care should be taken to not only clean the area but to also clean the utensils that are used in the cleaning. Cleaning the mops, towels and other utensils will ensure that the cleaning cycle is complete. Product Purchase When purchasing products for the home, it is advisable to check for Kosher products. This includes not only food products but also household items. If you are unsure if a product is acceptable, you should research ingredients or consult an ingredient guide to ensure that there are no non-kosher ingredients. Maintenance of a Kosher Home Once the home is clean, products purchased and the home is livable to a Kosher standard, the home must be maintained. To maintain a Kosher home, the following should be noted: 1. All products purchased should be periodically rechecked for acceptability. Many companies change their product formulas to 17 help reduce cost and may use pork, shellfish or a derivative of either. It’s ette to take a o e t out to he k athe tha assume. 2. Keeping the home clean is another major part in maintaining a Kosher home. Keeping the kitchen clean is important this includes periodically cleaning the oven, moping the floors, cleaning the refrigerator and making sure dishes are washed in a timely manner. If laundry facilities are available, they should be used to prevent a pileup of dirty clothes. Dirty clothes can be a source of un-cleanliness from dirty and stains. 3. Monitoring items that come from outside sources should be a priority to prevent un-cleanliness. When friends come over, inform them of the status of your home prior to them arriving so that they can be careful not to bring items into your home that are unclean. In the event of accidental uncleanliness entering your home, you should be careful to thoroughly reclean all items that may have come in contact with the unclean person or items. If at all possible, use disposable gloves during the cleaning process as to not unintentionally spread uncleanliness. Chapter 9: Keeping Kosher on the Road When on the road, the following considerations should be made: Consideration The Food to be eaten The ingredients in the food Detail Is the food that is available for consumption of a Kosher species? If the answer is no, then do not consume the food. Even if the food is of a Kosher species, one must be mindful that this does not render the food acceptable for consumption. Be mindful to check the ingredients of all foods ingredients in the food. Be sure than no pork-containing or shellfishcontaining substances are within the food. 18 The preparation environment The environment that the food is prepared is very important. If eating at a restaurant that only serves pork and a single seafood dish, then you should be wary of the environment. If at all possible, speak to the manager and explain the diet and ask to have your food prepared on clean surfaces. If you do not trust the establishment to do this properly, ask to show the staff how to handle your food in a proper manner. In addition to the practical considerations listed above you should also check the lea li ess of the esta lish e t. If a esta lish e t has a F g ade, you can rightly assume that there will be little care in the preparation of your meal. When in a new place, ask to see the manager and explain to him/her your dietary situation and the need for your food to be prepared with care. Chapter 10: Practical Advice When it comes to keeping Kosher in areas where there is no Jewish community and purchasing Kosher goods online is difficult, I will give the following advice. One should research all products, ingredients and processes to determine if a p odu t is Clea i o igi . The p e ise of keepi g Clea is at ti es a epta le he Ce tified Koshe p odu ts a e ot a aila le. Be mindful that Clea is ot a su stitute fo Koshe foods as the p odu tio p o esses are not the same when it comes to meat processing. Produce: It is advisable to stick to fresh produce. Leafy vegetables must be thoroughly checked for signs of insects. You should also not consume crossbred fruit or vegetables as it is written: “Ye shall keep My statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind; thou shalt not sow thy field with two kinds of seed; neither shall there come upon thee a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together. (Lev. 19:19 JPS 1917). 19 Dairy: When it comes to dairy products, milk is generally acceptable if it is pasteurized. Raw milk will have to be checked for traces of blood. When it comes to cheese, the rennet is the all important ingredient. We should either o su e o l Ce tified Koshe o heeses hi h e k o defi itel a e produced with vegetable rennet. When it comes to yogurt, the gelatin is the most important (from a Halakhic standpoint). Yogurt uses gelatin and the gelatin must be from a Kosher animal or vegetarian source. Many yogurts use animal gelatin and primarily use pork as it is inexpensive so be diligent in ou sea h fo a ogu t that is ot al ead Ce tified Koshe . Meat: When it comes to products that contain meat, the practical advice is to keep Kosher if at all possible. When this is impossible, return to the scripture (Leviticus and Deuteronomy), and search diligently in the commandment to not eat the blood. It is a tradition to only consume meats that we can verify was handled properly not only in the slaughter but the handling of the blood. When purchasing non-kosher meat, be careful to determine the source of the meat as there are some meat processors who slaughter both male and female animals. The issue with the slaughter of female animals is when the female is pregnant so there should be care in the selection of meat sources. As said above it is always best to Keep Kosher. If in an area where there is a fresh meat market, it may be of an advantage to seek the butcher and find out what animals he slaughters or cuts. The reason for this is to determine whether pork is being processed with the sa e e uip e t a d k i es as lea eats. Chapter 11: Food Ingredients In the production of many foods, there are many ingredients to consider Rennet Rennet is an ingredient in the production of cheese that is produced in the stomachs of any mammal. There are also vegetarian sources of rennet that are suitable for vegetarians. The primary issue with most cheese in the US is that it is produced with rennet from the stomach of a non-kosher animal. This can be extremely tricky when it comes to non-kosher animal slaughter 20 as some companies slaughter pregnant mothers. This is in violation of the following passage: . ֶ ְֹ ּ ֲ ׁ ְ ‫ ֹ ת‬,ֹ‫ ְנ‬-‫ תֹ ְ ֶת‬-- ‫ש‬ ֶ -ֹ ,‫ְֹׁר‬ ve-shor ov-seh otov ve·'et-be-nov lo tish-chatu be-yom e-chad And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and its young both in one day. (Lev. 22:28) We are therefore forbidden from consuming the produce of such a slaughter. Gelatin Gelatin is an ingredient in many foods. Gelatin can be made with animal, fish or other materials. Most gelatins in food products are of animal origin. Gelatin made from animal bones and skin is normally processed using various chemical processes to achieve the final product. There are some companies that use Kosher hides to make gelatin yet the process involves the use of lye and depending on the preference of the eater may not be acceptable for consumption. When it comes to Kosher gelatin, there is also the consideration of the Batel ’shishi ullifi atio i 60 hi h states that as lo g as the o -kosher portion is 1/60th of the total of the food, then it is still Kosher. This applies for accidental mixing of non-kosher food with kosher food. This could mean that if a gelatin factory accidentally processed non-kosher bones or hides with kosher substances, as long as 1/60th or less of the complete mixture is nonkosher, it is still acceptable. Gelatin made from fish is acceptable for consumption as long as it is produced from Kosher sources. Many companies will list the type of fish gelatin that is in their products. If you are unsure, please contact the company directly. Gelatin made from vegetarian sources is safe to eat and products made of this gelatin may be safe to eat if all other ingredients are Kosher. Common gelatin substitutes are made with Agar Agar, Carrageenan, Kuzu, pectin, konjak, guar gum and/or xanthan gum. These substances are all acceptable 21 for vegetarian use and can be used in the Kosher home or in foods that require gelatin. In short, gelatin is a very tricky substance and care should be taken to ensure that only Kosher gelatin is consumed. Whenever possible it is recommended that gelatin from animal sources be scrutinized and gelatin from fish be used if a suitable vegetarian alternative is not available. Chapter 12: Processed Foods In this parting chapter I will take a minute to explain some of the issues with processed foods. 1. Handling – The major reason to be wary of processed foods is the amount of handling of the food prior to it arriving to you. I will explain the process of making (non-kosher) chicken nuggets to help you to understand: Production Step Live Catch Handled By A person Live Catching is the process of people going to the growout farms and physically catching each chicken. The live hanging process involves hanging each individual chicken on the production line to go to slaughter. The slaughter process may be done by a person or a machine so there could be handling or not. No, but the chicken goes through a hot water bath that thousands of other chickens will go through during the day. Do you know if you have chicken #1 or 100,000 in your nuggets?? The chickens are normally not Live Hang (at the facility) Slaughter Scalding Plucking 22 touched during this process The chickens are hung from the picking line to the Evisceration (gut removal) line. This is primarily done by hand yet there are companies who have developed automatic rehang systems to aid in the rehang process. The evisceration process may have multiple touches depending on if there are any issues found on the chickens. The chilling process involves chickens being chilled in a pool of cold water with thousands of other chickens. Processing rehang is performed by hand to send the chickens to the cutup or deboning lines. The deboning process is done by hand and can have up to 8 different people handle the bird as it travels down the line. The deboned meat is then either handled by hand or it goes through a machine that will x-ray the meat to identify if there are bones in the meat. After production, the meat is ground and vacuum chilled The meat is then formed in a machine and will then be graded to ensure that the shapes are consistent. In the event that a shape is not correct, the meat will be removed from the line and reground or reformed. The breading step is normally Evisceration Rehang Evisceration Process Chilling Processing Rehang Deboning Debone Inspection Grinding Forming and Grading Breading 23 hands-off yet if there are pieces that are not properly covered, they are removed from the line. The frying process does not involve touches yet involved the chicken nuggets going through a fryer to achieve the proper color and proper cooking (if fully cooked) The freezing process is hands-off with the nuggets traveling through a freezer. This process will prepare the nuggets for later preparation. After the process has been completed, the nuggets are inspected one final time. This is normally done by hand because the personnel are checking for stuck pieces, improper breading or other issues with appearance. The finished nuggets are bagged by a machine. Frying Freezing Inspection Bagging 2. Ingredient substitutions – At times companies will substitute inferior products for those that may not be halakhically acceptable. A breading that is Kosher may be substituted for one that may have a pork derivative especially if the finished product is not destined for Kosher certification. In the industry this is called requesting a processing variance. The variance is for the facility to use the alternate ingredient for a specified period. Normally companies have no problem with approving a variance as long as the finished product tastes the same. It is this major point that keeping Kosher is vital. Chapter 13: Parting Words In this parting chapter I will take a minute to give a person the reasons to keep Biblically Kosher. 24 1. Because the Torah says so: This is the most important reason that we should maintain the biblical laws of Kashrut. When determining what is or is not acceptable, it is always best to take the most stringent view unless you are absolutely sure. 2. There is little excuse not to: I have experienced people say that they can’t afford to keep Kosher. This may be true that finances play a part in keeping the laws of Kashrut yet one may need to change some of their spending habits. Many people prefer to shop for groceries at a specified time. I have found that if living in an area where Kosher meat in unavailable, you can always have it shipped to you (kosher.com, grillerspride.com, Kashrut.com, mykoshermarket.com). The cost to have it shipped may be a bit much but is you save (and have the space), you can make monthly or bi-monthly purchases. 3. Because it can be healthy: Kosher food is quite healthy as it does not allow for the inclusion of pork or pork derivatives. Though I did not go into great detail on all points, which would have resulted in a textbook, I hope that the small book I have written will assist you in making more informed choices when shopping or deciding to keep Kosher or not. While this pamphlet is a start, it is not a Bible on Halakhah. You should always scrutinize foods and their sources. It takes years to learn the Halakhah on Kashrut (from the Rabbinical standpoint) and you should not only rely on your own opinion but also check the Tanakh for support of your opinion. 25 Appendix: Bibliography Biblical quotes Mechon-Mamre.org Kosher Fish List Albacore Alewife Amberjack Anchovies Angelfishes and butterfly fishes Ballyhoo Barracudas Atlantic Pomfret or Ray's Bream Barramunidi Bass Bigeyes Blackfish Blacksmith Blueback Bluefish or snapper blue (Pomatomus saltarix) Bluegill Blue Marlin Bocaccio Bombay duck Bonefish Bonito Bowfin Bream Brill Buffalo Fishes Monkeyface prickleback Mooneye Moonfsh Mossbunker Mouthbrooder Mullet Mullets Muskellunge Mutton hamlet Muttonfish Needlefishes Opaleye Palometa Parrotfishs Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) Perch Perches Permit Pickerel Pigfish Pike Pikes Pikeperch Pilchard Pinfish 26 ButterFishes Butterfly fish Cabrilla Calicobass Capelin Carps and minnows Carosucker Caviar (Must be from a kosher fish) Cero Channel bass Char Chilean Sea Bass Chilipepper Chinook Chup Cichlids (Family Chichilidae), Including: Tilapias Cigarfish Cisco Coalfish Cobia, cabio, or black bonito Codfishes Coho salmon Corbina or Corvina, Cottonwick Crapplie Creville Croacker Crucian carp Cubbyu Cunner Dab Damselfishes Doctorfish Dolly Varden Dolphin fishes or mahi-mahis Drums and croakers Eulachon Flounders (But not including: Plaice Pollock Pomfret Pompano Porgies and sea breams Porkfish Poutassou Prickleback (Rockprickleback is not kosher). Queenfish Quillback Rabalo Ray's bream Red snapper Redfish Roach Rock bass Rockhind Rockfish Rosefish Rudderfish Runner Sablefish or black cod Sailors choice Saithe Salmon Sardine Sargo Saug Scamp Schoolmaster Scorpionfishes Scup Sea bass Sea basses Sea bream Sea chubs Seaperch Searobins 27 European turbot (Scophthalmus maximus or Psetta maximus). Fluke Flyingfishes and halfbeaks Frostfish Gag Garibaldi Giant kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus) Gizzard shad Goatfishes or surmullets Gobies Goldeye and mooneye Goldfish Grayling Graysby Greenlings Grindle Grouper Haddock Hake Hakes Halfbeak Halfmoon Halibut Hamlet Hardhead Harvestfish Hawkfishes Herrings Hind Hogchocker Hogfish Horse mackerel Jack Mackerel Jacks and Pompanos Jacksmelt Jewfish John Dory Seatrout Shad Sheepshead Sierra Silversides Skipjack Sleeper Smallmouth bass Smelts Snapper blue Snappers Snooks Sockeye salmon Sole Soles Spadefishes Spanish mackerel Spearing Splitttail Spot Sprat Squawfish Squirrelfishes Steelhead Striped bass Suckers Sunfishes Surfperches Surgeonfishes Tang Tarpon Tautog Temperate basses Tench Tenpounder Threadfins Tilapia Tilefishes Tomcod 28 Kelpfish Kingfish Ladyfish, or tenpounder Lafayette Lake Herring Largemouth bass Leatherback Lingcod Lizardfishes(Family Synodontidae) Lookdown Mackerel Mackerels, Atka Mackerels and tunas Mahimahi Margate Menhaden Menpachii Merluccio Milkfish or awa Mojarras Tomtate Tomsmelt Tripletail Trouts and whitefishes Tuna Turbot Unicornfish Wahoo Walleye Walleye pollock Warmouth Weakfishes WhiteFish Whiting Wrasses Yellowtail Yellowtail snapper Non-Kosher Fish Angler See:Goosefishes Basa (Pangasius bocourti) Beluga See: Sturgeons Billfishes (Family Istiophoridae). Including fishes (Istiophorus species); Marlins and speishes (Tetrapterus species, Makaira species). Blowfish See: Puffers Bullhead See: Catfishes Burbot See: Freshwater Cod Cabezon See: Sculpins Catfishes (Order Siluriformes). Including: Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus); Basa (Pangasius bocourti, Swai, Tra (Pangasius hypophthalmus) Cutlassfishes (Family Trichiuridae) including: Cutlassfishes (Trichiurus species) Scabbardfishes (Lepidopus species) Dogfish See: Bowfin, Sharks 29 Eels (Order Anguilliforms). Including American and European eel (Anguilia rostrata and Anguila anguila) ; Conger eel (Conger oceanic us) . Gars (Order Semionotiformes). Freshwater gars (Lepisosteus species). Freshwater Cod (Family Gadidae), Burbot, lawyer, or freshwater ling (lota lota). Goosefishes or anglers (Lophius species) Grayfish See: Sharks Hoki (macruronus novaezelandiae) also known as Blue Hake Lampreys (Family Petromyzontidae) Lanceor Launce See: Sand lances Lawyer See: Freshwater Cods Leatherjacket See: Jacks (Oligoplites saurus) Lomosuckers (Family Cyclopteridae). Including: Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus); Snailfishes (Liparis species). Marlin See: Billfishes Monk fish (added by Rabbi Donneal Epstein in consultation with Dr. Atz) Midshipman See: Toadfishes Ocean pout or eelpout (Macrozoarces americanus) Oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus) Puffers (Family Tetraodontidae). Paddlefish See: Sturgeons Pout See: Ocean pout Puffers, blowfishes, swellfishes, sea squab (Sphoeroides species) Ratfish See: Sharks Ray See: Sharks Rock prickleback or rockeel (Xiphister mucosus) Sailfish See: Billfishes Sand lances, launces, or eels (Ammodytes species) Sculpins (Family Cottidae). Including: Sculpins (Myoxocephalus species, Cottus species, Leptocottus species, etc.). Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus); Searaven (Hemitripterus americanus) Searaven See: Sculpins Sea squab See: Puffers Sharks, rays and their relatives (Class Chondrichthyes). Including Grayfishes or dogfishes (Mustelus species, Squalus species); Soupfin shark (Galeorhinus zyopterus); Sawfishes (Pristis species); Skates (Raja species); Chimaeras or ratfishes (Order Chimaeriformes). Skates See: Sharks Snake mackerels (Gempylus species) Spoonbill cat See: Sturgeons 30 Sturgeons (Order Acipenseriformes). Including: Sturgeons (Acipensen species, Scaphirhynchus species); Beluga (huso uso); Paddlefish or spoonbill cat (Polyodon spathula) Swordfish (Xiphias gladies) Toadfishes (Family Batrachoididae). Including: Toadfishes (Opsanus species); Midshipment (Porichthys species). Tiggerfishes and firefishes (Family Balistidae). Triggerfishes (Balistes species, Canthidermis species) Tra (Pangasius hypophthalmus) Trunkfishes (Family Ostraciidad). Trunkfishes and cowfishes (Lactophrys species). WolEshes (Family Anarhichadidae). Including: Wolffishes or ocean. catfishes (Anarhichas species) 31 About the Author: R. Travis Wheeler Travis Wheeler was born in Pelham Georgia to a non-religious mother. The search for Judaism led him to Karaism. After years of study he decided to join the Karaite community via the Karaite Jewish University. During the conversion process he asked about Karaite Kashrut, more or less where do Karaites buy meat and the answer was shocking. The community outside of Israel had no Shochet or Kashrut council. This process led him to Chief Hakham Moshe Firrouz (at the time he was the Secretary of the Religious Council of the Karaite Council of Sages) who was more than happy to assist yet there was one catch he had to train in Israel. So in 2010 Travis made a series of trips to Israel to learn Karaite slaughter and inspection procedures. After the certification was completed, Travis continued his studies on an independent basis as there are no Karaite education opportunities after joining Israel other than study with the Karaite Hakhammim in Israel. Travis is also the owner of Six Star Foods a food processing company that takes pride in knowing where our meat comes from. Travis sits on the UTOM (Union of Torah Observant Minyamin) board and serves as a Vaad Rabbi teaching Karaism. A personal note from the Author: I e joi e e o e to take this i o lusio as ie o To ah stud , Fo this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in the heaven, that thou shouldst say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it, and do it? Nor is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldst say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very ea to thee, i th outh, a d i th hea t, that thou a st do it. (Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:11-14 Koren Jerusalem Bible) 32