Kosher, the word brings many different responses and attitudes, most rooted in misunderstanding. Thanks to LiveLiving.org we are able to discuss this subject in depth spanning multiple editions and addressing multiple facets and issues. This introductory article will lay out some of the key issues that will be discussed briefly with individual articles (in the upcoming issues )to expand on each of the major areas, providing more details to hopefully address any questions you may have on what Kosher is.
Confusion exists amongst believers: Is Kosher a more healthy alternative? What are the steps in keeping Kosher? What is the Biblical Foundation for Kosher? Is kosher just for Jews, and keeping kosher is it legalism, Judaizing, or sanctification? Let’s look at each of these and then you can decide for yourself.
Kosher for Health
People are becoming more and more aware of what we eat and drink and how it impacts us both physically and mentally. Many start eating kosher for health reasons. So is kosher more healthy? The answer is yes, but like many things we need to realize you can still eat poorly even if it is kosher. Example, a cake can be kosher, but if you eat only cake it will not be healthy.
Instead, if we eat sensibly and use kosher products, it can make a difference in our health. The primary reason revolves around how the kosher product is raised or made, how it is handled, how often the facilities are inspected, and what additives are used. Many today are very concerned about additives and hormones. It is amazing, and shocking what is added to our everyday food. For example, did you know that nice shiny apple you buy at the store not only has pesticides on it but the covering that makes it shiny is often made of beetles and traps the toxins inside so washing has limited impact?
Next issue we will discuss in detail the health impact of keeping kosher.
Steps for Kosher
There was a seafood company in Alabama advertising kosher oysters. While to us it is funny as we know oysters are not kosher, this well-meaning company thought it simply meant clean, and they very carefully cleaned their oysters.
While kosher does mean fit or clean, it requires more than just a thorough washing. So what are the steps in kosher? While we will go into details in a few months, for now, it suffices to say kosher is a process that spans from what the item is (type of meat for example), how it was raised (or prepared), how it was processed or slaughtered, how it was handled after processing or slaughter, how it was handled when received at the store, how you handle it once purchased, how you prepare it, and even how and when you eat it.
While this may seem overwhelming or unnecessary, it does impact your health. A simple example: Would you buy raw chicken you knew had been kept unrefrigerated for two days in an 85-degree temperature? Would you handle raw chicken and then make a salad for your family without washing your hands? Of course not. Similarly, care must be taken along the entire process to ensure the safety and healthiness of what you eat.
Biblical Foundation for Kosher
Anyone who spends time in the scriptures knows kosher is laid out in the giving of the Torah at Mt Sinai. While that is true, did you know clean animals were defined as early as Cain & Able and Noah? Able picked a clean animal from the flocks to offer G-d. Noah took more clean animals on the Ark than unclean (two unclean to seven clean, go look it up you will be surprised).
G-d only allows clean items to be in His Temple. Should we as believers allow unclean items in the temple of our body where G-d’s Ruach (Spirit) lives?
More in depth on this subject in a later issue.
Is Kosher just for Jews?
Everyone knows Jews should keep kosher, but what about non-Jewish believers (Gentiles)? While it would be wrong to say non-Jews have to keep kosher, it is equally wrong to say they cannot keep kosher. We will discuss many misconceptions in a few months, but for now, we need to be aware that non-Jews practicing kosher or not is not a sin.
People read passages about Messiah walking with His Talmidim (disciples) and the Pharisees condemning the talmidim for eating without washing hands. People hear Messiah’s words: “it s not what you put into you stomach that makes you unclean”. They incorrectly say this is about kosher. It is not. Read carefully, it is about washing hands. Torah never says you have to wash your hands, but Jewish Law requires it (much as a priest in the Temple washed hands before and after sacrifice).
Likewise, people read about Kefa (Peter) on the rooftop getting a vision where G-d says “eat”. Notice carefully the meaning of the vision is not kosher or not, it is calling Gentiles unclean. Peter says this himself and goes to Cornelius’s house. Cornelius is a G-d Fearer – a Gentile who lives like a Jew. Note all the first gentile believers were G-d Fearers, going to synagogue and keeping the Torah. So even Cornelius kept kosher.
In Act 15, Gentiles are forbidden to eat blood and eat things strangled. More to follow. But it is clear that unlike some rulings coming out of the 3-4th century church forbidding kosher, the earliest believers all kept kosher.
Keeping Kosher – Legalism, Judaizing, or Sanctification
Some may consider this to be either legalism or Judaizing. If you tell someone you keep kosher you may be told, “you are Judaizing”, or “you don’t have to do that– don’t you know Messiah made all things clean”.
Let us look at both those statements and see what the truth really is. Are you being legalistic or Judaizing if you keep kosher? Well, it depends.
If you think you have to keep kosher to have a relationship to G-d (be saved) you are being legalistic. If you tell others they must keep kosher to have a relationship to G-d, then you are Judaizing.
On the other hand, if you are doing it because Messiah did it, or for health, you are not being legalistic. If you are not telling others they have to do it, you are not Judaizing.
My family is Jewish, we keep kosher. We do so for three reasons:
(i) G-d told Jews to keep kosher,
(ii) our Community keeps kosher,
(iii) and finally, because Messiah kept kosher. Doing things to be more like Messiah is not legalistic, is not Judaizing; it is conforming ourselves to the image of our Messiah.
Kosher is a choice. Whether you do it for health because you are Jewish or because you want to be more like Messiah, the choice is yours alone.
No one has the right to tell you what to do. We have been given a great gift by G-d, in His Messiah. We need to live in that gift and choose the path we believe will help us live healthy, productive, G-d centered lives. The choice is really up to you!
