A Visual Guide to Kosher Food Preparation
Whether you’re Jewish or not, you’ll have heard of kosher food. If you travel through Israel, you’ll see its presence advertised in every restaurant, café and shop where it’s served or sold. But what does this term actually mean? Culture Trip takes a closer look at this particular aspect of Jewish life.
When travelling across Israel, visitors will find most restaurants are marked as kosher, though some establishments in cities such as Tel Aviv and Eilat don’t always adhere to these rules. Nevertheless, every kosher venue in the country will have an official certificate, or hechsher, hanging on a wall somewhere.
From meat and dairy to salt and wine, the kosher label refers to any food, cooked or uncooked, that has been deemed ‘fit’ for consumption by authorised rabbis or specially trained mashgiachs.
Generally, kosher foods are divided into three categories: meat, dairy and pareve. The last of these refers to all food types that don’t fall within the first two categories, including honey, eggs and fish. When it comes to salt, the term is used slightly differently: kosher salt is simply the purest form of salt, and is used in the preparation of kosher meat.
Set out in the Torah, kosher rules are complex. Fish and seafood must have both fins and scales – so no prawns. Land animals need to have cloven hooves and chew their cud – so no pork. And the mixing of dairy and meat is absolutely prohibited – so no cheeseburgers. (Orthodox Jews may also choose not to mix fish with meat or dairy.) These rules can get even more complicated when it comes to gelatin-encased medicines and hard cheeses, which might incorporate rennet derived from non-kosher animals.
Only animals that have been slaughtered according to a specified list of rules are fit to eat. These rules ensure the animal lives a healthy life and, when the time comes, dies without undue suffering. Basic rules dictate animals should be unconscious before death, so as not to experience any pain, and the killing must be performed by a ritual slaughterer, traditionally referred to as a schochet. Animals must also be healthy enough that they don’t pass diseases on to their offspring (eggs, say) or byproducts (such as milk).
So, there you have it. And the next time you order some brisket, chicken soup, or even a beef burger in Tel Aviv, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting.
Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.
Our immersive trips, led by Local Insiders, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and an invitation to travel the world with like-minded explorers. Our Travel Experts are on hand to help you make perfect memories. All our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.?>
All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.