Ask A Jew?

[Dorothy Zbornak]

Can one of you lovely Jewish ladies explain how food becomes kosher?

[The Foozzler]

Well, itis a pretty big process. If the food item itself is kosher, it gets its certification from being over seen by a rabbi.

First, it must not contain any non kosher ingredients, such as pork, shellfish, any combination of meet and dairy together. Then the production must be overseen by one of the major rabbinical groups before it gets it certification.

For meat, it must be correctly slaughtered and be a kosher animal (split hooves and chew its cud. Not be a bird of prey. For fish, it has to have fins and gills). Kosher animals must have their throat slit Ina particular way.

Want else do you want to know?

[Dorothy Zbornak]

How can a food be kosher without any rabbi action?

[Dorothy Zbornak]

Can you not eat shrimp? Clams?

[llamajockey]

I'm so glad you asked this, my DH and I were just talking about this last night. I agree with Gisa, I prefer Hebrew hot dogs, they're delish!

[Dorothy Zbornak]

What if you go out to a restaurant?

[The Foozzler]

May 19, 2013 13:28:16 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

Can you not eat shrimp? Clams?

These are both no nos. Along with lobster, crab, etc.

[The Foozzler]

I say yes to Hebrew national, but I know a lot of people that do not trust their kosher certification. They got into a bit of trouble over it not long ago.

[The Foozzler]

May 19, 2013 13:35:18 GMT -5 llamajockey said:

I'm so glad you asked this, my DH and I were just talking about this last night. I agree with Gisa, I prefer Hebrew hot dogs, they're delish!

I like the fact that they are all beef. I hate pork in my hot dogs.

[Dorothy Zbornak]

May 19, 2013 13:41:03 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

May 19, 2013 13:28:16 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

Can you not eat shrimp? Clams?

These are both no nos. Along with lobster, crab, etc.

What is the reason for it? And for kosher in general?

[The Foozzler]

May 19, 2013 13:22:57 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

How can a food be kosher without any rabbi action?

Some things can be, like fruits and vegetables. Most prepared food must be labeled unless it is widely recognized to be kosher, like nestle. There are many different groups that can certify foods as kosher, hence the different symbols on food. You might see a U with a circle around it. This is the symbol to let you know that United Orthodox is the group that supervised.

[The Foozzler]

May 19, 2013 13:45:20 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

May 19, 2013 13:41:03 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

These are both no nos. Along with lobster, crab, etc.

What is the reason for it? And for kosher in general?

Dietary laws come from the Torah. I think the reason against shellfish is that they are considered bottom feeders. A lot of the dietary laws in the Torah dealt with cleanliness.

[Dorothy Zbornak]

May 19, 2013 13:46:01 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

May 19, 2013 13:22:57 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

How can a food be kosher without any rabbi action?

Some things can be, like fruits and vegetables. Most prepared food must be labeled unless it is widely recognized to be kosher, like nestle. There are many different groups that can certify foods as kosher, hence the different symbols on food. You might see a U with a circle around it. This is the symbol to let you know that United Orthodox is the group that supervised.

OH! That's what that U means!

Also, no lobster? But what about all our fancy rjamz stereotypes? Can you eat caviar?

[The Foozzler]

Also, I should add that I personally do not keep kosher. But I was raised in a very religious temple where I had to learn all about keeping a kosher kitchen.

I know rjamz keeps a kosher kitchen.

[The Foozzler]

May 19, 2013 13:48:29 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

May 19, 2013 13:46:01 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

Some things can be, like fruits and vegetables. Most prepared food must be labeled unless it is widely recognized to be kosher, like nestle. There are many different groups that can certify foods as kosher, hence the different symbols on food. You might see a U with a circle around it. This is the symbol to let you know that United Orthodox is the group that supervised.

OH! That's what that U means!

Also, no lobster? But what about all our fancy rjamz stereotypes? Can you eat caviar?

Most caviar is not kosher! She probably makes up for it by having 2 separate sets of diamond crusted plates?

[Dorothy Zbornak]

May 19, 2013 13:48:38 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

Also, I should add that I personally do not keep kosher. But I was raised in a very religious temple where I had to learn all about keeping a kosher kitchen.

I know rjamz keeps a kosher kitchen.

So, it's not frowned upon to be a non-Kosher jew?

[The Foozzler]

May 19, 2013 13:37:36 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

What if you go out to a restaurant?

This depends on your level of kosherness. Kosher restaurants do exist. Some kosher friends will only eat out at kosher places. Some friends will eat out at any restaurant, but they avoid meat. For a lot of my kosher friends, and the official kosher policy of our Jewish youth group, they follow the policy of only parve (not meat or dairy) or diary, if kosher is not available.

[Dorothy Zbornak]

May 19, 2013 13:50:08 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

May 19, 2013 13:48:29 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

OH! That's what that U means!

Also, no lobster? But what about all our fancy rjamz stereotypes? Can you eat caviar?

Most caviar is not kosher! She probably makes up for it by having 2 separate sets of diamond crusted plates?

She probably pays a non-Jew to eat it for her. I wanted to say goy, but then the internet said it's offensive ...?

[The Foozzler]

May 19, 2013 13:50:24 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

May 19, 2013 13:48:38 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

Also, I should add that I personally do not keep kosher. But I was raised in a very religious temple where I had to learn all about keeping a kosher kitchen.

I know rjamz keeps a kosher kitchen.

So, it's not frowned upon to be a non-Kosher jew?

Nope. I love pork, shellfish, and cheeseburgers too much. Being kosher is a really big commitment. I respect those that do it, but a good majority of my kosher friends do not.

[The Foozzler]

May 19, 2013 13:55:54 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

May 19, 2013 13:50:08 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

Most caviar is not kosher! She probably makes up for it by having 2 separate sets of diamond crusted plates?

She probably pays a non-Jew to eat it for her. I wanted to say goy, but then the internet said it's offensive ...?

Hmm, it is probably offensive, but when you have someone turn on lights or something for you on Shabbat, I've heard them called a shabbos goy. But still probably offensive.

[Dorothy Zbornak]

May 19, 2013 13:59:02 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

May 19, 2013 13:55:54 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

She probably pays a non-Jew to eat it for her. I wanted to say goy, but then the internet said it's offensive ...?

Hmm, it is probably offensive, but when you have someone turn on lights or something for you on Shabbat, I've heard them called a shabbos goy. But still probably offensive.

Ha! That exists? That's awesome.

I am so fascinated!

[ruby412]

May 19, 2013 13:56:10 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

May 19, 2013 13:50:24 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

So, it's not frowned upon to be a non-Kosher jew?

Nope. I love pork, shellfish, and cheeseburgers too much. Being kosher is a really big commitment. I respect those that do it, but a good majority of my kosher friends do not.

My cousin and his daughter have Celiac disease, so their family of four keeps kosher and follows a special diet. Now that is commitment!

(We are not very religious and do not keep kosher.)

[The Foozzler]

May 19, 2013 13:56:10 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

May 19, 2013 13:50:24 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

So, it's not frowned upon to be a non-Kosher jew?

Nope. I love pork, shellfish, and cheeseburgers too much. Being kosher is a really big commitment. I respect those that do it, but a good majority of my kosher friends do not.

Meant to say Jewish friends, not kosher.

[careyalis]

May 19, 2013 13:59:02 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

May 19, 2013 13:55:54 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

She probably pays a non-Jew to eat it for her. I wanted to say goy, but then the internet said it's offensive ...?

Hmm, it is probably offensive, but when you have someone turn on lights or something for you on Shabbat, I've heard them called a shabbos goy. But still probably offensive.

Why can't you turn on lights on Shabbat?

[The Foozzler]

May 19, 2013 14:02:33 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

May 19, 2013 13:59:02 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

Hmm, it is probably offensive, but when you have someone turn on lights or something for you on Shabbat, I've heard them called a shabbos goy. But still probably offensive.

Ha! That exists? That's awesome.

I am so fascinated!

My temple had one that set up the microphone for Saturday bar mitzvahs since Jews can't do it.

[The Foozzler]

May 19, 2013 14:05:59 GMT -5 careyalis said:

May 19, 2013 13:59:02 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

Hmm, it is probably offensive, but when you have someone turn on lights or something for you on Shabbat, I've heard them called a shabbos goy. But still probably offensive.

Why can't you turn on lights on Shabbat?

You can have lights on or have them on a timer, but you can't turn them on yourself. The Torah prohibits work of any kind on Shabbat. Turning on a light constitutes work. The rules of what is allowed and not allowed on Shabbat is even more confusing than keeping kosher!

[Dorothy Zbornak]

May 19, 2013 14:08:51 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

May 19, 2013 14:05:59 GMT -5 careyalis said:

Why can't you turn on lights on Shabbat?

You can have lights on or have them on a timer, but you can't turn them on yourself. The Torah prohibits work of any kind on Shabbat. Turning on a light constitutes work. The rules of what is allowed and not allowed on Shabbat is even more confusing than keeping kosher!

Who changes the baby's diaper? Makes dinner? What if you're a Jewish bus driver?

[katfco]

May 19, 2013 13:56:10 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

May 19, 2013 13:50:24 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

So, it's not frowned upon to be a non-Kosher jew?

Nope. I love pork, shellfish, and cheeseburgers too much. Being kosher is a really big commitment. I respect those that do it, but a good majority of my kosher friends do not.

We had some friends in China who were Muslim (I know it's not the same, but their dietary laws are very similar), and while they were in school, they pretty much ate fruit and vegetables the whole year because none of the cooked food was halal (i.e. kosher). When we had them over for dinner, we had to make sure we used utensils, plates and a wok that had never touched pork. We'd studied dietary laws in Bible class before, but I had never really thought about the commitment it requires in modern-day life.

[rjamz]

May 19, 2013 13:42:34 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

I say yes to Hebrew national, but I know a lot of people that do not trust their kosher certification. They got into a bit of trouble over it not long ago.

I say no to Hebrew National.

Foozzle pretty much has the rules covered

Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards

[The Foozzler]

May 19, 2013 14:11:53 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

May 19, 2013 14:08:51 GMT -5 The Foozzler said:

You can have lights on or have them on a timer, but you can't turn them on yourself. The Torah prohibits work of any kind on Shabbat. Turning on a light constitutes work. The rules of what is allowed and not allowed on Shabbat is even more confusing than keeping kosher!

Who changes the baby's diaper? Makes dinner? What if you're a Jewish bus driver?

You can change a diaper. For meals, a lot of Jews do cold food like sandwiches. During the winter, sundown is really early,and you can resume your regular week after sundown. A lot of people wait until then to cook. During the summer it is harder because sundown is so late.

Jews are too fancy to drive a bus.