By Noah Resnicow
Ask the average American to swear off cheeseburgers, bacon, ham, and shellfish, and he or she probably won’t be on board. Ask them to swear off these foods during the holidays and they’re even less on board. However, 21 percent of the 5.3 million American Jews do, because they are following Kashrut law. More well known as “keeping kosher,” this diet originates from the Old Testament or the Torah, and its primary rules are that only certain animals can be eaten, certain parts of the animals can’t be eaten, milk and meat can’t be eaten together, and animals must be slaughtered for meat in accordance to Jewish law.
One Pioneer senior says visiting friends on the holidays can make it difficult to maintain his kosher diet. For example, one rule states he has to wait a certain amount of time after eating a meat before eating dairy. “I eat the pie an hour later,” he said.
The great majority of Jews choose not to keep kosher. For many of these individuals, keeping kosher is too difficult, and some feel that the Torah is not important enough in their personal beliefs to let it affect their eating choices.
There are many reasons to choose not to observe Kashrut law. However, many feel that it is an important part of their faith to follow this ancient tradition. “There are a number of reasons I keep Kosher. Firstly, my parents do, so for a long time it wasn’t a choice, and it’s how I was raised. But now that it is, at least to some extent, a choice, I still do. I do consider it a religious obligation,” said senior Zachary Bernstein, “God commanded it in the Torah, and since there is nothing immoral about it, I happily do it. Also it’s how I was raised, it’s what I’m comfortable with, and I feel no need to change it.”
Keeping kosher has a wide range of benefits, including eating expensive, top-of-the-line food, as well as often eating a healthier diet. “In general, kosher food is higher quality,” said senior Rephael Berkooz. Berkooz chooses to not mix milk and meat, not to eat “non kosher” animals, and to only eat kosher parts of the animal, but does eat non-kosher approved meat and doesn’t subscribe to registering his food to a certain rabbi, which many kosher families do. “I don’t need the seal of approval of an East Coast Rabbi,” he said.
“Pork is unhealthy,” added Berkooz, “I’m more conscious of what I’m eating.”
Following the laws of Kashrut also allow many Jews to feel connected to God and their religion. “There are a few benefits of keeping Kosher,” said Bernstein. “The first is that I am following a commandment. I find that an important part of my religion. Additionally, keeping Kosher makes something simple, like eating, into a holy act by making me think on a frequent basis about keeping God’s laws and my role as God’s creation.”
It is common for communities such as the Jewish people to assimilate into the melting pot of American culture, but many use following kosher law to connect them to their Jewish identity. “I feel proud of my heritage,” said Berkooz.
“Keeping Kosher ties me very strongly to my Jewish identity,” added Bernstein. “It forces me to think on a regular basis about God and God’s laws and about what it means to follow God’s laws in the 21st century, where a lot of those laws feel outdated.”
Keeping kosher also comes with its challenges. In addition to the holidays, eating at restaurants can be difficult, since most don’t sell kosher meat, and American culinary culture has many defining foods that include both dairy and meat. “Sure, there are disadvantages of keeping Kosher. It’s awfully difficult to eat out. I just eat vegetarian out at restaurants and call it close enough, but even that is questionable legally, and it is rather limiting. Eating at friends’ houses is also rather difficult and often awkward. I can rarely eat anything at school bake sales or whatnot,” said Bernstein.
Secular camps and other extra curriculars don’t often have many kosher options, which can certainly be problematic. “Orchestra camp is difficult,” said Berkooz. “I usually go vegetarian for a lot of places.”
While keeping kosher comes with its disadvantages, its influence in Jewish culture is unparalleled. Many Jews continue the tradition as a way to feel connected to their identity.
One Pioneer senior says visiting friends on the holidays can make it difficult to maintain his kosher diet. For example, one rule states he has to wait a certain amount of time after eating a meat before eating dairy. “I eat the pie an hour later,” he said.
The great majority of Jews choose not to keep kosher. For many of these individuals, keeping kosher is too difficult, and some feel that the Torah is not important enough in their personal beliefs to let it affect their eating choices.
There are many reasons to choose not to observe Kashrut law. However, many feel that it is an important part of their faith to follow this ancient tradition. “There are a number of reasons I keep Kosher. Firstly, my parents do, so for a long time it wasn’t a choice, and it’s how I was raised. But now that it is, at least to some extent, a choice, I still do. I do consider it a religious obligation,” said senior Zachary Bernstein, “God commanded it in the Torah, and since there is nothing immoral about it, I happily do it. Also it’s how I was raised, it’s what I’m comfortable with, and I feel no need to change it.”
Keeping kosher has a wide range of benefits, including eating expensive, top-of-the-line food, as well as often eating a healthier diet. “In general, kosher food is higher quality,” said senior Rephael Berkooz. Berkooz chooses to not mix milk and meat, not to eat “non kosher” animals, and to only eat kosher parts of the animal, but does eat non-kosher approved meat and doesn’t subscribe to registering his food to a certain rabbi, which many kosher families do. “I don’t need the seal of approval of an East Coast Rabbi,” he said.
“Pork is unhealthy,” added Berkooz, “I’m more conscious of what I’m eating.”
Following the laws of Kashrut also allow many Jews to feel connected to God and their religion. “There are a few benefits of keeping Kosher,” said Bernstein. “The first is that I am following a commandment. I find that an important part of my religion. Additionally, keeping Kosher makes something simple, like eating, into a holy act by making me think on a frequent basis about keeping God’s laws and my role as God’s creation.”
It is common for communities such as the Jewish people to assimilate into the melting pot of American culture, but many use following kosher law to connect them to their Jewish identity. “I feel proud of my heritage,” said Berkooz.
“Keeping Kosher ties me very strongly to my Jewish identity,” added Bernstein. “It forces me to think on a regular basis about God and God’s laws and about what it means to follow God’s laws in the 21st century, where a lot of those laws feel outdated.”
Keeping kosher also comes with its challenges. In addition to the holidays, eating at restaurants can be difficult, since most don’t sell kosher meat, and American culinary culture has many defining foods that include both dairy and meat. “Sure, there are disadvantages of keeping Kosher. It’s awfully difficult to eat out. I just eat vegetarian out at restaurants and call it close enough, but even that is questionable legally, and it is rather limiting. Eating at friends’ houses is also rather difficult and often awkward. I can rarely eat anything at school bake sales or whatnot,” said Bernstein.
Secular camps and other extra curriculars don’t often have many kosher options, which can certainly be problematic. “Orchestra camp is difficult,” said Berkooz. “I usually go vegetarian for a lot of places.”
While keeping kosher comes with its disadvantages, its influence in Jewish culture is unparalleled. Many Jews continue the tradition as a way to feel connected to their identity.