Hundreds of thousands of people each year start out with a diet they believe will lead them to a healthier weight and consequently a new found perspective on wellness. Unfortunately, these lifestyle changes are often abandoned even before the ink the list was written with dries.
In contrast, the Jewish community worldwide not only adheres to a more stringent order than the Atkins, Soutbeach, Eat-Anything-You-Want-and-Still-lose-Weight diets of the world, but they also answer to a higher calling. The Kashrut dietary laws dictate what is “fit for consumption” in the traditional Jewish teachings found in the Torah’s books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
Kashrut (also kashruth or kashrus) is the set of Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with halakha is termed kosher in English, from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the hebrew term kasher, meaning “fit”. Food that is not in accordance with Jewish law is called treif. Kosher foods are those that conform to the regulations of the Jewish Halakhic law framework. These rules form the main aspect of kashrut, Jewish dietary laws. A list of some Kosher foods are found in the book of Leviticus.
On an unassuming corner in downtown Makati, the Jewish Association of the Philippines, which has been at this location for about 30 years, caters to both the local community and any tourists that visit and therefore need kosher meals during their stay. There, the Beth Yaacov Synagogue, Bachrach Hall, and kitchen along with their offices serve as the epicenter of jewish activities in Metro Manila. They also sell some of their pita bread, hummus, and other foods at sunday markets in makati.
The laws have been passed down from Bible times and while the cooking styles and means of preparation have been modernized, the principles remain same. The three categories of kosher food, meat, dairy and parve, all have very specific way of being prepared as outlined in the torah. A few criteria that determine which meats are considered kosher include mammals that both chew their cud and have cloven hooves, fish that have fins and scales, while birds are specifically listed, and insects are not kosher at all.
Of these meats, only certain parts may be used, and only ritually cleansed, healthy animals may be partaken of. Certain combinations like meat and milk are also forbidden and the use of non-kosher utensils therefore renders the kosher dish in its entirety non-kosher as well. The slaughter of animals is also a ceremonial rite that can only be performed by a shochet, who is trained for years to avoid even th slightest of mistakes that can mean the difference between a kosher cut or not. Anything prepared during Shabat hours is also considered non-kosher.
As for the shortening and other products purchased at local markets, they are carefully inspected and washed thoroughly before consumption. When it comes to condiments, like ketchup or mustard and even oils, there are special kosher approved products which are identified by a “K” inside a circle on the label. These products which are mostly imported, are made in factories that have been deemed by a rabbi to be manufacturing the goods in accordance with the Kosher laws.
In this way, they are established as the place to cater to jews who are visiting manila. “Just today,” mentions John Kater an administrator in the association, “we have prepared a number of chickens and some rice fore a Jewish businessman who is here for meetings. Preparing and hosting kosher meals for fellow Jews is something we do regularly.” By having the necessary tools and supervision, which is the crucial point of proper preparation of a kosher meal, they are more than ready and willing to attend to the needs of their brethren. There are about 60-70 families in the local Jewish community with visiting Jews numbering in the hundreds each year. Mr. Kater adds that they have relationships with a few hotels in the area when their guests specifically request kosher meals during their stay.
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Tags: jewish activities, jewish dietary laws, kosher foods, weight diets