Which? May 2024 Friday April 26Th 2024
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Jewish beliefs!
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Why do Jewish people not eat prawns or seafood (except fish)? I understand they are not Kosher but would like to understand the rationale behind this? Can anyone help?
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It's forbidden in the Bible - Leviticus 11.9
Of the things that are in the waters, you may eat anything that has fins and scales
Further on it mutters that (other sea food) 'shall be an abomination unto you'
Rationale - pass. Some think they were primitive health regulations - banning food that had a high chance of being off. Others say it's a test of faith or identity - ie no reason it's Just So.
Bigger question - why do Christians not (in general) folow these rules? They are in the Old Testament after all.
Of the things that are in the waters, you may eat anything that has fins and scales
Further on it mutters that (other sea food) 'shall be an abomination unto you'
Rationale - pass. Some think they were primitive health regulations - banning food that had a high chance of being off. Others say it's a test of faith or identity - ie no reason it's Just So.
Bigger question - why do Christians not (in general) folow these rules? They are in the Old Testament after all.
The rationale behind keeping kosher is first and foremost the fact that the Torah says one must. In Judaism, even if someone were to offer that eating pork is unhealthy, that is still ultimately not the reason that they do not eat it. They do not eat it because God said they shouldn't. They believe that God restricted the food intake for reasons best known to Him.
It is impossible to know the original reason for keeping kosher according to the Torah, since the Torah does not give provide a comprehensive explanation. It explains that Jews should not eat blood because the life is contained in the blood, which explains part of shechita, kosher slaughter; and the Torah is also clear that they should not mistreat animals by causing them pain, which is also an element of shechita (althogh one would argue that perhaps it does cause unnecessary pain); but the only explanation given for the prohibition against eating certain kinds of animals, or for the separation of dairy and meat products is a simple assertion that doing so is holy.
And for Jews who observe this particular Jewish law, that is rationale enough.
It is impossible to know the original reason for keeping kosher according to the Torah, since the Torah does not give provide a comprehensive explanation. It explains that Jews should not eat blood because the life is contained in the blood, which explains part of shechita, kosher slaughter; and the Torah is also clear that they should not mistreat animals by causing them pain, which is also an element of shechita (althogh one would argue that perhaps it does cause unnecessary pain); but the only explanation given for the prohibition against eating certain kinds of animals, or for the separation of dairy and meat products is a simple assertion that doing so is holy.
And for Jews who observe this particular Jewish law, that is rationale enough.
I think that gary baldy is right. Many of the Jewish Laws are based on health and hygiene. Until quite well into the 20th centuary people in the UK didn't eat pork in the summer as it could so easily make you ill. That's why walls make both ice cream and sausages, two different products for different times of the year.
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