Judaism and food
Judaism is the original of the three Abrahamic faiths, which also includes Christianity and Islam.
Jewish people generally eat kosher foods. This means that they do not eat pork, and will only eat
other meat where the animal has been killed according to kosher laws. They eat fish, but not
shellfish, such as prawns, mussels and scallops. Orthodox Jews do not mix meat and milk products in
the same meal, so they would not have a cheeseburger or lasagne. According to household custom,
they would wait one, three or six hours to eat a dairy product after eating meat.
All fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, beans and legumes are kosher. To be considered kosher, animals
must fall into one of the following categories, and meet certain requirements: mammals that have
split hooves and chew their cud (including cows, sheep, goats, bison and deer) are all kosher. Fish
must have fins and removable scales to be considered kosher. Milk and eggs from kosher animals is
kosher. Eggs must generally be checked to ensure they do not contain blood, which is not kosher.
Of the animals that may be eaten, the birds and mammals must be slaughted in accordance with
Jewish law. Certain parts of permitted animals may not be eaten. Certain animals may not be eaten
at all. These include pigs, reptiles, shellfish, rabbits etc. All blood must be drained from the meat or
broiled out of it before it is eaten. Meat (the flesh of birds and mammals) cannot be eaten with
dairy. Eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains are considered pareve or neutral and can be eaten with
either meat or dairy. Fish is also considered pareve, but some kosher observant Jews do not cook or
eat with meat. Grape products (including juice and wine) must be produced by Jews in order to be
considered kosher.
Utensils that have come into contact with meat (while hot) may not be used with dairy, and vice
versa. Utensils that have come into contact with non- kosher food (while hot) may not be used with
kosher food.
To celebrate Shabbat, Jews eat bread called challah, made in the shape of a plait, and drink wine.
Jewish people buy their meat and other foods from specialist kosher shops and butchers. They do
not eat pork, rabbit and shellfish and they have different sets of utensils, one to use with meat and
one with milk, because meat and milk foods are never prepared or eaten together.
Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and traditionally
requires Jews to fast for 25 hours. Children under the age of 9 are not allowed to fast, nor are people
who are pregnant or in poor health.
Judaism is the original of the three Abrahamic faiths, which also includes Christianity and Islam.
Jewish people generally eat kosher foods. This means that they do not eat pork, and will only eat
other meat where the animal has been killed according to kosher laws. They eat fish, but not
shellfish, such as prawns, mussels and scallops. Orthodox Jews do not mix meat and milk products in
the same meal, so they would not have a cheeseburger or lasagne. According to household custom,
they would wait one, three or six hours to eat a dairy product after eating meat.
All fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, beans and legumes are kosher. To be considered kosher, animals
must fall into one of the following categories, and meet certain requirements: mammals that have
split hooves and chew their cud (including cows, sheep, goats, bison and deer) are all kosher. Fish
must have fins and removable scales to be considered kosher. Milk and eggs from kosher animals is
kosher. Eggs must generally be checked to ensure they do not contain blood, which is not kosher.
Of the animals that may be eaten, the birds and mammals must be slaughted in accordance with
Jewish law. Certain parts of permitted animals may not be eaten. Certain animals may not be eaten
at all. These include pigs, reptiles, shellfish, rabbits etc. All blood must be drained from the meat or
broiled out of it before it is eaten. Meat (the flesh of birds and mammals) cannot be eaten with
dairy. Eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains are considered pareve or neutral and can be eaten with
either meat or dairy. Fish is also considered pareve, but some kosher observant Jews do not cook or
eat with meat. Grape products (including juice and wine) must be produced by Jews in order to be
considered kosher.
Utensils that have come into contact with meat (while hot) may not be used with dairy, and vice
versa. Utensils that have come into contact with non- kosher food (while hot) may not be used with
kosher food.
To celebrate Shabbat, Jews eat bread called challah, made in the shape of a plait, and drink wine.
Jewish people buy their meat and other foods from specialist kosher shops and butchers. They do
not eat pork, rabbit and shellfish and they have different sets of utensils, one to use with meat and
one with milk, because meat and milk foods are never prepared or eaten together.
Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and traditionally
requires Jews to fast for 25 hours. Children under the age of 9 are not allowed to fast, nor are people
who are pregnant or in poor health.
