World Religions

Introduction to World Religions Study Guide There are guidelines to Jewish worship, such as weekday and Sabbath prayer services, as well as the etiquette for visitors. Dietary Laws for Jews The most known Jewish religious practices are that of eating kosher foods. The laws of kashrut are a little puzzling to the outsider, but they hold great meaning for Jewish people now and throughout history. Conformance shows obedience to God, unifies one to the community, and gives them identity as a people. The food prepared according to these laws is considered kosher. Kosher food is known as treifah or treif. Most of the laws apply to animal-based foods. In order to be considered kosher, mammals must have split hooves and chew their cud. The pig is the best known example of a non-kosher animal; although a pig has split hooves, it does not chew its cud. Seafood, in order to be kosher, must have fins and scales. Some seafood, such as shellfish, crustaceans, and eels, are not considered kosher. For birds, there is a list of kosher species in the Torah. Some birds listed are no longer living and others that did not survive the translations. Chicken and turkeys are permitted. Amphibians, reptiles, and most insects are prohibited. Kosher meat and poultry must be slaughtered in a process known as shechitah. If it is not slaughtered properly, it is rendered treif. The slaughtering process must be quick and relatively painless to the animal. Blood, some fats, and the area in and around the sciatic nerve are forbidden. Jewish Law does not allow meat and dairy products to be consumed together. The order of eating meat and then dairy products can be as long as six hours. The use of dishes, utensils, and ovens can make food treif that would have otherwise been kosher. If a utensil has been used for meat and is now being used for a dairy product, it will render the food treif. No processed grape products made by non-Jews are allowed by the Orthodox and some Conservative authorities. These products are made by non-Jews and are used in pagan practices. While the Torah does not give the reasons behind kashrut, it does go to the idea of ritual purity. This reduces impulse issues, helps with health, reduces cruelty to animals, encourages obedience to God, and preserves the Jewish community. Purity Laws The Tanakh notes circumstances in which a person who is tahor, or ritually pure, may become tamei, or ritually impure. Contact with human corpses or graves, seminal flux, vaginal flux, menstruation, and contact with other people who are tamei can cause a tahor to become impure. Family Purity A subcategory of ritual purity laws, known as niddah or separation, relates to menstruating women. This is a vital aspect of halakha. Women were separated from the home during this time. This is not followed by Jews in liberal dominations. ©2018 Achieve Page 54 of 96