Keeping Kashrut? or, Please, watch your hands!

The following was my reply to a Christian friend.

Why do we keep kosher? Kosher or kasher (כשר‎) refers to food that is ritually pure under the laws or instructions of kashrut (כַּשְׁרוּת‎) from the Torah. The term has become in popular language within and outside Judaism to describe something that is acceptable.  In traditional Judaism a Sefer Torah must be done following specific Talmudic rules to be considered acceptable, hence, kosher. However, we use the term mainly about the food we eat and how it is prepared, especially for those who eat meat. Vegetarians don’t have to be concerned, although today the growing number of vegetarians among observant Jewish people have led to watch more closely where and how eatable plants are grown. While it is important that it is not in contact with animals that are not kosher, it is even more important that are not produce from farms that exploit workers or use items that can cause environmental problems.

Tradition says that these instructions were given by Moshe inspired by God. In some cases, they were given directly by God. Keeping kosher is an act of devotion to the Almighty. We recognize that even in the simple act of eating God is Lord. It is also a way to express gratitude for what the Almighty grants us to eat. Perhaps, health issues were not the main reason, but it is very healthy to avoid some items many other people eat. The fact is that even some Christians in the USA would avoid eating some items others eat. Of course, they would say it is just a matter of different cultures.

Christianity often misread Jesus' words concerning this issue. There is a story recorded in Matthew (15:1-20 ∥ Mark 7:1-23 ∥ Luke 11:37-41). The Perushim asked why the followers of Jesus did not watch their hands before eating according to the tradition of the elders of Israel. Jesus takes the opportunity to point out how there are other things that in fact defile humans spiritually. Of course, no watching your hands before eating can hurt you, especially during a pandemic. Christian readers use this story to argue that his argument declares all food pure. The Greek text (Mark 7:19) does not ends with the statement about Jesus declaring all food clean, as we find in many English translations. The statement in the Greek text refers to the human body purifying the food that is eaten, by rejecting what is not healthy for the body. A natural amazing process. Jesus was not arguing against the kashrut laws, rather using the occasion to argue that religious rituals do not make us any more holy or saints, though they can lead us to holiness, to deeper devotion. Rituals are powerful expressions of faith.

Another story used by Christians is found in Acts 10. The legend says that Peter Simon had a vision telling him to eat. The animals he saw were considered non-kosher by biblical Jewish laws or instructions. Peter answered stating that he has never eaten anything impure. The voice tells him, according to Peter’s interpretation, not to call impure other human beings. That "food" was non-kosher, therefore it was correct for Peter not to eat it. Treating other human beings as lower than we are because religious reasons was wrong, and Judaism teaches that too. It was not for ethnic reasons, rather religious practices that separated Peter from non-Jewish people. The Torah makes such a distinction. This was not the tradition of the elders, rather from what Christianity agrees to be the Word of God, the Torah. We eat with non-Jewish people as long as we do not eat what is forbidden to us. Just as some Christians avoid drinking alcohol or even tea. They may join a meal time with coworkers of a different faith or non-religious at all, as long as they are not experiencing peer pressure to drink alcohol. This led to rules for young people to avoid eating with others outside their denominational Christian tradition, to prevent them from the use of alcohol. There is nothing wrong with that as it was not wrong for Jewish parents to teach their children in ancient times to avoid eating with non-Jewish people in order to avoid finding themselves eating non-kosher items. This was taken to adulthood, even when they had the maturity to avoid eating such a thing, like pork. However, again, it was to prevent from finding themselves eating what is forbidden. The danger can be if this is taken as an ethnic issue or dismissed as a cultural practice. It is neither one. Even worse is making this an ethnic distinction rather than a religious precaution from breaking the kashrut laws.

A very enthusiastic evangelical Christian said, in a conversation with me, that Jesus of Nazareth “made him free” to eat anything. I responded, with respect to the tragic and unjust suffering and death of Jesus: "All that suffering so you can eat whatever you want? No need for it. You already have been eating anything." After all this man was not a Jewish person who previously kept kosher. Nevertheless, I have met children of Israel who have been misled by some missionaries who make similar comments about their "freedom." One of them, at a Pentecostal "Messianic Jewish" event stated in his speech that Jesus made him free from all these "Laws" then he threw the tallit, the one he was wearing, on the floor and step on it. This was very controversial even among the Christian missionaries leading and sponsoring that conference. My respond to Christians with this approach is: "Can you say in the same statement: Laws of God?" Of course not. Even the writings attributed to Paul on these matters, never refers to freedom from God's instructions. It would make him and Jesus to be false teachers if the “laws” he was referring were from “the Law of God.” Instead, it seems Paul was speaking about freedom from the laws of sin by living in the laws of Love, the divine instructions. In spite of everything, living under the divine instruction is true freedom. Paul quotes often from the Torah in his arguments for holiness and against all type of immorality, especially sexual misbehaviour.

In Islam there are similar rules concerning food. They call it ḥalāl (حلال). The main rule is to avoid eating pork and the proper preparation of meat. While seafood. like shrimp and lobster, is prohibited in Judaism, it is not in Islam. The issue is mainly what meat is allowed and the process to prepare it, similarly to kashrut. The watching of hands etc. among Muslims is done no just to eat, but before prayers. It is a symbol of purity and respect to the place of prayer and devotion to God. Don't we get well clean and dress up to meet a religious or political leader or a very special person? Therefore, the Muslim do this watching as a symbol, as a religious act of devotion, as he/she approaches the presence of God! It is a beautiful act of piety. Rituals are beautiful and enhance devotion. In Judaism we have many rituals, so traditional Christianity. There is something beautiful in religious rituals as long as we do not give them more meaning beyond what it is. Except for baptism (βάπτισμα) in Christianity, neither Judaism nor Islam consider the use of water, for example in the Muslim wuḍūʼ (وضوء) or the Jewish immersion in the mikveh (מקוה‎) as something that would bring spiritual purity. Rather these are practices to show spiritual devotion and symbols of purification to approach the Almighty. In fact, it is the practice of immersion within the mikveh, when someone join the Jewish faith, that became the baptism in Christianity. In Judaism we believe that God still hear your prayers and welcome you into the Divine Presence ragardless if you were able to perform any specific ritual as a symbol of spiritual purification. For example, if you are currently ill in a hospital, know that the Almighty still hear your prayers.

The prophet Jeremiah (2:22) said, in the name of God:

כִּ֤י אִם־תְּכַבְּסִי֙ בַּנֶּ֔תֶר וְתַרְבִּי־לָ֖ךְ בֹּרִ֑ית נִכְתָּ֤ם עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ לְפָנַ֔י נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱִי׃

Water does not actually make us any more holy than others, neither what we eat (although it shows we are obedient). Jesus was just reminding the Perushim about it. He was not rejecting the instructions about kashrut, neither Mohamed. However, regardless of your views, please, watch your hands before eating. It is for your own benefit and to protect others. That’s a good religious bahaviour, caring for others’ health as you care for your own (unless you are careless with your own health). I guess I am getting out of the subject. Stay healthy, please, and eat what is good for your body. 

May God's presence purify our souls making us holy and pure as a Temple of people.