What Does "Kosher" Mean?

"Kosher" is a Hebrew word that translates as "fit" or "proper."  In other words, Kosher foods are foods that are fit, proper (or appropriate) to eat according to Jewish dietary laws.

The rules that determine what is kosher, and what is not, come directly from the Torah (the Jewish “bible”) and have been followed by Jews for over 3,000 years.   

The laws related to kosher foods are extremely complex.  It takes years of study to become an expert, but there are a few basics that anyone can understood.  

Why is Eating Kosher so Important?

There have been many theories about the health benefits of kosher food. The most popular thought is that kosher food is less likely to be contaminated by parasites and bacteria. 

Others say the laws may be practical or financial.  For example, it is forbidden to eat camel or pigs.  The reason for this may be that a camel was more useful as a means of transportation than as a source of food, and a pig eats so much that it costs more to raise it than its worth at market as a food source.

However, while there may be health and/or financial benefits to keeping kosher, these are not the reasons WHY it is done.

There are only two reasons why Jews have kept kosher for thousands of years.  It’s because they believe that:

1. There is a God who created and supervises the world, and
2. God made a pact with the Jewish people.  He gave them the Torah but commanded them to uphold and fulfill its commandments. The kosher laws are a part of the deal.

The Torah does not give reasons for any of the laws that dictate what kosher means.  And for a devout, traditional Jew, there is no need for a  reason.  Jews show their obedience to God by following these laws even though they do not know the reason.