Well, that’s not kosher

Daily Meditation 808–5/16/2024

For the uninitiated, Jews adhere to a religious requirement of their food that it be “kosher.” Long and short, it’s rooted Biblically:

Meat must be from animals which “chew their cud,” such as a deer or a cow and have split (cloven) hooves. Seafood must have scales and fins, etc. — sorry, no shrimp if you wear a kippah! If you’re going to eat a nice, juicy steak, you can’t wash it down with a glass of chocolate milk. Not because it’s chocolate, but rather because it’s dairy — dairy and meat are no bueno together.

All other foods must be “pareva,” which essentially means blessed and clean. And those who follow Judaism, please leave a comment if I have anything incorrect, here!

To someone outside of a religious faith with dietary restrictions seeing someone say “Well, my God told my prophet/disciple/ ‘chosen one’ that I may not eat pigs, stringbeans, or red gummi bears on Tuesdays after 4pm,” you may scoff. It seems absurd, hey?

You perceive it as absurd.

And, once again, we are discussing perception…as we do multiple times per week. And, once again again again, we are placing it into another arena for us to consider and think on.

Really, any diet can be perceived as absurd to some other diet-adherent.