Does not eating kosher make you a bad Jew?

Answer 1

Now that's a hard question to answer! Some Jews will tell you that it does, because by not keeping kosher you are ignoring quite a few of the 613 Mitzvot (commandments) given to us by G-d in the Torah, commandments that every Jew is expected to follow.

Having said that, Jews are traditionally quite a liberal people - at least in our opinions on others, even if many of us choose to live quite conservative lives ourselves. For example, I keep strictly kosher (which admittedly isn't too difficult since I'm also vegan) but I most certainly don't think that anybody who does not is a bad Jew. The 613 Mitzvot are broadly divided into the mishpatim - those for which a reason is given - and the chukim - those for which no reason is given, and the laws regarding food are in the second group. As such, we simply do not why these foods are forbidden to us - it could be to show our faith in G-d's word, it could be for some trifling, unimportant reason, it could be due to some reason of G-d's which is beyond our comprehension. We just don't know, and for that reason many people might well argue that as independent human beings we are all allowed a little bit of leeway to decide for ourselves here. So long as you carry out the most important miztvot, such as chesed ("loving kindness," charity), respect for your parents, not doing to others that which you would not want done to yourself then I'm sure I'm not the only person who would still think of you as a good Jew.

Answer 2

It makes you a less-religious Jew.