What foods are unique to the Jewish diet?

Answer 1

The diet of religiously observant Jews is made up of Kosher food. However, kosher food is not a style of cooking, it simply refers to food that is prepared and consumed according to 'kashrut'. "Kashrut", which is what Jewish dietary law is called, comes from the Hebrew root Kaf-Shin-Reish, meaning fit, proper or correct.

It is possible to list quotes about food preparation and consumption from the Torah, however, that wouldn't actually answer the question as to what the Jewish diet is. In truth, the diet of Jews is largely influenced by the country they are from. For example, the diet of Polish Jews was traditionally hugely different from the diet of Jews from countries such as Morocco, Italy, Yemen, India, etc. As such, it would be impossible to outline the diet of different Jewish communities in this forum.

A quick comparison would be that Eastern European Jewish diets would favour beef, chicken, and various types of dumplings while a Moroccan Jewish diet would favour lamb, chicken, fish, and a more complex use of spices, fruits, and vegetables.

Answer 2

Kosher is a topic that deserves a bit more than one paragraph but basically it means that the food is something Jews have received permission by G-d to eat. If we are to eat fish they must have fins and scales... which would, for instance cut out eel or shark. We cannot eat Birds of Prey, fish-eating water-birds, and the bat. And any animal we eat must chew the cud and have a cloven hoof which does not include rabbits, camel, and pigs. We also cannot eat bugs (some cultures do,) or shellfish (lobsters and shrimp included.)

In addition, there are rules about what foods can be mixed. Observant Jews never mix dairy products with meat products. So that means no cheeseburger, no cooking or eating off utensils that have been used for both purposes, and it also means that we cannot eat a slice of bread or cake with milk in it if we've eaten meat in the past 4-6 hours.

Answer 3

Matzo Ball soup

Gefilte Fish or Chopped Liver

Boiled Chicken with potatoes

Honey cake with tea

Chulent is an ancient Jewish type of Stew often eaten for lunch on Saturday

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A meal eaten by religiously observant Jews can be made up of anything so long as the ingredients are kosher and the food is prepared following the laws of kashrut. As Jews have lived almost everywhere in the world, you'll find dishes from most cultures on the table.

Answer 4

Most Jews eat the same kinds of things everyone else eats, even those that keep kosher.

Some uniquely Jewish foods are:

• kishka
• gefilte fish
• challah
• matzah
• knishes
• borekas
• cholent
• hamantashen
• black and white cookies
• rugalah

Answer 5

The core rules of kashrut (dietary laws) are:

* Land animals must have split hooves and chew their cud.

* Fish have to have scales and fins.

* Birds cannot be amongst those listed as forbidden in the Torah and cannot be hunters/scavengers

* Animals must be killed in a specific manner and must be free of all disease

* As much blood as possible must be removed from meat as consumption of blood is forbidden

* Dairy and meat cannot be combined in the same meal and there's a waiting period between eating one then the other.

* Orthodox Jews and some Conservative Jews will not eat certain fruits and vegetables because it's too difficult to guarantee that all bugs have been washed away (cauliflower, asparagus, and the like).

Additionally, food must be prepared and handled following kashrut. Any food that does not meet these requirements cannot be eaten by those who are religiously observant.

Answer 6

Jews eat all different kinds of foods, mostly depending on what part of the world they live in. Jews in the U.S. generally eat the same types of foods that everyone else eats, which some exceptions if they keep the kosher-laws.

In order to be kosher, food has to be prepared according to the kosher-laws (see Deuteronomy ch.14). These are explained in detail in the Talmud-volume of Chullin.
* Meat must be from those land animals which have split hooves and chew their cud (such as beef, venison and mutton).
* Fish have to have scales and fins. Shellfish are not kosher.
* Birds cannot be among those listed as forbidden in the Torah (Deuteronomy ch.14) and cannot be hunters/scavengers. In actual practice, today we eat only those species concerning which we have a tradition that they're permitted, such as domestic chicken, geese, pigeons and turkey.

* Animals must be slaughtered in the manner specified by Jewish law and must be free of all disease. In actual practice, those who keep kosher purchase meat which is certified as having been prepared in the kosher manner.
* As much blood as possible must be removed from meat before cooking, since consumption of blood is forbidden (Leviticus ch.17). This is done at home or by the kosher butcher, through salting, soaking and rinsing.

* Dairy and meat cannot be combined in the same meal and there's a waiting period between eating one and then the other. After dairy: 1/2 hour. After meat: 6 hours for most Jewish communities.

* Fruits and vegetables should be checked to be sure they're free of bugs. Some Jews avoid cauliflower, asparagus, and the like, because of the difficulty in checking them.

Additionally, food must be prepared and handled following kashrut-laws and with kosher ingredients only. Any food that does not meet these requirements cannot be eaten by those who are religiously observant. Foods which are purchased should be labeled as having had kosher supervision during their processing.

See also:

Could you give me a list of kosher and non-kosher types of fish?

Why do some Jews not keep kosher?

Answer 7

In order to be kosher, food has to be prepared according to the kosher-laws (see Deuteronomy ch.14). These are explained in detail in the Talmud-volume of Chullin.
* Meat must be from those land animals which have split hooves and chew their cud (such as beef, venison and mutton).
* Fish have to have scales and fins. Shellfish are not kosher.
* Birds cannot be among those listed as forbidden in the Torah (Deuteronomy ch.14) and cannot be hunters/scavengers. In actual practice, today we eat only those species concerning which we have a tradition that they're permitted, such as domestic chicken, geese, pigeons and turkey.

* Animals must be slaughtered in the manner specified by Jewish law and must be free of all disease. In actual practice, those who keep kosher purchase meat which is certified as having been prepared in the kosher manner.
* As much blood as possible must be removed from meat before cooking, since consumption of blood is forbidden (Leviticus ch.17). This is done at home or by the kosher butcher, through salting, soaking and rinsing.

* Dairy and meat cannot be combined in the same meal and there's a waiting period between eating one and then the other. After dairy: 1/2 hour. After meat: 6 hours for most Jewish communities.

* Fruits and vegetables should be checked to be sure they're free of bugs. Some Jews avoid cauliflower, asparagus, and the like, because of the difficulty in checking them.

Additionally, food must be prepared and handled following kashrut-laws and with kosher ingredients only. Processed foods should be labeled as having had kosher supervision during their processing. Any food that does not meet these requirements cannot be eaten by those who are religiously observant Jews.

See also the Related Links.

Link: Could you give me a list of kosher and non-kosher types of fish?

Link: Why do some Jews not keep kosher?

Link: The use of rennet

Answer 8

In order to be kosher, food has to be prepared according to the kosher-laws (see Deuteronomy ch.14). These are explained in detail in the Talmud-volume of Chullin.
* Meat must be from those land animals which have split hooves and chew their cud (such as beef, venison and mutton).
Fish have to have scales and fins. Shellfish are not kosher.
Birds cannot be among those listed as forbidden in the Torah (Deuteronomy ch.14) and cannot be hunters/scavengers. In actual practice, today we eat only those species concerning which we have a tradition that they're permitted, such as domestic chicken, geese, pigeons and turkey.

* Animals must be slaughtered in the manner specified by Jewish law and must be free of all disease. In actual practice, those who keep kosher purchase meat which is certified as having been prepared in the kosher manner.
As much blood as possible must be removed from meat before cooking, since consumption of blood is forbidden (Leviticus ch.17). This is done at home or by the kosher butcher, through salting, soaking and rinsing.

* Dairy and meat cannot be combined in the same meal and there's a waiting period between eating one and then the other. After dairy: 1/2 hour. After meat: 6 hours for most Jewish communities.

* Fruits and vegetables should be checked to be sure they're free of bugs. Some Jews avoid cauliflower, asparagus, and the like, because of the difficulty in checking them.

Additionally, food must be prepared and handled following kashrut-laws and with kosher ingredients only. Processed foods should be labeled as having had kosher supervision during their processing. Any food that does not meet these requirements cannot be eaten by those who are religiously observant Jews.

See also the Related Links.

Link: Could you give me a list of kosher and non-kosher types of fish?

Link: Why do some Jews not keep kosher?

Link: The use of rennet

Answer 9

If the question is what foods have symbolic ceremonial meanings in Judaism, challah and wine are two consumable items that are used in religious ceremonies.