Kashrut

The concept of germs was unknown during the time the Torah was written and not known when Tanakh finished nor Talmud completed. Such a concept was not even readily accepted in the world just a couple of hundred years ago when it was introduced. Filth was known to “breed disease” by some peoples, but disease according to the ancients was often the result of curse, Divine retribution, demon influence etc. Even through kashrut does impart hygienic benefis, that isn’t why it was significant to the ancient Israelites who were given these laws and who practiced this. Torah does not give any indication that health was a primary purpose at all.

There are logical reasons that would have made perfect sense to the ancient Hebrews paradigm. Our modern notions often do not fit what an ancient people from a very different culture would have understood.

Religion and rule were inseparable. Nations were identified by what leader they venerated and what deities their leaders represented or permitted.

The laws of kashrut made people think about what they ate, and how they honored belief by every aspect of their life.

Israel is a covenant nation, a people who take on a role of being a role model, a light unto the nations of how to live holy. The Torah forbids for the nation Yisrael to take on the objects of worship of any other nation. The customs and rituals of Judaism are designed to honor every aspect of the role of being a part of the particular unique covenant that the nation people took upon themselves and dedicated themselves to pass along to their children in perpetuity.

Now, look at all the surrounding peoples who worshiped different deities. How did they live? What did they do to honor their deities?

What ritual objects, animals, specific customs or festivals did they tie to honoring their idols or gods?

The laws in Torah made sure that Israel did different things. The covenant people set themselves apart from the customs of others with those that specifically honored their belief in the God of Torah to the exclusion of all others.

Human sacrifice, pig sacrifice, drinking blood that was believed to be the source of the soul/spirit/life force, all forbidden in Torah with serious consequences, and all primarily because those things were done by the surrounding idolatrous peoples.

The Philistines, in particular were seen as barbaric because of their eating of pigs and blood and because of their worship of Beelzebub (Lord of the flies-flies brought pestilence) While technologically more advanced than the Israelites, the Philistines had customs that the Hebrews viewed as disgusting and immoral. The Aegean seafaring Philistines sacrificed pigs in high places and drank their blood. They brought this custom from their ancient homeland and it horrified the Hebrews. Other groups placed tattoos on their bodies to show affiliation to particular deities. Molech worshipers sacrificed their children in fire to seek atonement. Goddess worshipers sought divination through witches. Others decorated trees to honor the spirits found within them to invoke the end of winter or for their fruits. Birds of prey were objects of worship of several of Israel's ancient enemies.

Perhaps shellfish and other prohibited sea and water creatures (bottom dwelling fish without scales for instance) were prohibited because they were a part of the feasts or festivals of polytheist groups.

Drinking blood, eating pigs or birds of prey and all those aforementioned customs and more are directly forbidden for Israel in Torah and in Tanakh. The laws of kashrut and other customs set them apart as a people who live every aspect of their life in dedication to service of God and fellow man. Pork is only one of many foods that are forbidden to consume under Torah's dietary laws yet that one is usually most focused upon by non-Jews.

Here is a a partial copy paste/paraphrasing from a great site (http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm)to learn the basics about Judaism to help:

Many of the laws of kashrut have no known connection with health. To the best of our modern scientific knowledge, there is no reason why camel or rabbit meat (both treif- meaning unfit) is any less healthy than cow or goat meat. In addition, some of the health benefits to be derived from kashrut were not made obsolete by the refrigerator.

 For example, there is some evidence that enzymes in dairy foods interferes with digestion of meat, and no modern food preparation technique reproduces the health benefit of the kosher law of eating them separately.

In recent years, several secular sources that have seriously looked into this matter have acknowledged that health does not explain these prohibitions. Some have suggested that the prohibitions are instead derived from environmental considerations. For example, a camel (which is not kosher) is more useful as a beast of burden than as a source of food. In the Middle Eastern climate, the pig consumes a quantity of food that is disproportional to its value as a food source. But again, these are **not**reasons that come from Jewish tradition, nor would they have necessarily made sense to the ancient paradigm of the Israelites that accepted the commandments.

Now the *religious* reason: "The short answer to why Jews observe these laws is: because the Torah says so. The Torah does not specify any reason for these laws, and for a Torah-observant, traditional Jew, there is no need for any other reason. Some have suggested that the laws of kashrut fall into the category of "chukkim," laws for which there is no reason. We show our obedience to G-d by following these laws even though we do not know the reason. Others, however, have tried to ascertain G-d's reason for imposing these laws.

In his book "To Be a Jew" (an excellent resource on traditional Judaism), Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin suggests that the dietary laws are designed as a call to holiness. The ability to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, pure and defiled, the sacred and the profane, is very important in Judaism. Imposing rules on what you can and cannot eat ingrains that kind of self-control, requiring us to learn to control even our most basic, primal instincts.

Donin also points out that the laws of kashrut elevate the simple act of eating into a religious ritual. The Jewish dinner table is often compared to the Temple altar in rabbinic literature. A Jew who observes the laws of kashrut cannot eat a meal without being reminded of the fact that he is a Jew."

Jews have always lived among peoples who do not believe as Jews do and when the Torah was given the ancient Israelites were surrounded by polytheistic peoples who often had practices using specific animals.

Like the prohibitions from marking the skin (tattoos) to show allegiance to other nation’s ways or to adopt other practices, there is strong possibility that some prohibitions include the restrictions for diet simply to keep the customs that honored idolatrous beliefs away from the Jewish people, for example, prohibiting the consumption of pork because the Philistines sacrificed them in their religious rituals.

The only mammals that are kosher (fit) are those that have cloven hoof and chew cud.

The laws of slaughter have much to do with the concern of several values taught in the Torah, primarily these two: Ahavat Ha-Beriot – – love of all of God’s creations – A principle that encourages appreciation for the world and all of its inhabitants (Leviticus 19.18; Avot of Rabbi Nathan 16).

Tza’ar Ba’alei Chayyim – – the pain of living creatures – A set of laws prohibiting cruelty to animals and obligating acts of compassion and proper treatment of animals used to perform labor (Shabbat 117b; Deuteronomy 22:9).

The following definition is from http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm "Ritual slaughter is known as shechitah, and the person who performs the slaughter is called a shochet, both from the Hebrew root Shin-Cheit-Tav, meaning to destroy or kill. The method of slaughter is a quick, deep stroke across the throat with a perfectly sharp blade with no nicks or unevenness. This method is painless, causes unconsciousness within two seconds, and is widely recognized as the most humane method of slaughter possible. Another advantage of shechitah is that it ensures rapid, complete draining of the blood, which is also necessary to render the meat kosher."

Kosher means FIT. It is unfit for Jews to be cruel to animals. Sport hunting is prohibited by Jewish law.

Jews also feed our animals before we feed ourselves for the consideration of the feelings of our animals, so that they do not become anxious or distressed in hunger while watching us eat. Since Judaism is a religion that speaks to all aspects of life, it has much to say about one of life's most commonplace activities, eating. The Jewish dietary laws, also known as the laws of kashrut or kosher laws are extremely important in Judaism. They regulate virtually every aspect of eating for members of the Jewish community (the only dietary law given to non-Jews is to not eat a limb from a living animal).

Kashrut includes: (1) which foods may be eaten (although God's initial intention was that people should be vegetarians (Genesis 1:29), permission was later given for people to eat meat as a concession to human weakness (Genesis 9:2-5)); animals that may be eaten are those that part the hoof and are cloven-footed and chew the cud, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. Animals that do not meet the criteria, such as the pig are forbidden. Sea creatures that have fins and scales are acceptable. Most non-predatory fowl, such as chickens, most species of duck and geese, turkey, and pigeon, are permitted. Only eggs from kosher fowl may be eaten. It should be noted that all species of fruits and vegetables are kosher, although their consumption may be restricted due to maturation, tithing, etc. (2) the method of slaughter (the laws of shechitah) by a trained religious person, known as a schochet. These laws do not apply to fish or invertabrates. (3) the method of preparing meat and poultry (known as kashering), which primarily involves removing as much of the blood as possible, since directly after giving people permission to eat meat, God stated, "flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat." (Genesis 9:4) " In ancient days, it was the widespread and accepted belief that the very "life force" was blood"

Remember, a Jew doesn't violate kashrut if they hug a pig, or dog, but does if they eat one...and it's not because of "germs". It is even considered a blessing to save a pig or a dog from cruelty or suffering. And Jew can eat trayf foods to save their life.

Much of the above is my own writing but some portions copied directly from the references given in the text and from

https://www.jewishveg.org/schwartz/dietlaws.html