| Orthodox Conversion to Judaism |
| Kosher animals |
| A kosher animal must be a ruminant and have split hooves: cows, sheep, goats and deer are all kosher, whereas camels and pigs (having only one sign of kashrut) are not kosher. Most common fowl are kosher, like chickens, ducks and geese, but birds of prey (hawks, eagles etc.) are not kosher. A sea creature is only kosher if it has fins and scales. So most species of fish are kosher (tuna, salmon, flounder, etc.) but all shellfish are not kosher, dolphins, whales and squids are also not kosher. Any food product of a non-kosher animal in also non-kosher. The exception to this rule is bee's honey. |
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| An animal or bird must be slaughtered according to Jewish law (Shechita). This involves cutting the animal's trachea and oesophagus (the carotid and jugular are also severed) with a surgically sharp knife. The cut must be swift, continuous and performed by an expert. This method of slaughter reduces the bloodpressure in the brain to zero immediatly, so that the animal looses consciousness in a few seconds and dies in minutes. The animal or bird must be free of treifot, which are 70 different categories of injuries, diseases or abnormalities whose presence renders the animal non-kosher. Certain fats, known as chelev, may not be eaten. Blood must be removed from the meat, either by soaking, salting and rinsing or by broiling. The sciatic nerve in each leg and the surrounding fat must be removed. It is forbidden to cook, eat, or benefit from milk and meat mixtures. It is also forbidden to cook or eat dairy products together with poultry. Milk products must only come from kosher animals. |
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| note: the animals pictured on this page are not kosher |