On the Importance of Kashrut

Several months ago, I taught an introduction to Judaism course. Several of our own YJC members enrolled, and came to understand deeper significances of Jewish tradition.

One class was devoted to Kashrut. Among the salient ideas I tried to get across is that Kashrut is far more than what they generally assume. Most people assume that since the Bible commands Jews to observe Kashrut, it is an ancient “ritualistic” or “religious” practice. Of course, this is true.

What many people do not grasp, however, is that this is a superficial understanding of what Kashrut is all about. Even supposedly religious Jews often miss the ethical aspect of observing Kashrut, keeping its rules only because the Torah commands it. While this is certainly a valid reason to keep it, and, perhaps, even laudable reason, it doesn’t go far enough in explaining why Kashrut is an ETHICAL IMPERATIVE. By this, I mean, that anyone who considers himself an ethical person, will, once he understands the ethical aspects of Kashrut, be forced to admit that, from now on, eating non-kosher meat is, simply put, unethical.

As a most basic example, the Torah forbids Jews from eating an animal which has died a painful death. This means, that, unless an animal has been slaughtered by a shochet, or ritual slaughterer, the chances are high that the animal has suffered prior to its death. Those seeking actual proof of this are advised to review the site: www.shechitauk.org . The London Board of Shechita, established more than 200 years ago, explains in detail each of the slaughtering methods used in the industry, and explains why shechita is superior to them all. The main reason cited, over and over, is that shechita is the quicket, least painful way for an animal to die. Only when we can be sure that we have taken the animal’s life as rapidly as we can may we eat of said animal.

The Conservative Jewish movement has launched a program, Magen Tzedek, which examines laws immediately relevant to Kashrut, well beyond the treatment of animals. Concerns such as the welfare of the workers who attend to these animals are equally important, and Judaism has a great deal to say about them. Magen Tzedek is gaining momentum, and the Rabbinical Assembly just issued a statement supporting the work of the Rabbis who initiated this excellent project.

I hope that even those who have never considered observing the rules of Kashrut will want to find out more about the ethical imperative behind this mitzvah; if not for God, then for the animals.