What is Kashrut?

Kashrut, also known as kashrus, kosher, or kashrut supervision, is the practice of keeping kosher: that is, of following the laws of kashrut. It is one of the most widely observed Jewish dietary laws. The term “kashrut” is derived from the verb meaning “to separate” used in several books of the Hebrew Bible. The concept of kashrut came about as a result of the Jewish belief in a single God. The Torah commands followers of Judaism to be “separated” from the “unclean” in what has been termed “creative distance” for them to avoid idolatry. Kashrut has been a part of Jewish law since the time of the Torah and is the national standard in Orthodox Judaism.
Kashrut is the Jewish dietary law that governs food, which includes the laws for poultry and mammals. The word Kashrut is derived from the Hebrew word Kashrut meaning “fit or pure”. Kashrut is practiced by Jews, and it is said to be the oldest continuously followed religious dietary law in the world. Many rules in the Torah and Talmud govern how food is to be prepared and consumed. The laws of Kashrut are complex and require rabbinical supervision. The object of the laws is to maintain the sanctity of all living creatures and to prevent the unwitting consumption of that which is prohibited.