Kosher and Halal Are Much More Than Just Words

KOSHER is the Hebrew word for the Hebrew Bible’s many dietary regulations for the Jewish People. Food that complies with these regulations is known as “kosher.” In Genesis 2:16, God gave mankind the produce of “any tree in the garden” for food. But when Noah left the ark God specifically permitted mankind to eat animals. In Genesis 9:3-4, God told Noah: “Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I have given everything to you, as I gave the green plant. But you shall not eat flesh with its blood.”

God’s covenant with the children of Israel changed that for Jews. In Leviticus 11, God gives Moses specific commands regarding which animals are “clean” and which are “unclean.” The “clean” animals were acceptable for eating; the “unclean” were not. Animals with split hooves that chewed the cud (cows, sheep, goats) were “clean”; others, which either had split hooves (like pigs) or chewed the cud (camels, rabbits, etc.) were “unclean.” Insects with jointed legs (locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers) were “clean”; other insects were “unclean.”

Several types of birds were designated “unclean” – for example, eagles, vultures, hawks, ravens, and owls (see Leviticus 11:13-19). Any type of fish with fins and scales was acceptable for eating; anything without fins and scales was unacceptable. So shellfish (shrimp, crabs, lobsters, clams, oysters, etc.) were not permitted (Leviticus 11:9-12).

In Deuteronomy, Moses reviewed God’s commands for the new generation of Israelites. He repeated the designations of acceptable and unacceptable animals (Deuteronomy 14:3-20), but added two more restrictions. They were not to eat anything “which dies of itself,” and they were not to “boil a young goat in its mother’s milk” (Deuteronomy 14:21).

The Jewish rabbis expounded and explained the dietary rules over time, developing what could be regarded as the “general rules of Kosher.” Certain animals may not be eaten at all. Of the animals that may be eaten, birds and mammals must be killed in accordance with Jewish law. All blood must be drained from meat and poultry or broiled out of it before it is eaten. Certain parts of permitted animals may not be eaten.

Fruits and vegetables are permitted but must be inspected for bugs (which cannot be eaten).

Meat (the flesh of birds, and animals) cannot be eaten with dairy. Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains can be eaten with either meat or dairy.

Utensils (pots and pans and other cooking surfaces) that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy, and vice versa. Utensils that have come into contact with non-kosher food may not be used with kosher food. This applies only where the contact occurred while the food was hot.

HALAL is an Arabic word which means permissible or lawful in Islam. In reference to food, it is the Islamic dietary standard, as prescribed in the Shari’ah (Islamic Law). General Qur’anic guidance dictates that all foods are Halal except those that are specifically mentioned as Haram (unlawful or prohibited). The Qur’an states: “O you who believes! Eat of the good things wherewith we have provided you, and render thanks to Allah whom you worship. (chapter II, Verse 172)”

The unlawful foods are specifically mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an, in the following verses: “He has forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and swine flesh, and that on which has been invoked any other name besides Allah’s..” (Chapter II, Verse 173)

“Forbidden unto you (for food) are: carrion and blood and swine flesh, and that on which hath been invoked the name other than Allah, and the strangled, and the dead through beating, and the dead through falling from a height, and that which hath been gored to death, and the devoured of wild beasts, saving that which you make lawful (by slaughter) and which has been immolated to idols, and that you swear by divining arrows. This is an abomination….” (Chapter V, Verse 3)

Unlike Judaism consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants is prohibited according to the following guidance: “O you who believe! intoxicants and games of chance, and idols and divining arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Leave it aside in order that you may succeed.” (Chapter V, Verse 90)

Meat is the most strictly regulated of the food groups. Not only are blood, pork, and the meat of dead animals or those immolated to other than Allah strongly prohibited, it is also required that the Halal animals be slaughtered while pronouncing the name of Allah at the time of slaughter. Jewish Kosher is Kosher for Muslims. “Eat of that over which the name of Allah has been mentioned if you are believers in his revelations” (Chapter VI, Verse 118)

“And eat not of that when Allah’s name has not been mentioned, for lo! It is abomination. The devils do inspire their friends to contend with you. But if you obey them, you will be in truth idolaters” (Chapter VI, Verse 121)

So one of the best reasons for Jews and Muslims to eat together is: “O mankind, we have created you … into [different] nations and tribes that you may come to know one another [respectfully]” (Qur’an Chapter, 4 Verse 13)

And “People, We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should get to know one another. In God’s eyes, the most honored of you are the ones most mindful of Him: God is all knowing, all aware. (Qur’an Chapter 49: Verse 13)

“Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit sin, nor disputes unjustly (during Hajj), then he returns from Hajj as pure and free from sins as on the day on which his mother gave birth to him.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Finally: “Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets; and gives wealth despite love for it to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.” (Quran 2:177)

If all Arabs and Jews can live up to the ideal that ‘the descendants of Abraham’s sons should never make war against each other’ is the will of God; we will help fulfill the 2700 year old vision of Prophet Isaiah: “On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt, and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel  will join a three-party alliance with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing upon the heart. The LORD of Hosts will bless them saying, “Blessed be Egypt My people, Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance.”…(Isaiah 19:23-5)