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INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM USE RIGHT OR LEFT ARROWS TO GO FORWARD OR BACK

Making Jewish Choices for Living Unit 7, session 2 Using Kashrut as an example Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black Leo Baeck Centre, East Kew Revised for Intro Course 2010/5771. INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM USE RIGHT OR LEFT ARROWS TO GO FORWARD OR BACK. A reminder... Educated Choice.

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INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM USE RIGHT OR LEFT ARROWS TO GO FORWARD OR BACK

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  1. Making Jewish Choices for Living Unit 7, session 2 Using Kashrut as an example Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black Leo Baeck Centre, East Kew Revised for Intro Course 2010/5771 INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISMUSE RIGHT OR LEFT ARROWS TO GO FORWARD OR BACK

  2. A reminder... Educated Choice • Progressive Judaism tends to see Judaism as traditions, customs and guidelines rather than law. Therefore we are not really a 'halahic' movement. • We uniquely encourage and emphasise EDUCATED CHOICE (note ‘For those who choose’ in the prayer book, eg page 10, bottom). • Learn and understand what the traditions are and what they are about – and then decide for yourselves if they help bring God into your life.

  3. An Example - Kashrut • 'Kosher' actually means 'suitable for purpose' (eg a Torah scroll or a Mezuzah should be ‘kosher’). • Most usually today it is used to refer to food. • Is it important? How does what and how we eat affect who we are? Does it link us to other Jews? • Kashrut may be about health, respect and care of animals, keeping separate from others, keeping Temple traditions, hospitality, sustainability; in reality it probably has elements of all of these.

  4. Various aspects to Kashrut • 1) Prohibited and permitted foods • 2) Proper preparation of permitted foods • 3) Problematic combinations of permitted foods

  5. Prohibited and Permitted foods • Seem to be the oldest layer - found in the bible. • 1) It seems the original intention was to be vegetarian (Genesis 1: 29-30)‏ • 2) There is a prohibition of eating blood, which is identified as the life force of a being. The blood should be poured onto the ground (Deut 12:24). • 3) There are lists of prohibited animals, with rules about cloven hoofs and chewing the cud (Lev 11) • 4) There are prohibitions about carrion etc • 5) There are prohibitions about tithed foods

  6. Proper Preparation • These seem to be somewhat later, though some probably have roots in the sacrificial systems described for the Tabernacle in the Torah. • They are about killing the animals in a proper way (probably meant to be the quickest and least painful). This is called 'Sh'hita’ (Hebrew letters ShH T = slaughter). • Vegetables must be carefully washed to avoid any bugs etc. (much more recent/contemporary).

  7. Problematic Combinations • Torah says three times 'You should not seethe a kid in its mothers milk'. • Much later, in 'Mark 2' or 'Rabbinic' Judaism, the Rabbis decided that this had far wider meanings: • They decided it meant any meat and any milk • They decided it meant any kind of 1) cooking, 2) eating, and even 3) benefitting - during the entire meal, and for some hours after (1 hr, 3hrs or 6 hrs) • (They also included chicken etc as a safeguard)

  8. Pots and Pans • Some Jews go to great lengths to keep milk and meat separate, having separate dishes, cutlery, tea towels, dishwashers – even kitchens! • Some also have another milk and a meat set for Pesach (Passover). • If you wish to entertain strictly orthodox Jews, you will need to either do this or provide disposable plates and cutlery. • Many Progressive Jews believe that normal washing of cutlery and crockery is sufficient.

  9. Progressive Rationale • Kashrut is one of the distinctive things about being Jewish. • Strict kashrut allows you to invite anyone over. • Strict vegetarianism is a good alternative. • Shopping, cooking and eating are things we do regularly, so it is good to give them some sanctity • One does not have to do 'all or nothing'. It is perfectly rational to choose to keep some parts, which may seem more meaningful or original. • What you do now may differ from 10 years time.

  10. Eco-Kashrut • Today we live in a time of mass production and factory farming unimagined by our ancestors. • We would certainly wish to extend our concerns into those areas. • Many Jews today find factory farming unacceptable and try to buy only free-range eggs and chickens, and avoid veal, for example. • Some might prefer only local-produced products, in season, to support local farmers and to reduce emissions from transportation.

  11. ‘B’tei A-von’ – Enjoy your meal.

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