Dietary Laws
The Jews, unlike the Christians, have dietary laws which they are required to follow. These laws have a central position in Jewish tradition. There are strict regulations in regard to what can and cannot be eaten and how the food is actually prepared. The term which applies to these foods is 'kosher', meaning 'fit'.' Food is forbidden to be consumed is called 'teraifa', meaning 'torn.' According to their beliefs and what is stated, food which is teraifa is considered unhealthy or unclean.

 The Bible is the document which states certain regulations in regard to food. These are ones which the Lord asked Moses and Aaron to convey to the Israelites. The Bible consists of rules which apply to types of animals that live on the earth:

"...of all the animals that live on land, (Jews) may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud." (Leviticus 11:2-3) Animals which only chew cud or have a split hoof, such as the camel, coney, rabbit and pig, are not to be eaten as they are stated to be "unclean."  

"Of all the creatures living in the water (Jews) may eat any that have fins and scales. But anything that does not have fins and scales (Jews) may not eat; for you it is unclean." (Deuteronomy 14:9-10)

"(Jews) may eat any clean bird." (Deuteronomy 14:11) The Bible also states the birds which said to be 'detestable.'

"All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to (Jews). There are, however, some winged creatures that walk on all fours that (Jews) may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground." (Leviticus 11: 20-21)

Jews are also forbidden to eat any blood. "...(Jews) must not eat the blood of any bird or animal. If anyone eats blood, that person must be cut off from his people."

There are also many other rules in Leviticus 11 concerning what to do with carcasses, whether or not a certain animal is acceptable for consuming and methods of cleansing. These were methods which were strongly followed in historical times, however, over the years, people began to question some of the rules. This is why a whole code was created, which is used in the practice of Shehita, to provide answers to these problems. Some of the rules in this code include; that slaughter must be done with a smooth, sharpened knife which does not have a single notch, that the animal must be given the most painless death possible (because of this rule, when killing the animal, the shochet must make a quick forward and backward stroke in the windpipe and gullet which produces the animal to become immediately unconscious), and prayers are to be recited when the throat of the animal was cut and when the blood was covered with ashes. Also, milk and meat cannot be eaten together, so when cooking, separate utensils and dishes are often used.

Not all Jews stick to the dietary laws. Some people do not keep to them at all and think they are irrelevant. Others keep to them, because the Torah commands it. Others only keep to the laws because it has been a family tradition or because it makes them more aware of the Jewish religion. Some people even keep to the laws when at home, but disregard them when on holiday or eating out.