Kosher Miscellaneous

In addition to the basic kosher laws (such as the kosher species of meat and fish, and the separation of meat and dairy), there are several other kosher considerations. Here are some of them:

“Jewish Cooking”

As a rule, cooked or baked foods should be cooked or baked by Jews. Foods cooked or baked by non-Jews are not kosher, even if they contain only kosher ingredients. There are, however, exemptions from this rule:

• As a rule, cooked or baked foods should be cooked or baked by JewsIf a Jew is involved in some way in the cooking or baking.
• Foods that are also eaten raw, or which are not prestigious enough to “grace a king’s table.”
• Commercially baked bread (as opposed to bread baked in a private home) may be exempt under pressing circumstances.

Read more: Baked and Cooked Foods.

Kosher Drinks

Milk:

Kosher milk must be produced under Jewish supervision, to ensure that it contains only milk from kosher animals. Where supervised milk is unavailable, some rabbinic authorities permit government inspection as sufficient assurance that it contains only cow’s milk (though not in all countries). Read more: Dairy Products.

Wine:

Wine is used for kiddush, havdalah and weddings, and was used in Holy Temple worship—but also for idolatrous purposes. For this reason, kosher wine—or port, sherry, grape juice, or any product containing grape juice or wine—must be produced and handled exclusively by Torah-observant Jews, and must bear a kosher seal to ensure that its production complied with these laws.

Cooked wine (known as mevushal), however, is not of sacramental grade, and is not affected by non-Jewish handling. Such wine is usually marked “mevushal” on its label. Read more: Wine and Grape Products.

Tithes

When buying produce in Israel, it’s best to buy from a vendor bearing reliable kosher certificationIn biblical times, the Israeli farmer would separate portions of his produce for various tithes. Today, in the absence of the Holy Temple, some of these tithes are not consumed; rather, they are disposed of in a respectful manner.

As these laws are complex, when buying produce in Israel, it’s best to buy from a vendor bearing reliable kosher certification. Exported Israeli produce is also subject to these laws, so make sure that they bear the seal of a reliable kosher agency.

Another produce-related rule is the biblical injunction against eating the fruit of a tree for the first three years after it is planted, called orlah. Outside of Israel, this prohibition applies only to fruit which one is certain is orlah.