My family tries to buy as much kosher foods as possible when it comes to our basic foods (bread, cereal, milk etc...) When it comes to meat we don't have a good market to find kosher meat here so we do the best we can and cook it untill there isn't re juice. (As read in other posts ont ehask questions we are trying to figure out if the red juice is blood or something else). Right now we assume it to be blood ands we try to get it out as much as possible. And we don't deal with any shellfish, pork etc.... for the last 5-7 years) If the market gets larger like it seems to be doing than I will purchase the kosher meat when I can. If I have a chance to buy kosher organic that will be the choice above all. Shalom.

jay | January 10, 2008 10:40 AM

I personally believe Hecksherd foods is the safest way to go. Maybe the only way.

Jeremiah | January 10, 2008 10:48 AM

For those of you who cannot purchase kosher products, you may purchase kosher salt and soak your non-kosher meats in salt water. It may take 2-3 times soaking overnight to draw all the blood out. You will be surprised as to amount of blood that is still in meat.

We are able to purchase kosher meats where we live, but the prices on some is more than we can afford, but we buy and use only kosher hamburger. We also try to use organic as much as possible.

Jim and Wilma Moore

Jim & Wilma Moore | January 10, 2008 11:19 AM

I try and buy food that has the least ingredients/additives as possible and it usually ends up being kosher or organic. Coming from an agriculture background, i have family in farming (food and other), dairies (even a sister in law who worked for monsanto (sells chemicals and medicine). We are in ranching. I see so much junk in our food chain but those claiming to be organic or kosher aren't always better. people have a selfish, dishonest tendency especially if money is involved. I think more people are wanting basic, natural food but it is sad that many are really misled and are paying more for something not much better.
What is it about the Kosher people are buying, the blessing, the ingrediants or for meat the preparation? If someone was selling beef hotdogs that had the same ingredients as kosher ones would you buy kosher even if the other was cheaper?
MaRae

**Toby's Response:** One of the biggest myths surrounding any food that is certified kosher is that a rabbi blesses it. This is simply not true. Kosher certification means that a Rabbi has inspected every ingredient in the product and is assured that no non-kosher ingredients are present. As far as kosher meat goes the slaughter method is unlike any other out there. The main concern in kosher slaughter is to get as much blood as possible out of the meat unlike with conventional slaughter.

marae king | January 10, 2008 11:28 AM

Even though kosher meat is hard to find, you can find it from sources online. Empire Kosher ships to most of the United States and their shipping costs are not bad. For a large order of food, it only costs me $15 for shipping. Checkout their website: https://ec.empirekosher.com. The down side - they don't sell beef. But, you can find chicken and turkey.

Finding kosher foods is actually easier than you think! I know Walmart is not high on some people's list of places to shop, but Walmart carries a lot of certified kosher foods.

Amy Dralle | January 10, 2008 2:03 PM

Hi Amy,
Did you survive the tornadoes? Yes, we get most everything from Wal Mart and they are starting to get quite a bit of kosher foods which has made us happy to see. They actually are gettting more and more everytime we go it seems. The meat it where they are lacking the most. I bet it won't be long I just hope they will bring in a good brand.

Jay | January 10, 2008 2:56 PM

Kosher frozen chicken breasts are easy to find in my area. Beef is another story.

Someone once told me that some of the bright red color in hamburger is actually food coloring used to make the meat look more appetizing.

Question on kashering--if I salt the meat can I place it in the refrigerator, or will that retard the process? I don't leave meat out because of the dogs and cat. I once had a dog steal and partially consume a thawing turkey I had sitting in the sink. All the stuffing in the world wasn't going to fix that!

MJ

**Toby's Response:** It all depends on your level of conviction and what you consider kosher meat. For some salting and soaking does not make it kosher, the most crucial point for blood loss is the kosher slaughter itself.

MJ Belko | January 10, 2008 5:16 PM

When I first started eating Kosher, I only made sure that anything I ate didn't have "pork" in it. To me a kosher symbol was nothing more than "legalism." However, as I began to really research it out, I found that there was always a reason why something did not have the kosher symbol. The more I study, the more I find that, in my opinion, eating Rabbinically Kosher IS eating Biblical.....

Michael Murray | January 10, 2008 6:06 PM

We have someone who attends our chavurah who won't eat anything without a heksher (nothing at all!), so I have become a lot more conscious of that. I want for us to share our meals. However, for our family I am far more concerned about processed foods with containing high-fructose corn syrup, soy, MSG, etc. than if they're certified. Our budget mostly excludes certified meats, but I do kosher our meat with salt and soaking.

Anne Mandell | January 10, 2008 7:18 PM

One must not be dismissive of kosher certification.

For meat, a kosher symbol is an absolute necessity.

Kosher meat is slaughtered in an entirely different way from non-kosher meat. Without kosher slaughter, the blood cannot be properly drained even by salting and soaking.

Secondly, can you locate the hip tendon mentioned as prohibited in Genesis 32:32? Let me give you a hint: it's in your hamburger.

Another factor to consider is the method of death, since the Torah specifically prohibits animals that are killed in certain ways. Do you know how your turkey died? It quite possible that it may have died of asphyxiation (such as carbon dioxide stunning).

As for everything other than meat, you might ask, "What non-kosher ingredient could possibly be in _____?"

I recommend you try googling "hidden animal ingredients" for the answer to that question!

Food that is organic or natural is no more kosher than food that is not. In fact, "natural" flavors and colors present more kosher issues than artificial ones, since they can come from unclean animal sources such as insects or seafood.

Even packaging can sometimes make a difference. With food packaging, the machines need to be lubricated with food grade oils. Those oils may very well come from unclean animals. OK, now I admit, I'm getting picky.

However, there are some foods that simply do not require kosher certification, even for strict sects of Orthodox Judaism. For example, kosher certification is not needed for raw, whole chicken eggs. Consumers who buy only kosher certified eggs are no better off than those who do not.

Aaron Eby | January 10, 2008 11:18 PM

Has anyone here ever watched the PETA (no, not "People Eating Tasty Animals".. the other PETA) video about kosher slaughter? I tried to watch it last weekend (but my computer was too slow) after a conversation about whether current mass Rabinically kosher slaughter procedures would really be Biblically kosher given the way the animals appear to be treated. It made me wonder whether becoming vegetarian might be the wisest path... wise, but not too appetizing... in the meantime, I'll try to stick to cooking kosher certified meats (salmon, bison, nitrite-free kosher hotdogs, and organic hechshered chicken.)

--Tami

Tami | January 10, 2008 11:59 PM

What is it about Kosher eggs that isn't any different then non-Kosher?

My husband and I did watch the PETA video. Well, I watched a tiny bit. I've never been around slaughtering, so I'm sure that was part of it, but oh, it was horrible! They did mention that the Kosher slaughtering wasn't as Kosher as it should be, but a video can say a lot, does anyone know for sure? The thing they did mention was that the animals slaughtered in Kosher slaughterhouses come from the same source as those that go to non-Kosher factories. Besides the horrifying example of slaughtering video clips, the living conditions of the animals was what really saddened us. HaShem seemes to care about how the animals we eat lived and died, does that play a part in eating biblically Kosher? For us, it felt important.

We can't afford Kosher meat, nor is it available here. But we try to look for hechsher symbols on other things. Why is gelatin in so many things?!

Janessa | January 11, 2008 9:28 AM

Ok, I totally do not get the whole hip tendon thing. JPS Gen 32:32 "the sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping on his hip." I don't see any prohibition there, but you are the Hebrew expert so maybe it's in the original text?

Clueless in IN

**Toby's Response:** Genesi 32:32 "Therefore, to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because he touched the socket of Jacob's thigh in the sinew of the hip." The way I look at it is that we are either naturally born Israel or grafted in. This seems to be a family rule we should obey.

Connie | January 11, 2008 9:44 AM

OK, in the Hebrew Bible it's Genesis 32:33.

Kosher-certified eggs are exactly the same as eggs that are not. The Orthodox Union has an article on this topic here:

http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/articles/single/just_another_eggsample/

Aaron Eby | January 11, 2008 9:51 AM

Good morning Toby,

This thread is, on some levels, embarrassing. It shows the breadth of the movement’s opinions on matters that are essentially non-issues in greater traditional Judaism. For example, people will use and have used the PETA video mentioned above to justify the eating of non-Kosher meats. If this logic where to carried across the board and applied consistently then those that use this video from PETA as an authority or a justification to eat non-kosher meat would then have to become completely vegan as PETA has similar videos, stories, etc. on every aspect of the animal industry. What the PETA video does not tell you is that they (or their informant) were there for 9 months with 800 cattle being slaughtered a day. The video shows you seven cows from this time period. I think the video is a gross misrepresentation of kosher slaughter that unfortunately tugs on our emotions.

My son Jeremiah has been on several trips to watch the process of slaughter—it is gruesome non-matter how “kind” it is. It is true that, at times the pools of animals are from the same herd and it boils down to the means of slaughter and of course the inspection of the animal prior to slaughter for disease and the slaughtered animals innards are scrupulously inspected after words for diseases as well. Non-kosher meats typically do not go through that level of inspection.

In our office we have instituted some base standards for our kitchen. While many in this post obviously would not agree with these standards, and that certainly is fine, I set these in place for various reasons. I will not go into those reasons at this time but here is a section of my talking points/notes from our staff meeting when these standards where implemented.

**Kashrut Policy Intent**
*High Standards: The issues are broader than the idea of “Biblically Kosher/Clean”
*High Standards: Accommodating a variety of standards and needs
*High Standards: FFOZ needs to lead the way in word and in deed
*High Standards: A matter of personal integrity
*High Standards: Understandable burden—but God does care

The key phrase here is “High Standards.” I believe that we, as believers in Messiah, must maintain the highest of standards in matters of Torah and at the same time not judge others that are not at those standards—that should be our goal. We must have “high personal standards, without condemnation of others” that is the example and standard that was set by our Rabbi. Here are some other points from my notes to the staff.

**Kashrut Policy Expectations**
**Compliance
**Mistake resolution
*Personal foods
**Certified kosher items only
**1% meat = meat / 1% Dairy = Dairy (and at least here may the two never meet)

In opening our door to our kitchen for all to come in and see I am opening myself up for additional scrutiny and in some cases condemnation. But that is my point, if we try to have high standards and be above reproach, leaving little room for guess work or questioning then we have an opportunity to be a greater testimony for the Torah and the Master of the Torah Messiah Yeshua. Let us all work to set the bar high and make up for all of the mistakes and arrogance of previous generations of disciples of the Master.

Boaz Michael | January 11, 2008 9:58 AM

Last Shabbat I did a sermon at Beth Immanuel Sabbath Fellowship on the tension that occurs in Messianic communities when there are different levels of halachah, particularly around kashrut questions. It focuses on Romans 14 and offers some practical advice for getting along with each other. You can give it a listen at www.bethimmanuel.org

D. Thomas Lancaster

D. Thomas Lancaster | January 11, 2008 11:35 AM

For those living here on the west coast in California, Trader Joes caries kosher beef products, including hamburger.

Kevin | January 12, 2008 3:15 PM

Hey Toby,

Good post on a very touchy subject in this movement with little really knowledge of what it is. On the Heels of my father’s post I will give you my thoughts on the matter. I as you know had the opportunity to watch the shachitah of three cows in St. Louis and yes it was disgusting but any slaughter is going to be right? Although it was nothing like the PETA video in fact the head of the plant basically said that it was PETA’S fault because they had banned for the animals to be shackled which lets the blood run very nicely into the ground. (This shackling causes no pain to the animal) and wanted them to be killed standing up which causes them to drop into their own blood and to drowned in it (this as the plant major said was PETA’S fault because they saw the shackling as cruel) the shocket was very strong and yet gentle it was a very clean processes. Secondly the big thing for me in regards to eating only kosher meat is Acts 15 where it uses Strangled and blood as references to food forbidden to Gentiles as unkosher. Strangled at Blood are both reference used in the Mishnah Chullin in reference to unkosher meat.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah | January 12, 2008 9:14 PM

Hi Toby and everyone,
we dont have access immediate to much in the kosher way of foods... we live in the middle of nowhere in north western Victoria, Australia.(there is a kosher butcher in Melbourne... about 5.5hours away) We (as grafted in goy) relive Paul's words to accept what is put before you, and we thank our Father for providing for us. Before cooking we always drain away what is left in the meat (we freeze our meat and then thaw), and we make our own "hamburger" mince by mincing up meat we cut up ourselves from a bulk piece... so fat and sinew is not included. Thats the best we can do for living so far away from anything kosher.
Michelle :-)

Hamish_D | January 12, 2008 10:06 PM

Differences in practice and opinion on this issue exist not only in congregations but also within families. For instance, my husband doesn't see the need to drive 30 minutes to a store that sells kosher beef. For him, kosher simply means that we are permitted to eat that particular animal. Salting the meat was my way of doing the best I could with what I had.

I'm all for maintaining high standards, but with differences in opinion within the Torah community and within Judaism itself, it's sometimes tough to know what is mandatory and what is optional.

MJ

MJ Belko | January 13, 2008 9:39 AM

I am of the opinion that to properly eat Biblically kosher one must eat only rabbinically kosher certified products.

I realized this is true when I read an article about food processing -- for example, even if a store-prepared cake has all clean ingredients, what if the non-stick spray they used on the pan was lard (pork)? (They don't have to list that in their list of ingredients since it's not actually an ingredient.) Obviously, that would render the entire cake unclean.

This can be the case in all food preparation, including canned or boxed foods. And since companies are going to use the least costly greasing material, it will likely always be lard.

In addition, my family buys only kosher VITAMINS, since non-kosher varieties tend to use gelatin (pork). We also buy only certain SOAPS and TOOTHPASTE since many of these are also made with pork ingredients. Our makeup and pastry brushes are also those with plastic bristles (most are boar's hair).

Since we attend an orthodox shul, we've started separating meat and milk, including all utensils.

We did not do this overnight. G-d is patient and kind. Perhaps if He had revealed this to us all at once, it would have been too overwhelming? It really is not all that difficult.

Sefardita | January 13, 2008 10:15 AM

One more thing...

Just because something is kosher, doesn't make it "better" to eat. In your kosher section of the supermarket, most foods are processed, boxed foods that are chock full of salt. I mean extremely high levels of salt and fat. That is very unhealthy. Better to make one's meal fresh of kosher ingredients.

Sefardita | January 13, 2008 10:23 AM

It seems after HaShem's instructions on the construction of the Mishkan, the preparations of the Cohanim, the way to provide the various offerings, etc., He begins to deal with the day to day life of the fledgling nation. In parsha Shemini, Lev.ch.11, the first thing addressed is eating. Since this is what we do every day it needed to be ordered first.

Because of today's law of supply and demand, much is done in the pursuit of profit without the care of the consumer. This is where the OU, CircleK, and etc. come in.

I believe we are held to a higher standard as Boaz and Aaron mentioned.
The bottom line is, the kashrut laws are of a spiritual nature as well as a physical nature. It's one of those mitzvot that is not completely understood, it is just done. This is certainly another element of completely sanctifying our lives to our Father in Heaven, Blessed be His Name...

One step at a time!

michael k | January 13, 2008 12:23 PM

It is a mitzvah and I do feel good about going out of my way to find teh kosher symbols. What I like (even though I feel uncomfortable when it happens) is when me a my kids are standing in the checkout line with people all around and they pick up some cool looking candy and instead of saying "Hey dad, can we have this?" they say, "Hey dad, you think this is kosher?" In which case I often reply, "Probably not." and they put it back down, no questions asked. When the time comes that all candy at the check out is (K) then I may have some problems. ;)

jay | January 13, 2008 1:30 PM

There are a few things that I have come to count on:

1. I will still need to salt kosher my meat, even with OU. There is often more blood in the kosher meat than in the regular.

2. If an animal that is slaughtered is found to contain a tumour, the animal will have the cancner removed, and the rest of the carcas goes to "non-kosher" use. There certification tells me that, as far as meat goes, it is cancer free.

3. In other items, including meat, it tells me that the coloring sources and flavoring sources are kosher as well. You would be amazed at what the food industry considers "Natural flavorings" or "Natural color"... Ever wonder where caramel coloring comes from? You probably don't, as rule, want to know...

If anyone wants to understand the logic behind some of the kosher decisions, try reading the article:

http://www.kashrut.com/articles/turkey/

There is great insight there - especially when establishing your own minhag for animals that are not listed as clean or unclean that are not native to the land of Israel.

Netzar ben Yacov | January 13, 2008 2:29 PM

Regarding kosher meat, I have come to believe that the kosher method of slaughter is indeed the closest to God's intent and design for us than any other method of slaughter, both biblically and health-wise.

That said, however, there is a tension that I rarely see addressed, and that is God's design for animals during their lifetime. Exodus 20:10 (and others), make it clear that treating animals humanely during their lives is as important as how they are to die.

To the best of my understanding, animals subject to kosher slaughter are the same animals that are sent to non-kosher processing plants. From before they are born, and for their entire lives, they are subject to incredible amounts of very toxic, very non-biblical substances, rather than the mostly vegetarian diets they are designed to ingest. The pesticides, growth hormones, preventative antibiotics, and road-kill diets are truly forms of cruelty, as are the living conditions that most are raised in.

So here's my question: can we really focus only on the end of the animal's life and ignore how is was treated, raised and fed when addressing this issue? Personally, I'm uncomfortable doing that, both biblically and health-wise.

One solution, albeit expensive and even more hard to find, is organic kosher meat. Visit www.wiseorganicpastures.com to find a retailer in your area.

Hope | January 13, 2008 8:30 PM

This issue is one that our congregation is currently addressing. From our research we have found many reasons to consume only kosher food items. Like some others, we live in a state where there is not one single kosher meat market, deli or supermarket. While admittedly this presents some difficulties, obtaining kosher products is not impossible. Most major food stores sell kosher tuna, salmon, talapia, fish sticks and hot dogs. We have also found that there are kosher markets online where you can order meats and other products and have them shipped frozen to your door in just a day or two. Many of these markets work with you in organizing a co-op for your community to help lower overall costs and shipping. Just do a google search for kosher meats and you'll have several places from which to choose. For some in our congregation, eating more fish, vegetable and legume dishes coupled with saving the more expensive koshered meats for one or two special meals throughout the week, has really made the decision to eat only kosher products a healthier and more affordable choice. So be encouraged that if this is a standard you are striving toward, Hashem will make a way!

Sarah C | January 13, 2008 8:43 PM

I see buying kosher as sort of a left-handed way of giving charity to the Jewish community.

I think it was Maimonides who suggested that the best form of charity was to support a man's livelihood by doing business with him, though you may not need to.

Steve Petersen | January 13, 2008 11:32 PM

There used to be an orthodox rabbi here in Little Rock who was a trained shochet. He was a warm and gracious man. He went to one friend's (Jewish) house and did a shechitah on a cow. He also went to another friend's (non-Jewish) house and showed him how to kosher-kill his chickens. He has since relocated to the NW (OR or WA)... a sad loss.

Anyone know of a "traveling shochet" who might do a similar mitzvah? Our congregation is trying to figure out the most-economic way to obtain kosher meat (esp. beef). We've done a small 3-family order, but the shipping was high. There are places online with cheaper shipping, but you have to have make a large order.

Our latest idea we just came up with this last Shabbat was to make a trip to Dallas every few months and take coolers and stock-up. Which doesn't sound so bad because we could go and visit a couple of congregations there we know and spend the weekend...

B"H, HE will make a way!

sabrina | January 14, 2008 1:19 AM

I really applaud all of you who have made a commitment to eat only Kosher meat even when it's not readily available. It's very encouraging to see that kind of willingness to do what is right even in the face of inconvenience.

Rachel E. | January 14, 2008 12:48 PM

Right on Rachel.

Jeremiah | January 14, 2008 5:24 PM

I've been very interested to read all the above comments on Kosher versus non Kosher.
I am a gentile follower of Yeshua and interested in all things Jewish and especially of Messianic Judaism.
My question is this; what does the New Covenant teach us about food suitability? What was God saying to Peter through his dream in Acts 10? Was He not using the vision of unclean food to indicate that Gentile believers are to be considered clean? Can we not consider that God's words to Peter in Acts 10 verse 15 "That which God hath cleansed, do not thou call unclean." could be related to food as well as gentile believers?
I would be interested to hear your comments.

**Toby's Response:** At first fruits of Zion we do not see the dietary laws of the Torah as being done away with by passages such as Acts 10. Acts 15 actually strengthens the case for kosher meat by forbidden Gentiles to each blood or things strangled which was most likely an idiom for kosher slaughter. If you have further questions, send an e-mail to me at toby @ ffoz.org and I can get you some materials that might help answer your questions.

Margaret Simpson | January 15, 2008 7:35 AM

Hello over there!

I think that all people shall take a look in the torah there God will help us and guided us ex God would never have a pig to a sacrifice he only asked people to take clean animals so he could sniff on it like a burning incense wich he would delight.I will take a bible text from Genesis 1:29 God said Here!Throughout the whole earth i am giving you as food every seedbearing plant and every tree with seed bearing fruit.And to every wild animal,bird in the air and and creature crawling on the earth in which there is an living soul,i am giving you as food every kind
of green plant.And that is how it was.God saw and it was good.

Fredrik Hjärtkvist | January 16, 2008 11:52 AM

Shalom. We went pseudo-Kosher 12 yrs. ago. We rigidy stick to the "diet" and buy all the Kosher products we can. We don't have access to Kosher meats, but we shun pork, shell fish, non Kosher fish and any other meats not on the diet. We are both Diabetics, and have not had any colds or flu since we switched. Is Kosher better ? YES! Besides, we were told NOT to eat these other foods for a reason. Obedience is better than sacrifice. It can be difficult in the beginning, you have to really read labels. You'd be surprised how many food's have pork products in them. The promoting of pork and it's addition to almost ALL fast foods these days verifies that the end times are near, we think. It's a spiritual thing. IMHO Josie

Josie Norman | January 22, 2008 3:14 PM

Toby, is the separation of meat and dairy in the Bible ?
Or is it Rabbinical ? sp? Josie

**Toby's Comments:** All depends who you ask. My personal opinion is that there is some merit to not eating red meat with dairy. I think the Master did not eat the two together.

Josie | January 22, 2008 3:52 PM

I forgot. We also don't eat mushrooms because they are a fungus. What think ye all ? Josie

**Toby's Comments:** At FFOZ we have no problem eating mushrooms. There is not command against it.

Josie | January 22, 2008 4:24 PM

I posted this comment in the Back of the Bus Blog, but feel it applies here also.

I am new to the Messianic movement and have spent some time reading the blogs, this one and the Bus blog.
Reading these blogs makes me want to run back to my old understandings...I mean no harm when I say that I get the feeling from reading some comments that the writers of them really hold themselves in high esteem! It seems to me that the closer you are to Orthodoxy/Ultra, the more legit you are?!
I thought I understood from Yeshua that we are to be aware of the levin of the Pharisees....I read in the blogs that if we are grafted in, then we should act like the Jewish people do. My question is what Jewish people...the conservative Jews, the Reformed Jews, the Orthodox etc.....
I personally know people from each group and they will all tell you something different regarding the above topic and kosher topics. I am confused...and frankly afraid of getting deeper into this way of life if it means falling under the "watchful" eye of the community or hints of piety in the discussions. Who's traditions, yoke am I to take on?????
I do hope new believers are very careful as to what they read...because I understand how easy it could be to just turn back...or turn away from messiah to feel more legit!

**Toby's Comments:** This certainly takes balance and carefulness. The Master tells us to do what the Pharisees say and not what they do. the problem/ (leaven) he had with some Pharisees was not their teachings but was their hypocrisy. For me it is not about feeling more legit but doing things as Messiah would. He was very traditional.

JamieLynn | January 22, 2008 11:02 PM

I have been too trying to live Kosher. I have been trying for six months. .

But I have a new worry. I don't know where to get Kosher meat and even if I salt them. what do I do about the new cloned animals that FDA is allowing and is not labeling. I feel this is truly non kosher.

Any suggestions.

**Toby's Comments:** As far as I know, kosher slaughters will not allow cloned animals. Read some of the comments above for suggestions on where to get kosher meat. Sometimes, my family and i just have to go without meat in certain situations.

Iline Morrison | January 23, 2008 9:35 AM

If you buy organic, it will not be cloned.

My real question is: Why is there no whole wheat unleavened bread?! We don't eat white flour but all the matzah is processed so it keeps longer, I suppose.

A farmer in our area told a story that a jewish family bought one of his cows and came to butcher it themselves. He said they went out to the field and slit its throat and it continued to graze like nothing had happened while the blood drained, then it fell over. Isn't that strange? That is certainly not like the modern butchering methods at the other cattle farms around.

Don't listen to PETA anyway. Knowing where your food comes from is the best way to ensure its safety and standards.

Happy eating,
A.S.
Virginia

**Toby's Response:** I have begun seeing organic whole wheat matzah the last couple of years. If you don't see perhaps ask the grocer to order it.

Alicia | January 25, 2008 4:19 PM

Kosher is definitely better. Mind, body and spirit. When we first started to go by the dietary commends and guidelines, it took an enormous amount of self discipline not to "drive thru" anymore. There are many things that are acceptable at fast food places but I didn't even want to eat where the non-kosher foods was prepared. Now I have relaxed a little as I have figured out what and where I can procure. The best items may be right at the local grocery and all my 20 years of practice in food coops were just invaluable. Organic does not always mean healthy same as kosher doesn't always mean healthy. So each family will need to continually work on and read up on finding the best combinations, especially if there are young children in the home. My teenagers love discerning foods. We are label readers and it is good practice on how to respond when you find there is a questionable item in someones possession:)

Audrey | February 5, 2008 9:27 PM

To be honest, I believe that meat that is only marked 'kosher' isn't the ideal. It should also be organic. If you only knew what cattle are fed and how they are raised. Modern meat production is usually a cruel practice. What the cattle are feed is outrageous. It is sinful! I try to only buy organic chicken and turkey products. In our home we don't eat a lot of meat. I did make my own pet food for about a year, using chicken that wasn't organic after one of my cats was poisoned by eating commercial dry cat food. Occassionally I will buy kosher beef products for our family because I know my husband craves beef and I want to please him. I have used kosher salting in the past but it was too time consuming.

Pat McAllister | February 6, 2008 7:44 AM

What are poor people supposed to do? If its not purchasable on food stamps, and cheap, I simply cannot afford to have it. Plus, my spouse is not a believer and get huge amounts of non kosher meats for free from the food bank he works for. Any suggestions?

***FFOZ's Response:*** I can completely understand your situation. I would suggest you do the best you can with what you have been given. If that means you can't buy kosher certified food, then that is the way it has to be for you right now. Feel free to send a feedback e-mail if you have more questions: feedback@ffoz.org

Joy | August 19, 2011 8:34 PM