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 Kashrus/ |
 Kosher means 'fit' or 'proper'. In Jewish law we refer to foods which are permitted to be eaten as kosher. These laws are called the laws of kashrus. People who do not actually keep kosher often say how difficult it is. Actually, keeping kosher is not particularly difficult in and of itself; what makes it difficult to keep kosher is the fact that the rest of the world does not do so. Though following the laws of kashrus involves a commitment to a lifestyle change, there are many ways in which the mitzvos in the Torah dealing with kashrus can be fulfilled:
1. The kosher food industry in America has exploded in the last 20 years, this means any grocery store will carry hundreds of products that displays the symbol of a reliable kashrus certifying agency. Anytime you choose one of these products (because it's kosher) over a non-kosher version, you are fulfilling a mitzvah.
2. Since there are many different kashrus laws- everyone constitutes a separate mitzvah; choosing not to eat milk and meat products together, for instance, fulfills a mitzvah separate and unique from the other laws of kashrus.
3. Using a kosher caterer for a Jewish celebration both fulfills the mitzvah of kashrus and brings honor to the occasion you are celebrating.
  "This is the law of the animal, the bird, every living creature that swarms in the water, and for every creature that teems on the ground. To distinguish between the impure and the pure, and between the creature that may be eaten and the creature that may not be eaten."
Leviticus 11:46-47
 Many people are under the misperception that the reasons for laws of kashrus are based on health concerns. This is patently false. There is no basis in classic Jewish scholarship for this notion. Though there are various rabbinic laws, governing many aspects of life, that were enacted for health and safety concerns, kashrus is Torah law and not connected to physical but rather spiritual health. This means that modern health knowledge has no bearing on the need to observe the dietary laws.
Many of the signs that determine the kashrus status of various animals give us additional spiritual insights. For instance of the two signs of kosher land animals, one is external (cloven hooves) and one internal (chewing cud, ruminant); A Jew has to be kosher (righteous) both in outward appearance but also privately, even when no one is looking.
 The laws of Kashrus are multi-faceted; strict adherence to any one of them will garner eternal reward. You could (and should) kasher (make kosher) your kitchen and utensils. An observant Jew is strict to observe the laws of kashrus both in and outside the home.
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