Staying in a country where “halal” is written on many foods got me to wondering what the difference is between kosher and halal. While this post is by no means anywhere near a complete list, it might be sufficient for those with just a passing interest.
As far as i can tell, “halal” means things permissable under Islamic law. While referring to dress and all, this word is so deeply attached to food products, that it has come to mean what foods are permissable. There are many schools of thot, but in general to be halal the food must:
1. not have anything to do with swine at all
2. if an animal, be slaughtered while saying the name of “Allah” while killing it
3. have no blood
For food to be kosher it must have:
1. nothing to do with animals prohibited in the Bible (Torah)
2. if an animal, be slaughtered to remove all blood and fat
3. no milk and meat mixed together
The really strict kosher aficionado will try to incorporate all the dietary rules found in the Bible into the diet. This will include of course no sea creatures without fins and other things as found mostly in Leviticus 11. Also, the fruit of the trees will not be eaten until the 3rd year, and eggs with blood will be refused, and grape products may have ot have special inspectors to verify they are kosher, and that no part of that grape was used in idolator’s ceremonies.
Just a short study on this subject makes it look like the Bible laws are the standard for both parties, since the Qu’ran mostly defers to the Bible on this subject, while adding a few irregularities such as making camel meat permissible. Since the Qu’ran itself is silent on many of the points raised in the Bible, the halal definition most people who go by Islamic law for dietary rules are much more lenient in what is permissible, except in the case of swine where they are stricter.
Searching for info for this post reminded of something i’d forgotten – “pareve” means that the product is free from milk and meat – so good for vegetarians 🙂