Dietary Laws and Festivals

Jewish Dietary Laws: Kashrut

The system of Jewish dietary laws is called kashrut (from the root kasher — fit or proper). Food that meets these requirements is described as kosher; food that does not is trefah (or treif). The laws of kashrut originate in the Torah, particularly in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, where permitted and forbidden animals are listed.

Among land animals, only those that both chew the cud and have split hooves may be eaten — so beef and lamb are kosher, while pork is not. Among fish, only those with fins and scales are permitted — so most common fish are kosher, while shellfish are not. Permitted animals must be slaughtered in a specific way by a trained slaughterer (shochet) using a method called shechita, which minimises animal suffering. Blood must be drained from the meat before it is eaten, because Jewish teaching holds that “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11).

Separating Milk and Meat

One of the most distinctive elements of kashrut is the complete separation of milk and meat. This is derived from the Torah verse, “Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk” (Exodus 23:19), which the rabbinic tradition extended to a full prohibition on any mixing of milk and meat products. Observant households maintain separate sets of pots, plates, cutlery and kitchen surfaces — one for meat meals and one for dairy meals. A waiting period (typically six hours in Ashkenazi communities) must pass between eating meat and dairy.

This requires careful planning and significant organisation of the kitchen. For observant Jewish families in Britain, finding kosher food outside the home — in restaurants, school canteens or at social events — can be a challenge. Many rely on products bearing a kosher certification mark (a hechsher) from an approved rabbinical authority, such as the KLBD (Kosher London Beth Din). Large supermarkets in cities with significant Jewish populations typically stock a kosher section.

Orthodox Judaism observes the full requirements of kashrut strictly, including separation of milk and meat, kosher slaughter, and the avoidance of all non-kosher animals and their products. Kashrut is understood as a divine mitzvah binding on all Jews regardless of their personal understanding of its reason.

Reform Judaism approaches kashrut with greater personal autonomy. Reform communities teach the value and meaning of kashrut — its connection to Jewish identity, the care it encourages in eating, and the discipline it builds — but many Reform Jews choose how much of kashrut to observe based on personal conviction rather than strict halakhic requirement. Some observe full kashrut; others keep a partial form (e.g. avoiding pork and shellfish) or none at all.

Liberal Judaism similarly emphasises personal decision and intention over strict legal obligation. The Board of Deputies of British Jews, which represents a wide range of British Jewish communities, includes communities across all these positions. This diversity of practice is real and important — when the exam asks about “different Jewish views,” the distinction between Orthodox, Reform and Liberal practice on kashrut is precisely what is expected.

Key Fact

Three rules of kashrut: (1) Permitted animals only (chew cud + split hooves for land animals; fins + scales for fish) — Leviticus 11. (2) Kosher slaughter (shechita) minimising suffering — draining of blood because “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). (3) Separation of milk and meat — Exodus 23:19 (“Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk”).

Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year

Rosh Hashanah — the Jewish New Year — falls in early autumn (the Hebrew month of Tishrei) and marks the anniversary of the creation of the world. It is a time of deep reflection and repentance. A central feature of the Rosh Hashanah service is the sounding of the shofar — the ram’s horn trumpet. Its sound is a call to spiritual awakening, urging worshippers to examine their deeds and return to God.

Jewish teaching holds that on Rosh Hashanah, God opens the Book of Life and reviews the deeds of every person. The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are known as the “Ten Days of Awe” (Yamim Nora’im) — a period of intense prayer, repentance and acts of tzedakah. It is traditional to eat apple dipped in honey at Rosh Hashanah, symbolising the hope for a sweet new year.

Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah and is marked by a full 25-hour fast from sunset to nightfall. All food and drink is prohibited; Jewish teaching holds that the body’s physical needs are set aside so that the soul can focus entirely on repentance and God. The synagogue service on Yom Kippur is the longest of the year; many Jews who attend synagogue only rarely will attend on Yom Kippur.

The central theme of Yom Kippur is teshuvah — repentance and return to God. The community confesses its sins collectively using a formula called the Vidui (confession), striking the chest gently as each sin is named. Jewish teaching holds that Yom Kippur can atone for sins between humans and God, but that sins between people must first be addressed by seeking forgiveness from those harmed. The day closes with a final blast of the shofar and the joyful shout: “Next year in Jerusalem!”

Pesach: Passover

Pesach (Passover) commemorates the most defining event in Jewish history: the Exodus from Egypt, when God freed the Israelites from slavery under Pharaoh. The story is told in the book of Exodus; the festival is commanded in Exodus 12. During Pesach, no leavened bread (chametz) may be eaten — instead, matzah (unleavened flatbread) is eaten, recalling the bread baked in haste by the Israelites as they fled Egypt.

The central observance of Pesach is the Seder meal — a family gathering on the first nights of Pesach during which the Haggadah (the story of the Exodus) is read aloud, symbolic foods are eaten, and four cups of wine are drunk. Each element of the Seder plate has symbolic meaning: bitter herbs (maror) recall the bitterness of slavery; charoset (a paste of apple, nuts and wine) represents the mortar used by slaves. The Seder is one of the most widely observed Jewish practices, celebrated even by many Jews who are not otherwise observant.

Across British Jewish communities — Orthodox, Reform and Liberal — Pesach is one of the most universally celebrated festivals. Families clean their homes thoroughly beforehand to remove all chametz; supermarkets stock Passover food sections for weeks in advance. In large Jewish communities such as those in north-west London and Manchester, communal Seders are organised by synagogues for people who would otherwise be alone. The Seder’s injunction — “in every generation, each person must regard themselves as if they personally came out of Egypt” — makes the festival a living re-enactment of liberation rather than a historical commemoration.