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Kosher comes from the Hebrew word for “fit” or “proper,” and
it means an item conforms to biblical laws governing the selection
and preparation of foods. For thousands of years, Rabbinic scholars
have interpreted these laws and applied them to contemporary situations.
About a quarter of American Jews keep kosher, most of these are
Orthodox. The standards observed vary from person to person. Some
keep kosher only at home, while others do it all the time.
Today, the majority of people who buy kosher food in America are
not even Jewish. Some groups, like Muslims and Seventh Day Adventists,
eat kosher for religious reasons. Others choose kosher because they
consider it to be healthier.
A product that is kosher usually carries a kashrut certification
on its label. The symbol identifies the rabbi or organization that
certified the product. The biggest kashrut in America is the Orthodox
Union, it uses an “OU” symbol with the U inside the circle.
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