Dietary prohibitions - Judaism - mixing of meat and dairy | alimentarium (2024)

The Jewish dietary laws outlined in the Torah have been subject to numerous interpretations. The consumption of blood and of the sciatic nerve, and also the mixing of dairy and meat products are explicitly forbidden. Their symbolic meaning is important and requires rigorous implementation.

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Dietary prohibitions - Judaism - mixing of meat and dairy | alimentarium (1)

© Shutterstock - ChameleonsEye -The making of unleavened bread by Orthodox Jews follows strict rules that prevent the dough fermenting, Israel, 2011

Dietary prohibitions

Practising Jews consider respecting kashrut and its food restrictions as fundamental. Kashrut is the body of Jewish dietary laws and customs stipulating the products that are either permitted or forbidden to be eaten and the manner in which they must be prepared.

Animals which can be consumed must be slaughtered in accordance with precise rules, called shehita. It is forbidden to consume the sciatic nerve or blood, which is equated with the principle of life.

Another dietary rule, cited three times in the Torah, concerns the separation of meat and dairy produce: “You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.” (Exodus 23:19 and 34:26 and Deuteronomy 14:21) While this prohibition is interpreted in many different ways, it seems to be the one which the majority of Jews obey the most.

Prohibition on mixing dairy products with meat

In Jewish tradition, the prohibition on mixing dairy and meat products has been interpreted in several different ways. Some see it as an implementation of the same principle of separating animals authorised for consumption from those that are forbidden. Others associate it with the general prohibition on certain mixtures set out in the Torah, such as that of coupling animals from different species. Yet others see it as symbolic: the refusal to mix life (milk) and death (meat).

Several rules must therefore be followed to respect the prohibition on cooking and consuming meat products with dairy products. Traditionally, this separation begins in the kitchen as, in the refrigerator, these products must not come into contact with one other. Similarly, different cooking utensils and dishes are used and are washed and stored separately.

For practising Jews, respecting the laws of kashrut and its restrictions makes eating outside the home complicated. This means, for example, choosing restaurants under rabbinical supervision. However, kashrut laws which have structured the Jewish diet have also been adapted to the culinary traditions of host countries and countries of residence, borrowing their ingredients and their recipes.

Time between milk and meat

A certain amount of time must be left after consuming a meat dish before eating a dairy product, so that the meat and milk are not mixed in the stomach. The waiting time however is shorter if a meat product is eaten after a dairy product.

ASSOULY, Olivier, 2002. Les nourritures divines. Essai sur les interdits alimentaires. Paris: Actes Sud.

GUGENHEIM, Ernest. 1992. Le judaïsme dans la vie quotidienne. Albin Michel.

DOUGLAS, Mary, 2004 (trad.) [1999]. L’anthropologue et la Bible. Lecture du Lévitique. Bayard.

FISZON, Bruno, 2008. Les lois alimentaires juives: le cacherout. Bulletin de l’Académie Vétérinaire de France [en ligne]. 2008. Tome 161, n°4. [Consulté le 25 novembre 2015]. Disponible à l’adresse: http://bit.ly

MARTENS, Francis, 1977. Diététhique ou la cuisine de Dieu. Communications, L'objet du droit. N°26. 1977. pp. 16-45.

doi : 10.3406/comm.1977.1392

NIZARD, Sophie, 2006. «Tu ne cuiras pas le chevreau dans le lait de sa mère» [en ligne]. [Consulté le 15 décembre 2015]. Disponible à l’adresse: http://www.lemangeur-ocha.com

VIALLES, Noëlie, 1998. Toute chair n’est pas viande. Études rurales. 1998. N° 147-148. pp. 139-149.

Cacherout. Wikipédia, l'encyclopédie libre.[Consulté le 10 décembre 2015]. Disponible à l’adresse: https://fr.wikipedia.org

Dietary prohibitions - Judaism - mixing of meat and dairy | alimentarium (2024)

FAQs

Dietary prohibitions - Judaism - mixing of meat and dairy | alimentarium? ›

The Jewish prohibition against eating dairy and meat together is based on a rule stated 3 times in the Torah: “You shall not cook a kid (baby goat) in its mother's milk.” No reason is given. It's enough that G-d commanded it.

What does the Torah say about mixing meat and dairy? ›

Another dietary rule, cited three times in the Torah, concerns the separation of meat and dairy produce: “You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk.” (Exodus 23:19 and 34:26 and Deuteronomy 14:21) While this prohibition is interpreted in many different ways, it seems to be the one which the majority of Jews obey ...

Why are Jews not allowed to mix milk and meat? ›

One of the important aspects of observing kosher is keeping milk and meat properly separated. This prohibition is derived from the verse, "Do not cook a kid in its mother's milk." This verse appears in the Torah three times, twice in Exodus (23:19 and 34:26) and once in Deuteronomy (14:21).

How many biblical prohibitions are associated with mixing dairy and meat? ›

Three distinct laws

not cooking meat and milk together (regardless of whether the result was eaten) not eating milk and meat together (regardless of whether it was cooked together) not benefiting from the mixture in any other way.

How long do Jews have to wait between eating meat and dairy? ›

In Yoreh Deah 89:1, Rabbi Yosef Karo— whose authority is binding on most Sephardic Jews— states in no uncertain terms that one must wait six hours after consuming meat before eating dairy.

What Scripture says do not mix milk and meat? ›

But you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk' (Deuteronomy 14:21). So these Bible Scriptures don't blatantly say we are never to mix meat and dairy.

Can Jews eat fish and dairy at the same time? ›

6. Harav Ovadia Yosef zt”l discusses this issue at length and concludes that, “One should refrain from eating fish and milk or cheese due to the potential danger involved. However, those that are lenient to eat fish and butter together are permitted to continue in their approach.

What are the dietary restrictions for Jews? ›

Some Specifics: Kashrut prescribes that a large number of animals are not to be eaten. Any animal who has cloven hooves and chews its cud may be eaten; such animals as the camel, badger, hare and the pig then may not be eaten. Sheep, cattle, goats and deer are all kosher and may be eaten.

Can Jews eat cheeseburgers? ›

Eating what looks like a standard beef burger with dairy cheese would clearly appear to be a prohibited action. Another consideration is a prohibition against performing actions that could accidentally lead someone to doing something forbidden out of habit.

What foods are forbidden in Leviticus 11? ›

And since you are to detest them, you must not eat their meat and you must detest their carcasses. Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you. the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat. "`All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you.

Is butter considered a milk product? ›

Butter is made from milk, making it a dairy product. However, butter contains little to no lactose (. 003 g lactose per teaspoon) so it can usually be consumed by those who are lactose intolerant.

Can we drink milk after eating lamb? ›

We definitely can drink milk after having meat. Not a big deal unless you're lactose intolerant.

Why do Jews eat dairy? ›

Some derive the practice directly from scripture, saying we eat dairy to symbolize the “land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8) promised to the Israelites, or that “milk and honey are under your tongue” (Song of Songs 4:11).

Is it Haram to mix meat and dairy? ›

Halal diets, on the other hand, do not have any rules or regulations regarding food combinations. On a kosher diet, foods classified as meat cannot be served at the same meal as foods classified as dairy. Halal diets don't have any rules regarding food pairings.

Why should we not eat meat and milk together? ›

02/4​Why should you not combine milk and meat? Drinking milk after eating meat or combining the two can trigger several issues like gas, bloating, discomfort, stomach ache, nausea, acid reflux, heartburn, ulcers to name a few.

What foods Cannot be eaten together in Judaism? ›

Kashrut—Jewish dietary laws

Certain foods, notably pork, shellfish and almost all insects are forbidden; meat and dairy cannot be eaten together in one dish and a certain period of time must elapse before dairy food can be eaten following a meat dish.

How long between milk and meat chabad? ›

After eating meat foods, we wait six full hours before eating any dairy. The six-hour waiting period is standard for all Jews, except those groups which have halachically established other customs.

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