Andy Montoya
Keeping kosher is a Jewish dietary law that prohibits the mixing of meat and milk. This combination is forbidden, and it includes goat cheese and meat. The prohibition was extended to cover all meat and milk combinations, and later, poultry was included as well. Goat milk is kosher, but the milking process must be supervised by a Jew.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Goat meat kosher | No |
| Goat milk kosher | Yes, but the milking process must be supervised by a Jew |
| Goat cheese kosher | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Goat milk is kosher, but the milking process must be supervised by a Jew
According to Jewish law, goat milk is kosher, but the milking process must be supervised by a Jew. This is to ensure that the milk is obtained in a manner that complies with Jewish dietary laws and remains suitable for those who observe these laws.
The Torah prohibits the mixing of meat and milk, and this prohibition has been extended by rabbinical interpretation to cover all meat and milk combinations, including poultry. As a result, kosher individuals cannot consume a beef hamburger with goat cheese, as this would be a combination of meat and dairy.
Goat cheese, when made with pasteurized goat milk, salt, cheese cultures, and vegetarian rennet, is suitable for vegetarians and can be kosher as long as the milking process is supervised. It is important to note that the term "goat cheese" may also refer to cheese made from goat's milk but containing other animal-derived ingredients, such as rennet, which may not be kosher.
The kosher status of goat cheese and meat depends on various factors, including the ingredients used, the production process, and the presence of any rabbinical supervision. It is always advisable to check the ingredients and certifications on food products to ensure they meet the required kosher standards.
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The prohibition on mixing meat and milk extends to all meat and then to poultry
According to Jewish law, it is forbidden to mix meat and dairy. This is based on two verses in the Book of Exodus, which forbid "boiling a (goat) kid in its mother's milk", and a third repetition of this prohibition in Deuteronomy. The prohibition was originally limited to goats, but it was later redefined and expanded to include all meat and then poultry.
The Talmud states that the Biblical prohibition applies only to meat and milk of domesticated kosher mammals, such as cattle, goats, and sheep. However, Rabbi Akiva argued that the prohibition also extended to the meat and milk of wild kosher mammals, such as deer, as well as the meat of kosher poultry, such as chickens. This was done to protect people from accidentally transgressing the prohibition and is commonly referred to as "building a fence around the Torah".
The rabbis of the Talmud gave no reason for the prohibition, but later authorities, such as Maimonides, opined that the law was connected to a prohibition of idolatry in Judaism. Obadiah Sforno and Solomon Luntschitz, rabbinic commentators living in the late Middle Ages, both suggested that the law referred to a specific Canaanite religious practice in which young goats were cooked in their mother's milk to obtain supernatural assistance and increase the yield of their flocks.
The prohibition against deriving benefit from mixing meat and milk is nuanced. Some early modern authorities argued that this restriction only applied to the milk and meat of g'di (young goats), not to the wider range of milks and meats prohibited by the rabbis. However, other prominent medieval rabbis disagreed, believing that the prohibition referred to mixtures of all meats and milks.
As a result of this prohibition, it is forbidden for Jews to feed their children a meat-and-milk combination, such as a beef hamburger with goat cheese. While poultry was not initially included in the prohibition, it has since been added, so a chicken pizza or a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich would also be forbidden under Talmudic standards.
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Soy cheese and real cheese with soy meat are kosher
According to Jewish dietary laws, it is forbidden to derive benefit from combining meat and milk. This prohibition was extended to cover all meat and milk, and then later to include poultry. This means that a kosher person cannot eat a beef hamburger with goat cheese.
However, this prohibition does not apply to vegan cheese, as it is not considered dairy. Therefore, it is permissible to eat vegan cheese with kosher meat, and many kosher-keeping Jews do this. For example, it is acceptable to eat an impossible burger with real dairy cheese.
Soy cheese is also kosher, as long as it has a hechsher, a symbol that indicates that it is dairy. In addition, soy meat is kosher and can be eaten with real cheese.
While vegan cheese and meat can be eaten together, some Jews may choose not to do so in public to avoid the appearance of eating non-kosher food, which is known as marit ayin.
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Goat cheese is kosher
However, goat milk itself is considered kosher in Judaism. The Torah permits the consumption of goat milk, as long as the milking process is supervised by a Jew. This supervision ensures that the milk remains kosher and fit for consumption according to Jewish dietary laws.
Goat cheese, made from goat milk, can be kosher as well. There are kosher goat cheese products available in the market, such as the one found at Whole Foods Market. Their kosher goat cheese log is made from pasteurized goat milk, salt, cheese cultures, and vegetarian rennet, which are all permissible ingredients in kosher diets.
It is important to note that the term "kosher" specifically refers to foods that conform to Jewish dietary laws. These laws outline specific rules for the preparation, combination, and consumption of different types of foods. Therefore, while goat cheese can be kosher, it is important to verify the ingredients and preparation methods to ensure that they adhere to these dietary laws and meet the requirements for kosher certification.
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Human milk is kosher
According to Jewish dietary law, meat and milk or their respective derivatives are not combined. Meat products are those that comprise or contain kosher meat, such as beef, lamb, or venison, kosher poultry such as chicken, goose, duck, or turkey, or derivatives of meat, such as animal gelatin. Dairy products are those that contain milk or any derivatives such as butter or cheese.
Goat meat is considered kosher, and so is goat's milk. However, goat cheese is not kosher because it involves rennet, an enzyme that splits milk into curds and whey, and is often derived from the stomach linings of animals. While recombinant rennet made in microbes has been used since the 1990s, many artisanal cheeses and those made in Europe still use animal rennet. Therefore, goat cheese, which is made from animal-derived rennet, is not kosher.
Human milk, on the other hand, is kosher. It is not included in the prohibition of mixing meat and (animal) milk, and thus falls into the category of "pareve," which means it contains neither meat nor milk. However, it is considered inappropriate to mix human milk with meat to avoid giving the impression of consuming a forbidden combination of milk and meat.
While Jewish Law forbids adults or children over a certain age from drinking directly from the breast, it is permissible to consume expressed human milk from a cup. It is worth noting that some sources suggest that milk from a non-Jewish woman is preferable if she maintains a kosher diet.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, goat meat is kosher as long as it is not mixed with dairy products.
Yes, goat cheese is kosher as long as it is not mixed with meat products. The milking process must be supervised by a Jew.
No, it is forbidden to mix meat and dairy products in Jewish culture.
The prohibition of mixing meat and dairy was redefined to first include all meat and then poultry to protect people from accidentally breaking the rule.
Goat milk is kosher but the milking process must be supervised by a Jew.
