THE JEWISH CHRONICLE

11

The Dietary Laws of Judaism

BY

RABBI JUDAH L. LEVIN

4

part of butchers and shochtim, and the privilege to be the chairman, has
The survival of the Hebrew peo- nificance of this step, we must re-
are even more strict in their appli- issued an order that all kosher meat
ple through ages of persecution, member that it was taken thousands
cation to the purchasers and con- shops, for the protection of their
tyranny' and oppression has excited of years ago, long before the danger
patrons, shall carry a sign of ap-
of tuberculosis was known to medi- sumers of kosher meat; The Jew-
the wonder of the world.
proval by the Board, and that all
cine. The further mandates for- ish community of Detroit could al-
This great phenomenon of his-
meats sold by them must bear the
tory has been made possible largely
stamp of the Board's inspection, as
by the rules, both written and tradi-
well as a tag upon which is in-
tional, laid down by our Torah. I
scribed the name of the shochet,
wish to mention some of the most
and the date of killing. The same
striking of these rules, the mandates
rules apply to the meat of fowls.
of our dietary laws. In an age when
Much of the credit for the suc-
all mankind was steeped in gross-
cess of the Rabbinical Board is due
ness, when the pall of darkness
to the untiring efforts of our in-
hung heavily over the universe, Is-
spector, Mr. A. Gordon.
rael was given a pure food law,
I cannot be too fervent or too
which was beyond any similar law
emphatic in my appeal to the Jews
of which any religion at that time
of this city for a greater observ-
was capable. Even now, when our
ance of our dietary laws. It will
improve- his health and benefit his
statutes are overloaded with regu-
lations of diet, it is doubtful wheth-
morals. The so-called "moderns"
er there has been achieved that high
among us, who are wont to deride
degree of hygiene reached by the
our food laws as antiquated, have
Jewish orthodox laws in this re-
entirely failed to grasp the true
spirit and to comprehend the soul of
spect.
Judaism. They are the kind who
This fact has now come to be uni-
smile when they see the conserva-
versally recognized, and all over the
tive Jew turn to Mizrach, the East ;
world scientists are outspoken in
but they fail to see that summed up
their admiration of the Jewish die-
in that little, seemingly trivial form
tary laws. At the convention of the
are all of the 'yearning and the love
American Medical Association now
which the Jew has kept in his breast
being held in this city, attended by
for ages for that land in which his
such eminent physicians and au-
people dwelled in that dim long ago.
thorities as Dr. Mayo, Drs. Warthin
Were
these facts kept in mind, there
RABBI
JUDAH
L.
LEVIN
and Vaughn, of the University of
would
be more real and less make-
Michigan, and Dr. Blue, Surgeon-
believe Judaism."
General of the United States Army,
the regulations of the Jewish reli-
The Emperor of Austria has
gion, concerning food, have come in
conferred the silver clasp to the
for their share of praise ; and more
military medal for merit on Lieu-
than one speaker took as his theme
tenant Baron Eugen von Roths-
the declaration of the Bible upon
child of the regiment of dragoons
this point.
ways boast of a systematic and effi- for bravery on the field. The
At the very beginning of Judaism bidding to the Jew the flesh of rep- dent method of inspection of all baron had already been awarded
there was a law prohibiting the eat- tiles, certain fish, and fowls nand aM- kosher meats. But now, through the bronze clasp.
ing of the flesh of slaughtered ani-, mals manifest a knowledge of geol-
Of the normal total of about.:
the operation of the Rabbinical
mals, unless it were made a peace ogy that remains unattained even Board of Kashruth, our brethren in 2,450,000 Jews in Poland, Lith-
offering upon the altar. This cere- these days. Let the Jew adhere to this city can be absolutely certain uania and Courland, 1,770,000 re-
mony was one of holiness. Later a strict observance of these laws that all precautions have been taken, main, and of this number about
on it was allowed to cat meat and he will be free, both his body and a literal compliance made with 700,000 are in urgent and contin-
through shechitah and the present and mind, of any disease or con- the dietary laws of Judaism. This, uous want. About 455,000 of these
method. That portion of the die- tagion.
Undoubtedly there are difficulties Board, comprising such well known are in Poland, and 50,000 of this .
tary law which requires an exami-
representatives of Orthodox Jews number are persons who are with
nation of the lungs of killed cattle in the way of a rigid fulfillment of as Rabbi Aishushkin and Toumin. out homes and in particularly dis-. ,
prevents contagion from tubercu- these laws, for the rules require the
and of which I have the honor and tressful circumstances,
losis. To fully. appreciate the sig- strictest sort of discipline on the

■

ALBERT E. SLEEPER

For Governor