Biblical Eating

HaGesher ~ The Bridge

HaGesher - A Judeo-Christian Bridge Connection

HaGesher - A Judeo-Christian Congregation

Biblical Eating - Kosher

Biblical Eating Explained and Terms Defined

Remember that these guidelines have been given to us for our health and protection. The belief in Yeshua the Messiah does not change our digestive systems. There are plenty of good and healthy foods for us to choose from.

The Biblical guidelines and definitions of what our Creator has sanctified and set apart for us as food are found in Vayikra/Leviticus 11 and D'varim/Deuteronomy 14. Certain items eaten by some have never been called “food” nor “meat” for us to eat, and some things people will eat are called “abominations.”

Avoid all pork and pork products (found in bacon, ham, Canadian bacon, lard, gelatin, Vitamin D3 in milk, and animal rennet and enzymes in cheese). Also avoid shellfish such as shrimp, crab, lobster and fish without fins and scales. All meat must be properly slaughtered (not strangled) and the blood removed before eating (Acts 15:19-21). For more scripture references for why we remove the blood from our meat, click here.

The word “Kosher” means “proper or acceptable.” When this term is applied to foods other than meat, it generally means that there are no expressly forbidden products in the food nor have any touched the food. When it is applied to wine and grape products, Israeli wines produced from Israeli grapes are held to stricter standards. Scripture tells us that grapes are not to be used in the 7th year, not even their aftergrowth is to be used that year. Israeli grapes are held to this standard. Otherwise it means that kosher wine or grape juice produced outside of Israel has had no non-kosher additives and has not been touched by a non-observant Jew and typically has been pasteurized (mevoshel) to ensure this. When the term “kosher” is applied to meat, it generally means that the animal was healthy, slaughtered in a humane manner, and the blood removed.

Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed when you first get started in these things. You’ll get the hang of it pretty soon and it’ll become natural for you. Remember what YHVH tells us in D'Varim/Deuteronomy 30:11-14:

“For this mitzvah which I am giving you today is not too hard for you, it is not beyond your reach. It isn't in the sky, so that you need to ask, ‘Who will go up into the sky for us, bring it to us and make us hear it, so that we can obey it?’ Likewise, it isn't beyond the sea, so that you need to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea for us, bring it to us and make us hear it, so that we can obey it?’ On the contrary, the word is very close to you - in your mouth, even in your heart; therefore, you can do it!” (CJB)

Scriptures:

Let's examine a few scriptures that are used to question Biblical eating standards and oftentimes used to argue that “the law has been done away with”:

1 Timothy 4:1-5 states:

“The Spirit expressly states that in the acharit-hayamim (literally, “the end of the days”, the latter days) some people will apostatize from the faith by paying attention to deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come from the hypocrisy of liars whose own consciences have been burned, as if with a red-hot branding iron. They forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods which God created to be eaten with thanksgiving by those who have come to trust and to know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing received with thanksgiving needs to be rejected, because the word of God and prayer make it holy.” (CJB, emphasis added)

Oftentimes this scripture is used to argue that “everything is now clean for us to eat, we just need to pray over what we intend to eat.” What it is saying is quite to the contrary. Paul is talking about people in the end of days who abstain from foods which are clean and acceptable in Torah.

Let's look closely at this scripture. “Truth” in scripture refers to Torah. So we ask, “Which foods did Elohim (God) create to be eaten with thanksgiving?” Was it everything and anything we see or only specific things he created for our food? The word “holy” is the Hebrew word kadosh, which means “set apart” or “sanctified.” What has been set apart or sanctified by the word of Elohim for us as food? Our answer is found in Vayikra/Leviticus 11 and D'Varim/Deuteronomy 14.

Halakha (Guidelines) for
The Bridge at San Martin Community Meals:

Please do not bring any beef or beef products (such as beef gelatin, beef casings, etc) into community meals. We've been asked about our reasons for not wanting beef on the community table. We chose this standard after the meat from the dairy cow diagnosed positive with Mad Cow disease went through stores in the area during Chanukah 2003. It keeps things simpler.

Please ensure all dairy items used to make foods brought to the community meals are organic only. This includes butter, cheese, milk, buttermilk, sour cream, yogurt, ice cream, etc. Read your labels carefully for any dairy products that might be included in the ingredients (for example, salad dressings, dips, prepared foods and mixes).

Fish, poultry (koshered, free-range or organic preferred), vegetarian (includes fruits, grains & legumes) and organic dairy contributions are all welcome.

If you have questions, please call for more information...(408) 779-8169