Digest Number 410

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There is no difference between Halal and Kosher.

The idea was to preserve meat as long as possible.

The only methods available were draining the blood, so no organisms stay in the

meat, which would lead to early putrifaction, or to wrap it up in salt, or to "

smoke" the meat, or lastly, preserve it in some very cold underground storage.

Until the introduction of "spices" led to a revolutionary " pickling" of foods.

 

We still use cold storage by a different technique.

 

But, essentially there is no difference between Kosher and Halal.

Not only that, both prescribe the " blessing" of the animal by a Rabbi or a

Muslim priest.

Islam essentially tried to bring back the old Judaic principles of food and

behaviour, which to them were corrupted by the advent of Christianity.

Christianity changed its eating habits, when it went to Europe. 1) There were

wild boars, which were dissimilar to the " pigs" of the middle east--who perhaps

had lot of worm infestation. It also did not follow other food recommendations

of the Kosher food.And it also went away from circumcision of the newborn ( nnot

that Hindus believe in any of these customs either ) But, the point is Islam is

very similar to Biblical Judaism, especially in its eating habits.

 

Durgesh Mankikar, MD