LL-L "Etymology" 2003.02.15 (06) [D/E]

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From: Roger Thijs, Euro-Support, Inc. <roger.thijs at euro-support.be>
Subject: Etymology / words korsher & halal

I have some questions about the true etymology of "Kosher" and "Halal"

Kosher has become a common term with a broad meaning, e.g. in a quote in
Dutch ("not kosher" = "reputation is damaged")

-- quote Gazet van Antwerpen Feb 15, 2003:
Hoe _koosjer_ is de dienst Interne Zaken van de Antwerpse politie? In de
stroom van reacties op de vermeende vriendjespolitiek van korpschef Luc
Lamine komt nu ook aan het licht dat hij een niet-onbesproken commissaris op
Interne Zaken heeft gezet. In een leidende positie.
----

In a other quote we have it (with an other orthography) in it's original
meaning:
-- Quote Belgisch Israëlitisch Weekblad, 12 Adar 5763 (Feb 14, 2003):
De Antwerpse gevangenispopulatie telt zo'n veertig nationaliteiten, met ook
andere eetkulturen. Zo is er voor joodse gevangenen een tiental (juist een
minjan n.v.d.r.) -_kosher_ eten voorhanden. De gevangene moet dat vragen aan
de rabbijn. Het is de joodse gemeenschap die via haar sociale dienst het
verzoek al dan niet zal inwilligen en de maaltijden zal betalen. Het
_kosher_ voedsel wordt aangeleverd door een joodse traiteur.'
---

My questions:
- What is the original meaning of "kosher"?
- Does "kosher food" means the very same thing for all jewish groups, or are
there different rulesettings. I incidentally see in the Belgisch
Israëlitisch Weekblad announcements that a certain rabbi declared cookies of
a certain trade-mark are kosher. Are these rule-settings global or just for
the local community?

I have the same questions for _halal_.

-- Quote Het Belang van Limburg Zaterdag 15 feb 2003
BRUSSEL - Chicken Cottage is een Britse fastfoodketen die enkel voedsel op
tafet brengt dat _halal_ is, oftewel voor moslims toegestaan. De keten opent
boinnenkort bij ons zijn eerste vestiging, in Brussel. De fastfoodketen is
het geesteskind van de in Irak geboren Brit Thair Feely. Groot-Brittannië
telt 47 vestigingen en Feely hoopt dat dit aantal volgend jaar zal opgelopen
zijn tot 100. Ook in.Nedertand is Chicken Cottage actief.
---

Are the Turkish and Egyptian kebab-pita restaurants, we have virtually in
all towns nowadays, _halal_ or not?

Thanks and regards,

Roger

-- A Jewish joke. Quote Belgisch Israëlitisch Weekblad, 12 Adar 5763 (Feb
14, 2003):
Op een groot feest waren beiden aanwezig tussen de honderden gasten: de
rabbijn en de pastoor. Er was een koud buffet en ze liepen met een bord in
de hand aan te schuiven langs de tafels waarop de heerlijkste gerechten
stonden.
De rabbijn voorop, gevolgd door de pastoor.
De rabbijn nam hier een stukje, daar een stukje, maar sloeg een plateau met
ham over. De pastoor tikte hem op zijn schouder en zei:
'Rabbijn, wanneer gaat u eigenfijk ham eten?' De rabbijn draaide zich om en
zei met een lach: 'Op uw bruiloft, collega, op uw bruiloft..."

----------

From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Etymology

Roger,

I'll leave the details to people who are more knowledgeable, but to start
with I'll give you concise answers to your questions above.

The term 'kosher' comes from Yiddish _košer_, which comes from Hebrew
_kâšēr_ 'proper', 'fit', 'suitable', 'lawful', and the laws it pertains to
are based on those in the Thora, the Jewish Holy Scriptures, or the various
interpretations of these.  Most people only think of dietary laws in this
connection (not only types of meat and slaughtering of animals but also the
separation of meat and milk, and avoidance of blood), but _kâšrûth_ (the
nominal derivative) covers more than this, definitely the proper choice and
use of all animal products, including the parchment or velum for Thora
scrolls and _m'zuzoth_ (a piece of scripture in a small case that is mounted
on doorposts), and the leather and parchment used for _t'fillim_ (a piece of
scripture in a small box worn on ones forehead during prayer, with attached
leather strips wound around ones non-dominant arm).  Some denominations
extend the concept of _kâšrûth_ to virtually all spheres of conduct and
interpersonal behavior, including "kosher sex."  The opposite of "kosher" is
"treyf," and "treyf" substances or people who handle them are considered
contaminants of "kosher" substances (which is why orthodox Jews cannot eat
food served in non-kosher homes or restaurants, and why they can only buy
foods that have been officially declared kosher).

On a more Lowlandic note, an (originally American?) English set phrase of
note is "to keep kosher" to refer to the following of these laws, usually in
the sense of cooking and eating according to _kâšrûth_ (e.g., "You can't
give this brand chocolates to my mom; she keeps kosher.").

"Halal" (_ħalâl_) is, roughly speaking, the Arabic equivalent of "kosher."
It too has the meanings 'proper', 'fit', 'suitable', 'lawful', and it
primarily refers to ingested matter, or, better to say, matter that should
not be ingested: pork and derivatives, meat from carnivorous animals and
from animals without external ears, meat from animals improperly
slaughtered, blood and derivatives, alcohol and other intoxicants, and any
food or drink deemed contaminated by the above.  These substances prohibited
according to Islamic laws are "haram."

I hope this was a helpful start.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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