ABSTRACT
According to the Jewish tradition, food must be ritually fit (kosher) if it is to be eaten. The Bible declares that laws of kashrut (dietary laws) were given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai: thus Jews are obligated to follow this legislation because of its divine origin. Nonetheless, various reasons have been adduced for observing these prescriptions. Allegedly forbidden foods are unhealthy; that is why they are forbidden. Another justification is that those who refrain from eating particular kinds of food serve God even while eating, and thereby attain an elevated spiritual state.
