...a "kosher" tale for you...

Moishe Rabinowitz, in the late 1930s', fled his native land of Germany. He sold all his assets and converted everything to gold; then had 5 sets of solid false teeth made. When he arrived in New York the customs official was perplexed as to why anybody would have 5 sets of gold teeth. So Moishe explained, "We Orthodox Jews have two separate sets of dishes, for meat products and for dairy products. Because I am so kosher and religious I also have two sets of teeth." The customs official shook his head and said, "Well that accounts for two sets of teeth. What about the other three?" Moishe then said "Vell us very religious Orthodox Jews use separate dishes for Passover, but I am so religious I have separate teeth, one for meat and one for dairy food, when we celebrate Passover. The custom official slapped his head and then said, "You must be a very religious man with separate teeth for food and dairy products and likewise for Passover. That accounts for four sets of teeth. What about the fifth set?" "Vell to tell the truth, once in a while I like a ham sandwich."

FYI: Foods that conform to Jewish dietary law are referred to as being kosher... meaning fitting or acceptable. Jewish dietary law has its origins in Biblical law...those foods that conform to Jewish law being accepted as kosher, and those that do not, are not. The kosher certification process covers the ingredients and the equipment in which ingredients are processed. Some foods, like grains, fruits,and vegetables, are naturally kosher, but may lose their "kosher status" during processing, and some ingredients are not kosher to begin with, and can never be made kosher, like pork products and shellfish, to name a couple. Items derived from a non-kosher source are also non-kosher...like pork rinds (yum!) or calcium supplements made from shellfish. Equipment that's been used to process non-kosher food is considered non kosher until or unless it is "kosher sanitized." In Jewish dietary law, all foods fall into one of three categories: meat, dairy, and parve (or neutral). Meat and dairy products are never mixed or eaten together, while parve foods may be used together with either meat or milk products. Parve foods would include fruits, vegetables, eggs, etc. Lesson over. Time for recess.