Kashrut: The Battle, The Decision

I consider myself a religious Jew but I don't keep kosher. Now, there is a contradiction that I can no longer live with. I have attempted to keep kosher in the past - more than a few times - but failed each time. I think that I was trying to just jump in all at once (and without much help) which made it difficult to succeed in my goal of becoming kosher. So, I have gone on a search for some simple steps to get me started in the right direction. I came across this the other day and I think it will help me on my path to becoming kosher.

The decision
The author suggests that this is the point where one will commit to experimenting with kashrut or committing oneself to eventually keeping a kosher home. This is a decision that has been long in the making and one that I cannot take lightly. I have experimented with keeping kosher in the past and this time I need to commit to keeping a kosher home.

Getting your big toe wet
The author suggests eliminating non-kosher items from the diet and purchasing on kosher products. Okay, by this stage, I would think this would be fairly simple (except for maybe the meat and seafood). Once I get to this stage, I will need to again talk to the rabbi about how to proceed and make sure that I am following halachah.

Wading in
The author suggests familiarizing yourself with the local kosher butcher, the kosher meat section of the grocery store, and the local kosher bakery and elimiate non-kosher meat and seafood from the diet. We have no local kosher butcher or bakery and only one or two grocery stores that (might) carry kosher meat. Through my shul [synagogue], we can purchase meat from a kosher butcher and have it delivered on a monthly basis to the shul for pickup. This is very expensive though so I am not sure what to do when I get to this stage. I may have to become vegetarian and learn to like (or at least tolerate) many of the foods that I currently dislike. We have no kosher bakery so anything that would come from a bakery would be out. I would need to bake my own items or go without. I only eat permitted seafood and I will need to do research on where to get kosher fish (other than canned tuna).

Letting go
The author suggests stop eating meat and dairy together, begin waiting an hour or two after eating meat to eat dairy, and purchase more kosher items. Okay, this is where it gets sticky for me. I do not eat red meat but I do eat chicken and turkey. Now, according to rabbinic law, fowl is considered meat and I cannot eat a chicken sandwich with a glass of milk. Unfortunately, I do not like enough varied food items to become a vegetarian so I will need to really work on this issue. Once I got this down, I think waiting an hour or two between meat and dairy will not be such a great leap. As far as the kosher items, I would hope that by this point, I will only be purchasing kosher items.

Swim like a fish
The author suggests only buying kosher food, not eating at any non-kosher restaurants, and consider kashering the kitchen. I try to buy only kosher foods but I must admit that there are some foods (especially popcorn) that I buy that are not kosher simply because I like them. However, I do feel a twinge of guilt when I see kosher popcorn on the shelf but I choose the non-kosher item. So, I guess I need to make sure that I begin choosing only kosher items. As far as restaurants go, there is only one kosher restaurant in my area and it is about 25 minutes away so I do not go there. I do sometimes eat pizza or subs from non-kosher restaurants however - but this is becoming rare in my life. When I completely get to this stage, I will need to cut out the non-kosher restaurants. As far as kashering the kitchen, that will be a bit more difficult. I live with non-Jews so I will need to make my own little "kitchenette" by using a new microwave and/or double-wrapping my food to be used in the oven. This is something I will need to talk to my rabbi about because it is a bit more complicated.

Ready to Kasher your home?
The author suggests talking to a rabbi or friends who keep kosher. I will be making plans to speak with some friends who began keeping kosher in adulthood. I think that talking to them will help me learn about the process on a practical and emotional level. After I talk to them, I can go to the rabbi to further discuss the issue and to learn the rules and get a list of what needs to be done in order to make my home kosher.

Emet ve-Emmunah Part I

I finished re-reading Emet ve-Emmunah: Statement of Principles of Conservative Judaism and I thought I would share my own thoughts and beliefs on what was presented in this booklet. Part I will cover the section title "G-d in the World".

G-d
Conservative Judaism affirms a belief in a single, indivisible G-d. G-d permeates every part of our Jewish lives even if we have doubts and uncertainties about Him.

I completely agree that G-d is One - indivisible, which is a major reason why I left Christianity. I never really understood the idea of three-in-one as an explanation for the trinity. G-d does indeed permeate every part of my life (whether I am really conscious of it or not). The more open I am to mitzvot and the more I study the texts, the more G-d permeates my life.

Revelation
Conservative Judaism affirms a belief in revelation - an "external source of truth emanating from G-d [... emphasizing] that although truth are transmitted by humans, they are not a human invention". The single greatest revelation took place at Har Sinai [Mount Sinai] and continues through the prophets and today with the various Codes and Responsa.

Within Conservative Judaism there are varying beliefs about the revelation at Har Sinai. Some believe that the Aseret Hadiberot [Ten Commandments] were transmitted and the remaining portions of the Torah were written latter by various individuals (documentary hypothesis). Others believe that the Torah was written entirely by Moshe [Moses] as it was revealed to him beginning at Har Sinai. Many others fall in between these two ends of the spectrum. Personally, I believe that the entire Torah was written by Moshe and that the Oral Torah (Mishnah) was also given to Moshe.

Halakhah
Halachah [Jewish law] "consists of the norms taught by the Jewish tradition, how one is to live as a Jew." Halachah is understood as G-d's Will for Jews and our way to encounter G-d. It is a means of preserving the Jewish people and our traditions. Since each generation must revisit halachah due to changing issues and mores, Conservative Judaism believes in tradition with change with regards to halachah.

I firmly believe that halachah is completely binding upon all Jews. Halachah was given through Torah (Written and Oral) and was later expounded upon by the great Sages and written down in the Talmud and various Responsa. I agree that each generation has a need to re-visit halachah due to changes in the world (such as automobiles, electricity, genetic research, and cloning) but halachah should never be changed. Reinterpretation of halachah is acceptable and although the Conservative movement places emphasis on backing up decisions with halachah, I think there are some decisions that are anti-halachah (or at least on the verge of being anti-halachah).

The Problem of Evil
Quite simply put, evil is a result of the misuse of the free will given to us from G-d.

I agree with this and I also think that G-d allows evil in the world for His own reasons that mankind will never understand.

Eschatology
Conservative Judaism affirms that there will be a messianic age and mankind, in conjunction with G-d, can help in the process of tikun olam [repair the world]. There is also a belief (by some) in bodily resurection and and eternal soul. Some Conservative Jews believe that there will be a messianic age but not necessarily a Moshiach [Messiah] while other believe in both. Some Conservative Jews believe that the Beit HaMikdash [Holy Temple] will be rebuilt and sacrifices will be re-instituted while others believe in neither of these scenarios or only the rebulding of the Beit HaMikdash. Conservative Judaism preaches a gradual, evolutionary process to bring about the messianic age.

I believe that there will be a messianic age that will be ushered in with the arrival of the Moshiach (as understood by Judaism and not Christianity or Islam) and everyone will be physically resurrected. I believe the Beit Hamikdash will be rebuilt but I am still on the fence about my belief in the sacrifices being brought back into practice. Mankind has a role in this world to help repair the world and bring about this age of peace. I believe in a combination of the revolutionary process and the evolutionary process of bringing about the messianic age. I believe that some changes will necessarily be slow (i.e. aliyah [moving to Israel] and bringing Jews back to halachah) but other changes must be forced (i.e. reclaiming Har Habayit [Temple Mount] and beginning the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash).