Walter-esque thread: do you know what "kosher" means?

[Keystone Phil]

I figured this is a perfect time to jump on the Walter-esque thread train and here's a double whammy: the question is about something related to him!

The rundown: Walter said he didn't know what kosher meant. I sarcastically said that he was very enlightened. A friend (for lack of a better term) of his snapped back that Walter didn't have to know what kosher meant, saying that Jews (unlike others) don't care and don't claim persecution if people don't know every detail about their faith...which was totally unrelated to my point.

Anyway, just figured I'd test to see how many people around here have more than three brain cells/know what "kosher" means.

[Torie]

I do, but then I have lived and worked with, and have had, many Jewish friends, all my life, and still do. Those with an intellectual bent, tend to hang together, not to mention the demographics of my guild. So I would suggest that maybe you are not being as charitable as you might as to what a chap from Mississippi might know. You live amongst Jews yourself Phil. Not everyone does, or has the interest in such stuff, that you and I might have.

[Keystone Phil]

I do, but then I have lived and worked with, and have had, many Jewish friends, all my life, and still do. Those with an intellectual bent, tend to hang together, not to mention the demographics of my guild. So I would suggest that maybe you are not being as charitable as you might as to what a chap from Mississippi might know. You live amongst Jews yourself Phil. Not everyone does, or has the interest in such stuff, that you and I might have.

Ah but that's where this gets interesting: Ray likes to lecture others on being enlightened and living in a progressive place! Shouldn't he now know what this word means?

According to him and his friend, no, because he doesn't choose to learn about Judaism. Which is fine but still strange to not know what the word means especially when one holds himself up as an enlightened being. The irony is that this stems from a topic in which Walter blasted a Christian for not being too knowledgeable.

I mean, using his logic, some stereotypical southern Christian would be justified in not knowing what kosher means because he or she doesn't care to learn about Judaism. For some reason, I think the reaction would be a bit different.

[WalterMitty]

i thought it had to do with pickles?

but phil, here is a link for you.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hyperbole

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Not a Walter-esque thread seeing as you use punctuation and capitalization.

[7,052,770]

Assuming it's not a trick question, "kosher" foods are what Jews are allowed to eat.  Pork isn't kosher, so devout Jews don't eat it.  It's pretty inexcusable not to know at least that much.

[Keystone Phil]

Thank you, Harry. But I guess we just don't get it because Walter "doesn't need to know about Judaism."

[King]

Kosher also seems to be gaining a new 2nd definition in the organic health yuppy food age as a codeword for natural old world goodness.

[bgwah]

Yes, particularly the cruel slaughter methods.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Yes... I've known what it meant since third grade.

[morgieb]

Yes (have a brain)

[Gustaf]

I'll admit to not know all the details of what counts as kosher - I mean, everyone knows pork isn't but when it comes to what pans can be used for what and what type of fins are ok I tend to forget.

Still voted yes for the purpose of the poll though.

[opebo]

Means Jew.

[Keystone Phil]

I'll admit to not know all the details of what counts as kosher - I mean, everyone knows pork isn't but when it comes to what pans can be used for what and what type of fins are ok I tend to forget.

Still voted yes for the purpose of the poll though.

It's my understanding that he doesn't even understand what the word generally means.

I expect very few non-Jews/people that don't eat kosher to know every specificity for something to be kosher.

[dead0man]

Like Gustaf, I get the gist of it (no pork, something about cheese and beef being bad together but fine separately if prepped correctly), but I certainly don't know all the ins and outs.  I love the pickles but couldn't do without a ham sandwich and cheeseburger occasionally.

[memphis]

Even Orthodox Jews don't always have a handle on the finer points. Jewish laws are extremely finicky and arbitrary. There are many hotlines and websites that can help the nervous Jew navigate the minutiae.
http://www.ou.org/jewish_action/03/2013/got_a_kashrut_question_a_s_k_t_h_e_ou_kosher_consumer_hotline/
http://www.kosherquest.org/
http://bckosher.org/consumer/kitchen_questions.html

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Being kosher means that not only is it bad to be selfish, it is bad to eat shellfish.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Yes, of course. Unless you're a tribesman from 10000 years ago who was just dropped here by a time traveler, you should know what kosher is.

[Keystone Phil]

     Yes, of course. Unless you're a tribesman from 10000 years ago who was just dropped here by a time traveler, you should know what kosher is.

According to Walter's friend, though, having to know the meaning of kosher means that you are also expected to ascribe to Jewish beliefs!

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Yes, it means Jews are allowed to eat it.

[© tweed]

my dad is Jewish

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

my dad is Jewish

No, I'm fairly sure that's not what it means.

[angus]

Anyway, just figured I'd test to see how many people around here have more than three brain cells/know what "kosher" means.

yes, it's a yiddish word for "proper"

I also know what fait accompli, zeitgeist, and rallentando poco a poco mean.

I suspect that Walter knows as well, and I suspect he knows what languages they're all from.  Does this really merit a thread, Phil?

[Keystone Phil]

I suspect that Walter knows as well

...no...he doesn't. As he admitted in a post. And his "defense" (from a friend) was because he isn't Jewish and doesn't "need" to know what it means because he doesn't desire to ascribe to tenants of the Jewish faith.

[WalterMitty]

Hyperbole, phil.