(d) ‘You have to keep kosher to be Jewish.’Discuss

Question 1

 Different opinions often to do with tradition and individual choice in that
tradition.  Jewish identity does not relate to just keeping Kosher but the religion of
your parents.  Many would see there are more important practices to show your Jewish
identity than keeping Kosher e.g. belief in the one God.
 Kosher regulations are in the Torah and therefore should be obeyed
 It is not up to humankind to decide which laws to keep and which to not
keep.  For some, Judaism has to adapt to 21st century lifestyle and many of the
regulations have no apparent reason.  It does not matter if the Kosher laws are logical or not, they are believed
by some to have been divinely ordained.  The cost of keeping Kosher in many countries and trying to access
Kosher food is very problematic.  Sometimes e.g. during World War 2 and the Raid on Entebbe, kosher
regulations have been set aside by Rabbis.  With so many different food products now it is up to interpretation what is
Kosher.
 There is a difference between being an observant or practising Jew and
being a Jew. You can be a Jew without keeping to any of the mitzvot.