One of the first big questions I had for my Rabbi was if I should keep kashrut. He told me yes, as I assumed he would. I mean, duh, WOULDN’T your Rabbi tell you that you SHOULD? Well dudes, can we talk as friends for a moment? I’m new to keeping Kosher, and like everything else I’ve done so far, I thought it would be easy.
I thought “Oh I actually hate eating pigs anyway, so whatever.” This was yet ANOTHER one of those things where it was like Jackie, do you even know who you are? You eat cheese with meat like every meal, and every snack. I dream of cheeseburgers and bologna and cheese sandwiches! And no, I’m not kidding. I love food. Fat kid USA over here, I’ll admit it.
Back to my Rabbi though, when I asked him if I should keep kosher, I followed my question with will you help me. I meant it more for my son at the time, being a mom of a EXTREMELY underweight baby I’m always concerned with whatever my kid puts into his mouth. (And my pediatrician didn’t really seem to want to help me how to transition little man’s diet in the littlest bit, but that may need to be another post for another time.) What I didn’t know was that my question would be answered and mean something for the both of us too.
He told me to think of it in a way like this, when you turn 21 there’s a law that now says you may drink. Emotionally and mentally you didn’t change, but at 12:01AM your age did and that was enough for them. He told me that we shouldn’t think of everything else in that manner though. Judaism started as a decision at 12:01AM a month ago, but emotionally and mentally I’m not fully there yet. Baby steps are needed, and of course there are always the people who never keep Kosher and they’re perfectly awesome and great too!
Beginning of January seemed like a good time to start for me. I decided that beef and cheese was an absolutle no, and that I’d give up pork. I mean, shellfish wasn’t ever really a thing I ate, so that was also omited from my diet, but really only by chance. I’m still SLOWLY phasing myself away from eating cheese with my other meats, but it’s going to be a very very slow pace for this one. I’m really sure it was absolutely the line about “Don’t [boil] a kid in its mother’s milk” that just made it so for me. Ugh. That just puts me in the saddest moods ever when I hear it like that. I never really thought of my food that way, and now? I can’t think of it in any other way at all. It’s just a mood killer for sure.
Now for reals, this isn’t a post about “HEY I”M COOLER THAN YOU I HAVE DIETARY RESTRICTIONS NOW” because, I don’t care if you keep kosher or not. My adoptive Jewish Mother doesn’t and I still think she’s the coolest lady ever. I’m aware that not everyone feels the need to do this, and honestly I totally understand why. It’s a heck of a lot easier to not have to worry about your utensils touching, or having to opt out on eating awesome foods. (I mean you know, you know how hard it is without me telling you)
Remember how I told you guys I’m mostly alone over here? It’s like just straight carnivores over here., I don’t even have any cool vegetarian friends anymore, they’ve all switched over to the darkside. They’re munching on 1/2 pound meaty burgers with melty cheese, and 50 bacon strips with bacon bits, and I’m sure just for good measure the bun is made of a real pig who rolled in cheese, bugs, and shellfish for good measure. . Or, maybe it may just seem like that now that I can’t join in on the fun. Either way, I know many people tell me how easy it is to keep Kosher. And to you, I have to say this: Tacos, Nachos, and Burritos. =(
Jacqueline D. is a 20something stupid new converting noob, who likes comic books, nail polish, and will be your best friend if you buy her a slushy. Most of her life is spent over at Mother Morpher where she blogs sometimes.