Glossary Of Kosher Terms

Basar

Any meat or meat products. Often referred to as Fleishig in Yiddish.

Bishul Yisroel

Refers to any food cooked by a Jew.

Cholov Yisroel

Milk which is produced under constant rabbinical supervision and products made from such milk.

Chometz

Leavening or leavened bread, not permitted for Passover. Chometz may also be used to denote any product or utensil that is not kosher for Passover.

Fleishig

Derived from the Yiddish “fleish” (meat). Colloquially used to denote meat foods, dishes, and utensils.

Halacha

Jewish Law.

Hechsher

Written certification of kashruth signed by a Rabbi, Vaad HaKashruth (council for kashruth supervision) or seal of a recognized kashruth-certifying agency.

Kasher

To “make Kosher,” usually applied to the salting and soaking procedures used in the production of kosher meat and poultry. Also used to describe the procedure for preparing (cleaning) a non-kosher facility so that it may be used for preparing kosher food.

Kosher

Literally, “fit, proper or correct.” Describes food that is permissible to eat under Jewish dietary laws.

Kosher for Passover

In addition to meeting the year-round requirements for kosher, the food product also meets the Passover dietary laws, which prohibit the use of leavened grain products.

Mashgiach

Refers to the Rabbinical Inspector that inspects and supervises Kosher production.

Milichg

Yiddish for dairy products, utensils and equipment.

Pareve

A term indicating that a food does not contain either meat, poultry or dairy, and can therefore be eaten with all types of kosher ingredients. Pareve items include all fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, eggs and kosher fish, etc.

Pas Yisroel

Bread or cake that is baked by a Jewish person.

Shabbos/Shabbat

The Sabbath (Saturday). The seventh day of the week according to the Hebrew Calendar which is considered the day of rest.

Shechita

Torah prescribed manner of killing animals or fowl for consumption.

Shochet

A person authorized to slaughter kosher meat and poultry according to the Jewish tradition.

Treife

A term generally indicating that a particular food is not kosher.