Nikkur
Encyclopedia
Nikkur is the process of making an animal kosher by removing chelev
(forbidden fats) and the gid hanasheh
(sciatic nerve).
It is much easier to perform nikkur on the front part of the animal. It is also easier to perform on non-domestic animals such as deer as the cheilev does not need to be removed from such animals.
Since it is difficult to perform nikkur on the hind part of domestic animals, the entire hind part is usually sold to the non-Jewish market. This tradition goes back for centuries. While many Muslims do accept that today (e.g. in the Middle East) based on Quranic permissibility of food from people of the book
, not all Muslim communities accept Kosher-slaughtered meat, including those hindquarters as halal
(e.g. Indian subcontinent). On the other hand, in countries like Israel, specially trained men are hired to prepare the hindquarters for sale as kosher.
Chelev
The Hebrew noun chelev is the term given to some kinds of animal fats in Judaism.The fat of animal sacrifices is subject to specific regulations in the Hebrew Bible....
(forbidden fats) and the gid hanasheh
Gid hanasheh
The gid hanasheh is the sciatic nerve that may not be eaten by Jews according to Halacha . The laws of prohibition regarding the gid hanasheh are found in Masechet Chullin Perek 7.-Source:...
(sciatic nerve).
It is much easier to perform nikkur on the front part of the animal. It is also easier to perform on non-domestic animals such as deer as the cheilev does not need to be removed from such animals.
Since it is difficult to perform nikkur on the hind part of domestic animals, the entire hind part is usually sold to the non-Jewish market. This tradition goes back for centuries. While many Muslims do accept that today (e.g. in the Middle East) based on Quranic permissibility of food from people of the book
People of the Book
People of the Book is a term used to designate non-Muslim adherents to faiths which have a revealed scripture called, in Arabic, Al-Kitab . The three types of adherents to faiths that the Qur'an mentions as people of the book are the Jews, Sabians and Christians.In Islam, the Muslim scripture, the...
, not all Muslim communities accept Kosher-slaughtered meat, including those hindquarters as halal
Halal
Halal is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. The term is used to designate food seen as permissible according to Islamic law...
(e.g. Indian subcontinent). On the other hand, in countries like Israel, specially trained men are hired to prepare the hindquarters for sale as kosher.
External links
- Laws of Judaism concerning eating fat from the Torah and Maimonides’ Code of Jewish Law