The Hebrew Dietary Laws
Overview
The Hebrew dietary laws, or laws of kashrut, were first set forth in the biblical books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy about 3,000 years ago. As such, they were among the earliest such restrictions ever promulgated, although they do have parallels in other ancient civilizations. By slowing the assimilation of the dispersed Jewish people into other cultures, the dietary laws helped to maintain the Jews' uniqueness and thus facilitated their role in history.
Background
The Hebrew way of life evolved in the context of the ancient Middle East. In many cases, Hebrew customs were similar to those of other Semitic tribes, or adopted from other peoples in the region such as the Egyptians or Sumerians. However, in some instances new rules or habits were intentionally put in place by the monotheistic Hebrews to distinguish themselves from their pagan neighbors.
Like other customs, dietary taboos and laws developed over time. It was their codification in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy in about 1000 B.C., their subsequent elaboration in the Talmud, and the central place of the Hebrew scriptures in the culture of the Jewish people that crystallized the dietary laws and preserved them over the millennia.
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