For Jewish inmates across the country and around the world, the fight for can you get kosher food in prison is about more than just the ability to eat what they want; it’s about reconnecting with their roots and a heritage that many have put behind them.
Even for those without formal Jewish education or background, every source of Judaism has become a cause they are passionate about.
Kosher meals are more than just about what they eat for them; they are also about what they represent.
When it comes to Jewish dietary rules, the Hebrew term “kosher” implies “fit” or “appropriate.” Kosher foods are permissible to eat and can be used as ingredients in the manufacture of other foods.
The fundamental laws come from the Bible (Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 17). Rabbinic scholars have interpreted and applied these precepts to modern conditions for thousands of years.
In addition, rabbinic entities enacted legislation to defend the kosher laws’ integrity.
Can You Get Kosher Food In Prison?
When someone is incarcerated, they can use their religion to circumvent some of the regulations. Jewelry, for example, is not permitted behind bars unless it is religiously related, such as a cross necklace.
Inmates with special religious exemptions have access to prayer rugs, and the chaplain of jail will normally organize a service or worship group for each faith represented in the prison population.
While honoring convicts’ religious choices does not cost the institution a lot of money, this is not the case with kosher cuisine.
Feeding a kosher dinner to an inmate usually triples the expense of food (at the very least). Everything is done for a low price in prison.
What Is It Like To Remain Kosher While Incarcerated?
Most jails, whether state or federal, serve kosher food. However, how they go about doing this differs greatly from facility to facility.
Evening kosher meals, which resemble TV dinners and come in a tiny microwaveable tray, are available in some prisons.
During the day, they normally serve sack lunches with items such as lunch meats, cheese, and uncut fruits and vegetables.
Only a few prisons in the United States have a kosher kitchen and a hot Kosher program, and they are quite unusual.
Some guards have little faith in any convict, and many feel that detainees who desire a kosher diet are lying to receive better food.
Guards will accuse “false Jews” of faking to get into the kosher program, and they become enraged since the meal is more expensive than standard jail food.
Other guards are irritated because certain detainees are fed differently than others because they believe that everyone should be punished equally.
Then there’s religious prejudice because many of the guards are Christians who don’t feel the jail should be forced to follow “food laws” that Jesus didn’t.
If You Aren’t Jewish, Can You Still Kosher Meals In Prison?
This is a challenging question to respond to. Kosher meals can only be ordered by detainees who are practicing Jews, according to the law.
But how do you demonstrate this? Prison officials are not required to believe an inmate who claims to be Jewish.
Kosher cuisine is becoming increasingly popular in prisons. The majority of jail officials will tell you that this is because non-Jewish detainees are lying to get better food.
The food served in prison is revolting. Regardless of what anyone claims, it’s just cheap, processed sludge with no genuine nutritional benefit or flavor.
FAQ’s
In prison, what kind of food do you get?
A typical jail meal consisted of a sandwich, wrap, or pasta portion, along with fruit or crisps/biscuits. Dinners typically consisted of curry, pie, baked fish, or casserole served with rice, vegetables, potatoes, and a dessert or fruit of choice.
What exactly does kosher food imply?
“Kosher” is a phrase that refers to food that adheres to traditional Jewish dietary laws. Kosher refers to more than just food safety or health for many Jews. It’s all about religious tradition and reverence.
How is kosher meat slaughtered?
It has to take place at a Food Standards Agency-approved slaughterhouse (abattoir) ( FSA ) It must be carried out by someone with a certificate of competence (CoC), and it must be carried out following Jewish or Islamic religious practice. The meat must be intended for Jews or Muslims to eat.
What is kosher food?
Mammals must have split hooves and chewed their cud to be considered kosher. To be deemed kosher, fish must have fins and scales that may be removed. To be kosher, meat and poultry must be ritually slaughtered in a specific manner. It is impossible to cook or eat meat and dairy products at the same time.
What foods are forbidden for Jews to consume?
Pork, shellfish, and practically all insects are prohibited; meat and dairy cannot be combined, and meat must be ritually butchered and salted to eradicate any blood traces. Only kosher meat or poultry will be eaten by observant Jews.
