Kosher foods

Kosher foods are those that conform to the regulations of kashrut (Jewish dietary law). Food that may be consumed according to halakha (Jewish law) is termed kosher (pronunciation: /koʊʃər/) in English, from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the Hebrew term kashér (כָּשֵׁר, pronunciation: /kɑːʃɛər/), meaning "fit" (in this context, fit for consumption). Food that is not in accordance with Jewish law is called treif (Yiddish: טרײף‎, pronunciation: /treɪf/, derived from Hebrew: טְרֵפָה‎ trāfáh) meaning "torn."

Permitted and forbidden species

The Torah permits only animal species which both chew the cud and have cloven hooves Four animals are specifically identified as being forbidden for this reason; the hare, hyrax, camel, and pig — although the camel is a ruminant and has two toes, and the hare and hyrax are hind gut fermenters rather than ruminants.

The Torah lists winged creatures which may not be consumed, mainly birds of prey, fish-eating water-birds, and bats. The Torah permits any fish residing in "the waters" (seas and rivers) that has both fins and scales.