The rise of keeping kosher

By Melanie Metzman
Target: Millennial Magazine
Word Count: 1115
Ilana Matheson cannot eat in her own home. Matheson, a member of
Kappa Alpha Theta at the University of Cincinatti, lives in the sorority
house and keeps kosher. However, the meals at the house do not meet
her dietary needs, thus Matheson pays thousands of dollars for food
she cannot eat.
This is a problem faced by many young Jewish people today. Twenty
five percent of Jewish millennials are choosing to keep kosher,
according to a study done by the Pew Research Center. This number is
double their parents baby boomer generation, so why are so many
young Jewish choosing to keep kosher?
For thousands of years, the decision for Jewish people to keep kosher
was centered around health and the community, said Rabbi Sue
Silberberg, executive director of the Hillel Center at Indiana University.
Keeping kosher means not mixing meat with dairy and not consuming
pork or shellfish. Dishes for meat and dairy must be separated. For
meat to be deemed kosher, it must be killed by schochet, or religious
slaughter, which uses an ultra-sharp knife so the animal dies instantly.
Schochet is generally considered a more humane slaughter technique
by Jewish people.
The original reason for keeping kosher was to treat animals more
humanely and for more sanitary eating, said Silberberg.
Keeping kosher is also designed to keep the Jewish community
together, she said.
People who keep kosher naturally eat with others who do the same,
said Silberberg. It develops a sense of community.
Many of these reasons still stand today for people choosing to keep
kosher, she said.
Some of the reasons include maintain a healthy diet, identifying with
ones Judaism and the rise of the Jewish right.
Healthy eating

Augusta Greenbaum grew up keeping kosher at home on Long Island,

however, now as a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, her
decision to continue the tradition is because of her interest in healthy
eating.
Greenbaum follows the eco-kosher movement, which is focused on
sustainability, she said.
Obviously its preferable if the meat is kosher, but it doesnt need to
be, said Greenbaum. Its more about it being organic and free range
with no antibiotics.
Nish Nush, a kosher restaurant with locations in Manhattan and
Brooklyn, New York, opened to cater to the growing number of young
people interested in healthy, kosher cuisine, said Eyal Hen, owner of
Nish Nush.
Nish Nush is an entirely vegetarian kosher restaurant, which also
appeals to health conscious young people, said Hen.
Our target demographic are millennials since this is a huge portion of
the working class overall, especially in both Nish Nush locations, said
Hen. The eco-kosher movement is really helping us out.
Identifying with ones Judaism
Akiva Koppel, a student at Yeshiva University in New York City, finds
keeping kosher while hes at college away from his family helps him
stay in touch with his Jewish heritage.
I grew up in a house where the Torah was an integral part of my life,
said Koppel. Keeping kosher was one of the commitments really
emphasized in my house.
Avidan Grossman, a student at Cornell University, also grew up keeping
kosher, and for the most part continues to do so. Grossman lives in the
dorms, so he eats in the dining halls or at Hillel every day.
There have been periods in my life where I wasnt super strict about
keeping kosher, said Grossman. I dont eat exclusively at the kosher
dining hall. I dont feel too limited, but I only eat meat in the kosher
dining hall.
Koppel, who lives in an apartment in New York City with two other
Yeshiva University students, said keeping kosher now is harder than it
was growing up.

My parents have kept kosher for 45 years, so they always know what
theyre doing, said Koppel. At home, Im not responsible for any of
the dishes, so when I got to the apartment it was difficult.
Koppel and his two roommates all have different standards of kosher,
so all food, dishes and utensils must meet everyones standards.
Matheson has had similar experiences living in a sorority house, where
chefs prepare meals for 75 members every day.
My house mom is unable to grasp the idea that I cant eat pork, said
Matheson. Its tough keeping it a priority, but Im not going to give it
up because its important to me.
Matheson said she thinks keeping kosher is becoming more acceptable
and accessible, which is why more young Jewish people are keeping
kosher.
I think that we are starting to live in a world where people like being
different and having something about them that stands out, said
Matheson. People are holding onto that part of them more.
Koppel said the kosher Jewish community makes New York City feel
small.
When Im walking around campus or NYC and you meet someone else
who keeps kosher you strike up a conversation with them, said Koppel
Ive met hundreds of people by sitting down and eating a kosher meal
with them. Its allowed me to extend my network and my friend
group.
Rise of the Jewish Right
Polarization is a major issue today, said Silberberg.
The rise of the right can be clearly seen in politics with the likes of
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, said Silberberg. Its also happening in
religion with Christianity and Judaism.
Silberberg said she thinks many of the young Jewish people newly
keeping kosher have been drawn in by the Jewish ultraorthodox right.
College is a tough and scary time, said Silberberg. Its a shock to
the system. Young people are searching for something.

Conservative Jewish groups on college campuses such as the Aish and

the Chabad Houses provide a safe, questionless existence with simple
answer to complex problems, said Silberberg.
Aish and Chabad subtlety recruit Jewish college students to become
more orthodox and keep kosher, said Silberberg.
Youll see the girls who only start to wear long sleeves and long
skirts, said Silberberg. Youll see children who wont eat at the
parents home anymore because its not kosher enough.
This extremism is separating Jews from other Jews, which defeats the
entire purpose of keeping kosher, said Silberberg.
Silberberg said she is afraid many Jewish millennials are being drawn
down this path, however, she thinks most of them will eventually find
their way out because the movement will burn out in a few years.

Regardless of why millennials are choosing to keep kosher, Koppel said

he believes it makes everyone more reflective and grateful.
It requires an extra step of diligence, said Koppel. I think it makes
me appreciate everything more though. Keeping kosher shows a
thoughtful and critical way to look at every action Im doing.

Sources:
Augusta Greenbaum- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (631) 830-2077
Avidan Grossman- Ithaca, New York (718) 288-0420
Eyal Hen- New York, New York (212) 964-1318
Akiva Koppel- New York, New York (201) 566-7828
Ilana Matheson- Cincinnati, Ohio (301) 980-5884
Rabbi Sue Silberberg- Bloomington, Indiana hillel@indiana.edu