‘Kosher’ lost in translation

HANNAH Fisher, senior brand manager for the Bowmore and Glen Garioch distilleries, says, “We want to be able to give clear communication of what’s kosher and what’s not” (News, 20 October). The whisky may be kosher, but journalist Emma Cowing’s explanation of “what is kosher” is seriously flawed when she writes, “Non-kosher foods include anything that has ingredients derived from non-kosher animals or from kosher animals that were not slaughtered in the ritually proper manner.”

However, Ms Cowing can hardly be blamed for this error, given how many of the Jewish faith, including many who claim to be “orthodox”, don’t appear to know the meaning of the word “kosher”.

The phrase that many supposedly religious people use to try to excuse their animal-based diet is their claim that man has dominion over non-human animals. However, this phrase is a mistranslation. The correct translation is that we have a duty to “take good care of them and protect them 
from harm”.

Even if “have dominion over” were the correct translation, that does not give us the right to abuse, exploit and kill animals. To do so is an abuse of power.

Sandra Busell, Edinburgh