Why Can’t Jews Eat Pork? The Ancient Taboo Explained

Pork may be one of the most popular meats around the world, but for Jews, it’s completely off the menu The Jewish prohibition against eating pork stretches back over 3000 years and has become an enduring symbol of Jewish identity. But where did this ancient taboo come from and why do orthodox Jews still avoid ham and bacon today?

The Biblical Origins of the Pork Taboo

The origin of the prohibition against pork consumption is found in two places in the Bible – Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 Here the Torah explicitly prohibits the consumption of pork, grouping it with other forbidden foods like shellfish, birds of prey and insects

Leviticus 11:7-8 states:

“And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.”

This verse highlights two reasons pigs were considered unfit for consumption – they don’t chew their cud and their hooves aren’t completely cloven. To be kosher, animals must meet both these criteria. Cows, sheep and goats all chew their cud and have split hooves, making them permissible. Pigs have split hooves but don’t chew the cud, so were deemed not kosher.

Why Does Chewing the Cud Matter?

Ruminants like cows and sheep are able to digest their food more thoroughly by chewing the cud. Their four-chambered stomachs also allow them to extract more nutrients from plants. Pigs only have one stomach chamber, so can’t digest their food as efficiently.

To the ancient Israelites, an animal’s ability to properly digest its food may have been a sign that it was ‘spiritually refined’. Animals like pigs that didn’t chew the cud were seen as gluttonous or unclean.

Chewing the cud was so integral to kosher status that rabbits and hyraxes, who practise ‘pseudo-rumination’, were also forbidden for appearing to chew the cud despite not being true ruminants.

The Prohibition Against Pork Hardened Jewish Identity

In ancient Israelite society, the pork taboo set Jews apart from their neighbors, like the Philistines, Phoenicians and Egyptians, who all kept pigs. Avoiding pork signaled Jewish separateness and identity in a way that circumcision or keeping the Sabbath didn’t.

Unlike other forbidden foods like shellfish or carrion, pork was a commonly eaten meat. Pigs require less land and feed than cows, making pork affordable and widely available. Yet Jews resisted temptation and abstained to obey biblical law.

When foreign powers tried to assimilate or oppress Jews by forcing them to eat pork, many chose death over consuming it, showing just how entrenched the pork prohibition had become.

Pork’s Controversial Status in Christianity and Islam

The other Abrahamic faiths relate to pork differently. Christianity generally does not prohibit pork consumption, in contrast to Judaism. However, Seventh-Day Adventists also avoid pork, joining Jews in keeping kosher dietary laws.

In Islam, pork consumption is clearly forbidden, putting Muslims and Jews on the same page. As fellow monotheistic faiths originating in the Middle East, Judaism and Islam share many similarities – the pork taboo is a major one.

Health Risks of Pork in Ancient Times

Some scholars theorize there were health reasons behind the biblical pork taboo. In hot climates like the Middle East, pork spoils quickly and can transmit diseases like trichinosis if undercooked.

By avoiding pork, ancient Jews protected themselves from foodborne illness. However, this theory alone doesn’t fully explain the prohibition, as only some pork products pose health risks. Nevertheless, the taboo may have started for physical reasons before becoming enshrined for spiritual ones.

Modern Interpretations of the Ban on Pork

Today, some liberal Jews choose to eat pork, arguing the ancient health concerns behind the laws don’t apply to modern farming practices. However, most Jews still keep kosher and dot not mix meat and dairy or eat pork.

Orthodox Jews believe obeying kosher laws has inherent spiritual value regardless of the original rationale behind them. Keeping kosher is seen as fulfilling the divine will and walking in the footsteps of their ancestors.

Whatever its origins, the biblical pork prohibition has become a foundational part of Jewish identity and connects modern Jews to their roots. Whether for health or spiritual reasons, for most Jews today, ham and bacon are still strictly off the menu.