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We can say why we personally keep kosher. Health reasons; humane slaughter of our meat animals; letting the land rest and replenish itself; to learn self-discipline and restraint; to accustom ourselves to obeying Hashem's laws; to separate ourselves somewhat from mainstream socialization and thus maintain our distinctiveness; and a plethora of other reasons.

That's why we keep kosher. But why were the laws of kashrut instituted? What were Hashem's motives? That, we don't know. It's a chok, a law for which we cannot fully understand the purpose(s). I'm sort of fine with that. If I could understand all the purposes of every law, I'd begin to suspect that the Lawgiver was understandable, rather than infinite and well above me. I think the creator of all things should be a lot more complex than I'm able to comprehend.

And I shall quote the words of the Rambam: "Know this - if you do not understand the reasoning of G-d, it is because of you're lack of understanding, for G-d's wisdom is infinate, and man's - finite".

I've heard that one reason pigs aren't kosher is because raising them originally used up too many resources. So they were like the ultimate symbol of conspicuous consumption.

True? A local Jewish theology professor wrote this in a book I've been reading.

As for myself, I've been trying to keep kosher ... here are the reasons I see for it:

+ It shows your faith in God and God's commandments
+ Shrimp and shellfish are more likely to have toxins in them if the water is polluted (this is why they weren't kosher in ancient times)
+ Pork is gross. (LOL, I've never liked pork)
+ Kosher slaughter is more humane.
+ As for the meat and milk thing, I don't eat them in the same meal, but I don't wait 6 hours between eating them. And I actually eat poultry and cheese sometimes (because in my opinion, chickens don't lactate, so it's ultimately a later rabbincal law that forbids all meat and cheese -- the commandment is concerning the dairy products of the same animal the meat is from, if I read correctly, and anyway, I'm not that Orthodox)

i heard that we're really all reincarnated aliens.

but i don't go around listening to tom cruise, do i?

... Ugh. That's disgusting, really? My parents eat a lot of ham and my mother always complains about how salty it is. (Don't ask me why they keep eating it, then.) I should tell her that and see what she says. x_X

It means Tom Cruise is a effing fruit and he should keep his scientologist crap to himself.

My friend is scientologist, but he isn't as retarded. I still wish he wasn't though...It's his choice though, so whatever floats his boat.

Yeah...I heard that too. I have a friend who used to body build and he ate kosher in that aspect to keep from...I dunno, clogging up the works. confused

He's not very tall...So it's kinda funny. Then again, it's always the short ones with Napoleon Complex body building. xd