Food

Kosher vs. Halal: Do you know the difference?

Jacqueline Raposo

Some Muslims will eat kosher meat, and some kosher-keeping Jews nosh at halal carts. So what do these restrictions actually mean?

Dozens of details delineate the two, but their strongest similarity is intention: Animals must be ritualistically slaughtered in a humane manner, with thanks said to god while the throat is quickly sliced to minimize the animal’s distress. Animals must be “clean.” For halal, that means no pig; for kosher, that extends to certain body...