In many countries, the military is like a micro-cosmos of diverse people working together towards a common goal. You need to be able to trust and respect those fighting alongside you and those higher up in the chain of command if you want any operation to be successful. However, you also need to feel that you are respected, even if it is through something as basic as supplying you with the type of food you require, for instance a kosher MRE.
The military uses the term MRE for field rations. It stands for 'Meal, Ready to Eat'. An MRE is packaged to contain everything a soldier might need to replenish his or her energy, from a main meal to drinks and snacks, as well as utensils and a means of heating the meal. Everything is packed in a lightweight container that is easy to carry in the field.
Societies like the United States and the United Kingdom become more diverse and their military reflects this trend. In terms of religious beliefs, for instance, there are not only Christian soldiers but also Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish soldiers, among others. Many of these soldiers have specific dietary needs as prescribed by their religion. As a result, there is a growing demand for MREs that cater to these needs, as well as to those of soldiers with food allergies, who are vegetarian and so on.
Jewish dietary law is known as kashrut. When foods adhere to these laws, they are kosher. Foods that don't conform to kashrut are known as treif. Pork, shellfish and anything that contains blood are treif. Sometimes foods that contain gelatin or are made with the use of animal rennet may be treif too, depending on where the gelatin or rennet comes from.
Kashrut also has prescriptions about how food is prepared and served. Some Jews will only eat food that was prepared by Jews rather than by someone from another religion. Foods are divided in meat, milk and 'neutral' or parev foods. This is because it's forbidden to serve meat and milk during the same meal. For instance, a meaty lasagne is treif because it contains meat as well as cheese and milk in the sauce.
Even though Jews have served with distinction in many countries, it's usually a minority religion in the military. However, it's unclear how many Jews are serving in the defense force of a country like the United States. This is because it's not compulsory for soldiers to divulge their religion.
The only country where Judaism is the majority religion is Israel. Here the military automatically supplies kosher meals, where everything in the ration is certified to conform to the kashrut. In Israel, several hundred thousand soldiers are serving at any given time.
Clearly there is great demand in the military for meals that conform to the dietary laws of Judaism. Where Jews in military service are a minority, Jewish soldiers should take up the issue of special meals with their commanding officer or chaplain as soon as possible. This gives the store clerks enough time to order supplies and ensure that every Jewish soldier can enjoy a kosher MRE. It is, after all, every soldier's right to live according to his or her religious beliefs, even while in uniform.
The military uses the term MRE for field rations. It stands for 'Meal, Ready to Eat'. An MRE is packaged to contain everything a soldier might need to replenish his or her energy, from a main meal to drinks and snacks, as well as utensils and a means of heating the meal. Everything is packed in a lightweight container that is easy to carry in the field.
Societies like the United States and the United Kingdom become more diverse and their military reflects this trend. In terms of religious beliefs, for instance, there are not only Christian soldiers but also Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish soldiers, among others. Many of these soldiers have specific dietary needs as prescribed by their religion. As a result, there is a growing demand for MREs that cater to these needs, as well as to those of soldiers with food allergies, who are vegetarian and so on.
Jewish dietary law is known as kashrut. When foods adhere to these laws, they are kosher. Foods that don't conform to kashrut are known as treif. Pork, shellfish and anything that contains blood are treif. Sometimes foods that contain gelatin or are made with the use of animal rennet may be treif too, depending on where the gelatin or rennet comes from.
Kashrut also has prescriptions about how food is prepared and served. Some Jews will only eat food that was prepared by Jews rather than by someone from another religion. Foods are divided in meat, milk and 'neutral' or parev foods. This is because it's forbidden to serve meat and milk during the same meal. For instance, a meaty lasagne is treif because it contains meat as well as cheese and milk in the sauce.
Even though Jews have served with distinction in many countries, it's usually a minority religion in the military. However, it's unclear how many Jews are serving in the defense force of a country like the United States. This is because it's not compulsory for soldiers to divulge their religion.
The only country where Judaism is the majority religion is Israel. Here the military automatically supplies kosher meals, where everything in the ration is certified to conform to the kashrut. In Israel, several hundred thousand soldiers are serving at any given time.
Clearly there is great demand in the military for meals that conform to the dietary laws of Judaism. Where Jews in military service are a minority, Jewish soldiers should take up the issue of special meals with their commanding officer or chaplain as soon as possible. This gives the store clerks enough time to order supplies and ensure that every Jewish soldier can enjoy a kosher MRE. It is, after all, every soldier's right to live according to his or her religious beliefs, even while in uniform.
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