In several countries, people of diverse backgrounds serve together in the military. To ensure the success of military operations, it's important that everyone should feel that they are respected, irrespective of their background. This can be achieved through seemingly small things, like supplying soldiers with meals that suit their special needs. Jews, for instance, will react more positively if they are supplied with 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.
Countries like the USA and Britain are becoming more ethnically and religiously diverse. This trend is reflected in their armed forces. Not only Christians serve, but also Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists and so on. Some of these soldiers are vegetarian, while others need meals that are prepared in accordance with the laws of their religion. Even food allergies need to be catered for.
Judaism has strict dietary laws called kashrut. Foods that conform to these laws are deemed kosher while foods that don't conform are called treif. The most well-known feature of kashrut is that certain foods, notably pork and shellfish, are forbidden. Also forbidden are foods that contain blood. Foods that contain gelatin may be treif too if that gelatin wasn't derived from a kosher source.
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.
It's not clear how many Jews are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. This is because soldiers aren't required to say what religion, if any, they follow. However, history has shown that among the few thousand Jews that were serving at any given time, there have been many who served with the utmost pride and distinction.
Israel is the exception. Judaism is the majority religion in the country and, by default, it's also the majority religion among the country's soldiers. At times as many as half a million people serve in the Israeli military and most of them require rations that are prepared in accordance with kashrut.
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.
Countries like the USA and Britain are becoming more ethnically and religiously diverse. This trend is reflected in their armed forces. Not only Christians serve, but also Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists and so on. Some of these soldiers are vegetarian, while others need meals that are prepared in accordance with the laws of their religion. Even food allergies need to be catered for.
Judaism has strict dietary laws called kashrut. Foods that conform to these laws are deemed kosher while foods that don't conform are called treif. The most well-known feature of kashrut is that certain foods, notably pork and shellfish, are forbidden. Also forbidden are foods that contain blood. Foods that contain gelatin may be treif too if that gelatin wasn't derived from a kosher source.
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.
It's not clear how many Jews are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. This is because soldiers aren't required to say what religion, if any, they follow. However, history has shown that among the few thousand Jews that were serving at any given time, there have been many who served with the utmost pride and distinction.
Israel is the exception. Judaism is the majority religion in the country and, by default, it's also the majority religion among the country's soldiers. At times as many as half a million people serve in the Israeli military and most of them require rations that are prepared in accordance with kashrut.
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.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.myownmeals.com for more helpful information about How A Kosher MRE Makes It Easier To Be A Jew In The Military
No comments:
Post a Comment