The point, as always, is that Yahweh commanded very few of the specific rules that are represented in rabbinical shechitah slaughtering techniques. I don't know what NZ requires, but here in America, our health departments uniformly insist that the blood be drained from the slaughtered animal, because they know that's the only way to make it safe to eat. The Torah says very little beyond this---most of what the Instructions say about it is symbolic of spiritual principles, not practical health concerns. (See http://www.theownersmanu...5_The_Dietary_Laws.Torah for a comparison of what the sages say and what the Torah instructs.) Further, the Torah's "rules" have more to do with what to eat and how to cook it than how to butcher the meat. The bottom line: folks can easily stay Torah compliant in matters of eating meat without resorting to Jewish Talmudic ritual.

kp

Shalom,

Thanks again for putting things into perspective, and I really hope that this policy is done to deter the Muslims. What I'd really like is an opinion about ritual slaughter done according to Islamic rites in the abattoirs where recorded Islamic prayers are played while the animals are killed. Meat sold in Muslim countries must be certified "Halal" and this is a concern where I live because almost all meat -- except pork of course -- bears the name of "the adversary" on the packaging.

Since such food does not have pork, it's alright with me, but cooked food prepared in Islamic restaurants are not all kashrut as they still eat crustaceans and other vermin -- rabbit satay, anyone? So while I tend to eat at Muslim restaurants because it is easier to find food that is acceptable, I am uneasy that the Muslims are reaching into every aspect of our lives here. I suppose it is only understandable since he is the god of this world, but what I sometimes wonder is whether I should continue to eat at these restaurants. Is the food offered up to Allah and does my eating it offend Yahweh? Does it encourage others to patronise Muslim restaurants? Does it prosper those who hate Yahweh? Then again, almost all of the world prospers while hating Yahweh!

What is revealing is that the people who promote Halal food are the most tainted by his worst religion and philosophies... apparently you really become what you eat! Not in every case, of course, as some of us have been graciously spared from such "contamination" by the love of Abba Yahweh.