The Jewish Synagogue, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
Of their difference of meats, and the boyling of them: and of their new kitchin veſlels.
THe Jews living in divers parts of the world at this day observe a main difference in the boyling and eating of fiſh, flesh, and milk-meats. Which practiſe of theirs they ground upon thoſe words of Moſes, Thou ſhalt not boile a kidd in his mothers milke. Exod. 23. 19.Hence it is that they have written divers commentaries and expoſitions upon this text, concerning the uſing of fleſh, hony and other viands.
Their kitchin boyling veſſels are of two ſorts, the one whereof is appointed for the ſecthing of fleſh, the other for milke. Their milke veſſels have three peculiar marks upon them. if they be of wood, then they give them three ſeveral cuts, whereby they may be diſtinguiſhed from others: and this they do, becauſe the forecited verſe is found three times in the law of Moſes. Hereupon it alſo comes to paſs, that a Jew continually carries about him two knives, one for fleſh and another for cheeſe and fiſh, which have alſo three ſeveral markes or ſtamps upon them. If through negligence one veſſel ſhould be taken for another, and the contrary thing boiled therein, then it is not lawful for any Jew to eat thereof, breaking the veſſels, if they be of earth, but waſhing them with water, if they be of wood, and that in a moſt exact manner. If they be of iron, they caſt them into the fire, ſuffering them there to abide until they be fully purified.
It is enacted that fleſh and milke muſt not be boiled together at the ſame time over the ſame fire: neither are they to be ſet on the table one oppoſite or over againſt another, but ought to be ſeparated by ſomething put between them: and to this end they ſpread one cloth for the dishes furniſhed with fleſh, another for thoſe wherein cheeſe and milke are ſerved in, He that eates either pottage or fleſh, he may not be allowed for a whole houres ſpace, to eat butter, or cheeſe, or any milke-meats. Yea moreover, they who would be accounted preciſe indeed make ſix whole hours diſtances.
It is lawful for any one to eat a hen with almond milke: If any one love milke ſo well, that he cannot abſtain from it, an eſpecial diſpenſation is granted him to taſte thereof ſooner then ordinary, ſo that he pick his teeth accurately and Spaniard like, waſh his mouth, and eat a cruſt of bread to take away the taſt of the fleſh. If the fat of any thing fall into any diſh of meat boiled in milke, that meat is prohibited to be eaten. Yet if the meat be ſixty times more in quantity then the fat, then may it lawfully ſerve for the ſufficing of any mans appetite. An egge muſt not be boiled in a pan or pot in which fleſh is ſod. If they deſire to have their egges poched, they firſt break them into a platter, or poure them out of one ſhell into another, having a diligent care, and provident eſpial, that no drop of blood be in them. And this is the reaſon why the Jews alwayes open their egges at the top, becauſe in that place there is often found a veine of a bloody colour.
If in carving up a hen they finde any egges within her, they uſe them not until they be mollified in water and ſalt. It is a hainous offence to set fiſh and fleſh at the ſame time upon one table, as alſo to boile them in the ſame pan, much more to eat them together, for the leproſie follows as a reward of the fact. Therefore they either waſh their mouth or hands between the eating of fleſh and fiſh, or else they eat an apple or piece of bread between the eating of the one, and handling of the other. Briefly it is accounted as a great point of wiſdom among the Jews, rightly to diſtinguiſh the kindes of meat; hence when ſome difficulties object themſelves unto their view, they goe for a ſolution to the learned Rabbines. All their kitchin veſſels, whether of gold, ſilver, tin, or lead, braſs, or copper, if they can endure the fire, they are to be purged by fire, if not, by water, according to the command of Moſes, Whatſoever will abide the fire, you ſhall make it go through the fire, Num. 31. 23.and it ſhall be cleanſed: and whatſoever will not paſs through the fire, you ſhall make it to paſs through the water.
The Talmudiſts upon theſe words infer,Tract. 1. Elim c. 5. p. 75. that ſuch veſſels ought to be caſt into a ceſterne or pit where a menſtrous woman hath waſhed her ſelf in the time of her uncleanneſs, becauſe ſuch women in the Hebrew tongue are called Niddoth, and the water of ſeparation Me niddoth. Here the Jews give an evident demonſtration that an Aſſe may be known by his eares from any other creature, for the forecited words of Moſes, make not mention of veſſels in general, but of that particular houſhold-ſtuffe which the children of Iſrael took in way of prey form their enemies the Midianites; which at that time were a prophane, ungodly and reprobate people. And therefore when Moſes made the people to purge and purifie every thing they had taken in battle, partly by fire, partly by water, according as the condition of the thing it ſelfe would ſuffer: his deſire was to ſignifie unto them, that they onght by no means to make any uſe of the Midianites goods, unleſs they were firſt of all cleanſed and ſanctified. Finally, becauſe at this day the Jews will not uſe any veſſel belonging to a Chriſtian, unleſs it be firſt purged in the foreſaid manner, they hereby clearly ſhew unto the world, the opinion they have of us, to wit, that in their judgment, we are not a jot more pure or holy, then thoſe people which the Lord baniſhed the land of Canaan for their ſins and wickedneſs; in in the …oſt of their writings calling us, impure and pro…ane Gentiles.