Kashrut Levels

Have you ever wondered if you could eat at a friend’s house? Or whether that date you just asked out eats at only strictly kosher restaurants? Maybe you’re unsure if you should eat at the work party you have just been invited to?

Well then, this website is here to help you.

Despite there not being many of us, there is an enormous spectrum of what us jews will and won’t eat or drink. For people across the jewish diaspora, keeping to the absolute strictest levels of kashrut can be in the eyes of many, particularly restrictive and difficult.

It is fair to say that regardless of the rules of jewish law, it is within human nature to pick and choose what aspects of our religion we decide to keep.

So, what I have created is a simple, extensive, but non exhaustive kashrut level system. The product of a shabbat conversation with friends a few years ago, this sets out the basic parameters within which the majority of jewish people would find themselves.

Please note, this list cannot and does not include every discrepancy, choice and allowance that every single person may find themselves observing, however I hope that for most people this can provide a rough guide to the multitude of kashrut variations that people observe.

Level 1

The often regarded strictest kashrut authorities, kosher supervision under the auspices of ultra-rthodox/charedi authorities.

Examples: Machzikei Hadass, Bdatz, Belz Manchester Kosher MK

Level 2

Other stringent kashrut authorities but with slightly less rigid rules as the above.

Examples: OU Orthodox Union USA, KLBD London Beth Din, KA Kosher Australia, BD Beth Din South Africa

Level 3

Sephardic Kashrut Authority SKA, whilst this is a highly stringent authority, many Ashkenazi Jews will only eat foods authorised by the SKA if other hechsherim are unavailable.

Level 4

Someone who would keep to the Kosher list created and updated by the London Beth Din https://www.kosher.org.uk/koshersearch.

Level 5

Someone who would eat unsupervised vegetarian/vegan snacks.

Examples: supermarket brand milk chocolate, crisps or nuts, other suitable for vegan/vegetarian sweets

Level 6

Someone who would eat in a strictly vegan establishment.

Examples: restaurants and cafes that have no animal products in their kitchens.

Level 7

Someone who would eat in a strictly vegetarian establishment.

Level 8

Someone who would eat in any establishment but only have vegetarian/ pescetarian (no shellfish) options.

Examples: margherita pizza, cod or salmon in a restaurant). Also covers buying supermarket or shop bought foods such as vegetarian or pescetarian ready meals.

Level 8.5

Someone who in addition to keeping to level 8 will also drink non-kosher wine or grape based products such as fruit juice with grape or wine vinegar

Level 9

Someone who would eat in any establishment but only have food from a kosher animal but not one slaughtered in a kosher way.

Examples: beef, chicken, lamb, duck, turkey including beef gelatine in sweets, in any supermarket or restaurant.

Level 10

Someone who would eat any food stuff, kosher or not.

Examples: pig, shellfish, pork gelatine in sweets

This list is not halachically sanctioned and if you are unsure about the kashrut certification or standard of a product or establishment please contact your local rabbi or Beth Din.