Question

Dear Rabbi,

Shalom:
The Bible forbids Jews to consume blood. What is in the blood that makes it unhealthy or unacceptable?

Answer

The fact that Jewish law forbids to consume blood is not for health reasons. In Genesis chap.9 verse 3-4 we read: "Every creature that lives shall be yours to eat; as with the green grasses, I give you all these. You must not however, eat flesh with its life-blood in it". And in Deuteronomy chap. 12 verse 23 we read: "But make sure that you do not partake of the blood; for the blood is the life, and you must not consume the life with the flesh".

In the beginning of creation, God meant men to be vegetarian, in Geneses chap. 1 verse 29 we can read: "God said, See I give you every seed-bearing plant that is upon all the earth, and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit; they shall be yours for food". God expected people not to kill living creatures for their food, but after the flood, God realized that man had an urge to eat meat, and so accepted a compromise, man can eat animals, but in order to be reminded that life is a supreme value, man is forbidden to eat the meat with the blood, because blood was considered as life itself.

I hope I answered your question.