Jewish Culture Diversity

Introduction

Research done from various sources, helped acknowledge how the needs of a specific culture and promoting culturally sensitive care is crucially important. Moreover, this research has also provided with the ability to self-reflect and realize how one’s own perceptions may or may not be similar to that of a client within the health care system. This scholarly assignment has based its coherent research information pertaining a specific cultural group, the Hebrew culture. The element discussed regarding this specific cultural group is the concerns and food preferences that the Hebrew culture greatly values as it plays a role within their practice and belief system. Furthermore, this assignment elaborates to discuss the importance

of the kosher laws, koshrut symbols, and various methods of food preparation in regards to the Hebrew ethnic practices and beliefs. The assignment ends with the understanding of the nurse-client relationship and how it is greatly influenced by one’s own perceptions. Further understanding of the importance and knowledge of culturally sensitive care is demonstrated within the next few pages.
¬¬¬¬¬

Body

1) Cultural Diversity

A huge component of society is cultural diversity, which is comprised of “different races, ethnic descent, and cultural backgrounds” (Potter & Perry, 2014, p.

35). Cultural diversity not only encourages a multicultural environment, rather it also shows how culture affects individuals through their cultural practices and behaviors. The cultural population group chosen for this scholarly assignment is the Hebrew culture, whose fundamentals and regulations are closely tied to the Jewish religion. The Hebrew culture varies greatly when it comes to several factors such as nutrition, cultural boundaries, lifestyle practices, and communication norms. This assignment will focus on cultural diversity, more specifically on the Hebrew considerations pertaining nutrition and food preferences. Jewish individuals, specifically Orthodox Jews, consume food which strictly follow kashrut, a set of dietary laws which outline permissible and non-permissible list of food items. These laws list the foods allowed to be consumed by Hebrews, known as kosher, as they are prepared in accordance to the Jewish law and a list of non-kosher foods, which are prohibited as they do not follow the Jewish food laws. The dietary laws of the Hebrew culture enclose the following rules, “proper preparation of meat, not eating milk and meat together… [and] kashrut symbols on packaged food labels” (Noble & Rom, 2009, p. 325). Hebrew individuals believe that in order to consume meat, the blood must be completely

drained out of the animal over two courses, the period of slaughter and the elimination of the remaining blood. Additionally, Hebrews have a strict policy regarding the consumption of dairy and meat products as they prohibit the consumption of both products at once and furthermore suggest that individuals, “[should] separate utensils and dishes for meat and milk meals” (Noble & Rom, 2009, p. 325). In addition, the Hebrew culture assures that individuals are aware of kashrut symbols, which help distinguish the foods which follow the dietary laws and values and therefore, are acceptable for Hebrew individuals to consume.

2) Cultural competence
Several methods can be used to ensure that the needs of Hebrew individuals pertaining nutrition, cultural boundaries, lifestyle practices, and communication norms are met within the health care system.

To ensure that the needs of a Hebrew individual pertaining kashrut dietary laws are met, nurses should make use of a cultural assessment, “[an] examination of the cultural care values, beliefs, and practices of individuals” (Potter & Perry, 2014, p. 35). Cultural assessments can be carried out at the beginning of the session when the nurse can determine the cultural aspects of the Hebrew client, “[asking] the client for any kashrut preferences” (Noble & Rom, 2009, p. 325). Some challenges that nurses may face in providing the required support for Hebrew individuals may be that the meat provided may be non-kosher if the blood is not completely drained, the utensils provided may have been used for other meat products, and the meat from the animals may not have been slaughtered according to Jewish law. However, many options are available to maintain a healthy nurse-client relationship between a Hebrew individual and a nurse. To address challenges regarding the kashrut laws, nurses can also refer to various options such as “have food brought to the hospital by family members” (Noble & Rom, 2009, p. 325), use separate utensils for meat and dairy products, and provide food pertaining kashrut symbols. With regards to the Jewish dietary law, I believe that through my own perceptions

not only can I relate to the Hebrew traditions and values; moreover, I can make sure that respect is adequately given to this population of our society. I believe so because many of the dietary laws practiced by Hebrew individuals are similar to those of my own cultural values pertaining food. For example, similar to Hebrew’s using the term for culturally and religiously acceptable food as “kosher”, Pakistani’s also have a term for food religiously accepted as “halal”. Furthermore, though less in practice, many Pakistani individuals similar to individuals of the Hebrew culture, will only purchase food from the market labeled, halal, in terms of the food packaging. Moreover, Pakistani’s also need to make sure that the meat should be rinsed, cleansed and drained from the animal’s blood, similar to the Hebrews. As the dietary laws are similar to my own culture, I know the importance that Hebrew individuals consider regarding their food diet as it allows them to effectively practise their values and beliefs similar to those of my own culture. In conclusion, though many conflicts may arise within the health care system, it is the nurse’s responsibility to continue a healthy nurse-client relationship through the positive self-reflection of one’s own perceptions.

Conclusion
This scholarly assignment provides a careful insight of the importance of culturally sensitive care relating to the Hebrew culture through various factors. In addition, this assignment also discussed how the needs of the Hebrew culture can be surpassed within the health care field in order to help individuals preserve their beliefs, practices, and core values. Various concepts and elements must be taken into consideration when taking care of a Hebrew individual as they have specific nutritional laws and set diet rules as part of their practice. Furthermore, discussed was also how one’s own perceptions can indeed help attain positive cultural competent care through the use of accommodating the patient with a knowledge-full insight. Though many conflicts concerning a Hebrew individual may arise regarding nutrition and food preferences, they can all be addressed with insightful knowledge on how to accommodate individuals from the Hebrew culture. In conclusion, this assignment attained research information pertaining the Hebrew culture through the importance of cultural sensitivity more specifically, cultural diversity and culture competency.